Pursue unique research interests while broadening your knowledge of Canada and its place in the global context. Through coursework and a doctoral thesis, you will develop expertise in research-intensive areas and participate in critical conversations connected to Canada in a collaborative learning environment. This program prepares graduates to become thought leaders in Canadian academia, as well as a variety of governmental, not-for-profit and private sector roles.
- Draw theories and methods from multiple disciplines to pursue research beyond the scope of a traditional disciplinary program.
- Access academic resources from two universities and the support of expert faculty as you add your own voice to contemporary scholarship.
- Participate in Humanities-wide co-op opportunities, community-based research, conferences and workshops to connect your academic work with real-world issues.
World Class Facilities
Frost Centre for Canadian Studies & Indigenous Studies
Grounded in Trent’s deep roots in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, the Frost Centre brings together students and scholars across disciplines in a supportive, globally engaged academic community. The Frost Centre serves as the base for graduate students and faculty in the Canadian Studies Ph.D. program.
Join an esteemed community of Canadian scholars in the country’s only interdisciplinary doctorate program of its kind, bringing together diverse perspectives from across disciplines to explore Canada.
Program Types
Eligibility Requirements
- Master’s degree with at least high Honours standing in Canadian Studies or a related discipline
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent overall in the master's degree
Eligibility Requirements
- Master’s degree with at least high Honours standing in Canadian Studies or a related discipline
- Minimum B+ (77%) or equivalent overall in the master's degree
- 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 International Applicant Resource 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 required. Reference forms will be emailed to the referees that you have appointed on OUAC
- Plan of Study/Personal Statement: A 400-600 word statement explaining your intention in applying for Graduate Studies and your overall expectations of the Ph.D. program. It should include a description of your proposed dissertation topic, why this interdisciplinary topic is likely to be of interest to others engaged in Canadian Studies, and a brief account of work that has been done on this, or related topics, by other scholars (This statement is not intended to serve as a binding commitment regarding dissertation topic)
- 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 master's thesis, or a published article.
- Proof of Citizenship (i.e. copy of passport or birth certificate)
- Supervisor: Applicants may identify a Trent faculty member as a provisional dissertation supervisor in their plan of study; however, this is not a requirement for admission. Incoming students will be assigned a Program Advisor (a faculty member familiar with their area of research) who can offer academic advice and guidance. Students will be required to confirm a dissertation supervisor and committee by April 1 of their first year. Please visit our Faculty and Research Page for our listing of faculty and areas of research.
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).
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.
As of May 1, 2026, full-time international PhD students pay domestic tuition fees at the out-of-province rate.
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 Scholarship & Awards page.
This program also offers unique funding opportunities for its students, such as program-specific entrance awards that would be automatically assigned at the time of admission, and competitive funding opportunities throughout their studies.
The Shelagh Grant Endowment for Northern and Arctic Research provides $20,000 in research funds over and above any scholarships, and is awarded annually to one incoming scholar.
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 PhD program helped me to connect my research to relevant and contemporary issues in Canada, thus preparing for life in academia as well as treating humans with dignity.
One of Canada’s foremost experts on Arctic history and contemporary Northern policy, Dr. Lackenbauer’s research explores the evolution of Canada’s domestic strategies for the North and its international relationships with other Arctic and non-Arctic states. Together with his team, he is also investigating how northern communities have shaped, and been shaped by, different understandings of the region.
Dr. Changfoot’s teaching and research interests combine political theory, feminist, aging, critical disability, critical race, queer and sustainability studies in a Canadian context. She teaches the graduate course titled “Futurities: Centring Difference and Worldmaking(s).” Her research includes activist art and politics, and arts-based and community-based research oriented to improving lives related to the intersections of aging, decolonizing, disability and difference, environmental sustainability, and Indigeneity. Her students have been awarded provincial and national M.A. and Ph.D. funding. Her research program is funded by CIHR and SSHRC.
Develop specialized expertise through intensive research training, coursework, and a doctoral thesis. Gain experience through available summer research assistantships and benefit from Trent funding for the first four years of the program.
Areas of academic research focus and faculty expertise
The Canadian Studies Ph.D. program is structured around five fields of research foci:
- Gender and Women's Studies
- Environment and Place Policy
- Culture, Heritage and the Arts
- Identities and Social Movement
- Policy, Economy and the State