Educational Psychology (PhD)
Note: This program is not accepting applications for September 2024. Contact the program assistants if you have any questions.
This PhD is a research-focused program. You'll learn advanced skills in theory, research and practice. This degree uses course work and candidacy exams to prepare you for your dissertation.
You’ll conduct research in one of our focus areas:
- learning, development and instructional sciences
- measurement, evaluation and computer applications
- special education
| Expected length | Project or thesis | Course-based |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 years | Yes | No |
Quick facts
- Program options:
- Doctorate
- Study options:
- Full-time study
- Program delivery:
- On-campus
- Dynamic learning:
- Co-op optional
Find a supervisor
PhD students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:
- you must list a potential supervisor on your application
- this faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission
- include an email from your supervisor with your application
To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you’ve found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.
Allyson Hadwin
Professor Educational Psychology (Learning, Development, and Instructional Sciences)
Breanna Lawrence
Associate Professor Educational Psychology, Counselling Psychology
Catherine McGregor
Associate Professor and Associate Dean Graduate Programs and Research Leadership Studies
Joan M. Martin
Assistant Professor Educational Psychology (Learning, Development, and Instructional Sciences)
Lucinda (Cindy) Brown
Assistant Teaching Professor and Graduate Advisor Educational Psychology
Mariel Miller
Assistant Professor Educational Psychology (Learning, Development and Instructional Sciences)
Rose Vukovic
Professor and Chair of EPLS Educational Psychology (Special Education)
Show me program details
Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:
Your program details
Application deadlines
September – apply by December 1
Admission requirements
Program specific requirements
- Completion of a thesis-based master’s degree from a recognized university in psychology, educational psychology or related area.
OR
- Completion of a non-thesis master’s degree and a first-authored paper published in a peer-reviewed journal that demonstrates ability to conduct, analyze and report empirical research
- Completion of ED-D 560 (Statistical Methods in Education) and ED-D 561A (Methods in Educational Research), or their equivalents within their master’s degree program.
As part of your application, you must submit the following:
- Graduate Record Examination scores from the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the GRE.
- Statement of research experience and interests (max. 3 pages). Please address the following:
- Describe previous research and work experience related to your area of doctoral study.
- Describe your past and present research interests in educational psychology.
- Tell us about your intended research area during doctoral studies.
- Name two faculty members you’d like to work with. For each, provide a brief explanation about how your research interests connect with theirs.
- Letter of intent (max. 5 pages) addressing the following:
- Your reasons for pursuing doctoral studies in educational psychology.
- How this program could help you meet your immediate and long-term professional goals.
- Your strengths and weaknesses as a learner.
- Please include any other relevant information that might help the admissions committee know about you as a person and a potential educational psychologist.
- Current CV
- Sample of first-authored research in the form of a thesis and/or published research paper.
- Assessment reports: You must give the names and email addresses of 3 assessors when you submit your online application. One must be your master’s thesis supervisor and at least one other should be from a professor from whom you have taken a graduate-level course.
Program specific requirements
- Completion of a thesis-based master’s degree from a recognized university in psychology, educational psychology or related area.
OR
- Completion of a non-thesis master’s degree and a first-authored paper published in a peer-reviewed journal that demonstrates ability to conduct, analyze and report empirical research
- Completion of ED-D 560 (Statistical Methods in Education) and ED-D 561A (Methods in Educational Research), or their equivalents within their master’s degree program.
As part of your application, you must submit the following:
- Graduate Record Examination scores from the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the GRE.
- Statement of research experience and interests (max. 3 pages). Please address the following:
- Describe previous research and work experience related to your area of doctoral study.
- Describe your past and present research interests in educational psychology.
- Tell us about your intended research area during doctoral studies.
- Name two faculty members you’d like to work with. For each, provide a brief explanation about how your research interests connect with theirs.
- Letter of intent (max. 5 pages) addressing the following:
- Your reasons for pursuing doctoral studies in educational psychology.
- How this program could help you meet your immediate and long-term professional goals.
- Your strengths and weaknesses as a learner.
- Please include any other relevant information that might help the admissions committee know about you as a person and a potential educational psychologist.
- Current CV
- Sample of first-authored research in the form of a thesis and/or published research paper.
- Assessment reports: You must give the names and email addresses of 3 assessors when you submit your online application. One must be your master’s thesis supervisor and at least one other should be from a professor from whom you have taken a graduate-level course.
Completion requirements
Funding & aid
Tuition & fees
Estimated minimum program cost*
* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator.
Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.
Ready to apply?
Note: This program is not accepting applications for September 2024. Contact the program assistants if you have any questions.
Faculties & departments
Need help?
Contact Xinyu Zhang and Kerstin Burnett at eplsgrad@uvic.ca or 250-472-5005.