ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

Admissions Requirements

Applicants are expected to:

• Hold a BA or B.Sc Honours (or the equivalent) in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Psychology with at least an A- average GPA (80%)
• Have completed a research thesis
• Applicants must demonstrate competence in advanced statistics, normally through completion of two graduate-level statistics courses with a minimum grade of A- (80%) or equivalent.
  • For internal applicants: This refers to PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411 completed during the MA.
  • For external applicants: Equivalent graduate-level coursework may satisfy this requirement, subject to review by the Graduate Committee.
  • Students who have not met this standard may be admitted conditionally and required to complete PSYC 5410 and/or 5411 and receive a grade of A- (80%) or equivalent during the first year of their PhD.
  • Applicants admitted to the PhD program who have previously completed PSYC 5410 and 5411, or an approved equivalent at another institution, with a minimum grade of A- (80%) will have their methods requirement waived upon admission. If waived, these 1.0 credits in the program must be replaced with other courses offered in Psychology at the graduate level.

Applicants judged to be deficient in preparation may be asked to complete course work in addition to the PhD program requirements.

Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee acceptance into the program.

Faculty Supervisor

To be admitted, a professor must agree to supervise you. Because Faculty members don’t provide us with their availability, it is best that you contact them directly.

Our researchers are exploring psychology’s major areas including:

• cognitive
• developmental
• forensic
• health
• personality and social

You can find information about the professors in the area that interests you by visiting our Research Areas page.

Required Documents

Applicants must provide the following documents:

• 1-page Statement of Interest – should outline the applicant’s proposed area of doctoral research
• CV
• Two academic references
• Academic transcript(s) and degree certificate(s) from each post-secondary institution attended (past and/or current)
• If applicable: Language Proficiency scores – see below

Additional information on required documents is available on the .

Language Proficiency

Proficiency in English is necessary to pursue graduate studies at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University. All applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy this requirement in one of the following ways:

1. To present an official overall score of 80 on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment; or
2. To present an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 97 on the internet-based test (IBT) with a minimum score of 24 in writing and speaking and a minimum score of 22 in reading and listening if the test was taken before Jan 21, 2026. If the TOEFL IBT was taken on or after Jan 21, 2026 required is an overall score of 5.0 with a minimum score in each component of: 5.0 (writing), 5.0 (speaking), 4.5 (reading), and 5.0 (listening); or
3. To present an official overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.5, with a minimum of 7.0 in each band score; or
4. To present an official overall score of 73 on the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) with a minimum score of 73 in each Communicative Skill; or
5. To have completed ESLA 1900 or ESLA 1905 at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University with a final grade of B+ or higher; or
6. To present official certification (transcripts) to indicate that you have studied for the last three years (full-time, non-ESL) in a university in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom or any other country in which the primary language is English, and where the language of instruction in the relevant educational institution was exclusively English. Note: Letters from your universities stating the medium of instruction is English are not acceptable.

TOEFL codes are as follows:

• 0854 – Institution
• 58 – Psychology: Experimental / Developmental
• 79 – Psychology: Social
• 08 – Psychology: Other

Additional information on required documents is available on the .

Application Deadlines

Winter Admission

Domestic Students

Apply no later than November 1 to be considered for funding and admission for the Winter term.

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis for as long as space remains.
• Only completed applications will be considered.

International Students

Apply no later than August 1 to be considered for funding and admission for the Winter term.

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis for as long as space remains.
• Only completed applications will be considered.
• International candidates are encouraged to submit their applications early enough to allow sufficient time to secure Student Visas if offered admission.

Fall Admission

All Students

Apply no later than January 15 to be considered for funding and admission for the Fall term.

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis for as long as space remains.
• Only completed applications will be considered.

Late Applications

Apply no later than August 31 to be considered for funding and admission for the Fall term if funds and space remain.

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis for as long as space remains.
• Only completed applications will be considered.

Take the Next Steps