Based in the School of Education, this program provides a flexible pathway to pursue specific areas of interest while taking courses in other departments to broaden your experience. In the graduate diploma, you will explore the significance of power, belonging, motivation, and culture. Faculty members with expertise in a range of specialties will help you discover how you can apply your knowledge in your profession and in the community.
- Pursue an area of study alongside faculty from Education, Business, Canadian Studies, English, Indigenous Studies, History, and Psychology
- Independently or collaboratively design your own program and engage with meaningful research
- Engage in collaborative, hands-on learning through community and land-based outdoor experiences.
Please note that this program is available for domestic applications only.
Learn how to design and critically analyze educational environments that encourage rigour, creativity, and care. This graduate diploma program equips you to shape the future.
Program Types
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelor's degree)
- General degree (3 years) plus domestic B.Ed. also eligible to apply
- Minimum B+ (73%) or equivalent in the last two years of full-time study, or last ten full academic credits
- Applications will also be considered in light of a range of other evidence that may, in some circumstances, mitigate a lower academic average
All applicants, domestic and international, must submit the following documents to complete their application:
- Transcripts: Unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts
- 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
- 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
- Detailed Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of Citizenship (ie. copy of passport or birth certificate)
For more information on submitting transcripts, re-sending reference links and other application questions, please visit our How to Apply page and review Step 4, as well as review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
It is expected that graduate students in these programs, will have funds to support themselves for the duration of their studies. Professional programs do not offer funding as part of the letter of offer.
Financial Aid can provide information about provincial loan programs for domestic students, as well as bursary opportunities for both domestic and international students.
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 faculty has been consistently great during my M.Ed experience. They all genuinely seem to care about how you are doing in the course and are flexible to your needs so that you can succeed. They also practise what they preach when it comes to pedagogy and are inspirational for my own teaching practice.
Dr. Lauren Hill’s teaching and research centre on arts-based methodologies and practices that center social and eco-justice. With a background as a K–12 arts educator and professional musician, she brings a strong commitment to creative, critical, and collaborative approaches to learning. She also currently serves as the Director of the Trent Arts Research Group (TARG) and will be teaching a graduate course this fall on arts-based methodologies. Outside of academia, Lauren enjoys rock climbing, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and caring for her menagerie of pets!
Dr. Smale’s research interests include school law, educational administration, early school leaving, deviance, and early childhood interventions.
Trent's Graduate Diploma in Educational and Community Leadership is a five-course program including two required courses and three elective courses. Required courses include an Educational Theory course and a Research Methods Course.