Psychology Graduate Program

Application Instructions 

APPLICATION

Application instructions are available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website [1]. This website also has more detailed information about the application procedure, funding, etc. If you have more specific questions about qualifications, policies and procedures about the Psychology Graduate program itself, you can contact the Psychology Department by emailing psycgradinfo@brocku.ca [2] or lindap@brocku.ca [3].

FUNDING

It is Department policy to provide some financial support to each full-time student if required and it is University policy to subsidize International Students where possible. Funding levels are indicated when an offer of admission is made. More detailed funding information is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website [4].
 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

The online application must be completed, including all supporting documents, by January 06, 2013. Complete instructions for the application process are available here:
experience.brocku.ca/Graduate_Study/applynow.ezc [5]  
 
 

M.A. APPLICATIONS

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of an Honours Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Psychology or Neuroscience with a minimum B average. Note that while the University minimum average is B, our program typically does not accept students with less than an overall B+ average. An empirical Honours thesis, or evidence of similar research, is required.

To be included with your application:

1. All official transcripts of academic work completed to date. Follow instructions on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website [5]for uploading transcripts.

2. Three confidential letters of recommendation from instructors most familiar with your academic work. You will be entering the contact details of the referee, and they will be sent a link electronically for the purposes of completing their evaluation of the applicant. The link to the online reference form is available here [5]. 

3. Include a Personal Statement of Interest in pursuing graduate studies. It should be no more than one page and provide some indication of your research experience (i.e. thesis research, RA work) as well as your intermediate and long term goals. Although not a requirement for your application package, an updated CV, listing any publications, presentations, research assistant work, etc. would be considered an asset. Statement (and optional CV) must be uploaded.

4. Complete the Research and Faculty Checklist form [5] and upload.

5. Official scores from the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be scanned and uploaded. The institution code for Brock University is 0895; the department code is 2016. Scores on the GRE subject (psychology) test are NOT required for those with backgrounds in psychology or neuroscience.

6. If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English, must be scanned and uploaded.
 

M.A. APPLICANTS WITH BACKGROUNDS OTHER THAN PSYCHOLOGY OR NEUROSCIENCE 

The Department will consider applications from applicants with backgrounds other than psychology or neuroscience. The applicant must have completed a Bachelor's Thesis in another discipline that involved empirical research at a level comparable to a Psychology (or Neuroscience) Honours Thesis. Candidates must submit Graduate Record Examination Scores, both the General GREs and the Advanced Psychology (and/or Neuroscience) section. When applicants are unable to provide evidence of sufficient background preparation, they may be advised to take upper level Psychology undergraduate courses and reapply. Advising an applicant to upgrade does not obligate the Department to accept the candidate upon resubmission. If you have further questions please email psycgradinfo@brocku.ca [2].
 

PH.D. APPLICATIONS

Ph.D. APPLICANTS WITH PSYCHOLOGY OR NEUROSCIENCE BACKGROUNDS

Admission Requirements:

Admission to the Ph.D. program requires completion of an M.A., M.Sc., or M.A.Sc in Psychology or Neuroscience or its equivalent. Students must have achieved an A average for the previous two years of graduate study and evidence of research competence, normally demonstrated by an Empirical Master's Thesis. Students are selected by the Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee in consultation with a core faculty member who is willing to act as the student's supervisor.

Documents Required

See above MA document requirements

NOTE for PhD Applicants: Official scores from the General Section of the Graduate Record Examination must be scanned and uploaded. Test results can be photocopies and can have been written within the last ten years. NOTE: GRE Subject (Psychology) scores are not required for those with backgrounds in psychology or neuroscience.

Ph.D. APPLICANTS WITH BACKGROUNDS OTHER THAN PSYCHOLOGY OR NEUROSCIENCE:

In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of Psychology, the Admissions Committee will consider applications from students holding degrees in allied fields. To ensure that such applicants have a background in psychology adequate for successful completion of their graduate program, the following conditions for eligibility to the Ph.D. program have been established for candidates holding a non-psychology (or neuroscience) Master's degree. In addition to the requirements above (i.e. for those with backgrounds in psychology or neuroscience):

• Applicants must have completed a Master's thesis in another discipline that involved empirical research of scope and complexity comparable to that of a Master's Psychology thesis.
• Applicants must present recent evidence of suitable background knowledge in the form of a score for the Advanced Psychology or Neuroscience section of the Graduate Record Examination (scanned and uploaded).

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