What You Need to Know About Studying Psychology in Canada

Psychology is a popular program to study in Canada. But, before you apply, what do you need to know about studying Psychology in Canada? Questions like which are the best universities for Psychology, what grades do I need, what subjects do I need and what program should I take might be some of the questions running through your mind. Well, I will endeavour to answer some of your questions here.

Where are Best Psychology Programs?

Often rank makes a difference when deciding where to study but in Canada, ranking isn’t as important as say in a country like Pakistan. But if rank is important to you, then these 3 are among those which rank in the top 10 Psychology programs in Canada:

• University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

• University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

• Western University, London, Ontario

At the University of Alberta, you can take Psychology in the Faculty of Arts or Science and Education students will take required Education Psychology courses as part of their degree requirements. Students may also take courses for a Research Certificate to enhance their career profile. Both Alberta and Waterloo offer paid Co-op Work Experience terms with their Psychology degrees. Western University offers international undergraduate students several options that included General, Honours and even a combined Psych/Business and a Cognitive Neurology specialization.

B.A. Psychology or BSc. Psychology?

Students may take Psychology either as an Arts student or a Science student. Most students ask to take their degree in Science, but this can pose a problem for that international student who studied Pre-Medical in high school. In Pakistan where Pre-Medical includes Physics, Biology and Chemistry, applying and getting admission to a Canadian university causes an issue. Science programs, even in Psychology, require applicants to have high school Math, equivalent to Grade 12. So now what does a student do who studied Pre-Medical without Math?

While there are several ways to “fix” the problem, the easiest way is to take Psychology in the Faculty of Arts. Most Canadian universities don’t ask for Math if you are applying as an Arts student. If you are one of those students who doesn’t want to take Psychology through Arts, you might reconsider once you know what courses you can take as an Arts’ student and also what opportunities await graduates with a B.A. in Psychology.

While studying Psychology as an Arts student, you can still take Psychology Science courses. Most Canadian universities expect their students to take some Science electives. So it is here that you can take courses from the Science side, for example, Neurology, Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, etc. So you will still be taking Science courses as an Arts student.

The other thing to note is the job opportunities that await an Arts Graduate. Graduates can go into Human Resources, Counselling, Social Work, homes for juvenile delinquents, immigration social services, business, the list is very long as to possible places to find a meaningful job.

Unique Psychology Programs

• Bachelor of Child & Youth Care at MacEwan University provides you with the knowledge and skills to help individuals and family manage mental and emotional health issues. MacEwan University is in Edmonton, Alberta.

• Applied Forensic Psychology at St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia provides the student with psychological concepts, methods, and practical skills and their application within the legal system. St Francis Xavier is one of Canada’s top undergraduate universities.

• Dual Degree, Honours BA in Psychology and Honours Business Administration at Western University in London, Ontario allows students to complete all the requirements of these 2 degrees in 5 years. Math is an admission requirement. Both Western’s Psychology programs and their Ivey School of Business rank high in the world rankings.

These are just a few of the unique Psychology programs you can study in Canada. Also, choosing a minor or a certificate along with your Psychology major can also give you a degree that is designed to meet your individual interests.

Admission Requirements for Psychology

Admission requirements to study Psychology can differ depending on the program you take and also, if it is done in the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Arts. Note that this is a general rule and some universities require Math regardless of faculty. For example, at the University of Alberta, you can take a BA in Psychology and Mental Health at their Augustana Faculty where Math is required, but on the main campus, their BA in Psychology doesn’t require Math. So make sure to ask us or check the university’s website to know what their requirements are.

• Requirements as an Arts student: - Art’s students general just need to have 5 core subjects whether that is a combination of O/A levels, final year Intermediate (Pre-Med students can apply), IB or the US/AP curriculum. IELTS may be required depending on the curriculum studied. For example, O/A levels and IB students might be exempt but Intermediate students will need to write IELTS or another English language exam.

• Requirements as a Science student: - If you are a student who wants to study Psychology as a Science student, then you will need to have Mathematics. A good combination of high school courses would be Math, Biology and Chemistry. If you are lacking Math, then you may consider taking Math online or starting at UNBC where you can take Integrated Science before transferring to a BSc. Psychology program. You will take a Math course in your first year to qualify for a Psychology Science degree.

While this article gives you answers to some of your questions, don’t stop here. Contact Go 2 Canada Education Services to benefit from their expertise in Canada’s post secondary education sector.

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