Undergraduate
History
-
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
-
- Peterborough
-
- Paid Co-op Available
-
- Fall & Winter & Summer
- Humanities & Social Sciences (Arts)
At a glance:
- Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Campus Peterborough
- Work Experience Paid Co-op Available
- Program is Offered Fall & Winter & Summer
- Study Options Part time/Full time
- OUAC Codes RHI - Peterborough RHC - Peterborough co-op
- Apply Now Stay in Touch
The Trent Advantage
Learn to understand the past, question the present, and navigate complexity while tailoring your studies to your interests alongside renowned historians.
Explore history from ancient Rome to modern Vietnam, immersing yourself in the political, social and cultural forces that have shaped societies across time and place. With the freedom to focus your studies by theme, time period, or location and make connections across disciplines, you’ll develop valuable research, analytical and communication skills that prepare you for a wide range of careers.
- Learn from historians with sought-after expertise in areas such as the history of medicine and disease, and cultural and environmental history.
- Broaden your studies across disciplines, drawing on the expertise of leading academics in Cultural Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Ancient Greek & Roman Studies.
- Get to know your professors in small, seminar-style classes, building meaningful faculty connections and mentorships that can lead to strong professional references.
Accelerated Masters
Fast-track your education by earning your Master’s degree in History in only 12-20 months after graduating from your Honours B.A.
Program Possibilites
Add an Option to your History degree to explore an additional area of interest
-
Digital Humanities
Electronic media has become an integral part of how we view and explore the world. Through this new option you will bring a human-centred perspective to the innovations that continue to transform our shared digital landscape.
Working alongside Trent’s world-renowned faculty, including Canada Research Chairs, you will gain a deeper understanding of how digital tools are applied to solve research problems, and how research within the humanities impacts developments in the digital world.
-
Pre-Modern Studies
Enhance your understanding of the thought, literature, and history of the pre-industrial (pre-1800) world. The study of historical culture in world civilizations from antiquity through early modernity will allow you to better understand the origins and development of culture informing modern global society.
-
Indigenous Reconciliation & Resurgence
Over the last few decades, the resurgence of Indigenous peoples has largely animated the Canadian national project of reconciliation. In this option, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively contribute to this nationwide conversation.
Career experience while you learn
Every History student has a guaranteed route to paid, credited experience before they graduate.
Paid Co-op Available
- Graduate with paid work experience completing three 12–16-week work terms in the summer of years two and three, and the fall of year four, all as part of your four-year degree.
- Work in civil service, education, journalism, law, libraries, museums, and historical research.
Research Opportunities
- Lead an in-depth research project through an honours thesis, working one-on-one with a faculty supervisor to investigate a historical question that interests you.
- Conduct community-based research with an organization in the Peterborough or Haliburton area, contributing to a research project with guidance from both faculty and community partners.
Field Schools and Hands-On Courses
- Take courses that incorporate hands-on learning into the study of history.
- Explore approaches to public history, including memory, commemoration, heritage preservation, and interpretation at historic sites, museums, and archives, or recreate a medieval invention while examining innovations such as armour, printing, food production, timekeeping, and water power.
Study Abroad
- Take your Trent education global. Spend a semester or year studying at one of Trent’s 50+ international partner universities, participate in a summer field course, or gain international experience through a placement or internship.
- With opportunities in more than 35 countries, you can broaden your academic perspective, experience new cultures, and build skills that prepare you for a global career.
- History students have studied at the University of Kent, University of Leeds, and University of Birmingham in England.
Internships
- Gain experience in radio production through the Peter Gzowski Internship at CBC, with training and rotations across different radio programs. A Trent History and Indigenous Studies graduate went on to join CBC Kids News.
- Build skills in academic publishing through an internship with Broadview Press, working in areas such as editorial, production, marketing, and book promotion.
Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Civil Servant
- Diplomatic Corps
- Parliamentary Assistant
- Teacher
Admissions
Whether you're graduating from an Ontario high school, looking to study in Canada, or training for a second career, Trent has clear pathways for students to apply and be admitted to study at either of our campuses.
Requirements
If you are coming straight from high school in Ontario or are a recent grad, the general admission requirements are:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- A minimum of six Grade 12 4U or 4M courses, including program-specific prerequisites
- ENG4U with a minimum of 60%
| Admission Requirements | Recommended Admission Requirements | Estimated Admission Average | Co-op Admission Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG4U | 70-75% | 80-85% |
Requirements
Students from across Canada can use their grades from their home province to apply to Trent.
Requirements
International students from outside Canada can apply based on the curriculum of their home country.
Requirements
Mature students can apply to Trent based on previous education and professional or volunteer experience.
Requirements
With many transfer agreements and flexible pathway options, Trent University makes it easy for students to make the most of the credits you have already earned.
Tuition Estimate
Estimate your tuition, ancillary fees, and potential entrance scholarships based on your program, residency status, and academic average.
Tuition
Base Tuition Fee
$6,240.85
Ancillary Fees
Ancillary Fees (non-tuition costs supporting student services, such as athletics, campus safety, college fees, etc.)
$2,122.22
Total:
$ 8,363.07
* The tuition details and scholarships listed are for domestic students only. International applicants should contact the financial aid office directly for equivalent guidance.
Scholarships
If you’re a top scholar with an average of 80% or higher, you qualify to automatically receive an entrance scholarship to Trent. Scholars with 95% or higher? You earn free first-year tuition – no application required.
| Entrance Average | Maximum Scholarship Potential | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 95%+ | $18,241 | $6,241 first year Full Tuition + $4,000 x 3 years |
| 90-94.9% | $12,000 | $3,000 x 4 years |
| 85-89.9% | $8,000 | $2,000 x 4 years |
| 80-84.9% | $6,000 | $1,500 x 4 years |
* Available to Domestic students only. Based on 2026/27 tuition for a general arts and science program
Explore additional funding for domestic and international students
- John Gilchrist Memorial Scholarship
- The F. A. Hagar Scholarship
- First Year Essay Prize in History
- W. L. Morton Essay Prize in History
- Pammett Historical Prize
- Douglas McCalla History Book Prize
- Elwood Jones Prize in History
- Alan Wilson Prize in History
- Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion Memorial Fellowship in History
- John G. McKeown Legacy Bursary