Education and Talent

The City of Oshawa is the proud home of Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham GTA, and the Queen’s University Lakeridge MD Family Medicine Program. These globally-recognized institutions and programs offer our region access to top talent, are home to world-renowned centres for research and development, and generate innovative business solutions for our community. With over 30,000 post-secondary students enrolled annually and a growing global alumni population of more than 140,000, our community is brimming with opportunity for those looking to tap into talent.

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. Since opening its doors in 1967, Durham College has provided high-quality post-secondary education and produced outstanding graduates in various established, emerging and dynamic fields. The college is committed to training future leaders and is home to more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students, over 1,600 full and part-time staff, and a growing alumni population that exceeds 67,000.

With campuses in Oshawa and neighbouring Whitby, the college offers more than 140 market-driven programs in different disciplines, including culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology. Taught by industry experts, DC's programs provide students with the skills they need to stand at the forefront of today's job market. 

With two campuses in Oshawa, Ontario Tech University is a modern, forwarding-thinking university that advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. Researchers, students and graduates are inspired and equipped to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world through understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology. With seven faculties, more than 10,000 students in over 115 programs, the STEM-focused university houses more than 80 specialized research laboratories and facilities. Ontario Tech is home to 11 Canada Research Chairs, attracting world-class talent in fields such as healthcare simulation, the Internet of Things, linguistics information visualization, artificial intelligence, adaptive aerodynamics, nuclear fuel and materials, and electric energy storage systems for transportation electrification.

Trent University Durham GTA - the Oshawa campus of Trent University - opened in 2010, building upon 50 years of presence in Durham Region. With nearly 3,000 students enrolled annually, the campus offers Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees, post-graduate certificates and master's programs. The campus focuses on the needs of business management and community health and wellness, offering community-based research to their partners. Trent University Durham GTA is renowned for the innovative and ground-breaking research conducted by faculty and students, on campus and around the world. The Trent University Durham GTA Advanced Learning Centre, located in the heart of Downtown Oshawa at 11 Simcoe Street North, opened to hundreds of new students in the fall of 2023.

Queen’s University and Lakeridge Health partnered on an innovative and first-of-its-kind-in-Canada education and training approach that will help to address physician shortages. Building on a longstanding partnership, Queen's University and Lakeridge Health are poised to help address the primary care physician shortage in southeastern Ontario by taking a novel approach to medical education. This new model seamlessly integrates the training of medical students and residents, which are currently separate programs, to graduate practice-ready, community-focused physicians. As part of a provincial announcement that will expand medical school seats across Ontario, the Queen’s Lakeridge Health collaboration for health sciences education began offering 20 new medical school seats in 2023 at the Lakeridge Health satellite campus. Queen’s University students will undergo classroom training at Lakeridge Health and engage in workplace experiences embedded in our community.