Offered by Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, Counselling Psychology: Master of Arts (MA) is a master's degree in Clinical Psychology programme. The programme runs for 8 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 2,193 per semester (CAD 2,193 per semester for local students).
SFU's MA in Counselling Psychology prepares students for professional counselling practice in community and educational settings, and is the research-oriented of the faculty's two master's routes. It requires an original thesis together with an additional research course, making it the recommended path for those intending to continue to a doctorate, since most PhD programs expect a completed master's thesis. Classes are taught in person at the Burnaby and Surrey campuses, with first supervised clinical experience at the SFU Surrey Community Counselling Centre and a practicum in which students spend two to three days a week at a site such as a community counselling agency, public school or post-secondary counselling centre while attending a weekly evening seminar. The curriculum is highly sequenced, with most courses offered only once per year, and graduates commonly seek certification as Certified Canadian Counsellors or Registered Clinical Counsellors.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Simon Fraser University's Counselling Psychology MA admits applicants holding a bachelor's degree from SFU or an equivalent from a recognized institution, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0/4.33 (B), or 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 undergraduate units. Six specific undergraduate courses are prerequisites: cognitive or educational psychology, experiential counselling skills, counselling theories, developmental psychology, research methods, and one further course in social psychology, multicultural counselling, personality theory, psychopathology or a related humanities subject. Applicants need roughly two years or 400 hours of paid or volunteer experience in a helping role such as crisis-line support, teaching, advising or healthcare. Three professional or academic references are required, at least two able to speak to academic ability, plus a research statement (MA applicants only), a letter of intent, an academic writing sample, and official transcripts on offer of admission. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English, CAEL, PTE or Duolingo scores, valid within two years.
Application Details
Start Date:September 2027
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through EducationPlannerBC, with one set of dates per applicant type rather than by citizenship. Fall 2027 entry: high-school-route applications open 1 October 2026 and close 31 January 2027, while transfer applications open 1 March 2027 and close 15 April 2027 (Education and Contemporary Arts transfer applicants may apply from 1 October 2026). Spring 2027 entry runs 1 July to 15 September 2026, and Summer 2027 entry runs 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. Admission documents are generally due 28 February 2027 (Fall) and offers must be accepted by 1 May. International applicants use the same EducationPlannerBC dates and portal; SFU publishes no separate international deadline. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
