university of toronto counselling psychology phd

School of Graduate Studies

Program overview.

Graduate training in psychology stresses training in general experimental psychology, leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Areas of specialization include the following:

• behavioural neuroscience;
• perception, cognition, and cognitive neuroscience;
• developmental;
• social and personality.

For 2021-2022 admission cycle students will be considered for admission to PhD and direct-entry PhD programs only. Students will not be considered for admission to the MA program. 

Students may also be interested in:

• the Counselling Psychology​  program​;
• Clinical and Counselling ​Psychology  (OISE)​​​
• Clinical Psychology (UTSC)

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MA and PhD Counselling & Clinical Psychology

Program:   Counselling and Clinical Psychology Field:   Clinical Psychology Degree:  MA and PhD Duration:  Full-time 2-year Master of Arts and 5-year Doctor of Philosophy

Housed within the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science , the primary and overriding objective of graduate training in Clinical Psychology at UTSC is to produce exceptional clinical scientists according to the highest standards of research and professional practice.

Graduate training in Clinical Psychology at UTSC has primary research strengths in the areas of clinical neuropsychology and neurosciences , personality and psychological assessment , and mindfulness- and acceptance-based psychotherapies . Distinguished by its innovative cross-disciplinary approach to psychological clinical science, Clinical Psychology at UTSC emphasizes scientific innovation through novel research collaborations that push traditional boundaries in clinical science and practice. This theoretical knowledge is integrated into our clinical training which supports the delivery of evidence-based assessment and psychological interventions.

Requirements & Application Process

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OISE Home      

2024-2025 OISE Bulletin

Course description by course code, counselling and clinical psychology phd; field: clinical and counselling psychology.

The Counselling and Clinical Psychology program offers studies leading to the MA and PhD degrees. It is offered by the graduate Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), St. George campus, and the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC).

This graduate program is intended for students seeking to pursue careers in research, teaching, and clinical practice. At the time of application, students will be required to identify a preference for a specific field as well as for a potential supervisor with whom they would work if admitted to the program.

The program has two fields:

Clinical and Counselling Psychology, offered by OISE;

Clinical Psychology, offered by UTSC.

The field in Clinical and Counselling Psychology is offered by the OISE Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development. This field is based on a bio-psycho-social model with an emphasis on diversity. It shares an emphasis with the Clinical Psychology field on the assessment and treatment of psychopathology in adults.

The principal aim of this PhD program is the development of research and theoretical knowledge in counselling and clinical psychology, assessment skills, and knowledge and training in professional issues. Students are expected to conduct advanced research and to develop professional knowledge and skills. Graduates will be prepared to assume a variety of positions in psychological teaching, research, and practice in universities, community settings and agencies offering psychological services, and in university or college counselling centres.

This program is delivered in person, which means that while the program may offer some courses online, a student will take less than one-third of their courses online.

The Clinical and Counselling Psychology field offers both a full-time and flexible-time PhD, and progress in the program will be reviewed annually. This field was accredited in both the areas of counselling and clinical psychology by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) for a six-year term in 2022. It is currently the only program in Canada to hold such a dual accreditation status.

For 2024-25 and further extension to the 2025-26 academic year, admissions to the flexible-time PhD option have been administratively suspended.

PhD Program

Minimum admission requirements.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development's additional admission requirements stated below.

An appropriate bachelor's degree in psychology or any appropriate bachelor's degree that would contain the psychology requirement equivalent (defined as 6.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] in psychology, including 0.5 FCE in research methods and 0.5 FCE in statistics, with a standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A– or better in the final year. It is expected that students will have completed 1.0 FCE at the third- or fourth-year level in each of three core areas of general psychology:

biological bases of behaviour (for example, physiological psychology; comparative psychology, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology);

cognitive/affective bases of behaviour (for example, learning, sensation, perception, cognition, thinking, motivation, emotion); and

social bases of behaviour (for example, social psychology; cultural, ethnic, and group processes; sex roles; organizational and systems theory).

Students who are missing courses in these areas may be required to complete additional courses during the degree.

A University of Toronto MA degree in Clinical and Counselling Psychology with a grade of A– or better, or its equivalent. However, if the master's program was not equivalent to the U of T MA in Counselling and Clinical Psychology, the student will be required to take additional courses to receive equivalent training.

Completion Requirements

Coursework. Students must complete a minimum of 5.5 FCEs as follows:

2.5 FCEs in Counselling and Psychotherapy:

APD3215H Advanced Psychotherapy Seminar ;

APD3217Y Advanced Practicum in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (600-hour practicum); and APD3268Y Internship in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (1,600-hour internship — arrangements must be made in consultation with the Director of Clinical Training). PhD students will attend a minimum of six colloquium presentations during their program, which partially fulfills the course requirements for APD3268Y .

1.0 FCE in Psychology Measurement/Assessment and Diagnosis:

APD3225H Assessment and Diagnosis of Personality and Psychopathology ; and

APD3260H Psychodiagnostic Systems.

0.5 FCE in Supervision and Consultation:

APD3261H Clinical Supervision and Consultation Practicum.

1.0 FCE in Advanced Research Methods:

APD3202H A Foundation of Program Evaluation in Social Sciences (RM) ; and

An advanced-level statistics course (in consultation with supervisors). Courses can be drawn from those offered at OISE or other Faculties with the permission of the instructor.

0.5 FCE in History and Systems Psychology:

APD3204H Contemporary History and Systems in Human Development and Applied Psychology.

Comprehensive examination: In addition to normal course requirements, students will complete two comprehensive components. First, a manuscript for publication and presentation at a peer review conference, normally in Year 1 of the program. Second, students will be examined systematically in general psychology and in professional psychology. The examination will normally be taken at the end of Year 2 of full-time study.

Doctoral dissertation: All students must develop, complete, and defend in a Doctoral Final Oral Examination a doctoral dissertation supervised by a full-time member of the Counselling and Clinical Psychology faculty. The content of such dissertation research may address theoretical issues applicable to clinical and counselling concerns and practice, relate to the development of programs in a variety of educational or applied settings, or in some other way contribute to the development and practice of clinical and counselling psychology.

Students must register continuously and pay the full-time fee until all degree requirements have been fulfilled.

Students cannot transfer between the full-time and flexible-time PhD options.

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

Applicants to the flexible-time PhD option are accepted under the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time PhD option; the exception is that applicants must demonstrate that they are currently employed, and active professionals engaged in activities relevant to their proposed program of study.

APD3215H Advanced Psychotherapy Seminar;

APD3217Y Advanced Practicum in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (600-hour practicum); and APD3268Y Internship in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (1,600-hour internship — arrangements must be made in consultation with the Coordinator of Internship and Counselling Services). PhD students will attend a minimum of six colloquium presentations during their program, which partially fulfills the course requirements for APD3268Y .

0.5 FCE in History and Systems Psychology (if not already satisfied by the completion of a third- or fourth-year undergraduate psychology course in this area):

Students must register continuously until all degree requirements have been fulfilled. They must register full-time during the first four years and may continue as part-time thereafter, with their department's approval.

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