Psychology (MSc) in Canada at Acadia University

Program Overview for Psychology (MSc) in Canada:

Enroll in Acadia's graduate psychology course and prepare for an exciting and rewarding career as a master's-level psychologist or further study in clinical psychology. 
 In the Arcadia Clinical Psychology Graduate Course, you will receive clinical training that follows the Boulder Scientist-Practitioner model, emphasizing the combination of science and practice.

A doctoral-level clinical psychologist will train you to use evidence-based interventions to help people experiencing mental health problems or cognitive difficulties. This prepares you to become a registered clinical psychologist in the provinces that support master's certification, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Alberta. It prepares you to continue your doctorate.

Under the mutual recognition agreement outlined on the Canadian Psychological Association website, clinical psychologists registered in one province can transfer their licenses to other provinces. To apply, you must have a bachelor's degree in psychology or its equivalent (i.e., a bachelor's degree in psychology and sufficient relevant research experience). If you are interested in counseling but do not have these qualifications, you may be interested in our Master of Education in Counseling or completing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. 

Get Inspired: 
Acadia is one of Canada's only clinical master's programs and is eligible to become a registered clinical psychologist. At Arcadia, you will benefit from a small school environment with small class size instruction and personalized tutoring attention while reaching faculty and staff with different research interests. 

Acadia maintains relationships with health centers and large private clinics in the region, providing internship opportunities in many clinical settings, including NSHA Mental Health and Addictions, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Kentville, IWK, True North Psychological Services, Seagram and Associates, and IWK, as well as other possible placements through consultation with the internship coordinator.

Research Interests:

• ADHD and learning disabilities
• Attention and memory
• Anxiety and depression
• Development of attention and perception
• Literacy and learning
• Speech perception and production
• Clinical neuropsychology
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Cognitive rehabilitation
• Death and dying
• Event-related potentials
• Eye tracking
• Human relationships and health
• Child early social development
• Infant attachment
• Interpersonal relationships
• Interpersonal violence
• LGBTQ+ relationships
• Trauma, anxiety, and addictions
• Intergroup relations
• Prejudice
• Prejudice reduction
• Cross-group friendship
• Computational neuroscience
• Motor control, body self-perception
• Brain-machine interfaces

The eligibility for Psychology (MSc) in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

To apply, you must have either an Honours degree in psychology or equivalent (i.e., an undergraduate degree majoring in psychology along with sufficient and relevant research experience). If you are interested in counseling but do not hold those qualifications, you may be interested in either our Master of Education in Counselling or completing an undergraduate degree in Psychology.

Over the past five years, we have averaged 40 applications for 4 to 5 spaces per year. Of admitted students, the average GPA was 3.6, and generally, GRE percentile scores (General Test) were above the 40th percentile. Previous research activity, work experience, and clinically-related public service are considered. To augment the selection process, short-listed candidates shall receive a telephone or in-person interview by two or more faculty members. Admission is restricted to a bachelor’s degree with Honours in Psychology (with a thesis) or equivalent (please see chart below).

Please note that the General and Subject GREs will not be required this year due to COVID-19.

Admission Requirements

Applicants without a four-year Honours degree in Psychology***

*Biological bases of behavior (neuropsychology, biological psychology, physiological psychology) Cognitive bases of behavior (learning, memory, cognition), Social bases of behavior (social psychology, cultural, ethnic, and group processes), Individual differences (abnormal psychology, developmental psychopathology) 

**The research statement is 1-3 pages long and must outline how you are prepared to complete a master’s thesis. Please describe your research experience and completed coursework related to research, such as research design and statistics. The statement must also include general areas of research interest and potential Acadia supervisors in those areas. The statement of applied interests is 1-3 pages long.

It must describe your academic and clinical interests and how you intend to pursue them in the clinical psychology graduate program at Acadia University. Please state what you are interested in studying and why Acadia University is a good place for you. Please also include your career objectives, preparation, suitability for the program, and any other relevant information.

Applicants are invited to describe any special circumstances that may affect their application and academic records, such as the need for paid employment during undergraduate years, parental and medical leave(s), and possible socio-cultural disadvantages. If included, this information should be added to the “Statement of Applied Interests” part of the application with a subheading “Special Circumstances.”

This last component is completely voluntary and not required; however, the Department is committed to Equity/ Diversity/ Inclusiveness principles and actions and is willing to consider applicants’ special circumstances as part of the admissions selection process.  

***The onus is on the applicant without a four-year Honours degree in Psychology (thesis-based) to demonstrate how all requirements have been met. At least one referee must comment on how you are prepared to complete a Masters's thesis.

Also important are previous research activity, work experience, clinically related public service, three letters of recommendation. Priority is given to B.A., B.Sc. Honors Graduates in selecting candidates for Graduate Program. All questions regarding admission and required application documents need to be sent to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies of Acadia University. You can contact them for further information at gradadmissions@acadiau.ca.

These are the test eligibilities for the Psychology (MSc) to qualify.

The international student tuition fees and costs for Psychology (MSc) in Canada.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Doug Symons
psycgradcoordinator@acadiau.ca
902-585-1571

Department
Psychology Department
Horton Hall, Room 326
18 University Avenue
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6
denise.bonnell@acadiau.ca
902-585-1301