Clinical Psychology

The Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology has been fully accredited since 1997.  In May 2021, we were awarded full re-accreditation for 6 years by CPA. APA ceased accrediting programs located outside the U.S. at the end of 2015, which closely coincided with the end of our program’s APA accreditation term on December 31, 2014.  APA and CPA have signed the “First Street Accord” which is a mutual recognition agreement of the equivalence of accreditation between APA and CPA (http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/first-street-accord.aspx). Our program will continue to maintain CPA accreditation. Our next site visit will be due in 2027-2028.  As a fully accredited Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology, we adhere to all standards, guidelines and policies of CPA. The office of accreditation can be contacted as follows:        

Accreditation Office                                          
Canadian Psychological Association                  
141 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 702                     
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J3
1-613-237-2144 or 1-888-472-0657 (toll free)                        
cpa@cpa.ca     

Professional registration

All clinical faculty members are Registered Psychologists in the Province of British Columbia, or are in application for registration in BC. The College of Psychologists of BC (CPBC) regulates the practice of psychology for the safety of the public. Our Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology adheres to the CPBC’s Code of Conduct. The CPBC can be contacted as follows:

Dr. Andrea Kowaz
Registrar, College of Psychologists of BC
404-1755 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC  V6J 4S5
1-604-736-6164

collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca

Our program prepares graduate students for clinical practice, academic, and/or research careers.  Our goal is to train scientist-practitioner psychologists who contribute to the scientific knowledge base in clinical psychology and who offer evidence-based services to individuals, families, and groups.  All of our students receive core training in the social, developmental, biological, and cognitive bases of human behaviour, psychological assessment, diagnosis, intervention and prevention, psychopathology, ethics and professional issues, cultural diversity, social justice, research methods and evaluation, supervision, and consultation. In addition, all of our students become attuned to the unique strengths and conflicts that may arise from the intersection of specific cultural contexts, including racial/ethnic beliefs and values, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic status, and level of ability. Students combine their training in core areas of Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in (1) lifespan psychology or (2) neuropsychology. Further, we support students’ individual career objectives through careful guidance in the selection of specialty courses, additional learning opportunities (within and outside of the department), and placements in relevant practice sites.

We routinely review and improve our training program to ensure our training is consistent with, if not leading, national training standards. At present, students and faculty are improving and expanding our anti-racism and anti-oppressive training in our continuing efforts to decolonize our program and our profession. We are collectively “learning while doing and doing while learning” and expect change and growth to be regular features of our program.

Clinical Lifespan Specialization

The Clinical Lifespan track emphasizes the social, cognitive, and emotional development of individuals from childhood through late adulthood. Clinical psychology students in the Lifespan track receive specialized training in the conceptualization of multiple and intersecting influences on mental health, including normative and pathological developmental pathways and age-specific risk and protective factors. Students in this track develop expertise in using this knowledge to inform developmentally sensitive and culturally responsive assessment and intervention techniques and recommendations that outline trajectories of potential risks yet also point to specific developmental opportunities for positive growth. Current clinically-related research topics include (a) Indigenous mental health and wellbeing; (b) health behaviours and health promotion; (c) healthy relationship functioning; (d) suicide and self-harm behaviours, and (e) immigration and acculturation.

Clinical Neuropsychology Specialization

The Clinical Neuropsychology track focuses on brain organization and the impact of brain dysfunction on various aspects of cognitive, behavioural, and emotional functioning. Clinical Neuropsychology students are provided with advanced training in the clinical neuropsychological assessment, management, and rehabilitation of cognitive, memory, sensorimotor, attention, executive, social, emotional functioning for clients with neurological and/or neuropsychiatric disorders. We adhere to the Houston Conference Guidelines for clinical training in Neuropsychology, such that our students qualify for accredited internships and post-docs in Clinical Neuropsychology if they wish to pursue further certification with the American boards in Neuropsychology later in their careers. Clinical Neuropsychologists are noted for their ability to integrate medical, psychiatric, and occupational aspects of rehabilitation into effective and focused treatment planning. Current clinically-related research topics in the department include (a) use of multimodal neuroimaging to understand healthy aging and neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS); (b) traumatic brain injury; (c) examination of the effects of physical activity on cognition; (d) neurocognition, psychosocial functioning, and health outcomes with aging and chronic illness; (e) cognitive rehabilitation in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities including ASD, FASD, and ADHD; and (f) neuropsychological interventions for adults, particularly mindfulness-based interventions, as well as the intersection of trauma and medical illness.

