Information to applicants applying for admission to graduate studies

The Clinical Psychology program offers training in the scientist-practitioner model. It received full accreditation from the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) in 1986 and has been subsequently reaccredited on a regular basis, most recently in 2018. Learn more about CPA accreditation. 

The program requires a minimum of 12 consecutive sessions in full-time residence. Although the program may be completed in a minimum of five years (including the internship), completion of all program requirements typically requires further sessions. The profile of students who graduated between September 2016 and June 2023 indicates a mean of 7.3 years to complete the program.

Students in the Clinical program complete 100% of their required courses and the majority of their remaining courses and clinical training (including psychological service delivery and report writing) in the language of the program (French, English) to which they were admitted. Accordingly, applicants must be fluent in the language associated with the program to which they apply.

For further information about the administrative policies and procedures, research and clinical practicum opportunities, and training outcomes, visit the Clinical program.

The MA-PhD in Experimental Psychology program requires a minimum of nine consecutive sessions in full-time residence. The profile of students who graduated between September 2016 and June 2023 indicates median of 6.6 years to complete the program. There are four fields representing the expertise that the program offers – behavioural neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and social/community psychology.

For further information about the administrative policies and procedures, visit the MA-PhD in Experimental Psychology.

Major Research Paper: The MA in Experimental Psychology MRP option requires a minimum of three consecutive sessions in full-time residence. There are four fields representing the expertise that the program offers – behavioural neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and social/community psychology. 

Course-Based with Co-op: The MA in Experimental Psychology Course-based and Co-op option requires a minimum of four consecutive sessions in full-time residence. 

For further information about the administrative policies and procedures, visit the MA in Experimental Psychology programs.

The normal minimum requirement for admission into either of the two programs (MA - PhD in Clinical Psychology or MA - PhD in Experimental Psychology) is the Honours Baccalaureate in Psychology, or its equivalent, with a minimal GPA of 8.0, including an Honour's thesis or an equivalent individual research project. In addition, course requirements are a course in History and Systems of Psychology (or its equivalent) and two courses in statistical analysis (or their equivalents). If these course requirements are not met at the time of admission, students will be required to complete them within the first two years of graduate studies. (For the program in Clinical Psychology, in order to meet a component of the academic requirements for registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, a minimum of twenty undergraduate psychology courses is required for admission.) 

Students who have completed a Master’s degree in Psychology may be given advanced standing. Admission to the Experimental Psychology program is possible on the basis of a four-year honours degree in another discipline relevant to Psychology, with a letter of support from the prospective supervisor. The degree must include a thesis or an equivalent independent research project and at least 36 credits (12 one-session courses) in Psychology, including two single-semester courses in statistics. Students with a strong background in mathematics, physical sciences, biological science, or computer science are especially encouraged to apply to the Experimental Program. 

Doctoral degrees from both programs can be obtained with a recognition of bilingual competence.

MA with Major Research Paper (MRP): 

The normal minimum requirement for admission is the Honours Bachelor in Psychology, or its equivalent, including an Honour's thesis or an equivalent individual research project. In addition, course requirements include a course in History and Systems of Psychology (or its equivalent), and two courses in statistical analysis (or their equivalents). If these course requirements are not met at the time of admission, the candidates will be required to complete them within the first year of graduate studies. 

Exceptionally, admission to the MA with MRP is possible on the basis of a four-year Honour's degree in another discipline relevant to Psychology, with a letter of support from the prospective supervisor. The degree must include a thesis or an equivalent individual research project and the equivalent of at least 36 units (12 one-term courses) in Psychology, including statistics and some research experience. 

Note: Students with a strong background in mathematics, physical sciences, biological science or computer science are especially encouraged to apply.

MA with Courses and Co-op: 

The normal minimum requirement for admission is the Honours Bachelor in Psychology, or its equivalent. In addition, course requirements include a course in History and Systems of Psychology (or its equivalent), and two courses in statistical analysis (or their equivalents). If these course requirements are not met at the time of admission, the candidates will be required to complete them within the first year of graduate studies. 

Exceptionally, admission to the MA Coursework is possible on the basis of a four-year Honour's degree in another discipline relevant to Psychology, with a letter of support from the Graduate Studies Committee. The degree must include the equivalent of at least 36 units in Psychology, including statistics and some research experience. 

Note: Students with a strong background in mathematics, physical sciences, biological science or computer science are especially encouraged to apply.

In order to be considered for admission for September 2025, your application must be received by November 15th, 2024, and the file must be complete with all required documents at the latest December 7th, 2024. Note that the Admissions Committee will consider strong applications after this deadline to the Experimental Program only if thesis supervisors remain available. The Admissions Committee will not consider applications to the Clinical Program after the application deadline. Equity is a University of Ottawa policy: Indigenous and Black individuals, other individuals of colour, and individuals with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply to our programs. The University will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodation to students and student applicants with a known disability in a timely, respectful, and confidential manner as required under the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

The School of Psychology adopted Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) goals for admissions to graduate programs in Psychology. In addition to maintaining our commitment to French/English bilingualism, we are committed to including underrepresented groups in our School, particularly people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. To help meet those objectives, the Clinical Psychology program implemented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) pools for admissions beginning in the 2022-2023 application cycle. Candidates for admission will have the option to self-identify as BIPOC when applying to the Clinical Psychology program. When the Admissions Committee meets to determine the offers to students for entry into our Clinical Psychology program, they will first determine the offers to be made to applicants who self-declared BIPOC status. Up to 67% of our initial offers in each language program (English and French) will be filled by this pool of applicants. 

The decisions of our Admissions Committee for an initial round of admission offers will be communicated to each applicant offered admission before March 15, 2024. Applicants who are made an offer in this initial round must indicate their acceptance by April 15, 2024. Applicants who are made an offer of admission in a subsequent round of offers must indicate their acceptance within one month of the date of the offer. For each applicant offered admission, we would appreciate being informed, as soon as possible, if an external scholarship has been awarded.