In recent years, Canada has gained prominence among students of all ages as a destination to study abroad. Canadian Universities are ranked among the best in the world, offering a diverse variety of courses. One of the most popular courses that people choose to study in Canada is Psychology. Psychology is the study of how people behave, think, and feel. Key areas of psychology include developmental, social, personality, health, mental health, cognition, etc. Specialising in each key area allows you to take on a variety of careers, and Canada offers courses in this regard.

Psychology Courses in Canada

Psychology courses are offered across all types of study, whether it be Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degrees. These courses are of three main types:

• Coursework and Research-based
• Research-Intensive
• Professional Course

Each type involves a varying level of intensity, with professional courses only being offered to those with experience in the field. Each type has its own benefits and offers you practical experience in the field as well.

Coursework and Research-based

Coursework and research-based courses involve you attending classroom lectures, tutorials, and laboratory sessions alongside carrying out research on a topic of your choosing.

Research-intensive

A research-intensive degree is one that involves you carrying out research on a topic of your choosing under the supervision of a supervisor.

Professional Course

A professional course is generally for psychologists and psychiatrists who already have experience working in the field.

Eligibility Criteria

General eligibility criteria to apply for psychology degrees remain the same across most universities and differ only for the different academic levels. The requirements to apply may include the following:

Academic Transcripts

For undergraduate degrees, this would be your high school transcripts. For Masters and Doctoral degrees, it would be your transcripts from studying in a university setting.

Personal Statement of Intent

This will be required to understand why you want to study this programme.

Good Grades

Good grades in standardised tests such as the SAT/ACT tests for undergraduates, and GRE for postgraduates.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters from your teachers or professors.

For most, if not all, universities, you fill out your application online through an online application portal.

Many universities in Canada offer psychology courses, across various levels of study. These include the following:

Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Most psychology degrees in Canada have tuition fees set on the basis of the level of study you choose and the duration of your degree. So, if you choose to study a Bachelor’s in psychology, you’ll be paying entirely different fees than for a Master’s or a Doctoral degree. Generally, psychology course fees fall between the following amount:

Scholarships

Most Canadian universities also offer a wide range of scholarships. These scholarships can partially, half or fully cover the tuition fees as well as things like visas, airfare, accommodations, and more.

Some scholarships offered by Canadian universities include:

• Harvey Zingle Scholarship in Counselling Psychology, University of Alberta:
  $5000 CAD. For students in the Counselling Psychology program - MEd or PhD, who have a high academic standing. This is open to everyone in eligible master's and doctoral programs. Applications are by nomination only.
• Dr. Haze Wescott Graduate Award in Educational Psychology, University of Alberta
  For students in the Educational Psychology program. Selection is based on academic achievement and demonstrated commitment and involvement in the counselling and psychology profession. Application open to female students in eligible masters and doctoral programs. Applications are by nomination only.
• DiMarco Graduate Scholarship in Computation Rhetoric, University of Waterloo:
  $2,500 CAD. For graduate students registered full-time in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science or the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo with a demonstrated area of interest in computational rhetoric. Application forms can be found on the school's website.
• Graduate Scholarship in Clinical Psychology, University of Waterloo:
  $4,000 CAD. For full-time students enrolled in the doctoral program of the Clinical Psychology program in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts. The award will be granted to a student who does not hold an external scholarship at the time of selection and is amongst the top-ranked in the current year’s Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) departmental rankings. Selection is done automatically by the Department.
• The Kathryn Huget Leadership Award, University of British Columbia:
  Minimum of $1000 CAD. for students studying at the Master’s or PhD level, preferably in the areas of organisational behaviour, business administration, business and commerce, sociology, or psychology. Awarded to any individual, with preference given to female students currently in leadership roles, whose focus is to improve the business workplace for women. The application is available online through the Calgary Foundation website.

Universities also offer grants and bursaries that can help you cover additional costs, such as the cost of textbooks and other study materials required for your degree.

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Career Options After a Psychology Degree

A psychology degree allows you the chance to work in a diverse variety of fields. Depending on the area of psychology you specialise in, you can work in jobs such as:

• Counsellor
• Child Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Youth Worker
• Social Worker
• Educational Psychologist
• Behavioural Specialist
• Clinical Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Music Therapist
• Art Therapist
• Speech Pathologist
• Market Researcher
• Human Resources Assistant
• Labour Relations Specialists

And many more! Psychology is one such subject that opens the door for you to work in a variety of different fields, in jobs that are in high demand around the world.

Conclusion

Psychology as a degree continues to grow in importance. It helps us understand the delicate intricacies of human behaviour, thoughts and feelings. A psychology degree can open many doors for you in terms of your future career, making it an optimal subject of study. And what better place to study it than Canada, where universities offer some of the best psychology courses?

So if you’re on the hunt for the right place to pursue a psychology degree, Canada should definitely be at the top of your list.

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