Top Psychology Universities in Canada: Fees, Courses, Scholarships, Rankings, Salaries and Scope

Canada is constantly providing more courses and programs for international students in different domains. Psychology being a vocational course, aims to study human behavior and human mind concerning various situations is definitely in demand. To study in Canada, international students can choose from some of the best psychology universities in the world that rank among the top 250 as per QS Rankings, 2022.

• In Canada, psychologists earn an average remuneration between 49,000 CAD - 117,000 CAD yearly. Psychologists also earn an average bonus between 997 CAD - 20,000 CAD and share profits of up to 7,000 CAD.
• As per reports of Job Bank Canada, over the period 2019-2028, 15,700 new jobs will be created for psychologists in Canada.
• Canada has international as well as country-specific scholarships available between 1,967 CAD - 40,000 CAD for psychology students.
• As far as graduate employability is concerned, the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and the University of Alberta rank # 16, 25, and 87 globally. And Canada's unemployment rate is also minimal, which is 5.60 percent only to date.

Psychology colleges in Canada emphasize on methodologies rather than medication. The popularity of master's programs like masters in counseling psychology in Canada is because of the research opportunities available. 

Top Psychology Universities in Canada

As per QS subject-rankings, Canada has several highly-ranked colleges, which makes it a popular study destination for international students. Psychology courses in Canada are available at all levels of study. Along with degree programs, some psychology courses in Canada are also available as short-term courses. So, let's share the list of some top-ranked universities in Canada and the courses offered below:

Psychology Universities in Canada: Specializations and Degrees

Psychology is not an outright professional course. It is a vocational education that requires extensive study and applying them in practical situations. It requires experience as well as higher academic qualifications to excel in this job role. There are various psychology courses in Canada for international students.

For an undergraduate in psychology from a decent college, the average remuneration is 49,000 - 54,000 CAD, whereas graduate students can earn up to 66,000 CAD. Doctorates often opt for practice, research, or teaching based roles in psychology. 

There are many reputed psychology universities in Canada offering courses with a variety of degrees, along with their specializations. The various specializations are -

Degree Types

International students planning to study in Canada can enroll with the following levels of higher education available to study

• Undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Kinesiology, and Bachelor Human Kinetics
• Postgraduate degrees: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education
• Doctorate: Doctor of Philosophy / Ph.D.

Psychology Universities in Canada: Undergraduate Courses

Six psychology universities in Canada feature in the top 200 list of universities in the world as per QS Subject-wise Rankings. The courses are generally of 1.3 - 4 years in duration and pave the path for postgraduate & Doctorate study in the future.

Four-year college education in psychology is applicable to various vocations. Psychology students, through their diverse training, gain various significant aptitudes, for example, the capacity to analyze issues and to think basically; the capacity to decipher and assess research, including measurements; a comprehension of the hereditary, organic, and social effects on conduct; and an affectability and attention to relational, formative, and social contrasts. 

Numerous students study psychology as a first step towards a professional career. A degree in psychology is the astounding groundwork for an assortment of expert projects including law, medication, the board, social work, discourse pathology, audiology, advising, and instruction. The following courses are:

Eligibility for Undergraduate Psychology Courses in Canada

There are certain eligibility criteria to take admission to so the psychology universities in Canada. Along with that, some important documents are a requirement as well. To take admission in the undergraduate courses, international students will need 10+2 scores with at least 75 percent in humanities and science subjects.

Apart from that, there are certain English Language requirements that you must fulfill; they are:

Documents Required

The documents required to study the psychology courses in Canada for international students are:

• 10+2 mark sheets and letters of 2-3 letters of recommendations from previous colleges
• You will need English Language Test scores.
• SAT scores, if required.
• You must provide one Statement of purpose.
• Resume with Passport sized photographs.
• Valid ID proofs and Passport are also essential documents.

Fees & Funding for Undergraduate Psychology Courses in Canada

The fees for study Bachelors from best psychology universities in Canada varies between 18,000 - 60,000 CAD. Apart from that, there is multiple scholarships for bachelor students in Canada and funding options to bear the course fees.

Psychology Universities in Canada Postgraduate Courses

A postgraduate study is very important for psychology students. It provides more practical as well as theoretical exposure, open opportunities in the field of research, and floods you with more job opportunities. 

As per the Statistics Canada report for the 3rd quarter in 2022, psychologists are earning an average minimum of 35.25 CAD/hr with a postgraduate degree against 28.30 CAD/hr with a bachelor's degree. A Master's course in psychology generally spans for 1.6 to 3 rigorous years and are offered by the following psychology universities in Canada:

Masters in Psychology in Canada: Eligibility

To pursue master's in psychology in Canada, international applicants are required to fulfill additional requirements. Some of these are common throughout the universities offering the program. These are as follows:

• You will need a four years Bachelor's or equivalent with a 3 GPA minimum, or grade B or 75 percent.
• You will need the following cut-offs in IELTS - 7, TOEFL iBT - 100, PTE - 65, MELAB - 90.
• GRE is required in some universities but not mandatory.

