Clinical Psychology (UTSC)
At the University of Toronto (UofT), the Counselling and Clinical Psychology graduate studies (MA, PhD) are housed under two fields:
- Clinical Psychology offered by the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science (UTSC)
- Clinical and Counselling Psychology offered by the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development (OISE)
These fields are distinct, each having its own admission requirements, program of study, supervision, etc. The FAQ page here pertains to the Clinical Psychology field at UTSC only, henceforth referred to as “our field” or “your field.”
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Supervision |
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Where may I find the list of professors supervising students in your field? |
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Funding |
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Program Details |
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Is there a difference in emphasis on clinical practice between the UTSC and OISE fields? |
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Is your field accredited by the Canadian Psychology Association (CPA)? |
Applicant eligibility
I have already completed my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at another institution. Should I apply directly to the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology?
Applicants interested in the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology are encouraged to review our Master’s degree program requirements to assess equivalency of degree(s) completed at other institutions. Due to the high volume of requests, application materials will not be assessed by our program in advance of submitting a formal application. Only complete applications that have been submitted via the Online Admissions Application Portal will be reviewed for possible equivalency and/or transfer credits. The alternative to applying to the direct entry Ph.D. program is to apply to the Master’s degree program in Clinical Psychology. Applicants should carefully review all program requirements when deciding on which degree program to apply for. Applicants should also be aware that the decision of which program to apply for (Master’s versus Ph.D.) may have implications for the type of graduate scholarship for which they may be eligible to apply for (e.g., Master’s versus Ph.D. graduate scholarships). In certain cases, it may be reasonable to consult with a core faculty member on this issue. Please note, however, that faculty can only provide a recommendation and that ultimately the decision on which degree (and corresponding level for scholarship funding) to apply for falls to the student.
Having completed my undergraduate or graduate degree as an international student, how can I verify that I meet the application criteria?
International degrees can be assessed with the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies (SGS) online tool.
I have completed my undergraduate or graduate degree in a field that is not psychology. How will this affect my application?
As stated on our website, students with a strong background in mathematics, computer science, statistics, biological science, and/or neuroscience are especially encouraged to apply, even if they have fewer than the suggested number of psychology courses. Students interested in completing coursework in psychology to meet admission requirements (i.e. at least 4.0 to 6.0 full course equivalents or 8 to 12 semester courses in psychology) can complete foundational courses such as statistics, methodology based courses, history of psychology and/or any senior level content area within the discipline (i.e. social, developmental, biological, cognitive, abnormal, etc.).
As an internationally educated professional currently in the process of registering with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), the College has requested that I complete a certain additional courses to gain my certification. Can I be granted access to these select graduate courses without enrolling in the entire program?
Currently, only students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Counselling and Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto have access to our graduate courses.
I have a Master's in ________ (not clinical psychology). How do I know if this is equivalent enough to apply for the PhD?
Applicants should carefully review the “About Clinical Psychology” information on the website as well as the degree structure to have a clear understanding of the UTSC Clinical Psychology training model. Our graduate programs heavily emphasize both research and clinical training. You should compare your previous Master’s degree with our MA degree and look for key similarities and differences. It is ultimately up to the applicant to determine if they have the prior training to succeed in the PhD program. Also see FAQ: I have already completed my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at another institution. Should I apply directly to the PhD program in Clinical Psychology?
If I apply to the PhD program, would I automatically be considered for the MA program too?
Due to the volume of applications received, the admissions committee would appreciate thoughtful consideration be given to the applicant category as there is no guarantee that an applicant would be considered for a program for which they have not applied to. Thus, it is highly advisable that applicants carefully consider whether the PhD program or MA program is the more appropriate applicant category given any previous academic and/or professional training in the field prior to submitting an application (see FAQ: I have already completed my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at another institution. Should I apply directly to the PhD program in Clinical Psychology?)
How many courses can be missing from a previous Master's degree in order to be considered for the PhD program?
Due to the high volume of requests, application materials cannot be assessed by our program in advance of submitting a formal application. Only complete applications that have been submitted via the Online Admissions Application Portal will be reviewed for possible equivalency. The unit does not provide a cut off for the number of permissible missing courses at the MA level. Courses at the MA level provide important foundational knowledge in the training and structure of the program. Thus, it is very important that applicants carefully consider the “fit” of any previous graduate training within the structure of our MA and PhD programs. Also see FAQ: If I apply to the PhD program, would I automatically be considered for the MA program too?
