Information for newly admitted students
GRADUATE ORIENTATION
Welcome to the School of Graduate Studies at Trent!
Orientation is a key part of your preparation for studying at the graduate level at Trent University and is a great opportunity to connect with new graduate students from Canada and around the world.
Orientation for new students beginning in winter 2023 is being planned and we will update this page once confirmed. Workshop recordings are available under the Official Orientation Events tab.
Our team at the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is looking forward to meeting and welcoming each of you. To start, if you have not already done so, please visit our Welcome Site.
Additionally, you will find below targeted resources and recordings of events, offering information on a variety of topics including registration, becoming a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), health insurance, finances, everything you need to know as a new international student, student services and more!
Orientation Overview and Welcome
2022 Fall Term Orientation
Many of our graduate programs offer program-specific orientation events prior to the start of the new term. Your program will communicate with you directly about any program specific events.
Useful Resources & Events for all new graduate students
Review your Offer of Admission
Take time to carefully look over your offer of admission and understand the details of your offer. Confirm that any outstanding conditions have been met to finalize your entrance to graduate school. Review your finances and understand your funding and your costs.
Registration
Registration for the 2022-2023 opened August 1st. Make sure to review the Registration Guide before you register.
Students can obtain their TrentU card through the card office.
Student Services
Trent has a wide range of services to support graduate students and we are pleased to offer a session that will cover topics such as mental health, accessibility, academic skills & integrity and Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) resources.
Event:
Recording of Orientation to Student Services at Trent presentation
Resource:
Campus Resources and Services
Student Services PDF presentation
Health Benefits / Student VIP
Graduate students starting their program in January 2023 are billed Health & Dental coverage within their posted fees. The option to OPT-OUT is available for those with proof of alternative coverage.
Please join us for a session which will cover the services that Student VIP covers, how to make a claim, how to add family, how to opt out as well as the Student VIP app.
Event:
Recording of Student VIP & Health Benefits Orientation event
Resource:
Library Services
Resources:
Leganto integrates copyright fair-dealing assessment, library acquisitions, access to Omni resources (including articles and videos), external links, and uploaded files allowing you to take care of all your course-related library requests in one place. Leganto can replace or augment Blackboard for providing readings and allows the library to facilitate reliable access for students across courses. For further information: Leganto
Trent Graduate Student Association
The Trent Graduate Student Association (TGSA), the student-run organization represents just over 800 graduate students at Trent. The GSA promotes, advocates and represents our members’ academic, political, social and cultural interests.
Resources:
Finances
There are all kinds of things to learn and understand when it comes to finances as a graduate student - from scholarships to funding to OSAP, we know you will have questions and we are here to help. Review the links posted below and if you have any questions, feel free to email us.
Book a virtual advising appointment with our Finance Officer if you have questions or concerns.
Resources:
Graduate Credit Refund
How to Make a Payment to your Account
Graduate Bursaries
Graduate Students & OSAP
Research Thesis Programs Overview - Awards Funding
Sponsored Students - Trent has an established process for any student having their fees covered by an external agency which they should ensure they review in the link provided as it is time sensitive to submit appropriate documentation.
Traill College
Traill offers Trent University students a welcoming space to study, or relax, in the university college tradition. Named after nineteenth-century author and naturalist Catharine Parr Traill, the College has forged a unique identity as Trent’s downtown location. Home to the Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, English and History graduate programs as well as a number of undergraduate programs and the continuing Education program.
Resources:
Traill College website
Brief Overview of Traill College
Are you an International Student?
Please refer to the Trent International website for complete details on starting life as an international student at Trent.
Safe Arrival Webinars
Trent International Orientation Welcome Sessions
Resources:
International Sessions & Events
Additional Useful Information (some more relevant to graduate students)
UHIP
The University Health Insurance Plan is mandatory health insurance for all international students.
Resource: UHIP website
Will you be a GTA?
Eligible students in research-based programs are offered a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) in their offer of admission. As a first time GTA, we are here to support you and provide you with the tools and information you need to feel confident in your role. You will receive a communication outlining the instructions on how to complete the paperwork required for payroll. In addition, please review the resources below to help you succeed in your new role.
Presentations:
GTA Discussion with the TGSA and CUPE II Information presented by representatives of TGSA and CUPE II to talk about first hand experiences and to provide advice and support
Other Resources:
Centre for Teaching and Learning
CUPE website
CUPE II Log Sheet
Graduate Teaching Certificate
Will you be conducting Research?
The Official Orientation presentation below by Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Cathy Bruce provides an overview of the Research Office and how it can support you as a graduate student. about all things research at Trent University.
Resource: Research at Trent Presentation Slides
Are you a Science Student?
Representatives of the Sciences provides an overview of resources available to graduate students including required safety training modules. Background information presented is important to your research time here at Trent and provide some details on what resources are available and who to contact.
Additionally, the Manager of Animal Care provides attendees with an introduction to the culture and expectations for working with live animals at Trent, whether it is lab or field based.
Recording of Sciences zoom presentation
Science Facilities presentation - available upon request
Animal Sciences presentation
Resource:
Information for Students in the Sciences Handout
Sciences website
Are you a Master of Management student studying at the Durham Campus?
Students registered in the Master of Management program will find this final Orientation session extremely useful. Representatives from the Durham campus will cover everything to make you feel comfortable on campus. From library services to academic skills to academic advisors to athletics to counseling and student accessibility services, to student life to international - this session will cover everything you need to know about the Durham campus!
If you have any questions about Orientation or any of the events listed above, please email graduate@trentu.ca