Founded in 1964, the university is known for its Oxbridge college system, small class sizes, and 11 on-campus nature reserves.

[4] Although Trent University is a predominantly undergraduate institution, programs are also offered at the graduate and doctorate levels.

[6] The campaign to establish Peterborough's first post-secondary institution coincided with the Ontario government's plan to create new and expand existing universities, and was furthered influenced by public pressure and the general belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society.

[10] Georges Vanier, the then Governor General of Canada, officially opened Trent University in the following year.

[11] Modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906, Trent established a bicameral system consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policies, and a board of governors (citizens), exercising exclusive control over financial policies and having formal authority in all other matters.

[16] As a collegiate university, the Symons campus in Peterborough is currently made up of five colleges that each have their own residence halls, amenities, academic affiliations, dons, and student government (or Cabinet).

The student governments and their respective committees cooperate with the College Office in planning and delivering a variety of events for both non-resident and resident members, such as visiting guest speakers, dinners and dances, the bi-annual College Weekend, and a number of intramural co-educational sport competitions.

[21] In fall 1999, a university task force recommended closing the college as a cost-saving measure, which led to a flurry of protest and a successful campaign to save Traill.

It is named after the early 17th century French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who visited the Otonabee area in 1615.

A noted cartographer, diplomat, and soldier, he also founded Quebec City in 1608 and his sword is featured in the Trent crest.

Past "the Link" (a path leading to the instructional area of the college that bisects the residences) are a set of faculty offices and the main dining hall, which looks to the north and east of the grounds.

[27] Also located in Otonabee College is the Wenjack Theatre, which provides a venue for multimedia lecture presentations, as well as theatrical productions by amateur and professional companies.

[citation needed] In November 2023, Trent announced that its sixth college would be named Gidigaa Migizi College, after the late Gidigaa Migizi (Doug Williams), a respected member of the Trent community and an Elder and community member of Curve Lake First Nation.

[30] Meaning spotted eagle in English, the name Gidigaa Migizi College was recommended by the university's Elders & Traditional Knowledge Keepers Council and approved by Trent's Board of Governors.

[30] Trent's Durham GTA campus in Oshawa has been offering courses for over 50 years, initially in classrooms rented from the Eastwood Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Later, Trent took space at Durham College and steadily expanded the range of courses available before acquiring a former elementary school on Thornton Road.

(current focus is in physical anthropology and archaeology), Applications of Modelling in the Natural & Social Sciences M.A./M.Sc., Public Texts (English) M.A., History M.A., Cultural Studies M.A.

In addition, the centre offers, in collaboration with Carleton University, a Canadian Studies Ph.D. program, which was the first of its kind in Canada.

and Student Academic Workers (Graduate Teaching Assistants, Markers) are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3908.

The paper has a print run of 1,500 copies per month from August to April during the academic year, and is distributed on the Trent campus and around the Peterborough community free of charge.

[44] Absynthe Magazine is another student paper, which was founded in 1999 and is a submissions-based publication that is reliant on Trent's community members to provide content.

[citation needed] The final scenes of Urban Legends: Final Cut (2000) were filmed at Trent University,[citation needed] as well as most of The Novice (2021) [45] There are many varsity and intramural sports at the university that compete at the varsity level under the name Excalibur, in men's and women's curling, cross country, rugby union, volleyball, fencing, rowing, competitive swimming, and soccer.

[citation needed] A new rowing and paddling tank, named in honour of former head coach Carol Love, was recently opened[when?]

Trent's lacrosse team went through the 2008 campaign with a perfect regular season of 10-0, winning the Eastern Championship.

Competing in the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association, Trent, over the last 10 years has grown into a top team in the east division.

[citation needed] Since then, the Trent women's volleyball team has had one athlete inducted into the OCAA Hall of Fame.