The Trent/Swansea Law Dual Degree program, a collaboration between Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, and Swansea University, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The program was the first of its kind between the two institutions and allows students to earn two degrees in six years by studying at both universities.
Trent University, established in 1964, is recognized as one of Canada’s leading undergraduate universities. It enrolls nearly 14,000 students across its Peterborough and Durham campuses and offers about 100 degree programs. The university is ranked fourth among Canadian undergraduate institutions and reports a 95% employment rate for its graduates.
The dual degree initiative has expanded beyond law to include chemical engineering and medical sciences. Students begin their studies at Trent University for two years before transferring to Swansea University for two or three years, depending on their chosen field. The program does not require additional applications or entrance exams and guarantees accommodation for students’ first year at each institution.
Graduates receive degrees from both universities and benefit from international study experience. In the past decade, 127 Trent dual degree students have studied at Swansea, with 67 more participating this year. Dual degree students in law are often among Swansea’s top graduates. For example, Maggie Jessop, the leading student in 2025, has been nominated for a Wales-wide award. These students also contribute to Swansea’s achievements in mooting, debating, and international client competitions.
The partnership between the universities originated from a student exchange agreement established in 1988. Since then, Swansea has sent 48 students to Trent and received 49 Trent students in return. Senior leadership from both universities maintain close ties, with recent visits including meetings between the President of Trent and senior staff at Swansea.
The collaboration continues to evolve, introducing new joint initiatives such as a Comparative International Criminology program launching this autumn. This online course will involve students from both universities sharing perspectives on criminal justice systems.
Reflecting on her experience, Elenor Marano, a 2025 law graduate now starting her legal career in Canada, said: “Trent and Swansea University are an even match when it comes to opportunity, care and experience. The learning environments offered more than just theory, they pushed me to bridge my learning through practical application in a supportive environment. Faculty never made me feel as if I was a number, rather they cared to hear my interests, struggles and ideas.
“The opportunities, the community, and the care I found at both universities did not just prepare me for a career, but helped me grow into a more confident, compassionate and engaged person.”
Evan Roitz, a 2025 graduate of the Dual Degree Chemical Engineering programme, commented: “I chose the Trent-Swansea dual degree programme as I was interested in engineering and the industrial applications of chemistry, and studying at Swansea University was an incredible experience. I enjoyed my time at Swansea so much that I chose to stay on for another year and have just graduated with a first-class MEng in Chemical Engineering. I’m now working in Peterborough, Ontario for BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada as a Quality Assurance Engineering Assistant.”
Dr. Mark Skinner, Provost and Vice-President Academic at Trent University, stated: “The success of this partnership is a testament to the student experiences at Trent and Swansea and reflects the desires of students to have unique and seamless learning pathways to professional degrees. All of the Trent-Swansea dual degree programmes offer a structure for those aiming for a particular career goal, but also flexibility and variety to inspire their learning. The law programme, in particular, allows for students to customize their path by choosing from a variety of majors at Trent to pair with their law degree. Our two institutions want to see supported and inspired students who will thrive in their careers, and it’s working through these programmes.”
Professor Paul Boyle, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, added: “Trent University is one of our key international partners, and we are proud to have developed a number of innovative dual degree programmes that afford students a unique opportunity to study in both Canada and Wales. As we mark ten years of these transformative programmes, we celebrate the growing community of students - now over 100 strong - who have benefitted from this global academic experience. Our international strategic partnerships are critical to Swansea University’s vision for the future, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Trent to create even more opportunities for our students and staff.”