Admission
requirements

Generally, students will be required to have the following:

• A Bachelor's degree, having obtained a B+ or higher average in the last two years of their undergraduate degree.
• 2 courses (3 units) of 3rd or 4th year coursework in the following two areas: Learning/Cognitive and Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology. See the Required courses tab for details.
• ED-D 414, 417, and 418 or their approved equivalents are required courses. See the Required courses tab for details.
• A significant number of counselling related hours are required. For more information, see the Field experience tab.
• Two Counselling Skills Evaluations, two Assessment Reports, and a personal statement (3-5 pages) detailing career plans and motivation for graduate work in Counselling. For more information, see the Forms tab.

Thesis-based applicants must meet the following additional requirements:

• At least 1.5 units (1 course) of undergraduate credit in statistics that covers descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including univariate and regression analyses.
• A one-page description of past research experience and present research interests.

Additional requirements for community-based programs:

• For community-based and off-campus programs only, a practicum support letter if a spot is secured

Required
Courses

• Two courses (3 units; 1.5 per course or equivalent) of relevant 3rd and 4th year coursework in Educational Psychology, Psychology, or a related helping discipline in the following two areas:

-Learning/Cognition
-Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology

•   ED-D 414, ED-D 417 and ED-D 418 or their approved equivalents with at least B+ or higher. All three courses must have been completed within seven years of the date of application.
  •  

Field
experience

Applicants are required to have a significant number of counselling related hours completed at time of the application deadline. Field experience is defined as working in a helping capacity in either a counselling-related or teacher-related setting with children, adolescents, or adults.

This field experience should involve person-to-person and/or group helping relationships which meet the follow standards:

• the applicant plays a facilitative role in learning, personal and emotional growth, and/or psychological development;
• the applicant's interaction demonstrates professional and ethical behaviors, effective interpersonal skills, and personal awareness; and
• the field experience includes supervision involving evaluative feedback from a supervisor of a higher administrative position (i.e., not peer consultation) and the position should have clearly stated roles and responsibilities for the individual and the supervisor.

This requirement can be met through volunteer work although preference will be given to applicants who have sustained, relevant, paid work experience.

Please note that all students are required to submit aField Experience Form.

Application
process

We recommend all prospective students download the Counselling Admissions Guide for a complete guide on program requirements and admissions procedures.

1. Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early, as there is often a delay in obtaining the necessary supporting documents (e.g., references, transcripts). Graduate Admissions is particularly busy and it is advisable to have all supporting documents in as early as possible to avoid a processing delay.
2. Make sure you are aware of all the program requirements.
3. All required documents should be uploaded with your application. Please visit the following website to prepare for the submission of your application and your supporting documents.
4. Submit your application online.  Fill out the application clearly and completely. You must include information for all post-secondary institutions at which you registered for courses. Failure to disclose may result in having your admission and registration cancelled. Include the application fee with your application - you must pay online with a credit card
5. Use the Application Checklist below to ensure the proper documents are sent to the proper place. Different documents are required to be submitted to different places in different ways. Failure to do so may result in an incomplete application and may jeopardize the application.  Original documents must be received by the dates indicated.
6. Fillable PDFs forms (Counselling Skills Evaluation, List of Prerequisite Courses, Field experience Chart) needed for the application are all available here.
7. Documentation from applicants who are not admitted or do not take up an offer of admission will be kept on file for ONE year, except for counseling skills evaluations which will be kept on file for seven years.

Forms

Forms for Application Assistance

• Course Equivalency Chart for ED-D courses
• Suggested UVic Psychology-based Courses

Forms needed for Application

• Counselling Skills Evaluation Form
• Field Experience Chart
• List of Required Counselling Prerequisites

PhD
requirements

1. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
2. Master's degree in a field related to Educational Psychology from a recognized university.
3. ED-D 560 and ED-D 561A or their equivalents.
4. Thesis.
5. Statement of research experience and interests.
6. Letter of intent.
7. A current curriculum vitae (resume).
8. Three assessment reports.
9. English Language Requirement * For applicants whose first language is not English*