philosophy phd programs canada

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Graduate Programme

The Department of Philosophy at McGill University has particular strength in the following areas: Ancient and Medieval (especially Arabic) Philosophy; Early Modern Philosophy; Kant and post-Kantian German Philosophy; Philosophy of Mind; Aesthetics; Moral and Political Philosophy; Feminist Philosophy; History and Philosophy of Science and Mathematics; Philosophy of Logic; Contemporary European Philosophy. The course of study leading to a PhD in philosophy includes course work and the preparation and defence of a thesis. Students normally take twelve courses over two years, including courses which satisfy requirements in logic, history of philosophy, value theory and metaphysics/epistemology. (Students may take some courses for credit at the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal). Students are expected to work with at least two members of faculty in the preparation of a thesis. The Department has an excellent placement record.

Department and University Information

Department of philosophy.

We are the second-largest graduate program in philosophy in Canada, with almost 40 professors whose research and teaching cover a diverse range of topics. Our program has particular strength in four broad areas: moral, political and legal philosophy; philosophy of cognitive science, mind and language; epistemology and philosophy of science; and history of 19th and 20th century philosophy. The environment is friendly and welcoming. We support and mentor our students and make their goals our goals. Professors co-author articles with students, share social events with them and take students to conferences. Our PhD students TA two courses a year, with the possibility of gaining additional funding and experience by TAing in the summer. In the 4th or 5th year of the program, students who are making good progress are typically given the opportunity to teach their own course.

The program is designed to be completed in 4 years but often takes longer. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Registration Policies, including the requirement of continuous registration. Terms that students register as Leave of Absence, Maternal Leave, Parental Leave, or No Course Available are not included in these time limits.

Students must complete Philosophy 6800 6.0: First-Year Seminar and either Philosophy 6850 6.0: PhD Research Seminar or Philosophy 6860 6.0: PhD Research Seminar II, plus another six half-courses (or the equivalent), with no more than one full course equivalent a reading course and no more than one full course equivalent integrated with an undergraduate course. Philosophy 6800 6.0 must be taken in Year 1. The six half courses must normally be completed by the end of Year 2, and Philosophy 6850 6.0 or Philosophy 6860 6.0 by the end of Year 3, in order to remain in good standing in the program. With the permission of the program director, students may take one half-graduate course outside the program, either at York University or elsewhere, and count it towards these course requirements. There are also Breadth and Area Requirements that must be met by the six half courses—at least two of them must focus in-depth on a single historically significant problem or philosopher and cover different periods in the history of philosophy; at least two of them must be in metaphysics and/or epistemology, understood as including philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science; and at least two of them must be in moral, political, social or legal philosophy. Normally, by the end of the second year, students must demonstrate to the logic examination committee a mastery of the semantic and syntactic elements of sentential and first-order predicate logic. This includes understanding validity, logical truth, and natural deduction derivations for both sentential and predicate logic. Mastery may be demonstrated by passing an exam in logic that is set by the logic examination committee, or by passing a graduate-level course in logic. Students who fail to fulfill the logic requirement by the end of the second year will be withdrawn from the program.

Students must submit two papers, normally by the end of the first term of Year 3, to be examined by three anonymous examiners in the program. To pass the exam, each paper must be passed by at least two of the three examiners. The papers, which may be based upon previous term papers, will demonstrate the skills that are needed to successfully pursue advanced doctoral research. One paper will be in the student’s primary area of research, and the other paper will be in a closely related (but not identical) area.

Students must submit a suitable dissertation proposal acceptable to the supervisory committee successfully defend the dissertation proposal and pass an oral examination on literature relevant to the dissertation topic. The list of literature will be compiled jointly by the supervisor and the student after the supervisory relationship is formed and before the proposal is written. The examiners will consist of the student’s supervisory committee plus one outside member from the program. This requirement is normally met by the end of the third year.

Candidates must write an acceptable dissertation embodying original research and defend it at an oral examination. It is recommended that Candidates whose field of study necessitates a reading knowledge of a language other than English acquire sufficient knowledge of that language. Candidates may be asked to demonstrate their proficiency to the Examining Committee.

The Graduate Program in Philosophy at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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PhD Program in Philosophy

McMaster’s PhD Program in Philosophy enables students to develop their own research while building a foundation of comprehensive knowledge. The program culminates in the preparation and defence of a doctoral dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. See below for information about the program.

I found the passion amongst individual professors for their discipline and area of study the most beneficial to me.

