Best Psychology Universities in Canada

Are you a huge Buffalo Big fan from ‘Silence of the Lamb’? Were you intrigued by his character in the movie? Are you curious about the human psyche and aspire to build a career in it? Then, a career in Psychology can help you explore the several aspects of human behaviour and mind. There are several prestigious universities offering excellent Psychology courses around the world and Canada is one of them. If you are someone who aspires to become a Psychologist and study the depth of conscious and unconscious phenomena, here is an insightful blog which will help you make a concise decision while choosing from the list of best Psychology universities in Canada. 

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Top Psychology Universities in Canada

Canada is home to some of the best institutions offering excellent Psychology courses. Moreover, these courses are globally recognised, giving you an opportunity to work in any part of the world. We have listed some of the top universities to pursue Psychology as per the QS Rankings 2024:

University	QS Rankings 2023 for Psychology	QS World Rankings 2024
University of British Columbia	22	=34
University of Toronto	15	21
McGill University	28	30
Simon Fraser University	201-250	318
Université de Montréal	151-200	=141
University of Waterloo	151-200	112
Western University	101-150	114
York University	101-150	353
McMaster University	151-200	30
Queen’s University at Kingston	151-200	209
University of Victoria	251-300	322
University of Guelph	–	=486
University of Quebec	–	–
University of Manitoba	–	671-680

BSc Psychology Universities in Canada

BSc in Psychology is a three-year undergraduate course you can pursue directly after clearing class 12. It has become quite popular and Canadian universities are considered some of the best universities to study abroad.

1. University of British Columbia
2. University of Toronto
3. McGill University
4. York University
5. Queen’s University
6. University of Waterloo
7. University of Alberta
8. Dalhousie University
9. McMaster University
10. University of Victoria

Clinical Psychology Universities in Canada

Clinical psychology course is available at different levels of study. From diploma to PhD you can study clinical psychology in top-ranked universities in Canada:

1. University of Toronto
2. University of British Columbia
3. McGill University
4. University of Calgary
5. Queen’s University
6. Western University
7. Dalhousie University
8. University of Montreal

Now, let’s explore the best Psychology Universities in Canada in further detail:

The University of British Columbia

Founded in 1908, The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching constantly ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. UBC’s Psychology department is a top-ranked research department in Canada. It provides faculty from around the world having expertise in major psychological projects in language acquisition, child development, environmental issues, human behaviour, etc. The university offers disciplinary specializations in Clinical, Cognitive Science, Behavioural Neuroscience, Health, Developmental, Learning Enhancement, Social Personality, etc.

University of Toronto 

Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is a reputed Psychology university in Canada with its Department of Psychology providing students with on-site research projects under the world’s reputed researchers and scholars. It has various degree programs in Cognitive Science and Psychology. On the whole, the university aims to train students with the skill sets and knowledge essential to enter the fast-paced industry.

McGill University

Founded in 1821, McGill University is ranked among the top 30 research universities in Canada attracting thousands of international students from over 150 countries. The university holds the highest percentage of PhD students as compared to any other Canadian university. With a reputation of being one of the world’s greatest universities, it offers a wide range of degree programs in Psychology. The Department of Psychology offers a 3-year BA in Psychology for undergraduate students.

University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is considered one of the best Psychology universities in Canada. It was founded in 1957. The university is affiliated part of the University of Western Ontario, another prominent university offering UG programs in General Psychology. The Psychology Department of the university provides varied specialisations in Clinical, Developmental, Social and Cognitive Psychology, to name a few. It is quite interesting to know that the University of Waterloo has been ranked as Canada’s most innovative university for the past 27 years by Maclean. 

University of Victoria

The University of Victoria is a public research university situated in Victoria, Canada. The university is famous for offering students with dynamic learning approach along with practical exposure to understand their respective fields of career. The university offers various bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Psychology. The courses aim to provide students with an in-depth understanding of human behaviour with the help of practical sessions and guest lectures from Psychology scholars. 

University of Guelph

The University of Guelph was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College. It is known for its strengths in areas as diverse as Biotechnology, Psychology,  Family Development, Environmental Studies, etc. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses in Psychology with an aim to encourage students to participate in the ongoing research in the department through its independent study course. 

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is considered one of the finest Psychology universities in Canada, known to conduct the largest amount of research as compared to other universities annually. The university offers graduate programs in Psychology that focus on behavioural and mental studies. The courses offer students a comprehensive knowledge of dealing with mental illness and several other human behavioural conditions.

Eligibility Criteria 

All students who wish to pursue psychology in Canada have to meet the minimum eligibility criteria set for the programme. The eligibility criteria are likely to differ based on the chosen degree. Here is the eligibility criteria for psychology aspirants must fulfil-

• For bachelor’s, students have to complete 10+2 exams from a recognised Indian board with acceptable marks.
• For a master’s, students need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or an equivalent programme from a recognised university to qualify for admission to the Canadian universities
• All students whose first language isn’t English must produce scores on English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc. 
• Recommendation letters and statement of purpose are important for admissions.

Application Process

The application process to apply to a university in Canada is the same for all intakes. Here is an overview of the step-by-step application process for Psychology Universities in Canada:

1. Visit the official website of the university you are interested in pursuing an MBA from.
2. Check the course curriculum and the eligibility requirements.
3. Click on the application form of the respective university.
4. First, you need to create an account using your mobile number or email address.
5. You will receive an email or SMS on your registered contact number with login details and verification.
6. Use the login details provided and enter your personal details ( name, gender, date of birth)
7. Enter your academic qualifications and upload the required documents.
8. Select the course and pay the application fee.
9. The application fee is different for every university and can be paid through debit/credit card or internet banking.
10. Submit your application form, you can also track your application form through your account.
11. Students who have been selected will be required to attend a virtual interview by some universities.

Documents Required

• Official academic transcripts
• Scanned copy of the passport
• CV/ Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• English language proficiency test scores
• Statement of Purpose
• Two Reference Letters
• Postgraduate applicants have to submit a translation of the degree certificate in case the degree certificate is in another language other than English.

Specialisations

Psychology is a broad and fascinating area of study with tremendous career and learning opportunities. The top Psychology universities in Canada offer a prolific curriculum which focuses on practical and theoretical learning. They also provide a wide range of specialisations for students to explore and excel in. Here are some of the most popular specialisations-

Developmental Psychology	Clinical Psychology	Forensic Psychology	Social Psychology
Educational Psychology	Industrial Psychology	Cognitive Psychology	Child Psychology
Abnormal Psychology	Health Psychology	Family	Biopsychology

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Career Outlook

Psychologists probe the complex ways that people think, behave, feel, communicate and perceive the world around them. Some psychologists focus on clinical work with patients while others devote themselves to researching and exploring the diverse field of psychological behaviour. Let’s take a look at the list of popular job prospects in Psychology.

• Child Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• School Psychology
• Social Work
• Industrial Psychology
• Counselling
• Therapist 
• Sports Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Social Psychology

FAQs

As exciting and challenging as it is, working towards improving the mental and health conditions of people is one of the most rewarding parts of working as a psychologist. Pursuing sufficient education can help you take a step forward towards this dream. Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you discover psychology universities in Canada. Making career decisions is never easy but with the help of our experts at Leverage Edu, we can make this journey a remarkable one for you. Get in touch with us and get the best career advice to kickstart your career in psychology.