Environmental & Life Sciences M.Sc.
Ask the critical questions, create knowledge and work alongside globally recognized experts to address crucial environmental issues that will impact the future. Explore, research and enact change in key sectors, including the conservation of biodiversity, the spread of contaminants and infectious diseases, sustainability, and water quality. Take advantage of world-class research facilities, including the Trent Water Quality Centre, the Institute for Watershed Science, and the Natural Resources DNA Profiling & Forensic Centre.
This interdisciplinary program is home to faculty from the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Forensic Science, and the School of the Environment, as well as adjunct faculty from provincial and federal government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and industry. Faculty include Canada Research Chairs and an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair. Make your mark in a program with a reputation for excellence.
At Trent, as part of the prestigious M.Sc., you’ll generate knowledge and contribute to the future. Inspired by top-notch professors from diverse disciplines, as well as scientists from governmental and non-governmental organizations, you’ll help forge new approaches to key environmental challenges.
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 visit the program department website for more details and information on how to apply.
Sharpen your scientific and communication skills through hands-on research with expert faculty from across the sciences at Trent, and affiliated government and non-governmental organizations. Create new solutions to challenges facing the environment as you develop your research expertise with leading industry connections, and governmental agencies, including the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, right on campus.
In the ENLS Graduate Program you will be immersed in high-quality research, both in the lab and the field. Our program has access to world class instrumentation and research facilities including the Trent Water Quality Centre, the Institute for Watershed Science, and the Natural Resources DNA Profiling & Forensic Centre. You will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with research equipment and with professionals who will prepare you for your next career step. Because of our interdisciplinary and collaborative environment, you will not only be able to access researchers within Trent University but also international collaborators, government and industry personnel. You will put your skills into practice in research workshops and by teaching and mentoring students through course instruction. Our students showcase their research at national and international conferences and have travelled abroad through research exchanges. The networking opportunities and skill development you will receive in the ENLS Graduate Program has helped our students go on to careers in academia, government and industry. Check out our webpage for more information.
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
- B.Sc. honours degree (a four year undergraduate bachelor's degree) in Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Science or a related discipline
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
Eligibility Requirements
- B.Sc. honours degree (a four year undergraduate bachelor's degree) in Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Science or a related discipline
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- 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
- Detailed Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of Citizenship (ie. copy of passport or birth certificate)
- Supervisor: A potential supervisor must be chosen as an admission requirement for this program. 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 $23,000 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.
I learned a lot during my time in the Environmental and Life Sciences Program, from the chemical and biological characterization of lakes and related impact assessment to thinking independently and writing clearly. Those skills and more were integral to my journey in environmental consulting where I’m now fortunate to lead a team of talented environmental scientists help make science-based decisions across Canada.
Dr. Dang's research lab, EnIGMA (Environmental Isotope Geochemistry & Mass spectrometry Applications) investigates interactions between the environment and Humankind, focusing on environmental pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss through environmental and analytical chemistry. Using cutting-edge techniques, including ICP-MS for elemental and isotopic composition and SEM for microscopic morphology, our research addresses complex environmental dynamics in various ecosystems globally, e.g., the St. Lawrence Seaways, mangrove forests in Brazil and Vietnam, and the Mediterranean coastal regions.
Dr. Greer is a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada and is internationally recognized as a scholar dedicated to improving global infectious disease preparedness and response. Her research focuses on the intersection of epidemiology, ecology, and mathematics. The impact of her work is felt across sectors and borders preparing governments and industry to act quickly and decisively when the next outbreak hits human or animal populations.
*Domestic applications remain open