Brandon Coombs '15

Honours Philosophy and Art History Double Major

About the Program

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. It begins with coursework and culminates in a dissertation: an original piece of research prepared under the guidance of a supervisory committee. Students are encouraged to participate in the life of the department by attending talks, meetings, conferences, workshops, reading groups, and social events. We regularly offer workshops on such topics as: publishing, presentations, the academic job market, careers beyond academia, developing as a teacher, writing a thesis, and work-life balance. Students have access to the resources of McMaster’s MacPherson Institute for Teaching and Learning and can teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow. A Placement Coordinator supports students in their pursuit of both academic and non-academic careers.

Further information can be found below and in our Program Handbook (available below).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the PhD program requires an MA in Philosophy or an equivalent degree. An equivalent degree here normally means an MA or other graduate degree in a related subject and at least some background in Philosophy.

There is a possibility for students enrolled in McMaster’s MA program in Philosophy to be accepted into the PhD program without completing the MA degree, subject to their satisfying certain conditions for excellent progress in their first year.

Selection is made by the PhD Program Committee of the Department of Philosophy, and any student admitted comes under the general regulations of McMaster University.

Any applicant whose first language is not English and who has not completed a degree within an accredited university in a program whose primary language of instruction is English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. Please see  https://gs.mcmaster.ca/academic-services/how-apply  under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.

Application Process

Deadline: February 1, 2024, if you wish to receive full consideration for all applicable funding opportunities.

If you encounter any difficulties with your application, please contact us at  [email protected] .

To complete an online application to our PhD program, please go  here . If you have questions regarding our program, please feel free to email the department’s  PhD Advisor .

A completed application will include the following documents. Please ensure that you upload all of your documents to the online portal before finalizing your application submission.

• If the final transcript does not show that all degree requirements have been met or the degree is conferred, an official copy of your diploma is also required.
• Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified literal translation.
• If your application is accepted for admission to the program, you will be required to submit original transcripts in order to remain enrolled in the program
• Two Letters of Reference  from instructors most familiar with your academic work. Your referees will automatically be sent an e-Reference request on your behalf, once you enter their email address through the online application.
• English Language Proficiency:  For applicants who do not hold a post-secondary degree from a program whose language of instruction was English, you will be required to provide an official record of your proficiency in English. Please see https://gs.mcmaster.ca/how-to-apply/ under the Language Requirements tab for an enumeration of the exams and minimum scores that constitute sufficient evidence.
• Statement of Interest:  A brief statement (1-2 pages) explaining your research interests, how your background prepares you for the program, and your reasons for seeking to pursue your research interests as a graduate student with the McMaster University Philosophy Program.
• Sample of Work : Please submit a sample of your philosophical writing in English to the  online application system . Your writing sample should be indicative of your ability to engage in advanced philosophical research. It need not fall within the area of your proposed research. To ensure full consideration, your writing sample should not exceed 7000 words.
• C.V.:  Please include on your CV any research, publications, academic awards, teaching, or work experience relevant to philosophy.

Application Fee

You will require a valid credit card or Interac card (domestic applicants) for the application fee ($110 CAD) and a valid email address. Your application will not be considered for admission until your application fee has been received and you submit your application.

Please note that there are no admission fee waivers at the present time.

Program Timelines

The PhD Program is designed to be completed in four years. We summarize here the structure of the program and normal progression through it. For a more detailed timeline, please see the Program Handbook (available below).

In year 1 , students typically complete five graduate courses, and, in consultation with the Department’s PhD Advisor, form their supervisory committee (consisting of a supervisor and two other faculty members). They also apply for any external scholarships for which they are eligible.

In year 2 , students complete the PhD Seminar (a full year course required for all second-year PhD students, and open only to them) and prepare their thesis proposal. In May of year 2, they complete their qualifying exam, which consists of an oral defence of a written thesis proposal. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the qualifying exam.

In years 3 and 4 , students work on their thesis in collaboration with their supervisor and committee. They also have opportunities to teach their own course as a PhD Teaching Fellow.

Throughout the program, students are encouraged to engage with the life of the department, university, profession, and broader community. This includes giving talks and guest lectures, helping organize events, and submitting their work to conferences and for publication.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

The McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) is the most common form of scholarship support available to graduate students in our program. The MGS ensures that students receive a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship support. Adjustments to the MGS will depend on other available scholarships.

The Faculty of Humanities Adjustments guidelines policy is available for review.

