Masters in Psychology in Canada: All You Need to Know

Is Canada an ideal study destination to pursue a Masters in Psychology? Well, the cost of studying MS in Psychology in the Canadian universities is between INR 20 Lakhs to INR 40 Lakhs. Also, students need to fulfill some eligibility criteria for getting admission in reputed universities of Canada.

The duration of Masters in Psychology in Canada is one or two years. MSc Psychology in Canada is a research-based professional course that offers specialization in clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, educational psychology, etc. The universities in Canada offer three types of Master in Psychology courses: MS in Psychology, MSc in Psychology, and MA in Psychology.

The average cost of studying MS in Canada is between INR 20 Lakh - INR 40 Lakh excluding living expenses. For the first year, the tuition fee for MS in Canada starts from INR 5.77 lakhs and the average living expenses in Canada is Rs 5.46L. After completing MS in Psychology, graduates work as researchers and scientists with leading organizations while some choose to go for clinical work with patients.

Course Overview of Masters in Psychology in Canada

Candidates have the option to pursue Psychology as a degree in Science (MSc) or Arts (MA). An MSc in Psychology is a research-intensive program where the focus is on Advanced Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology. MA Psychology also follows a scientific approach, and the students have the option to choose from different specializations such as:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Abnormal Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Biology and Behavior

In MA Psychology, many students advance to a PhD program after completing their master's degree. Apart from these, students have the option to choose from a wide array of specializations like

• Health Psychology
• Social Psychology
• General Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Child Psychology

After completing a Master's in Psychology, graduates can work in academia, research, industry, hospital, or healthcare industry. In addition, graduates have the option to work in public policy.

Universities Offering Masters in Psychology in Canada

Various Canadian universities offer postgraduate programs with different specializations in Psychology. Below we have mentioned some of the universities and courses offered by them. In addition to these, it is critical to know about the best schools for psychology in the world as well.

Apart from the above-mentioned universities, other higher education institutions in Canada that offer Masters in Psychology are:

• University of Waterloo
• Western University
• Queen’s University

Eligibility and Admissions Criteria for Masters in Psychology Canada

Some of the eligibility criteria for international students looking to pursue an MS in Psychology in Canada are mentioned below. These are basic requirements for the admission process for MS in Psychology in Canada.

• Undergraduate degree (3 or 4 years bachelor's degree) in psychology or a related discipline from a recognized university
• Academic Transcripts: Bachelor degree's transcript that is issued by your previous university
• Proof of English language proficiency through CAEL, IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE scores
• GRE scores wherever demanded by the university

• SOP (Statement of Purpose): A one or two-page SOP as demanded by the university. The university may ask you to write the SOP based on the guidelines provided by them, so, you need to follow them while drafting an SOP
• CV or Resume: A Resume having a summary of all your academic and professional details.
• GRE score: Many Canadian universities require candidates to submit GRE scores for MS in Psychology.

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Scholarships for Masters in Psychology in Canada

Apart from the scholarships for the master's program in Canada, there are dedicated scholarships for studying MS in Psychology in Canada:

• McGill University’s Department of Psychology offers scholarships and fellowships to its students
• The University of Waterloo offers scholarships and financial assistance, along with TA (Teaching Assistant) positions. To understand more about the funding for the University of Waterloo you can click here
• McMaster University's Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour offers scholarships to MSc Psychology students
• Concordia University offers a scholarship of more than US $13,000 to Masters in Psychology students annually
• Queens University's Psychology Department offers financial assistance of more than US $20,000 to MS in Psychology graduates with an excellent academic record
• University of British Columbia's Arts faculty offers graduate assistantships to students enrolled in the master's in Psychology program 
• The University of Alberta offers the following scholarships to students enrolled in MS in Psychology: 
• ISSBD 2012 Graduate Scholarship is offered to students who work on research based on Developmental Science
• Dr Jane Silvius Graduate Scholarship in Child Development is offered US $12,000 to 1 student
• One student is offered US 1,400 under Dr Brendan Gail Rule Graduate Scholarship by the university's Psychology department

Also Read: Post-Study Work in Canada

Job opportunities for Masters in Psychology graduates in Canada

MS Psychology graduates can work in different areas such as the healthcare industry, clinical psychology, research labs, educational institutions, corporates, etc. Some of the popular Masters in Psychology jobs in Canada are:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Clinical Child Psychologist
• Neuropathologist
• Health Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Criminal Psychologist
• Neurologist

Salary for MS Psychology Graduates

Salaries for a few Psychology-related jobs are mentioned below:

• Average Base Salary across all the specializations: CAD 77,220
• Neuropsychologist: CAD 32 - 50 per hour
• Psychotherapist: CAD 67 - 70 per hour
• Behavioural Crisis Consultant: CAD 63,000 - 76,000 per year

(Source: indeed.com and payscale.com)

Now that students are aware of various aspects of a Master’s degree in Psychology in Canada, they must evaluate their options and make an informed decision. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.