Timeline

Our Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology is designed to be completed in 7 years. This includes a 6 year curriculum (with 2 years at the M.Sc. level and 4 years at the Ph.D. level) and a year-long full-time residency at a CPA- or APA-accredited site. Our program’s specialization in either Clinical Neuropsychology or Clinical Lifespan Psychology typically adds an additional 1-year of training compared to graduate programs in clinical psychology without speciality areas. We also strive to accommodate family factors, such as parental leaves, caregiving of ill family members, and economic and health issues. We recognize the need for students to graduate in a timely manner and hence streamlined our program to shorten the duration while still maintaining its quality.  In recent years, several students have been able to complete the program in 6 years, including residency, rather than 7 years.

Program manual (pdf)

Our program forms a global community, drawing students and faculty not only from across Canada, but also from countries such as Colombia, France, Russia, Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States. To see where we are from, see the interactive map below. (Depending on your computer, you may need to re-center the map; you can also enlarge the map and scroll in and out)

By building on the wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives offered by our students and faculty, the graduate program in Clinical Psychology facilitates a greater understanding of clients’ diverse beliefs and sociocultural influences.

Testimonials

 Graduate school can be difficult. Not only are students transitioning in their academic/professional careers, but many are also transitioning geographically and socially. In light of this, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and understanding atmosphere. Many of our students state that the amount of faculty and peer support, including our graduate student buddy program, is high and that this is a major contributor to their positive adjustment to the rigours of graduate studies. Further, we are proud to report that all of our recent graduates have moved on to post-doctoral positions, academic appointments, or clinical positions. Many of our graduates state that our program’s high standard of training prepared them well for the often unpredictable demands of clinical practice and academic work.

For more student insights or enquiries, please feel free to contact our current graduate students.

See what our students have to say about the clinical psychology program at the University of Victoria. Watch them all here.

Our clinical faculty members conduct exciting research in a multitude of areas, including mindfulness meditation, family dynamics, executive functioning, and aging. All clinical program faculty members are Registered Psychologists in British Columbia (or are in the process of attaining Registered status) and have a range of practical experience in the field.

Some clinical graduate students are supervised in their research endeavors by complementary faculty who specialize in a number of non-clinical areas, such as Cognition and Brain Sciences and Lifespan Psychology. Furthermore, students in our program benefit from the input of over 30 adjunct faculty members who are all Registered Psychologists involved in providing clinical supervision at practicum sites in the community,

Clinical students work closely with a faculty supervisor who best matches their research interests, clinical goals, and/or methodological approaches. Faculty supervisors play a pivotal role in providing mentorship and opportunities for expansion.  Applicants who are admitted to the Clinical Psychology program with a non-clinical research supervisor are assigned a Clinical Training Advisor (CTA) from among the clinical psychology program faculty. This person is available to guide the student in matters pertaining to clinical psychology program requirements.

Clinical faculty

• Ames, Megan: PhD, Assistant Professor
• Costigan, Catherine: PhD, Professor
• Garcia-Barrera, Mauricio: PhD, Associate Professor & Associate Dean Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Gawryluk, Jodie: PhD, Associate Professor
• Haigh, Emily: PhD, Associate Professor & Chief Mungo Martin Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health
• Macoun, Sarah: PhD, Associate Professor & Graduate Advisor
• Paterson, Theone: PhD, Assistant Professor
• Robinson, Jill: PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor & Clinic Director
• Smart, Colette: PhD, Associate Professor
• Turner, Brianna: PhD, Associate Professor
• Wawrykow, Natasha: PhD. Assistant Teaching Professor & Indigenization Consultant
• Woodin, Erica: PhD, Professor & Director of Clinical Training

Complementary faculty

• Bub, Daniel: PhD, Professor
• Lindsay, Stephen: PhD, Professor
• MacDonald, Stuart: PhD, Professor
• Mueller, Ulrich: PhD, Professor
• Piccinin, Andrea: PhD, Professor
• Stinson, Danu: PhD, Professor
• Tanaka, Jim: PhD, Professor

Faculty accepting students

The Psychology Clinic at the University of Victoria has the dual purpose of serving the community and training clinical psychology graduate students. Services are provided by students in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. clinical psychology programs and are supervised by Registered Clinical Psychologists. For more information about the services provided please visit the Psychology Clinic page.

