Do you have a question about studying Psychology at the University of Toronto? Or are you a current U of T student who wants to join one of our programs? Review our FAQs for the answers to the questions we get the most.
Future Students
I want to apply to the Psychology program at the University of Toronto. What do I do?
There are two steps in applying for Psychology at the University of Toronto.
- Apply to the University of Toronto.
High school students interested in Psychology should apply to the Life Sciences admission category at the St. George campus. Admission to all psychology programs requires six Ontario Grade 12 U or M courses, including English, Calculus, and Biology or equivalent courses taken outside of the province or at the college or university level (Biology is not a Life Sciences requirement, but it is for Psychology).
Visit the University Admissions and Outreach and the Faculty of Arts & Science Future Students section for more information. Should you have any questions, you can also contact the Arts & Science recruitment team.
- Request a Psychology Program.
Admission to specific programs of study happens at the end of first year for U of T students, after you complete at least 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs). Part-time students will take longer than one year to obtain 4.0 FCEs. Complete details on applying to Arts & Science programs of study, including important dates and program descriptions can be found at Sidney Smith Commons. For all Psychology programs, completion of the first-year course, PSY100H1 (Introductory Psychology) with a competitive final grade is required in addition to Grade 12 Calculus and Biology.
Can I apply for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology?
Psychology at U of T is a Life Science program, and students who complete studies in Psychology will graduate with a Bachelor of Science (BSc). Humanities or Social Sciences students at U of T can apply for Psychology as long as they meet the necessary requirements, including the Calculus and Biology requirements.
If you pursue a major in Psychology and your second major is in the Humanities or Social Sciences, you can choose to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science.
I do not meet the entry requirements for the University of Toronto. What do I do?
U of T has an Admission Pathways Program for students who do not meet the entry requirements.
I do not have a Calculus and/or Biology course, but still want to be in a Psychology program. What do I do?
You will need to meet these requirements before you apply to any Psychology program at the St. George campus. We accept Grade 12 high school (SBI4U and MCV4U in Ontario), college, or university-level courses in Calculus and Biology or equivalent courses taken outside of the province or at the college or university level.
More information about the Calculus and Biology requirement.
Do you accept IB or AP Psychology as an equivalent to PSY100H1 and for program entry?
Both IB and AP Psychology (as well as GCE A-Level, Cambridge, and HK) do not directly transfer here as a PSY100H1 equivalent and therefore you cannot use it to gain entry to any of our programs. They can, however, serve as the prerequisite for individual 200-level Psychology courses.
Do you offer online courses in Psychology?
The Department of Psychology at the St. George Campus does not currently offer a large or regular roster of online courses. Therefore, it is not possible to complete a Psychology program online.
Does St. George campus Psychology Department have a co-op program?
No, we do not offer a co-op program but Psychology students can participate in the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP).
The Psychology department at the U of T Scarborough campus offers a co-op program.
When is the deadline for applications?
The application deadline for a September start is usually due the previous January.
More information on important application dates.
Is it possible to apply for a January start?
New students can only apply for a September start.
Can I study part-time?
Yes, part-time studies are possible. However, the majority of our couses are offered during the day. We cannot guarantee that part-time students can complete their program solely by taking evening courses.
Is it possible to study abroad while at the University of Toronto?
Yes. Information on studying abroad can be found at the Centre for International Experience Global Experiences and through the Summer Abroad Program.
Any courses taken abroad which are intended for program completion need to be assessed for transferability ahead of time.
Transfer Students
I want to transfer to the University of Toronto from my current university. What should I do?
Details on applying as a transfer student, either from a different university, a community college, another U of T campus or Quebec's CEGEP are available through the Faculty of Arts & Science. You cannot apply for a Psychology program until you've been admitted to the University of Toronto St. George campus and your previous credits have been assessed for transfer.
How will I know if the courses I have taken will transfer over successfully?
You will receive a transfer credit assessment from the Transfer Credit Office.
As a general guideline, you can use Transfer Explorer to see if the course you took at another university has been assessed and deemed transferrable in the past, but this does not guarantee a transfer.
I have an undergraduate degree from another university and want to upgrade or take additional Psychology courses at the University of Toronto. What do I do?
You should apply through University Admissions and Outreach as a Non-Degree student. You cannot take any U of T courses until you have been admitted and registered as a Non-Degree student.
