FAQs

Applying to the University of Toronto, St. George Campus

Q: I wish to apply for admission to the Psychology Program at the University of Toronto. What do I do? 

A: There are two steps in applying for Psychology at the University of Toronto. 

1) Apply to the University of Toronto

Visit the University Admissions and Outreach website at http://www.future.utoronto.ca/apply.  Additional information is available on the Faculty of Arts & Science website at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future. Students interested in Psychology should apply for Life Sciences. For more information, contact the Arts & Science recruitment team at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future-students/connect-us.

2) Request a Psychology Program

Admission to specific programs of study happens at the end of first year, after completion of at least 4 full-courses (part-time students will take longer than one year to obtain 4.0 full courses). Complete details on applying to Arts & Science programs of study, including important dates and program descriptions can be found at https://sidneysmithcommons.artsci.utoronto.ca/program/. For all Psychology programs, completion of the first-year course, PSY100H1 (Introductory Psychology) is required, as well as high school Calculus and Biology. Details about our program requirements are available on our website at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information

Q: Can I apply for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology?

A: Psychology at UofT is a Life Science program and students who complete studies in Psychology will graduate with a Bachelor of Science. Humanities or Social Sciences students at UofT 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. 

Q: I do not meet the entry requirements for the University of Toronto. What do I do? 

A: The University of Toronto has an Admission Pathways Program for students who do not meet the entry requirements. For information about the programs offered under Admission Pathways, along with links and contact details, visit https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/admission-requirements/admission-pathway-programs.

Q: Do you offer distance education/online courses in Psychology? 

A: Although most of our courses were offered online during the height of the COVID pandemic, the Department of Psychology at the St. George Campus does not currently offer a large or regular roster of distance education/online courses. Therefore, it is not possible to complete a Psychology program online at this time and for the forseeable future. For a list of Canadian Universities offering distance/online education, go to www.canadian-universities.net/Campus/Distance-Education.html

Q: Does St. George campus Psychology Department have a Co-op program? 

A: No, we do not but the Psychology department at our Scarborough campus offers Co-op. For details, go to https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/artscicoop/why-choose-arts-science-co-op.  

Q: When is the deadline for applications? 

A: Usually, the application deadline for a September start is due the previous January. For specific information on deadlines, go to http://www.future.utoronto.ca/apply/important-application-dates

Q: Is it possible to apply for a January start? 

A: No, new incoming students can only apply for a September start. 

Q: Can I study part-time? 

A: Yes, part-time studies are possible. 

Q: Is it possible to study abroad while at the University of Toronto? 

A: Yes. Information on studying abroad can be found at Centre for International Experience Global Experiences website at https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/global-learning/global-experiences/ and the Summer Abroad Program (www.summerabroad.utoronto.ca/). 

Q: I am a high school student. Which high school courses will I need in order to study Psychology at the University of Toronto? Where can I find more information? 

A: As we are a department in the Life Sciences stream in the Faculty of Arts & Science, all of our Psychology programs require Grade 12 Calculus and Biology.  Of course, all streams in the Faculty of Arts & Science also require a Gr. 12 English.  Information for high school students is available at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/high-school-students. Specific information on admission to the Psychology programs can be found at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information.

Q: I want to transfer to the University of Toronto from my current university. What should I do?

A: Full details on applying as a transfer student, either from a different university, a community college, another UofT campus or Quebec's CEGEP are available on the Arts & Science website at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/transfer-students.  More information on transfer credits can be found at https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/transfer-credit-information/.  NOTE: You cannot apply for a Psychology program until you've been admitted to the University and your previous credits have been assessed and transferred.

Q: How will I know if the courses I have taken will transfer over successfully.

A: You must wait until you receive your transfer credit assessment from the Transfer Credit Office. As a general guideline, you can use Transfer Explorer (https://transferex.utoronto.ca/trans-nav/#/) to see if the course you took at another university is transferable but this does NOT guarantee a transfer.

Q: I already have an undergraduate degree and would like to apply for a second degree. What do I do? 

A: All information on the process for applying for a second degree is available on the Arts & Science website at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/admission-requirements/second-degree-applicants.  NOTE: If you already hold a university degree you may only apply for degree studies in a different field. For instance, if you completed a degree in Psychology elsewhere you cannot apply for a second degree in this area.

Q: I have an undergraduate degree from another university and want to upgrade or take additional PSY courses at the University of Toronto in order to upgrade my qualifications for admission to graduate school. What do I do?

A: You should apply through the University Admissions and Outreach website (https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/applying/) as a Non-Degree student. You cannot take any UofT courses until you have been admitted as a Non-Degree student. As a Non-Degree student, you will have the option to begin courses in the summer session. Sometimes Psychology courses are challenging to get into because of high enrolment figures and because Psychology program students receive priority in enrolling for courses. The summer courses are generally less crowded.  NOTE: You must provide proof to the Psych Undergraduate Office that you meet all of the prerequisites for the PSY courses you plan to take. If you are a UofT graduate wishing to take additional courses as a Non-Degree student, you just need to re-register with your UofT College to be eligible to enrol in courses.

Q: I am an international applicant. Where can I find information on applying to the University of Toronto?

A: Information on requirements for international students can be found on the Faculty of Arts & Science website at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future/ready-apply/admission-requirements. Additional information on requirements is available on the University Admissions and Outreach website at https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/requirements/international-university-or-college-post-secondary/

Q: What support does the University of Toronto have for international students? 

A: The University of Toronto’s Centre for International Experience at https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/ is an excellent source of information and support for international students. 

Q: Who do I contact if I have further questions?

A: Please contact the Faculty of Arts & Science at https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/future-students/connect-us.