As part of clinical training, graduate students participate in several practica where they provide professional psychological services to the community, including assessments and therapeutic interventions for children, adults, couples and families.

Every fall, we publish a newsletter, PSYCH-LINKS, summarizing our various practicum placement opportunities. Click on a link to learn more about practicum training in our program.

• 2022 (Vol. 14)
• 2021 (Vol. 13)
• 2020 (Vol. 12)
• 2019 (Vol.11)
• 2017 (Vol.10)
• 2016 (Vol.9)
• 2015 (Vol. 8)
• 2014 (Vol. 7)
• 2013 (Vol. 6)
• 2012 (Vol.5)

Admission

The admissions information that is provided here is specific to our Clinical Psychology graduate program. Please also follow the university’s admissions process. 

The Clinical Psychology Admissions Committee reviews applications based on a broad assessment of applicants’ interests, experiences, and potential.

You should submit:

1. A Personal Statement (Statement of Intent; no more than two pages single-sided and double-spaced).
2. The Personal Statement should address your interests in psychology, past experiences and future plans with respect to research, and any volunteer/employment/lived experiences that have bearing on your interest in clinical psychology.
3. In your statement, please tell us a little about what populations you are passionate about working with (in research, clinical practice, etc.) and any experience you may have with these populations. This can include experiences you have as a volunteer, paid worker, or community member.
4. This statement should include reference to specific faculty members with whom you would like to work and why. If you are listing a complementary (non-clinical) faculty member as a possible graduate supervisor, please check with them first to ensure their interest and availability to supervise a clinical psychology graduate student.

1. Academic transcripts. Official transcripts will be required by the university for full admission, but we would accept an initial submission of unofficial transcripts if official transcripts are not yet available.
2. Names and email addresses of two academic or professional references
3. Optional Diversity Statement (max 250 words). Our program is committed to creating an environment that includes students with diverse identities and experiences. We invite applications from students of all identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, age, religious beliefs, migration history, etc.) and value the contribution of knowledge that diverse lived experiences bring to our program and the practice of psychology. If comfortable sharing this information, you are invited to tell us a little about how your identities and experiences have shaped you as a student thus far, or about the knowledge you will bring to your studies as a result of your identities, lived experiences, knowledge systems, or traditional teachings.

Our program no longer requires the GRE exam for admissions; please do not submit your scores even if you have taken the exam, they will not be considered.

A proportion of applicants will be invited to complete interviews with members of the clinical psychology program. Since 2018, these interviews have been held exclusively online in order to reduce the costs (of time and money) for applicants associated with traveling to interviews.

We rely on holistic criteria in our evaluation of applicants, including applicants’ special aptitudes and abilities. We value the contribution of unique experiences to the program.  

Trainee selection is competitive. Approximately six students are admitted each year from more than 200 to 400 applicants.

• Admitted students often have a Psychology Honours degree, but not always. In such cases, a Psychology Major with strong research experience is an asset in the admissions process. Successful applicants typically have a degree in Psychology, but may have majored in an allied discipline, such as neuroscience (with some record of Psychology courses).
• Extensive exposure to clinical work or clinical populations is valued but not required.
• The majority of students enter at the Masters level, although we occasionally admit doctoral level applicants.
• Advancement from the Masters to the Ph.D. program is not competitive, but is dependent on demonstrating appropriate academic, research, and clinical progress.
• In addition to substantial coursework, successful completion of the program requires 1,200 hours of supervised practicum experience, successful completion of the candidacy examinations, successful completion of a master's thesis and doctoral dissertation, and a year-long, full-term clinical internship or residency.

