At The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Psychological Science: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - UBCO is offered as a doctorate in Psychology programme. The programme runs for 48 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 10,082 per year (CAD 5,739 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Psychology
Duration: 48 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 5,739 / year
International tuition: CAD 10,082 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
UBC Okanagan's PhD in Psychological Science is delivered by the Department of Psychology within the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in Kelowna, and combines up to 18 credits of coursework with comprehensive exams and a dissertation defended through the department's capstone dissertation course. Admission normally requires both a bachelor's and a master's degree in psychology or a closely related field, together with clear evidence of research potential. Faculty research spans cognitive, health, social, and personality psychology, and students work in close mentoring relationships with supervisors while gaining access to specialized labs and paid teaching-assistant experience. The program prepares graduates for research-intensive careers in academia, government, or industry rather than for clinical practice.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:76.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Admission normally requires a bachelor's and a master's degree in psychology or a related field, with clear evidence of research ability or potential, and background training sufficient for advanced work in the applicant's chosen area. The program does not publish its own minimum GPA figure, deferring instead to the College of Graduate Studies' general admission standard. English language proficiency likewise follows the College's general standard, stated on its English Proficiency Requirements page rather than on this program page: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 90 overall (minimum 22 in Reading and Listening, 21 in Writing and Speaking) on the legacy scale, 4.5 overall on the newer six-point band scale from January 21, 2026 onward. No applicant is considered for admission until a Psychology department faculty member has agreed to supervise their proposed research. Three reference forms or letters, official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, a CV or resume, and a letter of intent describing research interests and plans are required. The GRE is not mentioned as a requirement. The program takes a September intake with a December 1 application deadline for full consideration.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Domestic and international undergraduate applicants both apply through EducationPlannerBC for Winter Session 2027/28 (September 2027 entry) and Summer 2027: applications open in early October 2026 and the equal-consideration deadline is 15 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. PST, the same date for both groups; a few programs keep reviewing late applications on a space-available basis afterwards. Earlier dates apply only to entrance-award consideration -- 15 November 2026 for the International Scholars Program and 1 December 2026 for Presidential/Centennial/Beyond Tomorrow scholars. Several limited-entry programmes -- Law, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing (advanced entry), Occupational/Physical Therapy, Social Work and Teacher Education -- set their own earlier deadlines from October 2026 through February 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
