Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find the most commonly asked questions regarding the Trent Consecutive Bachelor of Education program. If you need help along the way, please email us or call 705-748-1011 ext 7738. Be sure to add our domain name (trentu.ca) to your Safe Senders list to ensure you are receiving all email communications.

If I complete my degree in the summer, am I eligible to start a B.Ed. degree in the fall of the same year?

Yes. Trent University will consider applications from students who will convocate in the fall. These applicants must still meet posted application deadlines. It is expected that any student completing their degree in the summer will provide proof of completion to the Office of the Registrar prior to beginning the consecutive education program in August.

When does the B.Ed program start and end? Can I begin the program in second term (e.g., January/ February) or during summer sessions?

Our Bachelor of Education program is a two-year, full-time, and in-class program that typically starts the last week of August or beginning of September (depending on how the calendar falls) and it goes until mid-April with students having the summer off in between Year 1 and 2. There are no alternate start dates.

Is it possible to pursue the Consecutive Bachelor of Education Program part-time?

Our program is offered on Trent’s Peterborough campus, full-time only.

Can I apply to both the Primary / Junior and Intermediate / Senior programs?

Yes. Provided the composition of your undergraduate degree is such that you have acquired the undergraduate credits required to teach in all of these divisions, then you may apply to both the Primary/Junior (P/J) and Intermediate/Senior (I/S) programs. Indicate your preferred program on our TEAS application and on the Profile of Experience; an effort will be made to place candidates in the program of their choice. Applicants need only submit one copy of transcripts and Profile of Experience if they are applying to more than one program. You do not need to pay Trent's supplementary application fee more than once, but you will be required to pay the TEAS fee for additional choices, if applicable. Applicants should be aware that applying to both programs will use two choices on the TEAS application.

Is the Bachelor of Education offered at Trent University Durham campus in Oshawa?

No. The Bachelor of Education program is only offered only at the School of Education & Professional Learning at Symons Campus in Peterborough, Ontario.

How is the academic component of my application calculated?

Applicants must have a minimum 70% average on the last ten undergraduate full course equivalents at the time of application.

What is a full-course equivalent?

Although credit value descriptions vary among universities, typically a full-credit course runs for a full year, while a half-credit course runs for a single semester.  For example, if your university operates on a 3.0 and 6.0 credit system, a 6.0 credit course is a full-course equivalent, and we would calculate your average based on your 60 most recently completed credits.  Please consult your academic calendar for details on your university's credit weighting system.

Are there scholarship, award, or bursary opportunities for successful applicants?

Yes. Trent University offers bursaries for students based on financial need. Please contact our Financial Aid Office for further details at financialaid@trentu.ca. 

Successful candidates to the Intermediate/Senior program identifying high-demand teaching subjects (Chemistry, French, Mathematics, Indigenous Studies, and Physics) may receive Merit Awards. External scholarship opportunities are available through the Ontario College of Teachers and the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario.

Please refer to their websites for further information. Awards are offered to exceptional candidates based on their performance in the Bachelor of Education program. Prizes are awarded upon completion of their B.Ed. degree. For further details please visit the Awards and Bursaries webpage

Is it possible to apply to the Consecutive Education program as a mature student?

The School of Education seeks to recruit teacher candidates from all walks of life who will bring a variety of perspectives and experiences to the classroom and to the teaching profession in general. To that end, no special consideration will be given to mature students. All applicants will be assessed on the same criteria based on the merits of the academic and Profile of Experience components of their application.

I live outside the Peterborough area. Can I complete my placements in the district where I live?

Teacher candidates must complete their practicum within our partner School Boards. These boards include Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and designated schools within Durham District School Board. You will complete a 15-day alternative practicum, which you may set up yourself, that can be competed in other school boards. You can also complete this practicum in an alternative-education setting.

I am interested in working with the Catholic school system after graduation. Can I complete my practicum placements in a Catholic school setting?

Yes. Trent has a partnership with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. Teacher candidates entering the Primary/Junior or Intermediate/Senior streams will have the option of working with the Catholic school board. The program curriculum will incorporate the historical, legal and social context for Ontario Catholic education.

I have specific questions about the Consecutive Bachelor of Education program. How can I find out more?

Please contact the Education Enrolment Advisor at educationadmissions@trentu.ca or visit trentu.ca/education