Cultural Studies M.A.
Trent’s Cultural Studies graduate programs emphasize research and research creation. Students immerse themselves in a thriving local arts community as they pursue discussions surrounding culture and technology, environmental communication, gender and the body, science as knowledge, discourse, and narrative, social and political theory, and media theory.
In Cultural Studies at Trent, you will explore the very foundations of the systems of belief that will determine our future. This program offers an environment that encourages the kind of creative and critical thought that will prepare you for the challenges of the workplace, and for the opportunities of a rewarding life of cultural and political inquiry. Working with your fellow students and professors as part of a closely-knit community, you will read and reflect in your coursework, and then write a critical or creative project to take your thinking to the next level.
Students in the M.A. program can choose between a one-year option with a major research paper, or a two-year thesis option. The program invites proposals for academic projects, as well as for projects invested in research creation, in which your artistic production plays a major role.
Accelerated Master’s
An accelerated Master’s option is available for eligible Trent University undergraduate students. If you are currently studying at Trent and are interested, please contact the program department directly for more details and information on how to apply.
Interdisciplinary in spirit and theoretical in emphasis, Trent’s Cultural Studies M.A. and Ph.D. programs focus on contemporary issues in the humanities and social sciences from the perspectives of critical, cultural and political theory. Prepare to get creative and critical as you implement your own research program and build the foundations for a successful career in cultural and political inquiry.
The Cultural Studies Graduate Programs offer a wide range of opportunities for practice-based learning and artistic research. Students benefit from access to media equipment, dedicated media labs, and a critical making studio, along with internships and a practice-based research track designed to enrich their academic and professional development.
Trent has been home to 2 Nobel Prize winners
10 Canada Research Chairs conduct innovative research at Trent
We are proud to be one of the top 3 greenest campuses in Canada
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours degree (a four year undergraduate bachelor's degree)
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- Demonstrated aptitude for interdisciplinary study
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours degree (a four year undergraduate bachelor's degree)
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- Demonstrated aptitude for interdisciplinary study
- Proof of English Proficiency: All international applicants must provide proof of an adequate level of English proficiency regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin. Please visit our How to Apply: International page for details on English Language Proficiency requirements.
- A GRE test score is not required for admission into this program
All applicants, domestic and international, must submit the following documents to complete their application:
- Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts
- 2 letters of reference: Academic references are preferred; however, professional references will be accepted. Reference forms will be emailed to the referees that you have appointed on OUAC
- Plan of Study/Personal Statement: 1-2 pages outlining your objectives in a graduate program. Any specific research interests, relevant experiences, and/or career aspirations can be included
- Writing Sample: A sample of your writing of about 20 pages or less. The preferred submission format is PDF. Good choices for writing samples include: an undergraduate essay, lab report, research report, journal article, a chapter from a masters thesis, or a published article.
- Proof of Citizenship (ie. copy of passport or birth certificate)
- Supervisor: A potential supervisor is recommended as an admission requirement for this program. If chosen prior to admission, please list your supervisor on your OUAC application and discuss this in your plan of study. Please visit the program's Faculty and Research page for a listing of faculty and areas of research. Applicants are responsible for reaching out to a faculty member
For more information on submitting transcripts, re-sending reference links and other application questions, please visit our How to Apply: Domestic or International pages and review Step 4, as well as review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Learn more about tuition & fees
Eligible full-time students are offered minimum funding packages during their funded period of $18,000 annually. This includes a Graduate Teaching Assistantship employment offer valued at approximately $13,000 annually. Specific funding details are included in individual admission letters.
Students are supported in competing for external awards during their studies, such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. A full list of external awards is available on our Scholarships & Awards page.
Trent has clear pathways for graduate students to apply and be admitted to study for their master's or doctorate at either of our campuses. Please review admission requirements for your program before applying.
The Cultural Studies Program's insight, support, and resources have been essential to my growth and experience as a graduate student. My research draws from diverse fields such as philosophy, neuroscience, microbiology, anthropology, and environmental science to explore fungi’s role in shaping landscapes and identity through cultural memory. As a graduate student at Trent, I’ve been given indispensable tools to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives and uncover new ways of knowing and engaging with fascinating subjects.
Jessica Marion Barr (she/her) is an artist, educator, mother, and researcher whose arts-practice-based Ph.D. in Cultural Studies at Queen's University focused on ecological elegies. Her interdisciplinary practice incorporates artmaking and arts-science research-creation, investigating creative, collaborative, queer, embodied/somatic, and Indigenous-led approaches to environmental issues and social/ecological justice. She is cross appointed to Cultural Studies and the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science Program, and approaches her teaching and supervision with creativity, enthusiasm, and attentiveness to care and wellbeing. She is keen to support graduate students with similar approaches and/or interests.
*Domestic applications remain open