PhD in Psychology - University of Toronto

The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Art and Science at the University of Toronto offers Ph.D. programs in Psychology for 4 and 5 years. The department’s program's full-time, cross-appointed, and status-only faculty are internationally recognized for their scholarship, with areas of expertise that cover all of the major areas of research in experimental psychology (Behavioural Neuroscience; Developmental; Perception, Cognition, and Cognitive Neuroscience; Social and Personality).

The graduate program is composed of faculty and students of three undergraduate Psychology departments (St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough) and several affiliated institutions and hospitals. The focus of the program is scientific and experimental.  

In keeping with the academic tradition of the University of Toronto (which consistently ranks in the top 20 in a global ranking of the top 100 research universities – the only Canadian university in the top 30), the goal of the program is primarily to educate scientific researchers. To accomplish this, the course load is kept light and the emphasis of the graduate program is on research.

Admission Requirements:

The minimum requirements for admission to the graduate program are:

1.  A four-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, with high academic standing from a recognized university. 
2.  At least an A- (3.7 GPA, or first-class standing) in the final two years of full-time study, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level.
3.  The equivalent of at least 6 full-year courses (e.g., 12 semester-long courses) in psychology, including statistics and some laboratory experience. Note: Applicants with a strong background in mathematics, physical or biological science, neuroscience, cognitive science, engineering, linguistics, or computer science are encouraged to apply even if they have completed fewer than the suggested number of psychology courses.
4.  Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a non-Canadian university where the language of instruction was not English are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English by completing one of the tests listed below. This requirement should be met at the time of application. 
5. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score 93, with a minimum score of 22 in both writing and speaking.
6. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum score 7.0, with at least 6.5 for each component.
7. The COPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English): minimum score 76, with at least 22 in each component and 32 in the writing component.
8. The CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment): minimum score 70 total, with at least 60 in each part.
9. The School of Continuing Studies’ “International ESL - Academic Preparation” course: minimum score B in Level 60.

Course Structure:

The Direct-Entry Ph.D. Program (5 years)

Direct-entry Ph.D. students are required to satisfy the following program requirements:

1. PSY1100: Foundational Research Project, a research project course supervised by the student’s supervisor plus two other faculty members, completed during Ph.D. 1 and Ph.D. 2
2. PSY2001: Statistics I, an introductory statistics course
3. PSY2002: Statistics II, an advanced statistics course
4. PSY3000: Outside Research Project, a research project course supervised by a faculty member other than the student's Ph.D. supervisor, completed during Ph.D. 2 and Ph.D. 3 
5. PSY3001: Professional Psychology 
6. Ph.D. proposal and Ph.D. reading list defense, requirements relating directly to the Ph.D. thesis
7. Four content courses in Psychology

In addition to these requirements, students will complete and defend a Ph.D. thesis, ideally by the end of their Ph.D. 5. Students are also encouraged to attend departmental events, research area talks, and colloquia, as well as laboratory meetings and other student groups. 

The Ph.D. Program (4 years)

Ph.D. students are required to satisfy the following program requirements:

1. PSY2002: Statistics II, an advanced statistics course 
2. PSY3000: Outside Research Project, a research project course supervised by a faculty member other than the student's Ph.D. supervisor, completed in the first two years
3. PSY3001: Professional Psychology 
4. Ph.D. proposal and Ph.D. reading list defense, requirements relating directly to the Ph.D. thesis
5. Two content courses in Psychology, normally completed in the first two years

Students admitted with a Master’s degree from another institution or program at the University of Toronto may be exempt from the Outside Research Project, however, this credit must be replaced by a content course.

In addition to these requirements, students will complete and defend a Ph.D. thesis, ideally by the end of their Ph.D. 4. Students are also encouraged to attend departmental events, research area talks, and colloquia, as well as laboratory meetings and other student groups. 

Tuition Fees:

Graduate tuition fees for international students are around $8,759 - $58,492

Scholarships:

The program provides financial support to all graduate students in the funded cohort. Students entering the five-year direct-entry Ph.D. program will receive funding for five years. Students entering the four-year Ph.D. program will receive funding for four years. This support is in the form of scholarships, fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. For the 2021-22 academic year, the minimum level of support is $29,620 plus tuition & fees. This amount, however, is conditional on satisfactory academic and research performance.

To qualify for funding, students are required to apply to any awards or scholarships for which they are eligible. 

International applicants will automatically be considered for the Connaught International Scholarship, and are encouraged to apply for any other funding opportunities external to the University of Toronto for which they are eligible.

The Connaught International Scholarship for Doctoral Students is a cost-sharing initiative designed to assist graduate units in recruiting and supporting top international students by providing a top-up scholarship to each recipient, which will be paid in addition to the program’s normal funding package provided by the graduate unit. 

• The scholarship is provided as a $14,105 top-up, in addition to the program’s normal funding package (base amount + tuition and fees), to a combined total of no less than $49,366 annually.

Eligibility

Nominees must:

• Be international applicants (Citizens and permanent residents of Canada are ineligible);
• Not be currently registered in a degree program at the University of Toronto at the undergraduate or graduate level;
• Have been or will be offered admission to a full-time doctoral program with a funding commitment beginning September of the upcoming academic year​; and
• Have achieved an A- average in each of the last two years of full-time study.​

Award Holders:

• Must remain eligible, in good academic standing, and meet the terms and conditions of the award;
• Must register and remain registered as a full-time student (a change in status may result in suspension or termination of payments and/or returning funds already received);
• Must maintain an A- average, and be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degree as determined by their graduate unit in order to maintain the award;
• Those who transition to permanent residency after receiving the first installment of the award will continue to be eligible for the balance of their renewable scholarship. A change in legal status after receiving the first installment does not affect the awardee’s eligibility to continue holding the award.