Completing Degree Requirements
Requirements for All Gradate Students
All graduate students are responsible for ensuring their degree requirements have been met prior to applying to graduate. Graduate Program requirements vary across programs and students should consult individual program guidelines and the Graduate Academic Calendar.
All graduate students will be required to obtain a second class standing (B-/70%) in all required graduate courses, or a higher standard as required by a particular program.
Thesis Based Students
A candidate for a thesis based Masters or PhD degree will need to complete their coursework and research and successfully submit and defend their thesis or dissertation. A thesis or dissertation may be submitted at any time during the term. Graduate programs will notify The School of Graduate Studies that a student has completed courses, defence and other curriculum requirements and is ready to proceed to graduate. Students should apply to graduate through myTrent once their thesis or dissertation is submitted in final.
Candidates who have not defended their thesis or dissertation prior to the thesis submission deadlines for the Spring Convocation will be unable to participate in the annual spring convocation ceremony. These students will participate in the following Spring convocation ceremony.
Course-Based / Non Thesis Students
Graduate programs will notify The School of Graduate Studies that a student has completed courses and other curriculum requirements and is ready to proceed to graduate. Students should apply to graduate through myTrent once all final grades appear on their academic record.
Graduation
Once degree requirements have been completed, The School of Graduate Studies will begin the graduation process. This includes conducting an academic and financial audit to ensure academic requirements have been fulfilled.
Students wanting to graduate are required to submit an Application to Graduate to The School of Graduate Studies at the time of degree completion. The Application to Graduate is located in your myTrent portal under Self Service.
Convocation
Trent University Senate meets three times in the year to award degrees to students who have recently met their degree requirements; September, January and May. Once The School of Graduate Studies verifies that all degree requirements have been met, the names of all students who have successfully completed the academic requirements for their degree are submitted to Senate for approval.
Please be aware that students are not invited during the Senate process.
As soon as Senate approves the graduation list, the student's academic record will be updated to show the degree has been conferred.
Graduation/Convocation Ceremony
There is only one annual Convocation ceremony, held each year in June, for all students to participate who have had their degree conferred by Senate in September, January and May. The convocation ceremony is open to all graduating students and their families to attend and celebrate their wonderful achievements. Trent University's Peterborough Convocation ceremonies are typically held outdoors on the University Court beside Bata Library. Trent University's Durham Convocation ceremonies are held at the Tribute Centre in Oshawa, ON.
Degree Parchments
Graduate Students will be able to receive their printed degree parchment from The School of Graduate Studies after the Senate convocation process has completed.
Students who have successfully completed their degree requirements, and are free of financial obligations to the University, are eligible to receive their degree or graduate diploma. Students who are not free of financial obligations to the University will not receive their degree until their financial obligations are met. This includes fines at Bata Library.
Students with outstanding financial obligations after completing their degree are encouraged to communicate a financial payment plan with the attention to the Graduate Finance Officer.
Unclaimed degrees will be held for two years. If you have not picked up or asked to have your degree mailed to you within two years of graduating, you will have to request and pay for a replacement degree.
Post-Graduation Work Permit
After graduating from your program of studies at Trent University, international graduate students may be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The PGWP is a document that gives you permission to live and work temporarily in Canada for up to three years, depending on the length of the program of study completed in Canada. To determine your eligibility to apply for PGWP, please visit Immigration and Citizenship website. To obtain a program completion letter in support of your PGWP application, please email the School of Graduate Studies (graduate@trentu.ca).