Admission requirements
Are the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General and Psychology Subject tests necessary for my application to your field?
Yes, as per the admission requirements stated on our website, both General and Psychology Subject tests are required components of the application to our field.
What code should I use to submit my GRE scores?
GRE Designated Institution Code: 3603
Department Code: 2001
The only date available for me to complete the GRE general and psychology subject tests is after the supporting documentation deadline. Can I still apply?
We cannot guarantee that application materials received after the deadline will be reviewed. However, you are still welcome to apply if you feel your application would still be considered competitive without these results. Please note however if you are invited to interview and an offer is made, your offer would be conditional pending your GRE results.
What scores are considered to be competitive for the GRE General and Psychology Subject tests?
Criteria for competitive scores are determined by means of comparison to other applicant scores in any given year.
How is the admission GPA calculated? If I had less-than-stellar grades for my 3rd year of undergraduate studies for personal reasons but significantly higher grades in my 4th year, how would that be taken into consideration?
Admission GPA is calculated using your last 2 years of study. Applicants currently in the final year of their undergraduate program should note that courses currently in progress will not be included in this calculation.
Since reference letters from admitting faculty will not be accepted, who exactly does this refer to--are they all of the individuals sitting on the selection committee or the professors indicated as potential supervisors on my application?
With regards to the reference letters, “admitting faculty” refers to the potential supervisors to whom you are applying. Therefore, if you apply to work with a specific faculty member, that same person cannot also provide you with a reference letter.
How does application to your field affect my application to the OISE field? If I apply to your field but am not successful, will I still be considered for the field at OISE? Can I apply to both fields at the same time?
Admission decisions for the two fields are carried out independently. If you wish to be considered for both fields, please submit two separate applications.
Are GRE scores required for the PhD program?
Although they are not officially listed, it is assumed that applicants to PhD program have already completed a Master’s degree for which they were required to complete and submit GRE scores.
I applied to the Clinical Psychology program last year, should I still have the official GRE scores sent in again for my new application?
Yes. All components of the application including GRE scores should be sent in again for any new application.
Supervision
Where may I find the list of professors supervising students in your field?
Faculty available for supervision can be found at: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/psych/graduate-department-psychological-clinical-science-faculty.
Am I required to secure a supervisor before I apply?
Applicants are advised to focus their efforts on preparing application materials rather than on contacting individual faculty members. Faculty will contact the applicants that they wish to interview on the basis of the application materials submitted.
Can individuals who are not Core Clinical Faculty members from the University of Toronto, including OISE Faculty, supervise students applying to your field?
Currently, aside from the UTSC Core Clinical Faculty, only those Associate Members listed on the website may supervise Clinical Psychology graduate students. If you would like to be supervised by an OISE faculty member, you may wish to consider applying to the field at OISE.
Funding
What funding is available to students?
Currently, the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science offers students in good academic standing a guaranteed minimum funding package of $20,000 plus tuition and incidental fees each year for a total of 6 years (2 MA years and 4 PhD years). Beyond the guaranteed minimum funding package, applicants are highly encouraged to apply for external funding as per the information provided on our website.
What funding is available to international students?
Currently, the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science is only accepting applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Program Details
Can this program be completed on a part-time basis?
It is expected that students will complete the Masters program on a full-time basis.
Does completion of the PhD in either the UTSC or OISE fields lead to competency in "Clinical Psychology" with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO)?
Both fields leading to the PhD degree in Counselling and Clinical Psychology are intended to meet the registration requirements of CPO at the doctoral level. Our field is specifically intended to satisfy requirements for competency in Clinical Psychology with CPO. For information about CPO’s registration requirements and guidelines regarding specific competencies, applicants are encouraged to contact CPO directly.
Is there a difference in emphasis on clinical practice between the UTSC and OISE fields?
Both fields have rigorous clinical training.
Is your field accredited by the Canadian Psychology Association (CPA)?
This program is intended to meet the registration requirements of the College of Psychologists of Ontario at the doctoral level. For information about the registration requirements of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, applicants are encouraged to contact the College directly.
Yes, the field in Clinical Psychology at UTSC is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association.