Disclaimer
The information below has been taken from the official school websites along with reddit and the students who attended those schools. Information regarding housing and campus life is subject to change over time and individuals may feel different depending on their experience. Now, let’s get into the review….
Introduction
Have you been wondering which school you want to go to for Psychology, but aren’t sure what school to select? Well here’s your chance to look at 5 schools in Ontario, but with insider quotes from students who actually attended the programs. These quotes will include what they liked, and what they disliked.
Below includes a condensed overview of 5 schools, their psychology programs, research opportunities, housing, and campus life. For all the schools mentioned you will likely be in residence in first year, then need to rent a house yearly in second year. You should make sure to look early for second year housing, as soon as October of first year, as it can become difficult the longer you wait.
At Queen’s, you can not directly apply to psychology, because you complete a general arts or general science in first year. If you’re interested in psychology, you apply for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science on OUAC. Once you are admitted into that program, you would enroll in the PSYC100 class in your first year of university. This is a full year class (PSYC100a in fall, PSYC100b in winter), and your acceptance into your major/specialization depends on your grade in this class. Entry into a psychology major/specialization is competitive, requiring ~A (85% minimum) to declare and receive automatic acceptance.
Below, I have outlined some of the different major/specializations you can select in psychology after completing your first year of PSYC100:
Degree Options:
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Psychology Specialization
Opportunity for thesis pathway in 4th year
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Major (BAH)
No fourth year thesis opportunity
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Specialization (BScH) - Psychology Specialization
Opportunity for thesis pathway in 4th year pending pre-requisite satisfaction
Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Biology and Psychology Specialization
Biology thesis opportunity for fourth years
Multidisciplinary training
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Major in Psychology (BScH)
No fourth year thesis opportunity
Research Experience
At Queen’s there’s 35 labs run by professors and faculty members. While these labs can be difficult to get into, they offer a very wide range of studies and interests along with opportunities to build meaningful relationships with your professors. To learn more click here
Housing
Housing can be very expensive and competitive at Queen’s. The student ghetto is a 5-10 minute walk from campus, which can leave limited availability for finding housing close to campus. Housing selection starts in October of your first year; Look early.
Campus Life
Queen’s offers a fully walkable campus close to Lake Ontario and downtown. Campus is a 15 minute walk from downtown, which offers stores and restaurants including Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Jack Astor’s, and more. There’s a great student environment, as students in class are friendly, welcoming, and driven. Along with that, students know how to have fun on special occasions, generating big turnouts on homecoming, St. Patrick’s Day, and Canada Day. The gym is clean and functional but can get busy from 5-6pm in the treadmill room and in January.
School Traits
Lively social scene, school-spirited community, walkable campus.
Insider scoop from Olivia Varga, fourth-year PSYCH student at Queen’s:
Pro: “The psychology classes about memory and the brain are very interesting. Aside from psychology, Queen’s has a great student environment that is outgoing and likes to have fun, and if you enjoy that I would recommend it to anyone considering.”
Con: “Can be limited class opportunities, with classes difficult to get into. Not a lot of tutorial/smaller classes for second or third year students.”
Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo)
At Laurier, you can directly apply to a psychology program through OUAC.
Degree Options
Psychology (Bachelor of Arts)
Social Science focused
Option for a research specialist stream (thesis) in fourth year - is said to be easier to get into
Psychology (Bachelor of Science)
More lab and science focused
Thesis pathway available in fourth year - is said to be easier to get into.
Along with these, Laurier offers a wide variety of options to enhance your degree. For example, through OUAC you can apply for a Psychology (BA) with a Management Option, which includes education on business and economics. Other options include Law, Game and Design, Criminology, and more. Along with this, you could also combine your degree with Biology or Computer Science! Some specializations may vary depending on campus location (Laurier has other locations at Brantford and Milton) so make sure to check this before applying. Even if you don’t enhance your degree, Laurier has a wide range of classes to pick from.
When you begin your first year, if you decide on a BA, you will complete core courses such as Introduction to Psychology 1 (PS101), Introduction to Psychology II (PS102), and Foundations for Community Engagement and Service. If you decide to go with a BScH, you will have to complete an additional 4 science courses. To learn more click here.
Research Experience
Laurier offers 23 research centres and institutes combining many disciplines. These can be a great way for students to be a part of meaningful research.
Along with labs, Laurier only in Waterloo offers co-op for students after completing first year. With this you will be eligible for complete paid work terms lasting 12-16 weeks. This is a great chance to get work experience, and has a 98% employment rate.
Housing
At Waterloo, although housing availability is getting worse, there remains a higher number of apartments. Similar to Queen’s, you need to look early (~October of first year). A higher number of people live in apartments.
Campus Life
Laurier is known for its tight-knit community with smaller class sizes. The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so everything is very close, with downtown being a 15 minute walk away. Along with this, it’s close to the University of Waterloo campus (15 minute walk), offering a wider range of students to get to know and a more active student life. Laurier is known for their large turnout for St. Patrick’s day. The gym is slightly dated but a good size considering the size of the school.