Documents Required

• Apart from this, you will require transcripts of all educational qualifications.
• 2-3 Letters of Recommendation, depending on the college requirement, is essential.
• A Psychology Background Form is required to waive off GRE if you have already pursued a course in Psychology.
• An updated CV and work experience certificates (if any) is mandatory.
• You will require a valid id proof and Passport along with passport-sized photographs.
• Financial proofs to bear the cost of study.
• One Statement of Purpose as well.

Masters in Psychology in Canada: Fees & Funding

The course fees to study these postgraduate psychology courses in Canada for international students range from 9,969 to 27,516 CAD. There are scholarships specific to Indian students like the Paul Foundation Scholarships, which grants aid up to 28,654 CAD. 

In addition to this, there are various other scholarships for international students to study Masters in Canada.

Psychology Colleges in Canada: Certificate & Diploma Programs

There are some quality short-term courses in Canada for international students planning to study psychology courses. These courses are of 1-year duration and relatively cheaper. Following are the course listed below:

Psychology Universities in Canada: Doctorate Programs

Canada encourages research and development to a great extent. Psychology is a course that requires a lot of practical work and research. There are more than 721,100 teachers or counselors and 4,541 researchers per one million of its population in Canada at present. 

So, if you want to move towards a research, teaching, or counseling profession, this country is the right option. You will come across the best universities for psychology in Canada. The courses are for 3 - 6 years and offered by the following universities:

Doctorate in Psychology: Eligibility & Documents required

The eligibility criteria to study a doctorate course from any of these best psychology universities in Canada. A Master's degree in Psychology or equivalent with more at least B + scores or 80 - 85 percent.

• English Language test scores:
  • IELTS - 7
  • TOEFL - 100
  • PTE - 65
  • MELAB - 90
• In some colleges, like the University of Toronto, GMAT is also required. The average cut-off for GMAT is 580.

Documents Required (h4)

• To study Doctorate, transcripts of all academic qualifications are mandatory.
• 2 - 3 Letters of recommendation from past colleges and employers (if any).
• Research proposal and Statement of Purpose is mandatory.
• You will also need one updated CV, experience certificates (if any), and three passport-sized photographs.
• Valid Id proof, Passport, and Financial Statements are a must to apply.

Doctorate in Psychology in Canada: Fees & Funding

The Doctorate courses offered by these best psychology universities in Canada are between 6,641 - 16,564 CAD. To finance these courses, International students often apply to scholarships. There are various scholarship plans and assistantship options available in Canada, which will benefit you with your finances.

Is registration required to practice Psychology in Canada?

After studying psychology courses in Canada, the next need is registration. You may need to contact regulatory bodies to be a registered psychologist to practice in Canada. But, in case your Doctoral program is accredited to the Canadian Psychological Association, it will facilitate the licensing process. 

To know about the accreditation and regulatory bodies, you can visit the website of the Canadian Psychological Association. 

The Master's programs are not accredited. So, if you want to take up a job then there is no issue as such but for self-practice in Canada, you must pursue Ph.D. or get registered with the regulatory bodies. For further information about regulatory bodies please visit the Canada Psychology Association portal.

Scholarships at Psychology Universities in Canada

The overall cost of studying in Canada will not only include the tuition fee, but also the cost of living. The cost of living in Canada varies from 3000-10,000 CAD depending on the accommodations and lifestyle choices. 

To ensure that these expenses do not burn a hole in an international student's pocket, it is important to be familiar with funding options. Except for the scholarships available to study in Canada, other financial aids are also available. These include loans, TA/RA, work-while study, etc. 

Psychology Universities in Canada: Career Scope

With a quality higher education institution in Canada, the country offers a variety of job opportunities. After undergraduate, jobs are mainly in personnel, labor relations, social services, technical writing, etc. But after your Master's, your opportunities will increase. The major employers of psychologists in Canada are the universities, hospitals, research organizations, psychotherapy centers, etc. The list of major employers are:

The average salaries of psychologists are 49,000 - 117,000 CAD based on qualification, skill, and experience. Trends show that postgraduates earn about 10,000 CAD more than undergraduates. Doctorates in Psychology can earn an average of 81,000 CAD.

Career Options in Psychology in Canada

Mentioned below are a list of possible options on which psychology majors can embark upon. Some career options can be unrelated but highlight the core competencies and skills that psychology majors can acquire during their studies and which are relevant to the jobs.

Average Salaries of Psychologists in Canada

Psychology is such a diverse field of study that as a professional psychologist are relevant in every walk of life. Below mentioned are salaries offered on average to a psychology graduate, for gaining comparative perspective salary granted in India are also mentioned. 

Skills wise, someone with Clinical Supervision skills earns the most. With this skill, you can earn 93,450 CAD as a median average salary with a 52,500 CAD bonus. Whereas with Group Therapy skills, one can earn 64,163 CAD and 2,000 CAD as a bonus. In between, Forensic Psychology skills will draw 83,973 CAD with 11,000 CAD Bonus.

Besides lucrative salaries and bonuses for psychologists, as mentioned above, Canada also encourages and invests in Research Work. Thus, it is an ideal study destination for aspiring psychology students. You will also find five universities among the top 100 colleges in the world concerning employability. Crime rates are also considerably low—this is why Canada ranked 6th in the Global Peace Index. Thus, it will be a good choice for international student to consider studying at psychology universities in Canada.