As a Non-Degree student, you may have the option to begin courses in the summer session, in addition to September. You must provide proof to the Psychology Undergraduate Office that you meet all of the prerequisites for the Psychology courses you plan to take by sending a digital copy of your transcript to our undergraduate staff. If you are a U of T graduate wishing to take additional courses as a Non-Degree student, you only need to re-register with your College to be eligible to enrol in courses.
International Students
I am an international applicant. Where can I find information on applying to the University of Toronto?
Information on requirements for international students can be found through the Faculty of Arts & Science. Additional information for students applying from an international high school is available through University Admissions and Outreach.
What support does the University of Toronto have for international students?
U of T's Centre for International Experience is an excellent source of information and support for international students, including immigration and visas, health insurance, and financial aid.
Current Students
I will be taking PSY100H1 in the summer and want to enrol in a Psychology program. What do I do?
You will only be able to apply during the second program application request period, which usually begins in early July and runs until the third week of August. Please be advised that applying at this time means that you will not find out whether you've been accepted until early- to mid-September. This could affect course enrolment for you during July. Priority enrolment is intended for current program students.
I won't find out if I've been accepted into a Psychology program until September but I need to enrol in courses before they fill up. What do I do?
Unfortunately, enrolling in a Psychology program during the second round of enrolment means you may not get your first choice of courses. Students already enrolled in a Psychology program are given priority for enrolment in Psychology courses, and those not enrolled in a Psychology program must wait until the priority period ends (usually during the last few days of July). We cannot make any exceptions.
I am a transfer student and did not receive the minimum grade requirement in the PSY100H equivalent that I completed at my former university. Can I still be admitted?
No, we cannot overlook this requirement. You can take the course again and achieve a higher grade, or apply with the requirements needed once you have completed 9.0 FCEs (for full-time students, this is usually at the end of second year). Please review our admission requirements for those with 9.0 FCEs or more, depending on which Psychology program you wish to apply to.
I just learned that I have been refused entry into the Psychology program I applied for, but I was certain that I met all of the requirements. Why was I refused admission? Can I apply next year?
All of our programs are designated "Limited Programs" so we cannot admit all of those who meet the minimum requirements. In most cases, we only have spots for about a quarter to a third of all applicants. Therefore, we cannot guarantee anyone a spot in any of our programs. In fact, students need to exceed the minimum requirements in order to be competitive.
Yes, you can reapply the following year, however, please note that you would need to take further Psychology courses and receive high enough grades to be reconsidered. At this level, the final grade in PSY100 is no longer considered as the basis of admission. Details on how to apply after completion of 9.0 FCEs can be found in "How to Apply."
We recommend all students have a parallel plan should you not be admitted. Please consult with your College Registrar’s Office about other programs of study which may suit your interests and goals.
I applied for both the Major and Minor Psychology programs but was only accepted into the Minor. Can I reapply for the Major in Psychology in the future?
Yes, you can apply for programs at any time during your undergraduate studies within designated program application periods. If you apply to the Major after completion of 9.0 FCEs, the average grade of PSY201H1 (or equivalent statistics course) and your two highest 200-level Psychology courses (from the PSY 210H1-290H1 series) will be used when assessing your application.
How do I get research experience or become a research assistant?
While we can't match students with research jobs, we provide resources and information on how to navigate the research world to secure a volunteer or paid research assistant position. You may also benefit from speaking to our Undergraduate Faculty Advisor, Prof. Ashley Waggoner-Denton.
Where can I find more information on careers in Psychology and on applying to graduate school?
The University of Toronto Career Centre offers a wide range of resources and programs for undergraduate students and we have put together a list of career and graduate school resources. Our Undergraduate Faculty Advisor, Prof. Ashley Waggoner-Denton, can also help.
What experiential learning opportunities are available to Psychology students?
PSY405/406: Individual Projects are intensive laboratory or applied research project courses for students to gain hands-on research experience. Each project culminates in a scholarly paper and presentation. These courses are both single semester and full-year, depending on what works best for the student and supervisor. Additionally, the Research Opportunities Program offers second- or third-year courses in which you can contribute to an instructor's research project and earn 0.5 or 1.0 course credit.
Psychology students can apply to join the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP), which combines 12 to 20 months of paid work experience with specialized professional development training. The First-Year Learning Community (FLC) and Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) are also great sources of support.
The Faculty of Arts & Science has additional experiential learning opportunities that may interest you.