School traits
Collaborative, close-knitted, and outgoing.
Insider scoop from Marley and Nicole, fourth-year PSYCH students at Laurier:
Nicole
Pro: "Smaller class sizes, lots of research opportunities in psychology & community service classes that offer experiences working with youth, elders, neurodiverse individuals, etc."
Con: "Co-op bias to business students (there are more opportunities for business students as opposed to psychology students), More support for business students, less psych opportunities."
Marley
Pro: "It has a formal thesis application process, which allows students and profs to be matched based on their research interests, and allows the chance for many students to get thesis advisors without necessarily having to approach them."
Con: "Lack of psych opportunities in co-op program"
At McMaster, you can not directly apply to a psychology program through OUAC. You need to apply to a gateway first year program, which could either be Social Sciences or Life Sciences through OUAC. If you’re interested in applying for a general major in psychology, in first year you should make sure to take PSYCH 1X03 and PSYCH 1XX3. If you’re interested in Psychology, Neuroscience, & Behaviour (PNB), you should make sure to take foundational courses such as BIO 1A03 (if you did not take Biology in high school), MATH1A03 (if you did not take calculus in high school), and MATH 1LS3. You will need these courses if you want to apply for the Psychology, Neuroscience, & Behaviour program. There is no co-op available at Mcmaster for psych students. Grades needed for PNB and General Psychology are around ~75% minimum.
Degree Options:
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PNB) Department
Social Science or Life Science application through OUAC in first year
Opportunity for a fourth year thesis
Types of PNB programs:
Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour
3 Honours Bachelor of Applied Science programs
Generalist program
Autism and Behaviour Science Specialisation (ABS)
Early childhood studies (ECS)
Have a lot more program and elective flexibility
High employment after graduation
PNB
3 programs:
Generalist program
Music Cognition Specialization
Mental Health specialization
All 3 programs are offered as Honours BSc or Honours BA
Builds strong research skills
BioPNB
1 program- offered by the PNB and Biology Departments
Builds strong research skills
Access to PNB and Biology research
Neuroscience
1 program- offered by the PNB and Biology Departments
Access to specialized neuroscience lab courses, builds strong research skills
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (BA)
Life Science application through OUAC in first year
Need to take PSYCH 1X03, PSYCH 1XX3 in first year, credit in one of BIOLOGY 1A03, 1M03, 1P03, or Grade 12 U Biology, along with credit in MATH 1LS3 or 1A03.
Optional Thesis
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (BA)
Social Science application through OUAC in first year
Need to take PSYCH 1X03, PSYCH 1XX3 in first year, credit in one of BIOLOGY 1A03, 1M03, 1P03, or Grade 12 U Biology, along with credit in MATH 1LS3 or 1A03.
Optional Thesis
Research Experience
McMaster has a rich research environment, with five core thematic areas: animal behaviour, cognition & perception, developmental psychology, evolution & social behaviour, and systems & behavioural (neuro) science. They have many many lab-based courses (example: PNB 3MM3- Cognitive Neuroscience Lab), with students in the PNB department having more access to lab opportunities. PNB 3QM6 (Independent Research) is a key route into lab work for those who want to get involved. Being a part of lab research can be a great way to get closer to your professors.
Housing
Similar to other universities, housing is difficult in second year due to high prices and rentals that are picked fast by other people. The student ghetto is in Ainslie Wood and Westdale, south east and about a 10-15 minute walk from campus. Downtown is a farther walk, around 30-40 minutes, but there are various bus routes available to take you there. Popular rental companies include 10 Bay Residence (University supported), LuxRes, and Morning Properties.
Campus Life
McMaster has a heavy focus on learning rather than partying. Students describe quiet weekdays and opportunities for nightlife downtown. McMaster has over 300 student-led clubs, creating an active club life and an easier way to get to know others. Along with that, they have one of the best gyms available for students looking to work out and a McMaster Museum of Art that hosts exhibits and talks. The campus is said to be beautiful in the summer/fall and walkable, but a little depressing in the winter.
School traits
Quiet, research focused, and club friendly.
Insider scoop from Emilia and Olivia, third-year PSYCH students at McMaster:
Emilia
Pro: “One thing I really appreciate about McMaster is how easy it is to get involved outside of class. Whether it’s joining clubs, volunteering, becoming a peer mentor, or working as a research assistant, there are so many ways to build experience and meet people. I’ve found that getting involved has helped me grow a lot personally.”
Con: “I wish there were more psychology-specific research labs to choose from. A lot of the opportunities are focused more on neuroscience or animal behaviour, so it can be a bit tricky to find something closely aligned with certain areas of psych.”
Olivia
Pro: “A great abundance of social, academic and networking events within programs and faculties. Helped me meet new people and I learned so much more information than I would ever have from just a class.
Con: “The psych department is very research heavy, almost all the profs are mainly researchers. So for those who are in psych and want to pursue a career path other than research, they may find it difficult to test out other options.”
