Psychology (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Program Website: Psychology

Field(s) of Specialization

• Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Lifespan Development
• Social/Personality

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

The Psychology Department offers a PhD program that provides intensive research training and further skill development in one of three focus areas: Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience, Lifespan Development, or Social/Personality. Students develop market-ready transferable skills in several areas, including research design and implementation, data analysis, teaching, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. 

For full-time students, the program is normally completed in twelve terms (four years). Research work includes an empirical thesis, completed over a four-year period. Many students also collaborate with fellow students and faculty members on additional research projects from both within and across research labs and focus areas. Coursework includes a one-term course on advanced research methods/statistics, two one-term electives, two years of a two-term research seminar, and a two-part comprehensive examination (written plus oral exam) completed by the end of the second year.

Full-time and part-time study are available. 

The PhD program offers special opportunities for students to individualize their learning experience through a choice of methods courses and a choice of electives, including apprenticeships and independent study courses. Students build on the experiences they acquired at the MA level to further develop the skills needed to achieve independent responsibility for learning, for seeking out and integrating relevant information from a variety of sources and perspectives, for achieving depth of understanding in a specific area of expertise, and for making original contributions to knowledge.

Facilities

The department is well-equipped for the study of neurocognitive and psychophysiological function with EEG and eye tracking equipment; a three-bedroom sleep laboratory equipped with multiple channel digital amplifiers and specialized software for recording and analysis of human sleep and alertness in a 24-hour context; enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of steroid hormones in samples collected from rodents or humans; animal housing equipment for neurobehavioural studies; animal labs with operant chambers, Y-mazes, automated activity cages, and provisions for surgery and histology; one-way mirror and video-equipped rooms and play rooms for behavioural assessment and observation; separate rooms for individual and group testing; and an easily accessed pool of Psychology undergraduates who regularly volunteer for research participation. Research activities are supported by IT and onsite science stores. The University Library provides online access to a substantial number of scientific databases and journals that are relevant to the three areas of specialization. In addition, students have in-person borrowing privileges at most Canadian university libraries, subject to the policies of the lending library. Several labs are affiliated with the The Jack and Nora Walker Canadian Institute for Lifespan Development Research, which includes facilities for research on developmental issues across the lifespan. Resources include parking access for community participants, a volunteer database, regular research meetings, and access to various training workshops. 

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of a Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Psychology or related fields. Students must have achieved an average of at least 80% in the previous two years of graduate study and must provide evidence of research competence, normally demonstrated by an empirical Master’s thesis. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test are recommended but not required for applicants with a background in Psychology or related fields. Please see the program website for a list of faculty members who recommend submitting a GRE score with your application.

Applicants required to demonstrate English language proficiency must meet the standard minimum requirements established for graduate-level study.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.

Please note that in any given year admission to a particular field of study depends, in part, on the availability of supervisory and teaching resources.

Students applying to the PhD program with backgrounds other than Psychology or related fields:

In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of Psychology, the Admissions Committee will consider applications from students holding degrees in allied fields. To ensure that such applicants have a background in psychology adequate for successful completion of their graduate program, the following additional requirements for admission to the PhD program have been established. Applicants must have completed a Master’s thesis in another discipline that involved empirical research of scope and complexity comparable to that of a Master’s Psychology thesis. Applicants must present recent evidence of suitable background knowledge in the form of a score from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and the GRE Psychology Subject Test.