A psychology course in Canada typically covers various topics on human behaviour, thought, and emotion. The exact content of the course may vary depending on what you are interested in, be it social psychology, developmental psychology, or abnormal psychology. Common elements of psychology degree in Canada include:

• Introduction to Psychology: The history of psychology, various approaches, and the scientific method as it applies to psychology.
• Biological Bases of Behavior: The structure and function of the brain, the nervous system, genetics, and the endocrine system.
• Sensation and Perception: How we process sensory information, such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
• Learning and Memory: How we acquire new information and skills, store and retrieve information, and how our memory can be affected by factors such as emotion, attention, and ageing.
• Motivation and Emotion: The basic biological and psychological processes that drive behaviour, such as hunger, thirst, sex, and emotion.
• Social Psychology: How people interact with one another, how social influence affects behaviour, and how social factors can contribute to prejudice, discrimination, and conflict.
• Developmental Psychology: How people develop and change over their lifespan, including infancy and childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and aging.

Canada remains one of the countries that not only has a high demand for mental health professionals but also provides some of the best programs that enable students to pursue a career in this esteemed field. Psychologists in Canada earn a remuneration ranging from CAD 49,000 to 117,000, and the professionals in the field are among the highest paid in Canada. According to the Job Bank Canada, the overall demand for psychologists in the country will also rise, as 15,700 new jobs will be created in Canada by 2028.

Learn more about the best psychology courses in Canada below (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023) and book a free consultation with SI-Canada today to begin your application.

Top Five Canadian Universities for Psychology

1. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science degree that gives students a strong foundation across the entire discipline, including knowledge of the methods used in psychological research and introduction to other fields within the subject. The university continuously updates the curriculum to incorporate the latest research and address several challenges that show up in the field, including intergroup relations and neuro-ethics. 

The university's graduate program is renowned worldwide for excellence in graduate education and research. The Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science offers Clinical Psychology at the university. In contrast, the Department of Applied Psychology & Human Development offers programs in counselling psychology, developmental psychology & education, and school and clinical child psychology.

• Course to consider: BSc (Hons) in Psychology
• International fees: $60,510
• Entry requirements: All candidates must have graduated from high school with six courses, including English, Biology, Calculus & Vectors. English language proficiency is also required for non-native speakers of the language.

2. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is among the top-ranked universities in Canada, and for psychology programs, it was ranked #1 in 2023. The Department of Psychology at UBC offers undergraduate and graduate programs in psychology. While studying at one of the most popular undergraduate majors, students can choose the Bachelor of Arts or the Behavioural Neuroscience program. During the first year, an introduction to the discipline is given, which then progresses to receiving specialization in courses like the psychology of sport and cultural psychology. 

The Master’s program in the subject is delivered in a 24-month duration, which involves a thesis that each student has to present in the university’s annual Psychfest. Many graduate students also conduct research across a spectrum of subjects in the discipline, including Neuroscience, Behavioral, Clinical, Developmental, Cognitive Science, Learning Enhancement, Health, Social/Personality, and Quantitative Methods. 

• Course to consider: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• International fees: $61,917
• Entry requirements: Students must graduate from a university-preparatory program at the senior secondary level, preferably with subjects: Mathematics and Computation, Social Sciences, Language Arts, Second Languages, and Visual & Performing Arts. All prospective students must also demonstrate English language proficiency.

3. McGill University

McGill University is among Canada's oldest educational institutions, founded in 1821. The Department of Psychology at McGill University offers undergraduate and graduate programs through the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science and also combination courses through the Faculty of Arts and Science. The first ever psychology course was taught in McGill in 1850, and in 1910, the first psychological laboratory was established. 

Across all the course programs, students are given various choices, including health psychology and hormones, psychology of bilingualism, and behavioural psychology. The graduate programs are offered as two full-time research-intensive tracks in Clinical Psychology or Experimental Psychology. Both these programs ultimately lead to a PhD degree in Psychology. Students are also encouraged to conduct research projects while pursuing their education. 

• Course to consider: BSc in Psychology
• International fees: $61,326
• Entry requirements: All applicants must have passed the senior secondary level, and mostly four subjects are considered in which around 75%-85% of marks must be shown in certificates. English language proficiency is also required for non-native speakers of the language.

4. Western University

The Department of Psychology at Western University has been at the forefront of providing programs in the discipline. Historically, courses in the subject have been taught since 1898 through different departments. The undergraduate programs are available through Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science with minors and specialization in the subject. 

At the postgraduate levels, students can take up master's degree programs or doctoral degrees in areas of clinical psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, social, personality and development psychology, and cognitive, developmental, and brain sciences. The university is also active in research initiatives to find answers to questions about human and animal behaviour. Over 50 faculty members work on four major clusters of research being conducted at the university. 

• Course to consider: BSc Honours Specialization in Psychology 
• International fees: $42,233
• Entry requirements: All the candidates must have passed high school with courses in English, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. English language proficiency is also required. 

5. York University

One of the top-ranking universities in Canada providing a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology is housed at York University. The Department of Psychology offers Canada's largest and most diverse selection of specific courses. The university provides learning opportunities to students in all areas of the discipline, including social and developmental psychology, statistics and quantitative methods, and critical thinking and writing in psychology. 

Apart from the major degree options at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, York University also offers certificates in Counseling and Mental Health and an option in Quantitative Methods. The department offers classroom learning, online lectures, and blended learning opportunities. Students can also take up experiential learning modules to become skilled professionals by practicing in off-campus settings. 

• Course to consider: Specialized Honours BA/BSc in Psychology 
• International fees: $35,148
• Entry requirements: Applicants to the program must have completed their high school with at least five academic subjects. English language proficiency is also required for international students.

Study Psychology in Canada

Are you interested in pursuing psychology at a top-ranked Canadian university? If so, book a free consultation session with the SI-Canada today to discuss your study options.