Social psychology
About the program
Social psychology examines the connections between aspects of people’s psychology-like attitudes, goals, values, group memberships, self-identity, culture and personality, and their social contexts and natural environments.
Our faculty study a broad range of levels of analysis (i.e., individual, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup and societal levels). Our graduate students get the chance to master many views on human behaviour, as well as a wide range of research methodologies and analytical techniques.
Students are typically expected to seek a PhD once they complete an MSc. They should work in a field that fits the expertise of at least one faculty member.
We provide graduate students with office space and shared access to laboratory facilities.
Faculty members
Core faculty
- motivation, goals and self-regulation
- self-determination theory
- self and identity
- well-being and mental health
- ecological well-being and sustainability
- quantitative and qualitative research methods
- community-engaged and Indigenous research
- friendship
- personality and personality development
- intergroup relationships
- life transitions
- latent variable analysis
- multilevel modeling
- motivation
- intergroup relations
- intercultural communication
- immigration
- language learning
- beliefs
- identity
- the social self
- rejection and social stigma romantic relationship initiation and maintenance
- LGBTQ+ identity and experience
- weight stigma
- critical health psychology
- qualitative research methods
Research themes
Current social psychology research topics include:
- motivation, goals and self-regulation
- self and identity
- well-being and flourishing
- research methods and analysis
- relationships and intergroup dynamics
- life transitions and personal development
- culture and intercultural relations
Lab facilities
The social psychology program has a computer lab and shared lab spaces for individual and group data collection. We also have access to tools for online data collection and faculty have community connections that facilitate and support community engaged research. Graduate students have shared offices.
Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic grad student, from finding a supervisor to submitting your application.
Courses
Our graduate program emphasizes collaborative research activities more than coursework. We believe courses are important to help you succeed as a scholar, but practical, hands-on research experience is where most learning occurs in our program. For this reason, your choice of lab and supervisor will have a large impact on your experience in our program.
We offer courses in research methods and advanced explorations of social psychological topics that are directly relevant to our students' research. Our program is designed to provide flexibility about how and when requirements are met.
In our MSc and PhD programs, you will complete the course requirements for the general psychology program along with additional courses that are specific to the social psychology track.
Funding
Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help fund graduate students through a combination of:
- UVic fellowships and awards
- teaching assistantships
- research assistantships
Most of our students also receive external awards and scholarships, and financial aid and bursaries. Consideration for funding is automatic. A funding offer is normally included with an offer of admission.
Our department offers a limited number of graduate awards and fellowships each year to incoming students. These range from $1,000 to $17,500. Some funding offers may include a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate awards and/or fellowships.
Funding and employment for graduate students
Search graduate awards and scholarships
Co-op
UVic is home to the largest co-op graduate program in Canada. Learn about combining co-op placements with your graduate program from UVic's co-op office.
Grad students are also eligible for the shorter work experience program.