Registration and Course Enrolment

The School of Graduate Studies provides the most up-to-date course timetable information for graduate courses in all terms (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer). Detailed course descriptions and program requirements are in the Graduate Academic Calendar. 

To learn more information about the specific requirements of completing your program, please contact your program directly.

The School of Graduate Studies has three (3) terms in a year:

GF = Fall term (September 1-December 31)
GW = Winter term (January 1-April 30) 
GS = Spring term (May 1- August 31) 

Fall Term (2024GF)

Winter Term (2025GW)

Spring/Summer Term (2025GS)

Once you have accepted your offer, met the academic conditions of the offer and paid your tuition deposit (if applicable), your next step will be to register in your program and enroll in courses. In the Graduate Timetable you can filter by term, location, and program department to see course schedules and begin thinking of your schedule. Please be advised that the timetable is subject to change and it is important to check back at the start of each term to confirm course location, day and time. 

When you are ready, to begin the registration process, follow these steps:

Step 1:  Accessing the Self Service

• Students who have met all of their admission conditions will have their student account status become fully active approximately 6-8 weeks prior to their starting term (July, November and March). 

Step 2: Plan your Course Schedule 

• Once you are an active student, you can begin planning your program placeholders and courses via the Self-Service portal prior to registration opening (optional). While this does not register you in the courses, it allows you to map out a plan of your schedule and be ready for when registration officially opens.
• To plan your schedule, follow steps 3 and 4. Once registration opens, a blue button will appear allowing you to register your plan and officially join the program and courses you have selected (if offered). 

Step 3: Register in your Program

• Before you can register for courses, you must first register in your program. You will need to do this each term you are an active student. This includes terms when you are doing a co-op or working on a thesis.  
• To register in your program:
  • Within Self Service, select Course Catalog 
  • Use the Advanced Search or subject search feature to select Graduate Studies Full Time or Graduate Studies Part Time. 
  • Three choices will appear: Masters Level, Graduate Diploma Level and Doctoral Level. Choose the appropriate program level. 
  • View Available Sections for each status. Add the graduate placeholder to select term to schedule your program for registration. This will successfully add the program placeholder to your Course Plan.
• From the main menu, you can then select Student Planning to review your plan, or register once registration is available. The program placeholder will now appear on your schedule with no meeting time. 
• If registration is available, select the blue "Register" button. If successful, the registered program placeholder will appear in green.

Step 4: Enroll in your Courses

• Once you are registered in your program, you can register for courses. You can plan your schedule prior to registration opening or directly register once registration opens.
• To register in your courses:
  • Within Self Service, select Course Catalog. 
  • Use the Advanced or Subject Search feature to narrow your course choices (ex. by grad term), or you can use the search bar in the top right corner to search courses for your program (ex. Forensics) and narrow your search field by selecting graduate under academic level.
  • View the Available Sections for each course to see what is being offered, the course description and scheduling details. 
  • To select the course, click on the course to add it to your Course Plan.
• From the main menu, you can then select Student Planning to review your plan, or register once registration is available. The course will appear in your schedule with course details. 
• If successful, the registered course will appear in green. 

The Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Program (OVGS) allows a graduate student enrolled at an Ontario university (Home University) to complete a graduate course at another Ontario University (Host University) while remaining registered at their own institution.

• OVGS Instructions 
• OVGS Application - available upon Request
• OVGS Notification of Withdrawal Form - available upon request

A Verification of Enrolment (VOE) serves as an official copy of your registration as a full-time or part-time graduate student at Trent University. The fee for each verification of enrolment is $16.00, plus tax. To order a verification of enrolment please submit this request under Academics tab in your myTrent portal.

The Office of the Registrar oversees records and financial aid at the university. Their services for graduate students include the processing of official transcripts. 

All Trent University transcripts include a record of every term that you have attended and include both undergraduate and graduate studies, as applicable. Graduate students can order an official transcript through their MyTrent portal under the Transcript option, which will be shared with them via MyCreds when available. The fee for each official Transcript share credit is $16, plus tax. Fees are charged in Canadian dollars. Payments are non-refundable.

• Official Name Change - Request form available under Academics > Registration on the myTrent portal
• Graduate Student Annual Progress Report 
• Registration in Collaborative Specialization
• Course Add / Drop
• Course Add / Drop Course - outside of your home department 
• Request for Course Audit  
• Time Limit Extension

For the following requests, please see the "Graduate Registration Forms" option under Academics > Academic Record on the myTrent portal.

