Eligibility Criteria
A Ph.D. Admission Committee, a sub-committee of the Ph.D. Council, assesses student applications and makes recommendations for admittance to the Graduate Studies Committee of Trent University. To be eligible for admission to the program, applicants must meet Trent University’s admission requirements, that is, the applicant must possess a Master’s degree, or equivalent, with at least an upper second class standing (a grade of B+ or better). In their application, students is invited to indicate their area(s) of research interest.The Indigenous Studies Admissions Committee must be satisfied that a student-supervisor team will be able to carry out the proposed research.
Ideally, applicants will possess a Master’s degree in the field of Indigenous Studies. However, given the limited number of Master’s programs available in Indigenous Studies, highly qualified students from other disciplinary-based graduate programs will be considered for admission. In some cases, students with a Master’s degree but without a background in Indigenous Studies will be required to enrol in a make-up or Qualifying Year Program in Indigenous Studies to ensure an adequate academic background in Indigenous Studies. The Qualifying Year will consist of between four and five upper-year undergraduate courses in Indigenous Studies; the number of courses depending on the student’s background and qualifications. Successful completion of a Qualifying Year will permit the student to compete for admission on an equal basis with other applicants. Admission to the Ph.D. program is not, however, guaranteed.