The majority of our students enter our program without prior graduate training and complete both a master’s and doctoral degree in our program. Occasionally, however, we admit students who have already completed a master’s degree in a related field (e.g., neuroscience). In these cases, students typically need to complete all of our clinically-oriented master’s course work before beginning doctoral studies. Typically they do not have to repeat a master’s thesis. Although there is variability in how admission is handled at the administrative level, the more common path is for a student to be admitted into the master’s program, complete master’s level coursework (over 12-18 months), and then be accelerated into the doctoral program without earning a second master’s degree. For example, applicants who have already have a Masters degree in Psychology or a closely-related field (e.g., Neuroscience) are required to apply to the Clinical Masters program and complete all the course work from the Masters portion of the program. Your thesis would be reviewed, but assuming that it is an empirical study you would get credit for that and not have to do another one. Once the course work is completed and depending on a variety of factors, 12 to 18 months later you would be accelerated to the doctoral program without earning a master’s degree.

This strategy most accurately reflects what the student is actually doing and delays the start of doctoral program deadlines until the student is ready for that phase of their training. If you are applying to our program with a master's degree, you may wish to consult with a faculty member in the program prior to submitting your application. Most often, the best option will be to apply to the master's program rather than the doctoral program.

Apply now

Completion of the Clinical Psychology program qualifies graduates for licensed practice across Canada and the USA (although licensure is granted on a province-by-province, or state-by-state basis). Outside of Canada and the U.S., the Clinical Psychology degree at the University of Victoria is respected due to the high standards of Canadian programs. Further, our students are well-equipped to adapt to a number of cultural contexts, making them ideal for international placements.

Students who wish to work outside of Canada and the U.S. are advised to contact their country of interest to ensure that equivalency requirements will be met. International equivalencies are offered in most countries, but keep in mind that the process is often time-consuming and may take several months.

For information on studying/working abroad in Canada, please visit the Psychology Department admissions page.

Note that international students are not eligible for some funding options that are available to Canadian citizens and permanent residence (e.g., Tri-council fellowships). Please see the International Student Services website for more information about studying at UVic as an international student.

• Applications, offers and enrollments over past 7 years
• Internship applications over past 7 years
• Students' activities over past 7 years
• Programme graduates over past 7 years

If you have questions about the program, or would like more information, please contact:

• Karen Kienapple  - Psychology Dept. Graduate Secretary
• Dr. Erica Woodin - Director of Clinical Training
• for enquiries regarding research supervision, research labs or specific projects, please contact clinical faculty with whom you are interested in working directly

Other sources of information

• Graduate Admissions
• Information for International Applicants
• Psychology Course Offerings
• University of Victoria home page

I would like to be accepted into the Clinical psychology program at UVic. How do I maximize my chances of getting into the program? Does already having a Masters degree help?

The clinical psychology program is designed to begin at the Masters level and continue onto the PhD. Therefore, preference is given to students entering at the Masters level. Students complete a full year internship the last year of the program, and the entire program is approximately 7 years in length. The clinical program is highly competitive as we receive approximately 150 applications each year and only admit 5 to 8 students. Our program uses a centralized review process in our admissions. We encourage applicants to identify clinical faculty members with whom they share research interests as potential Supervisors. In general, Supervisors are from within the clinical program. However, a clinical faculty member can co-supervise a student who chooses to work with a non-clinical Supervisor. Please note that faculty members do not admit students to the program directly. We shortlist approximately 25 students for interview and make admission offers from there. Applicants typically have specialized in psychology during their undergraduate degree. An Honours degree is not required but experience with research factors strongly into the selection process.

Applicants who have already have a Masters degree in Psychology or a closely-related field (e.g., Neuroscience) are required to apply to the Clinical Masters program and complete all the course work from the Masters portion of the program. Your thesis would be reviewed, but assuming that it is an empirical study, you would not have to complete another one. Once the course work is completed and depending on a variety of factors, 12 to 18 months later you would be accelerated to the doctoral program without earning a master’s degree.

On the Department of Psychology website, we have an Admissions FAQ on the Grad page https://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/psychology/graduate/future/faq/index.php which might assist you in creating your own pathway specific to clinical psychology

Please review the information on our website: https://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/psychology/graduate/index.php. If you have specific questions or need further information after you have reviewed this information, contact the graduate secretary in the Department of Psychology, Karen Kienapple (psychgrd@uvic.ca).