• Change to Part Time Status
• Change to Full Time Status 
• Change to Program Stream 
• Leave of Absence
• Withdrawal from Trent University
• Request for Extended Leave of Absence for Full Time Students

Q: How do I opt-out of health and dental coverage?

• Domestic students have the option to opt-out of health and dental coverage. More information can be found through the Student VIP site.

Q: Am I able to opt-out of UHIP coverage if I am not in Canada?

• International students who are not studying in Canada may opt-out of UHIP coverage through the MyTrent portal: MyTrent > SUPPORT > Health and Wellness > Mandatory In-Ontario University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) opt-out form

It is important that you inform your graduate program and Supervisor (if applicable) of your decision to withdraw from your graduate program. Once you have been withdrawn from your graduate program, you are no longer a student and may not attend classes, receive supervision, or make demands on any of the resources of the university.  

Voluntary withdrawal will require:

• The completion and submission of a Request for a Withdrawal to your graduate program.
• The repayment of certain scholarships. Repayment amounts are calculated based on the tuition refund policy outlined in the Graduate Academic Calendar.
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) entitlements will be recalculated based on the date of withdrawal.

When your withdrawal has been approved and processed, any refund that you may be eligible for will be authorized according to the published dates in the Graduate Academic Calendar.

Readmission:

If you wish to resume your former degree program, which you left in good standing, and have not attended any further academic institutions since leaving Trent University, you may apply for readmission by submitting a new application to the same program.

If your readmission is approved, you are required to remain registered for a minimum of one full term to complete your program (without a refund of tuition).

Under certain conditions, it is possible to switch from one graduate program stream to another. Stream switches are relatively rare and should not be considered to be automatically approved. The most common switch may occur if there are two streams in one program. For example, a course based stream student may apply to switch to a thesis based stream in the same graduate program.

To switch streams, complete a Request for a Change to Program Stream. This request must be approved by both your Supervisor (if applicable) and your Graduate Program Director.

You can submit at any time. You will receive a confirmation email when your request has been reviewed. Requests received after the start of the current term will be updated for the following term. Retroactive changes for past terms and exceptions for missed deadlines are not permitted.  

All changes to your immigration status in Canada are to be reported to the University. A change to your immigration status may result in a tuition fee reassessment and removal of the international differential fee.

Request an update to your immigration status:

If you need to update your immigration status, you can request a change by submitting the required documentation prior to the start of the next term. If your request is approved, your status will be revised and if applicable, your tuition amounts will be updated.  

When can I request an update to my immigration status?

You can submit at any time. You will receive a confirmation email when your request is completed. Requests received after the start of the current term will be updated for the following term. Retroactive changes for past terms and exceptions for missed deadlines are not permitted.  

Please visit the Government of Canada Immigration website for more information on immigration policies. 

The University has defined Program Time Limits in which you must complete the degree requirements for your graduate program. Time limits also govern the eligibility criteria for many scholarships and awards. The limits are intended to be targets for you (and your supervisor if applicable) to work towards while completing your degree.

What if I need additional time to complete my program?

While the limits are set up to help guide your academic journey, the University acknowledges that you may exceed the time limits of your program. Once you near the time whereby your degree requirements should have been, but are not yet met, you are required to complete a Time Limit Extension request process.

This process serves as an opportunity for you, your supervisor, committee, program, and faculty to review your academic progress. For students who are progressing well, the process will normally result in constructive feedback to both you and your supervisor from the department/school that may include resources to help facilitate or accelerate your academic progress. It is also the intent that the continuation process will provide you with a revised timeline for completion and a checklist to help you stay on track.

For students who have experienced documented challenges with their academic progress, the request for a Time Limit Extension is a time to honestly, transparently and collectively assess their likelihood of success to complete their program. If necessary, a decision to discontinue your enrolment either through voluntary or mandated withdrawal may be reached.

The University is eager for you to succeed in your program within timelines that meet both the University’s and your goals. The Graduate Studies community encourages open conversations about your degree progression, and how you can be supported if you experience challenges that impact your academic path. If you have a known or unknown disability, illness, or condition that may be impacting your progress, we encourage you to connect with Student Accessibility Services.

What is the process for an Extension?

If you reach the time limit for your program, you may request to continue your studies beyond term limits by following these steps:

• Meet with your supervisor (and/or committee) to discuss your progress, proposed timeline for academic/research activities, and potential resources to assist you in successfully completing your degree requirements.
• Submit a Request for Program Extension to your graduate program prior to the term that the extension is required. Be sure to include a plan for completion as part of the request.
• Contact your graduate program office for further clarification on the process.

You will receive a confirmation email when your request has been reviewed.