Residence FAQs

The Housing Portal can be found by logging into myTrent and navigating to the Support tab at the top right-hand side of the screen. Once there, the student will see the button for the Housing Portal under the Student Housing heading. More info can be found on the Applying page. 

Any student who is new to Trent university is eligible for the residence guarantee. Just finished high school and applying to university for the first time? Transferring from another institution? Interested in applying to Trent for the first time as a mature student? All of these situations make you eligible for our residence guarantee. You are automatically eligible for the guarantee as long as you have: 

• Applied to our Academic Year Residence Application Trent University (winter and summer start students are ineligible for our residence guarantee)
• Complete a residence application by the guarantee deadline.

The guarantee does not apply to: returning students who have already completed credits at Trent University, graduate students at the Peterborough Campus, as well as winter and summer start students (Durham Campus graduate students are included in our residence guarantee, as long as it is their first year at Trent University). 

Once you have submitted a fully completed residence application by the deadline, additional steps such as roommate and room selection will be email to you later. Check out more instructions and key dates: Apply to Residence - Housing - Trent University 

Dining plans are mandatory for first year residents. For information regarding dining plans, please visit the Trent Food Services website.

The Residence application is separate from your academic application. Once you have a Trent email address, you can apply! We encourage students to apply for residence as soon as possible for peace of mind. As long as you apply by the deadline, you are guaranteed a space with us. If your plans change, you can apply to cancel your application. Learn more: Apply to Residence - Housing - Trent University 

We have rooms for a variety of student lifestyles! Choose from traditional singles and doubles, suite singles and doubles and value spaces. Learn about your options: Residence Fees & Payments - Housing - Trent University 

Trent uses Residence Self-Selection. Guaranteed students select rooms based on room self-selection timing determined by a lottery system and availability. Your self selection timeslot will be emailed to you. Learn more: Apply to Residence - Housing - Trent University  

Residence offers 24/7 security, fun community programming, and regular maintenance. Learn how residence supports you: Living in Residence - Housing - Trent University 

The Residence Life and Education team provides residence programming focused on transitioning to university, fostering academic success, and building a strong sense of community. Your Residence team will frequently share these events through email, community meetings and posters within residence. Learn more: Residence Life & Education - Housing - Trent University  

Students may defer to a later term in limited circumstances. Application fees may be required again. Please email residence@trentu.ca if you would like further information regarding deferring your application. 

Parking permits are available through Parking Services. Parking is free but limited at Durham. Learn more: Parking Regulations - Parking - Trent University 

Yes, but returning students are not guaranteed residence. We encourage you to consider our Upper Year and Graduate housing options: Upper Year and Graduate Housing Special Offer - Housing - Trent University 

Yes! Our residence buildings at Trent are not program-specific. If you are a new student, your college affiliation will match the building you end up living in. If you are a returning student, your college affiliation will be modified to match the building you are living in. We encourage you to take a look at our residence web pages (Peterborough and Durham) and pick the building you think best fits your wants and needs! Pay a visit to the colleges website if you wish to learn more and remember, you can always change your college affiliation in future years if you wish.

Moving to residence is a big step in a students’ academic journey! It is also a big change for their parent and or guardians and supporters. More information regarding orientation, resources, and ways to support can be found on our Parents & Supporters Webpage.

Move-in dates are communicated directly to students prior to the term. Learn more about moving in: Moving In - Housing - Trent University 

Yes, a printable packing checklist is available: Residence Checklist 

Cancellations are completed through the Housing Portal. Reimbursements follow the residence agreement. 

If you cancel your application by mistake or change your mind, please email residence@trentu.ca to have your application re-activated. 

Gender Inclusive Housing means that students are able to choose if they would like to live in same gender housing or any gender housing. This means they can select the gender of their roommate or suitemates. 

This option is available to students to select within their Residence Application in the Student Housing Portal.

At the end of room selection, students are either assigned to a room or their application is cancelled.

An upper year student at Trent University falls under the following criteria:

• A returning student who has completed 0.5 or more university credits

A student who is enrolled in a Master’s or postgraduate certification program