Psychology is associated with social sciences, biological sciences, and health professions at Guelph. You can apply directly to the program with a high school average ranging from ~75-86%. A cumulative average of at least 70% each semester is required to continue in the Honours program.
Degree options
Bachelor of Arts General in Psychology (BAG.PSYC)
High school admissions from 80-86%
Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology (BAH.PSYC)
Eligible to pursue a fourth year thesis.
Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology with Co-Op (BAH.PSYC:C)
Co-op has three work terms: COOP*1000, COOP*2000, COOP*3000 in cooperating employer organisations
Eligible for students with a 70% average
Must maintain a 70% average for co-op as well
BSc Honours in Psychology (Specialization)
2 Grade 12 science courses needed for application (ex. Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
Deeper science focus
Research Experience
At Guelph, there’s 10 active faculty-led research labs. Like the other mentioned universities, there’s opportunity lab experience through volunteering, directed research options, and an honours thesis. Research is wide ranging from cross-cultural and visual cognition to child development. To learn more click here
Housing
Although there has been a housing crisis in the past at Guelph, similar to other universities, if you start by looking early you should have a better chance. The main student ghetto is in the Old University neighbourhood, which is a 10-15 minute walk from campus. Rental companies include Chancellors and Alma, with prices $800+ a month.
Campus
Guelph is very well known for its amazing campus food, being rated the campus with the best food in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine. It also has strong clubs and student unions, where people are said to be friendly and services focus on mental health. Guelph is known to have the 8th safest community in Canada, with lots of parks and walking trails. Buses for those living far from campus are said to get full easily. Compared to other schools like Queen’s and Laurier, Guelph has less nightlife and turnouts for events. The gym at Guelph is newly renovated and has lots of space.
Additions
During frosh week, there’s an app called “I am a gryphon” which lists the events for o-week and events you would like to attend. This can be a great way to meet new people and put yourself out there.
School traits
Balanced, environmentally aware, and supportive.
Insider scoop from Mia, graduate PSYCH student from Guelph:
Pro: “There’s diverse course offerings and the relationships the profs are open to making. Every class I have taken has given a solid understanding of the foundation in different areas of psychology and the professors are very open to building relationships with their students. There is a wide range of courses at Guelph that touch on many areas of psychology, allowing students to focus on a certain path of education. The school environment did provide a great amount of support and facilities to make the student life easier, especially living away from home. The alumni program at Guelph is really good as well and offers a lot of opportunities and resources to students who just graduated such as counselling services and continued access to school libraries.”
Con: “I felt that the courses/profs don’t necessarily fully equip the students for post grad entry without extra effort such as internships and extra courses outside of the program.”
At York, you can directly apply to a Psychology program through OUAC by applying to the Faculty of Health. High school grades for applying to York range from 82-87%, with science classes needed for those interested in pursuing a science route.
Degree options:
Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA)
4 year program
Gives you flexibility to explore other subjects of interest
Bachelor of Science Honours (BA)
4 year program
Gives you flexibility to explore other subjects of interest
Specialized Honours BA
4 year program
Research focused program that includes training in statistics, research methods, critical thinking, and a thesis under faculty supervision.
Apply after completing your first or second year
Specialized Honours BSc
4 year program
Research focused program that includes training in statistics, research methods, critical thinking, and a thesis under faculty supervision.
Apply after completing your first or second year
Bachelor of Arts Psychology Major
Bachelor of Science Psychology Major
Research Experience
At York there are 70+ faculty-led labs with 7 research areas including brain & cognitive, clinical, developmental, clinical-developmental, quantitative, social & personality, and historical & theoretical. To apply for these labs students should start by taking PSYC 2020/2030 and then apply for research assistant positions or directed research positions if they aren’t taking a thesis route.
Housing
Housing in downtown Toronto can be very expensive. York is a commuter based school, but there are still opportunities for first year residence if students are looking for a more typical first year experience.
Campus life
Since York is mainly a commuter school, it doesn’t have much campus life after 5:30pm. However, first year residence is a great way to build a community and make friends. York has over 300+ recognized clubs as well, with many social events and ways to create a community. You can browse clubs by joining YU connect, which can be a great way to join student groups and explore various interests. The gym at York is modern and extensive with a 3-storey facility and group classes.
School traits
Diverse, commuter-heavy, and career-focused.
Insider scoop from Ayrik, third-year PSYCH student from York:
Pro: “There's a great variety of specialized research labs and practicum opportunities, especially if you’re interested in clinical or developmental psychology. It’s really beneficial for hands-on experience and connecting with faculty, if you put in the work to apply for these labs.”
Con: “York's campus is pretty commuter-heavy, so sometimes it can feel challenging to build a strong sense of community or get involved socially, especially outside of classes and structured events. It can take extra effort to feel integrated into the campus culture.”
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this is actually so helpful - thank you!
Wow!! Amazing I wonder who must of written this!!!!!!