The packages below outline the minimum level of support you can expect for the duration of your program, with specific funding details provided in your official offer letter.

Funding for International Students Varies by Degree Level

International Master’s Students

Trent provides limited International Graduate Scholarships (IGS) that help make graduate education more accessible for international Master’s students in research-based programs. These may be included in a student’s admissions offer funding package.

This scholarship offsets tuition costs so recipients pay similar fees as out-of-province domestic.

International Doctoral Students

International doctoral students are assessed tuition at the domestic out-of-province rate. This tuition treatment applies to eligible research-based PhD programs.

• Tuition treatment is:
  • Not a scholarship
  • Not competitive
  • Applied as part of the funding and tuition structure at admission

International doctoral students may also be eligible for other forms of funding support, as outlined in their offer of admission.

Terms for Holding Graduate Funding at Trent 

To remain eligible for Trent University graduate funding, students must meet the below conditions. Not meeting these conditions may result in funding being reduced or withdrawn. 

• Full-Time Enrollment:  
  • You must be registered full-time during each funded term. 
  • Important: Funding offsets tuition. If you are not paying tuition (e.g., you finish early, take a leave or withdraw), you will not receive funding. 
• Tuition Changes: 
  • If tuition is adjusted for any reason – such as early program completion, withdrawal, or leave of absence – your Trent graduate funding will be adjusted proportionally. 
  • For example, if you complete your program halfway through the term and receive a 50% tuition refund, your funding will be reversed by 50%.+ 
  • Students who hold an International Graduate Scholarship and later become eligible for domestic tuition will lose the scholarship, as it is exclusively available to those paying international tuition rates. 
• External Awards: 
  • Students holding external awards (e.g. NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) must maintain active full-time registration. Funding will cease if a student’s registration is not completed. 
  • Graduate Research Fellowships and School of Graduate Studies funded Research Fellowship Awards cannot be held alongside major external scholarships. Funding may be revised if you receive an external award. 
• GTA Employment: 
  • GTAs must comply with all university and employment policies. 
  • On-campus presence is required for GTA roles during scheduled employment periods. 

Funding Packages: Your funding package details are included in your admission offer—no separate application is required. 

Competitive Awards: Interested in additional funding opportunities? 

• Visit our Graduate Awards & Scholarships page for details. 
• Speak with the Graduate Finance Officer for guidance. 
• Deadlines vary by award, so check early and plan ahead. 

Below are answers to common questions about graduate funding, including tuition payments, funding distribution, external awards, and more. 

• Do I need to pay tuition if I receive a funding package? 
  • Funding is applied directly to your student account and to pay down outstanding tuition and fees. 
  • If there is a remaining balance after funding is applied, you are responsible for paying that amount. 
  • If your account shows a credit after tuition and fees are paid, you may request a refund through the myTrent portal: myTrent > Finance > My Account > Account Statement. 
• When and how is funding distributed? 
  • Funding is typically posted in three installments to your student account annually, with installments applied by the third week of the first month of each term. 
  • Exceptions: 
  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs): Paid biweekly through Payroll as employment income. 
  • Research Fellowship Awards (RFAs): Applied to student accounts at the discretion of your supervisor(s). Students should confirm the RFA payment schedule directly with their supervisor(s). 
  • Entrance Awards: Applied to student accounts in the first term of study. Entrance awards vary in value; specific award amounts are included in individual admission letters. A maximum of $3,000 can be applied in the first term of study, and the balance will be allocated in the remaining terms. 
• How do external awards and scholarships impact funding packages? 
  • Graduate students with strong academic standing are encouraged to apply annually for external awards such as OGS, NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR. 
  • If you receive a major external scholarship, review your offer of admission to determine the impact to your graduate funding package; students are also encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Graduate Finance Officer if offered an external scholarship to review the impact to funding.  
  • All funding arrangements must comply with applicable employment agreements. 
• How does leave of absence status impact graduate funding? 
  • If you take an approved leave of absence, your funding will be deferred until you return to your studies. Funding is not forfeited. 
• What happens if I exceed my funding-eligible period? 
  • Once your funding eligibility period ends, you are responsible for paying all tuition and fees. You may be eligible for donor funded scholarships or direct application funding opportunities.