Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Admission Requirements

The Psychology Ph.D. degree program streams are governed by the regulations of the College of Graduate Studies, including its standards for admission of students. Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program streams normally must possess a thesis-based Master's degree in Psychology or a related area, with clear evidence of research ability or potential. Further, applicants to the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. stream should possess a thesis-based Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from a CPA or APA accredited program.  

Transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. degree within either Psychology program stream is not permitted by the Psychology department. In addition, transfer between Ph.D. program streams (Psychological Science to Clinical Psychology or the reverse) between admission intakes is not permitted. Rather, if an enrolled Ph.D. student wishes to pursue the other program stream, a formal application for admission to the given stream is required during the next application cycle.  

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an offer of admission. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months. See more here: https://gradstudies.ok.ubc.ca/applying/english-proficiency-requirements/ 

No applicant will be admitted to the program until an available faculty member of the Psychology Department has agreed to supervise the dissertation research; thus, applicants are expected to review Psychology faculty profiles and name up to three potential supervisors in their applications. View department faculty profiles here:  https://psych.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/. Contacting potential faculty research supervisors is not required in advance of applying. 

Program Requirements – Psychological Science (formerly Experimental Psychology)

In addition to the general academic regulations for graduate students set out in this chapter, the minimum requirements for the Ph.D. are as follows:

• up to 18 credits of coursework equivalent to that required for the M.A. degree program, selected by the student with the approval of his or her supervisory committee (if a student has not already completed the relevant credits or their equivalent);
• completion of Methods of Teaching and Learning in Psychology (PSYO_O 520);
• successful completion of the comprehensive requirements; and
• a successfully-defended doctoral dissertation (PSYO_O 699).

Additional coursework may be required by a student's supervisory committee. For more information regarding the comprehensive requirements and dissertation, please refer to the College of Graduate Studies' Academic Regulations and the Psychological Science Handbook, found on the Psychology graduate student resources here: https://psych.ok.ubc.ca/graduate/graduate-resources/. 

Graduate study must be on a full-time, residence basis. Part-time or distance delivery is not offered. 

Program Requirements – Clinical

All doctoral students are required to successfully complete:

• 6 credits of graduate-level statistics and methodology (PSYO_O 507);
• 6 credits in Professional Practice: Assessment (PSYO_O 514 and PSYO_O 515);
• 6 credits in Individual Differences (PSYO_O 510 and PSYO_O 511);
• 6 credits in Professional Practice: Intervention (PSYO_O 516 and PSYO_O 517);
• 3 credits in Ethics and Professional Standards (PSYO_O 512);
• 3 credits of Program Evaluation (PSYO_O 526 or MGMT_O 571);
• 3 credits from each of the following cognate areas in Psychology: biological (PSYO_O 522), cognitive-affective (PSYO_O 523) and social (PSYO_O 521);
• 3 credits in Health Psychology (PSYO_O 520);
• 3 credits in the historical and scientific foundations of general Psychology (PSYO_O 506);
• 3 credits in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (PSYO_O 501);
• 1 credit in Clinical Supervision (PSYO_O 524);
• Minimum of 300 direct client hours (minimum of 12 credits) of program approved in-house-clinic and community-based practica, including assigned advanced in-house and/or community-based assessment and intervention practica, to reach competency and progress to the next level of training
• Successful completion of the required comprehensive exam;
• Successful defence of the doctoral dissertation (PSYO_O 699);
• Demonstrated development of an acceptable level of clinical skill;  
• Successful completion of a one-year, full-time Clinical Internship (residency) in a CPA or APA-accredited or equivalent, program-approved site (PSYO_O 730); and
• Other additional requirements, if deemed necessary by the Clinical Training Committee. 

Courses listed above that were completed within the Clinical Psychology Master of Arts program at UBC (Okanagan campus) will count towards the Ph.D. program requirements. Courses listed that were completed within another CPA or APA accredited thesis-based Clinical Psychology M.A. or M.Sc. program will likely be counted towards some of the Ph.D. program requirements and will require faculty and program director review and approval. Courses listed that were completed within a non-accredited CPA or APA thesis-based Clinical Psychology or Psychology program may not be counted and will require faculty and program director review and approval.

Clinical Ph.D. students who wish to teach an undergraduate Psychology course at the university, must first complete Methods of Teaching and Learning in Psychology (PSYO_O 540) as well as meet the requirements to teach as outlined by the College of Graduate Studies.

Course exemptions for graduate courses taken elsewhere are rarely granted and do not count toward credit requirements. Some Ph.D. students may be required to complete additional courses and/or practica due to deficiencies in their preparatory background.

In addition to completing the regular requirements noted above, students in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program may also choose an area of Emphasis (as relates to an area of competency for future licensure in Canada, after graduation) in either Health Psychology or Neuropsychology, as outlined below:

1) Emphasis in Health Psychology:

1. Completion of two approved Health practica  
2. Completion of a Senior Student clinician role in one of the Health practica

2) Emphasis in Neuropsychology:

1.  Completion of Functional Neuroanatomy course (PSYO_O 508Q)
2. Completion of two approved neuro-based community practica
3.  Participation in the in-house, clinic-based comprehensive psychological assessment service-advanced practicum for a minimum of two Ph.D. years, and;
4. Completion of a Senior Student clinician role in the in-house, clinic-based comprehensive psychological assessment service-advanced practicum (while registered in this practicum)

Clinical Psychology Ph.D. students must reach Candidacy prior to being eligible for applying for clinical internship.

See the Department website and program Handbooks for complete details regarding the various psychology graduate programs: https://psych.ok.ubc.ca/graduate/graduate-resources/.

Graduate study must be on a full-time, residence basis. Part-time or distance delivery is not offered.