I applied to the Clinical Psychology program last year but did not get in. Should I apply to another area of psychology (e.g., Lifespan Development) now, and transfer into Clinical later?

No. Although there is some overlap between the clinical program and graduate programs in other areas, they are distinct areas of study. Admission into any one program cannot be transferred to another. Whether or not you are enrolled in another graduate program in Psychology at UVic, you would be required to go through the application process for Clinical Psychology in the same way as someone from outside of UVic.

Can international students apply to the Clinical Psychology Program at UVic?

Yes! Our program is proud to attract strong applications from students from across the globe. There are a few important things to consider. First, our program uses a centralized review process in our admissions. Faculty members do not admit students to the program directly. Second, licensing and registration requirements for Clinical Psychologists vary by state and country. It is important to understand the professional standards in the jurisdiction in which you ultimately intend to practice, and to ensure our program is likely to meet these requirements. Our program is currently accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Third, non-Canadian students will be required to receive a Study Permit or permanent residency status to study at UVic. Fourth, at the time of admission, some funding may be available through the University of Victoria to support international graduate students for one or two years. However, this funding is not guaranteed and non-residents may encounter restrictions when applying to funding bodies external to the University. Thus, funding is often a particularly challenging area for international students.

You can find out more about our admissions requirements and application process here: https://www.uvic.ca/socialsciences/psychology/graduate/future/index.php

Learn about the resources available for international graduate students.

Can I apply to the Clinical Psychology Programme if my undergraduate degree is not in Psychology?

Typically students admitted have a Psychology Honours degree or a Psychology Major with strong research experience and at least some experience that gives them a sense of what it would be like to work clinically (whether that is exposure to clinical work or clinical populations, or other volunteer, employment, or life experiences). A broad scientific foundation in general psychology is fundamental for graduate training in Clinical Psychology. Undergraduate psychology courses such as Adult and/or Child Mental Health/Psychopathology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Introduction to Clinical Psychology may help you decide if graduate training in clinical psychology is really for you and to prepare you for more in-depth graduate training in those areas. Seeking out opportunities to work with others through applied coursework, volunteer positions, or employment experiences may also be valuable in determining if a career in clinical psychology is a good match to your skills and interests. These clinical psychology-focused undergraduate courses, however, must be balanced with a broad background in the scientific foundations of general psychology and the biological, cognitive, and social bases of behaviour. And undergraduate degree with a specialization in psychology is the easiest way to gain this breadth of exposure to the discipline. However, on occasion, applicants who have majored in closely-related areas such as neuroscience or education have been successful. Note that students who have not specialized in psychology generally have to take an extra courses at the master’s level to gain the required breadth.

How important are the undergraduate GPA and GRE scores for getting into the Clinical Psychology Program?

Grade-point averages (GPAs) are considered when applications are being reviewed for admission. We are not currently considering Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Our program uses a centralized review process in our admissions. Although we encourage applicants to identify faculty members as potential supervisors, faculty members do not admit students to the program directly. The Admissions Committee reviews applications based on traditional criteria (e.g., GPA) as well as the applicant’s background, interests, research, volunteer, and employment experience; personal statement of interest in clinical psychology; and match with selected individual faculty. The clinical program is highly competitive as we receive approximately 140 applications each year (this increased to about 300 and 400 in 2020 and 2021, respectively) and only admit 5 to 8 students. Over the past 5 years, the average GPA for admitted students was 8.14 (out of 9). Each year we shortlist approximately 25 students for interview and make admission offers from there.

Do I need to have clinical experience to be admitted to the Clinical Psychology graduate program?

Experience with clinical populations is not required. Having worked with people in a clinical or educational setting can provide many insights about yourself and whether or not you would enjoy a career working with closely with people. The more opportunities you have to ‘try on’ the profession before entering, the better informed you will be about the demands of the work and the range of opportunities a career in clinical psychology can bring. However, there are many ways to get the type of experience that can give you these insights, from a variety of volunteer, employment, and other life experiences.

For the convenience of our current students, the most recent versions of relevant practicum forms are linked here.

• Practicum Application Form
• Practicum Checklist for Students
• Practicum Contract
• Practicum Student Evaluation
• Individualized Goal Setting
• 503 External Half Practicum Policy
• Extra Practicum Plan & Permission
• Feedback from students