MA/MS in Environmental and Life Sciences at Trent University in Peterborough, Canada is a master's degree in Environmental Sciences programme. The programme runs for 24 months, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 24,339 per year (CAD 8,250 per year for local students).
Trent University's Master of Science in Environmental and Life Sciences is an interdisciplinary graduate program drawing on faculty from Biology, Chemistry, Forensic Science, and the School of the Environment, along with adjunct faculty from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industry. Research areas include the conservation of biodiversity, the spread of contaminants and infectious diseases, sustainability, and water quality, supported by facilities such as the Trent Water Quality Centre, the Institute for Watershed Science, and the Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre. The program is delivered on the Peterborough campus over 24 months and does not offer a co-op stream, though eligible Trent undergraduates can pursue an accelerated route directly from their honours degree. Students combine lab and field research with teaching and mentoring through course instruction, and have opportunities to present their work at national and international conferences and through research exchanges abroad. Faculty include Canada Research Chairs and an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair, and the program connects students with researchers, government bodies, and industry partners beyond Trent itself. It suits students seeking a research-intensive graduate degree in environmental science with a route into academic, government, or industry careers after graduation.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:77.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Applicants need a B.Sc. honours degree (a four-year undergraduate bachelor's degree) in Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related discipline, with a minimum average of B+ (77%), or equivalent, in the last two years of full-time study or the last ten full academic credits. International applicants must meet Trent's general graduate English-proficiency minimums: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 93 overall with no section below 22 (or, on the rescaled test, 4.5 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in Writing and 4.0 in Speaking), PTE Academic 60 overall with no sub-score below 60, or CAEL 60 overall with at least 60 in Writing; Duolingo is not accepted. No GRE score is required. The programme also requires two academic or professional references, a plan of study, a resume or CV, proof of citizenship, and a faculty supervisor confirmed before applying.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall, Winter and Spring
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through OUAC with no fixed Trent-set closing date: Ontario secondary students starting September 2027 receive offers in rounds (early December 2026, early February 2027, mid-March 2027 and early May 2027, with final grades reviewed in July 2027 for anyone still waiting), Bachelor of Education's first offers go out mid-January 2027, and all other domestic applicants are assessed on a rolling basis. International applicants use a firmer timeline: applications open September 16, 2026 for fall and summer 2027 and June 3, 2026 for winter 2027, with deadlines of June 15, 2027 (fall, some programs by February 1, 2027), November 1, 2026 (winter) and February 1, 2027 (summer), after which offers continue rolling until programs fill. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
