Develop expertise as a professional researcher and analyst while studying while exploring diverse, interdisciplinary fields in history. Study topics ranging from political history and foreign relations to the history of gender, the environment, sports, food, childhood, war and memory, dictatorship, and medicine, many of which are one-of-a-kind areas of study in Canada.
- Choose between a Major Research Paper or a Thesis and shape your graduate work around your interests and objectives.
- Work closely with celebrated historians and authors while conducting primary-source research and developing skills in evidence, analysis, and interpretation.
- Strengthen your professional writing, research and communication skills for careers in law, education, academia, politics, and public policy.
World Class Facilities
Archives & Special Collections
Graduate students have access to more than 1,200 archival collections and 13,000+ rare books and titles documenting Trent University and the people, cultures, lands, and waters of the region. These collections provide rich primary sources for original research across a range of fields.
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.
Study alongside some of Canada’s most celebrated historians and scholars, exploring distinctive areas of history while building professional research, analysis, and writing skills.
Program Types
Eligibility Requirements
- Honours bachelor degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelors) in History 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
- Honours bachelor degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelors) in History 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 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 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 master's thesis, or a published article.
- Proof of Citizenship (i.e. 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 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 $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 and 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 love that graduate studies at Trent offers a ton of great opportunities for interdisciplinary learning both in and out of the classroom. The university experience becomes so much richer when you are encouraged to think beyond the boundaries of your own subject, and see the ways that your work is connected to other disciplines. I got to work with and learn from incredible faculty and staff members, and I am so grateful for the time I spent at Trent.
Dr. Dunaway’s research interests span North American history, environmental history, and visual culture. He is the author of three books, two of which have won multiple awards: Seeing Green: The Use and Abuse of American Environmental Images (2015) and Defending the Arctic Refuge: A Photographer, an Indigenous Nation, and A Fight for Environmental Justice (2021). His writings have also appeared in scholarly journals, such as American Quarterly and Environmental History, and in popular venues, including the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and TIME.
Dr. Hurl-Eamon's research focuses on Britain and the empire in the late eighteenth century. She began her career by working on the history of crime, gender, and violence. More recently, she has published on the social history of the British Army, with an emphasis on military families and childhood and war. She has supervised M.A. theses on a wide range of topics related to aging, war, childhood, rape, religion, and witchcraft.
Choose the two-year thesis program for deeper engagement with historical research, developing and defending an original research thesis supported by primary sources and relevant historiography.
Choose the one-year major research paper program to pursue a focused research project while developing strong research, writing, and analytical skills.