Application Information

      • Your application (and all supporting documents) must be submitted by December 1 to be considered for admission for September of the following year.
      • Referees will not be able to submit their electronic references after December 15. Please apply as early as possible.
      • We take applications to the Ph.D. program every year.
      • We are taking applications for the M.A. program for September 2024.
      • We are not taking applications for the M.Ed. Program for 2024. The M.Ed. program is currently on hold as we work to revise the program based on recent changes in the regulation of school psychologists at the master’s level in British Columbia. We will post information on the revised M.Ed. program when it is available.
  • The M.Ed. program in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC is designed for students who plan to practice as school psychologists at the master’s level and who do not plan to pursue doctoral study. We are not currently admitting students to the M.Ed. program as we work to revise the program based on recent changes in the regulation of school psychologists at the master’s level in British Columbia.
  • The M.A. program in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC is designed for students who plan to move directly to their Ph.D. upon completion of their M.A. It is not designed for students who want to practice as a School Psychologist at the Master’s level. Additional coursework and a a master’s internship at minimum are be required in addition to the UBC M.A. to practice school psychology at the master’s level if students do not continue to the Ph.D..
  • The Ph.D. program in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC is designed for students who have completed a M.A. in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC (or the equivalent to the UBC School and Applied Child Psychology M.A.) who want to work as a psychologist at the doctoral level and obtain registration as a psychologists at the doctoral level.
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SACP Prerequisites

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the mission, goals, and competencies statements for the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of British Columbia prior to preparing the Career Objective, Statement of Proposed Research Focus, and Reasons for Wanting to Pursue Graduate Studies in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC portions of their application. In addition, applicants should highlight their interests as they relate to the research and teaching of the core program faculty in School and Applied Child Psychology at UBC or supervisor identified who is available to supervise students in SACP. For students seeking the M.A. or Ph.D. you should identify a potential research supervisor(s) from the list of faculty accepting M.A. or Ph.D. students and how your research interests relate to their work (see SACP Faculty section on the website).

We are not currently admitting students to the M.Ed. program as we work to revise the program based on recent changes in the regulation of school psychologists at the master’s level in British Columbia.

In addition to the minimum admission requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (normally, a four-year bachelor’s degree with a B+ average in third and fourth year-level course work) in a relevant area of study, students are required to meet the following pre-requisite requirements:

  • A minimum of 18 credits in Psychology, Educational Psychology, or Special Education and related disciplines including CNPS 362 or an equivalent undergraduate course in basic interviewing skills. Other than the courses in statistics, research methods any courses in these areas will meet the requirement. However, students are encouraged to have background or coursework in areas most relevant to School and Applied Child Psychology practice (child development, learning, exceptional students, classroom management, behaviour disorders, abnormal psychology, etc.). It is not necessary to have a degree in psychology or education to apply but coursework and background in these areas is beneficial.
  • Upper division undergraduate course work in both statistics and research methodology with content similar to the UBC coursesEPSE 481: Introduction to Research in Education and EPSE 482: Introduction to Statistics for Research in Education. Applicants should carefully consider if the specific content of their statistics and research methodology courses is similar to EPSE 481 and 482 because these courses are pre-requisites to required statistics and research methodology background needed for research courses in the M.A. program. Completing a data-based honours thesis meets the research methods prerequisite.
  • Prior research experience as an undergraduate such as an honours thesis, volunteering in a research lab, or working as a research assistant is encouraged for applicants to the M.A. program and should l be highlighted in your application.
  • Evidence of suitability for professional work with school-aged populations, including successful work experience with school-aged populations, school-based experience and/or teacher certification. Note that teaching certification is not required.
  • In addition to required prerequisites listed above, applicants are also strongly encouraged to have prior coursework in measurement. Examples of such courses at UBC include: EPSE 421, 423, PSYC 303, PSYC 323

M.A. applicants are required to submit additional documentation that outlines their prior research experience, potential research interests for M.A. study, and potential research supervisor(s).

Find detailed information on SACP MA prerequisites, applicant summary and student characteristics.

In addition to the minimum admission requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a M.A. in School and Applied Child Psychology equivalent to the requirements of the UBC MA program (see coursework prerequisites listed under SACP Ph.D. program). Students admitted to the Ph.D. program should meet with their academic advisor upon admissions to the program (and no later than the first semester of their doctoral study) to identify if prerequisites have been met. Students may be asked to meet with instructors for the courses and/or provide documentation such as course syllabi, work samples, etc. to demonstrate that they have met the prerequisites. Prerequisites not met prior to entry may be included in the doctoral program of study but this may add time to the overall program length. Transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program is permitted under regulations set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Find detailed information on SACP PhD program prerequisites, applicant summary and student characteristics.

Program Requirements

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and English Language Examinations:

The GRE is not required for admissions to any of the UBC SACP Programs.

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Learn more about English language requirements for international students.

Supporting Documents

  • Completed online application
  • Official transcripts of all institutions attended uploaded with application (grading key required)
  • CV
  • Evidence of English Proficiency (applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction)
  • 3 original letters of reference uploaded to online application by referees
    • Letters should address both academic preparation and suitability for advanced study in professional school psychology including work with children and youth. At least two references should be familiar with the student’s recent academic preparation. At least one reference must be able to address background and suitability for professional practice with children and youth.