 

Applying to a Psychology Program, St. George Campus

Q: Where can I find information about the Psychology programs? 
 
A: Information on the programs we offer, our courses, program admission requirements and more can be found on the Psychology Undergraduate website at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/about-our-undergraduate-studies
 
Q: When do I apply to a Psychology program? 
 
A: Undergraduate students apply for their programs of study on ACORN once they have completed a minimum of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs), including any transfer credits. For full-time students, this is usually in the spring at the end of their first year. For details on applying to programs of study, visit https://sidneysmithcommons.artsci.utoronto.ca/program/.
 
Q: What are the requirements for Psychology programs? 
 
A: Requirements for all Psychology programs are outlined at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information. Psychology programs are "Limited Programs" which means that specific requirements must be met in order to apply. It is also essential to be aware that there is a finite number of spaces available in each of our programs and that even exceeding the minimum requirements does not guaranteed admission. Be prepared with an alternate program plan should your request to be admitted to Psychology be declined. 
 

Q: Do you accept IB or AP Psychology as an equivalent to PSY100H1 and for program entry?

A: No, unfortunately, 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 PSY programs. They can, however, serve as the prerequisite for 200-level PSY courses.

Q: I do not have a Calculus and/or Biology course, but still want to be in a Psychology program. What do I do? 

A: You will need to meet these requirements BEFORE you apply to any St. George campus PSY program. We will not waive these. We accept any Grade 12 high school, college, or university-level courses in Calculus and Biology. Information on these requirements and how to meet them can be found at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information#calculus-accordion-1.

Q: I do not have the required high school or post-secondary Calculus and/or Biology, either because I transferred from another university's psychology program where it was not required, or because I originally applied to Humanities/Social Sciences, which does not require Calculus and/or Biology. Can I still be admitted without these requirements? 

A: You must have these requirements regardless of what the admissions requirements existed at your former university or here at the University of Toronto. We do not make any exceptions. If you complete the Calculus and Biology requirement you can then apply for our programs. For details on these requirements and ways to meet them, refer to https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information#calculus-accordion-1.

Q: I will be taking PSY100H1 in the summer and want to enrol in a PSY program. What do I do? 

A: You will only be able to apply during the second program application request period, which usually begins in early July and runs until the end of August. Please be advised that applying late (i.e. not during the first round of program enrolment) means that you will not find out whether you've been accepted until mid-September. This could affect course enrolment for you during July. For further information, see the next FAQ.

Q: I will not find out if I've been accepted into a Psychology program until September but I need to enrol in courses as soon as possible before they fill up. What do I do? 

A: Unfortunately, enrolling in a Psychology program during the second round of enrolment means you may not get your first choice of the courses in which you are interested. All students enrolled in a PSY program are given priority for enrolment in PSY courses and those not enrolled in a PSY program must wait until the priority period ends (approximately during the first week in August).  We cannot make any exceptions for you, or find spots for you in PSY courses because you enrolled in the program late. 

Q: I am a transfer student and did not receive the minimum program requirement grade in the PSY100H equivalent that I completed at my former university (where there was achieving this grade was not required. Can I still be admitted?

A: No, even though your former university admitted you it does not mean we will overlook the requirement. You have the option of taking the course again and achieve a competitive grade, or of applying with the requirements needed once you have completed 9.0 FCEs (for full-time students, this is usually at the end of second year). If you apply at this time, the average grade of PSY201H1 (or equivalent statistics course) and your two highest 200-level PSY courses (from the PSY 210H1-290H1 series) will be used when assessing your application. 

Q: I just learned that I have been refused entry into the PSY 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? 

A: As all our PSY programs are designated "Limited Programs", we cannot admit all of those who meet the minimum requirements. In most cases, we only have just over one quarter of the spaces available in our programs compared to the number of applications. For example, we may get 2000 applications but only have about ~500 spaces available. Therefore, we cannot guarantee anyone a spot in any of our programs. Most often, students need to exceed the minimum requirements by quite a bit in order to be 'competitive'. Yes, you can reapply the following year, however, please note that you would need to take further PSY courses and receive high enough grades in them to be reconsidered. Details on how to apply after completion of 9.0 FCEs can be found at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/application-information. It is highly advised, though, that you have a back-up plan in place, should you not be admitted again. Please consult with your College Registrar’s Office about other programs of study which may suit you, if you are not able to pursue a program in Psychology.

Q: 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?

A: Yes, you can apply for programs at any time during your undergraduate stay within designated program application periods. With Psychology, if you apply after completion of 9.0 FCEs, the average grade of PSY201H1 (or equivalent statistics course) and your two highest 200-level PSY courses (from the PSY 210H1-290H1 series) will be used when assessing your application. As with all Psychology Program applications, the Calculus and Biology requirements must be met. For details on applying to programs of study, visit https://sidneysmithcommons.artsci.utoronto.ca/program/.

Q: How do I get research experience and/or beome a research assistant? 

A: While the Psychology Department does not match students with research jobs, we provide resources and information on how to navigate the research world and secure a volunteer or paid research assistant position. For information and useful links about research opportunities, go to https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/resources-students/research-assistant-and-lab-positions.

Q: Where can I find more information on careers in Psychology and on applying to graduate school? 

A: The University of Toronto Career Centre which offers a wide range of resources and programs for undergraduate students. For details go to https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/career-exploration-education/. Useful career and graduate school information is also offered on the Psychology website at https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/programs-and-courses/careers-graduate-studies

Q: Who do I contact if I have further questions about Psychology programs? 

A: Please contact the Psychology Undergraduate Assistant at psy.ug-assistant@utoronto.ca.