Bachelor of Psychology in Canada: A Detailed Course-Guide for International Students

Bachelor of Psychology in Canada is a 3 to the 4-year degree offered as Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc). The degree is offered by over 77 universities in Canada. Psychology graduates can explore careers in various fields such as psychotherapy, special education, counseling, organization psychology, and so on.

The average program fee for a Bachelor of Psychology in Canada ranges from 90,000 CAD to 200,000 CAD. Students must have studied mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology at the high school level to apply for admissions at Canadian universities offering Bachelor of Psychology. A psychologist can earn up to 76,000 CAD per annum in Canada.

Why Study Bachelor of Psychology in Canada?

Mental health awareness has been increasing in Canada in recent years. In 2018, over 16% of the Canadians referred to a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist about their mental issues. This percentage increased to 19.2% in 2022. Thus, demand for the psychologists also escalated making a bachelor of psychology in Canada one of the popular programs among students.

There has been a rise in the number of psychologists in Canada from 15,750 in 2008 to 18,487 in 2017, which is further expected to increase. 

Top Universities offering Bachelor of Psychology in Canada

As per the university rankings provided by Times Higher Education (THE) 2022, following are the popular universities of Canada offering bachelor's degrees in psychology:

Bachelor of Psychology in Canada: Course and Curriculum

Psychology is a very multifaceted discipline and thus, contains numerous specializations like Behavioural Psychology, Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology, Psychopathology, Human Sexuality, Forensic Psychology, Child Psychology, etc.

As a part of the program, the following are a few of the common subjects offered by the universities of Canada:

• Cognitive Processes
• Developmental Psychology
• Social psychology
• Organizational Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Human Neuropsychology

Admission Requirements for Bachelor of Psychology in Canada

Admission applications to universitits in Canada are mostly open in winter, summer, and fall sessions. International students must have studied mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology at secondary/high school level or its equivalent.

Where to Apply: International students are required to apply through the university’s official website offering the program.

Eligibility Criteria for Bachelors in Psychology in Canada

• Grade B or GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.33 at the high school level.
• Must have at least completed the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
• International students, from countries where English is not the first language, are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or any other acceptable test scores to demonstrate proficiency in English. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 90 is required to be eligible for undergraduate admission at Canadian universities.

Documents Required

For admission into bachelor programs in Canada, applicants are expected to provide the following documents:

• Official Transcripts
• Standardized exam scores
• English proficiency scores
• Updated CV or Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• Writing Sample os Statement of Purpose
• Applicants are required to submit financial statements showing their ability to sponsor education throughout the duration of the study in case of no scholarship or aid.

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International students who wish to study in Canada have to bear three types of expenses: Pre-arrival Cost, Cost of Studying and Cost of Living. On average, it costs between 9,000 CAD to 21,000 CAD to study a Bachelor of Psychology in Canada.

Pre-arrival Costs

A general estimate of pre-arrival cost for international students is tabulated below:

• Application: 70 CAD - 145 CAD
• Canadian Student Visa Application: 305 CAD
• Health Insurance: 13,000 CAD
• IELTS Registration: 240 CAD - 247 CAD
• TOEFL Registration: 208 CAD - 325 CAD
• Airfare: 584 CAD - 1,820 CAD

Tuition Fees of Bachelor of Psychology in Canada

Tuition fees of top-ranked Canadian universities offering Bachelor of Psychology degree range from 20,000 CAD to 54,000 CAD per annum.

Other expenses for studying Psychology in Canada

Following are the books & material cost and accommodation charges required to paid while studying in universities of Canada:

Scholarships for Bachelor of Psychology in Canada

In addition to specific scholarships offered to psychology students only, international students are also eligible to apply for general scholarships available for undergraduate students.

Following are some of the popular scholarships available for students in Canada:

• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to 37 students of UToronto each year. It covers expenses for tuition, books, incidental and residence fees for four years. It is only available for international first entry undergraduate program students. Application is required to be submitted through the university's scholarship webpage after the student has been granted admission.
• Outstanding International Student Award: It is granted to international undergraduates undertaking a BA Psychology at the University of British Columbia. An amount of 10,000 CAD to 25,000 CAD is given to those who demonstrate outstanding academic performances.
• Ya Wei Chen Entrance Scholarship in Science: International students at McGill University with outstanding academic records entering the faculty of science are offered this scholarship.
• Chancellor Cory Entrance Scholarship: An amount of 4,000 CAD per year, with a total of 16,000 CAD for four years is offered to students of York University.
• Dalhousie Entrance General Scholarship: It is also for international students and is granted on the basis of academic performance.
• Queen's University International Admission Scholarship: Only ten slots are available for this scholarship. It lasts for only one year and it is non-renewable. 9,000 CAD is awarded to selected students.
• International Students Scholarship: This scholarship at the University of Alberta is awarded to international fresh undergraduate students with superior academic achievements. It is renewable if the recipient achieves a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a full normal course load each year. This is an automatic scholarship and students will be notified if they have been awarded upon getting admission into the university.
• Provost Entrance Scholarship for International Students: Entrance Scholarship for international students has only 10 awards of 7,500 CAD each year. Students have to be nominated by an official in their secondary or high school and then apply for the scholarship after getting admission into McMaster University.
• President's Scholarship of Distinction: International students can apply for the President's Scholarship of Distinction upon entry into the University of Waterloo. This scholarship can be renewed only on certain conditions. Recipients are given an award of 10,000 CAD.
• Faculty of Social Sciences Dean's Excellence Award: It is given to both international and domestic students. Students having a minimum admission average of 92% are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
• Crocus Scholarship in Psychology: This scholarship at University of Victoria is sponsored by the university and it is awarded to all merited undergraduate students that are entering the university to study psychology. It is an automatic scholarship; thus, no application is needed.

Jobs with Bachelor of Psychology in Canada

A psychologist with less than 1 year of experience can an average salary of 60,000 CAD which can increase up to 98,000 CAD with more than 20 years of experience.

Table below highlights the Bachelor of Psychology jobs in Canada and their corresponding median annual salary:

Psychology is a discipline that deals with the human mind, thoughts, and behavior. Students who wish to have a successful career in psychology should have the following skills:

• Basic medical knowledge: Students should acquire some basic medical or scientific knowledge before venturing into studying the course fully.
• Empathy and Compassion: Therapeutic psychologists must always show natural empathy and compassion. This isn't just a natural skill in everyone. Therefore, prospective psychologists must acquire this skill.
• Analytical Ability: Psychologists must be able to decipher and analyze the human mind at all times in order to make a hypothesis and solve problems.
• Listening Skill: This is not just listening but listening to understand implied meaning in speeches, body language and facial expressions from clients or an environment.
• Communication Skills: The way a psychologist relays information, which may be a diagnosis or ordinary information to a patient is of utmost importance.

Studying psychology allows students to work in rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and of course, hospitals. Some psychologists even work solo from their offices.

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