Ontario Supports 1,500 More Student Seats at Trent, Preparing Students for In-Demand Careers
Provincial investment supports additional spots for students in Trent's health, education, and STEM programs
Trent University is receiving a $38 million investment from the Ontario government to fund 1,504 additional student seats in programs preparing graduates for in-demand careers in healthcare, education, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Trent’s allocation, part of the Ontario government’s broader $1.7-billion investment to support a total of 70,000 new seats in postsecondary education, expands capacity in several of the University’s sought-after undergraduate and graduate programs, including Health, Nursing and Kinesiology, Education, and Social Work.
“This Priority Growth Fund investment enhances Trent’s contributions to fields with greater need for university expertise and talent,” said Dr. Mark Skinner, provost and vice-president, Academic of Trent University. “It allows Trent to leverage the strength of its established programs across health care, science, and education, creating more opportunities for students to pursue a world-class interdisciplinary education and in-demand careers. We are growing the skilled workforce our communities need to thrive.”
Trent’s successful bid to the province for funding to support new seats was developed around the University’s areas of academic strength, as well as student demand, regional economic trends, and local workforce needs. The submission also featured 50 letters of support from regional employers.
“Our province’s greatest strength is our highly skilled workforce – and those workers are trained at our world-class colleges and universities,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment is supporting the largest seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade and will ensure more students have the opportunity to train for good-paying careers that protect and strengthen our communities, industries and province.”
“This historic investment in Trent University is a huge win for Peterborough–Kawartha and an anchor for our region’s economy,” said Dave Smith ‘91, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha and proud Trent alumnus. “By adding more than 1,500 seats in critical fields like STEM, health, and education, we are ensuring our local students can get a world-class education in their own backyard while building a direct pipeline of skilled talent that local employers and industries need to grow right here at home.”
Of the 1,504 new student seats allocated to Trent, 1,081 are seats for STEM programs, 163 are for education programs, 126 are for health programs, and 134 seats are for other labour-market driven programs. A portion of the new seats have been allocated for fall 2026, with the remaining funding for new students in fall 2027, supporting sustainable growth in areas of strong student and workforce demand.