REVIEW THE POLICY

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

PhD students take six graduate courses in total: five regular (usually single-semester) courses, plus the PhD Seminar in year 2. With permission of the PhD Advisor, one of the five regular graduate courses may be taken outside Philosophy. Students’ coursework must also satisfy the department’s area requirements (for details, see the Program Handbook, available below). The minimum grade for passing a graduate course at McMaster is B-. Graduate students may also select from Philosophy graduate courses at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph.

Learn more about specific courses by reading our graduate course descriptions. Archived descriptions from previous years are also available. Graduate course descriptions

Archived course descriptions

The Qualifying Exam (QE) is an oral examination based on a written thesis proposal. It is normally completed in May of year 2. It can be retaken, but, absent an extension, must be passed before the end of the student’s 24th month in the program (normally the end of August in year 2). The purpose of the QE is to ensure the candidate has a viable thesis proposal and the background to carry it through successfully. To be eligible to take the QE, the student must have achieved (by the end of the 20th month in the program) a GPA on courses taken towards the PhD of at least 9.5. Students whose research requires competence in logic or a language other than English must also demonstrate that competence (typically by an exam) before taking the QE.

Doctoral students prepare their thesis in consultation with their supervisor and other members of their supervisory committee. With the approval of the supervisory committee, the finished work is submitted to an external examiner. Upon approval by the external examiner, the thesis is defended before members of the supervisory committee and the external examiner. General information about the doctoral thesis and thesis defence process at McMaster can be found here .

All students in the PhD Program are guaranteed funding for four years. This funding takes two main forms: a Teaching Assistantship (TA) and a graduate scholarship. Funding of both kinds may be possible beyond the end of year 4, but is not guaranteed.

Teaching Assistantships

The value of the TA is fixed by the Collective Agreement between the University and Local 3906, Unit 1 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. In 2023-24, the stipend for a full-year TA is $12,906.32. To hold a TA, students must be enrolled full-time and have paid full-time fees. Under the agreement between Local 3906 and the University, the position of TA requires an average of 10 working hours of work per week over a full academic session (Fall and Winter only), for a maximum of 266 hours a year, or 133 hours each academic term.

Typical duties for a Teaching Assistant include conducting two tutorials each week when classes are in session, with up to 20 students in each; grading student work; and consultation with students. Teaching Assistants carry out their duties under the supervision of the instructor in charge of the relevant course.

Graduate Scholarships

In addition to the TA, all PhD students who do not have an external scholarship receive a McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) for four years. The value of the scholarship will be specified in the offer of admission. If a student wins an external award such as an OGS or SSHRC award, their initial offer of an MGS is rescinded and replaced by this external scholarship, assuming it is of higher value. Limited MGS support may be possible beyond year 4, but is not guaranteed.

PhD students are expected to apply for all external awards for which they are eligible. The Department makes its students aware of all funding opportunities and guides them in their applications.

The Department adheres to the Faculty of Humanities guidelines on scholarship adjustments for students winning major, merit-based internal or external awards. These can be found here.

Academic Travel Support

Any graduate student who has a paper accepted at a peer-reviewed philosophy conference is eligible for funding up to $750, once a year, to enable attendance. To apply for this funding, students should complete the  Department of Philosophy Travel Funds application , including confirmation of their paper’s acceptance and an estimate of anticipated expenses.

Limited funds for conference travel purposes may also be available to eligible students who apply to the  Graduate Students Association .

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Department Life

The McMaster department regularly hosts conferences and workshops. Graduate students are heavily involved in these events, as both presenters and organizers. There is also a weekly visiting speaker series during the teaching term. The speaker series is preceded and followed by social events, in which the whole department community can come together. There are always reading groups in progress. For further information, see “ Our Community ” and “ Events .”

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UBC’s Department of Philosophy offers two graduate degree programs: a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Program Overview

The Department of Philosophy houses a diverse group of internationally celebrated thinkers with broad interests in the analytic tradition and increasing expansion into non-western traditions. Members of the department are engaged in a range of research areas, including the philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, aesthetics, ethics, social/political philosophy, logic, Asian philosophy and the history of philosophy.

Graduate students not only work closely with faculty members, but also benefit from interaction with fellow graduate students. The Department offers a supportive environment full of intellectual stimulation and social events. Students are encouraged to take on teaching experiences and participate in the broader community of philosophers.

Master’s Program

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• PHL1 Mentorship Program for 1st Year Students
• Socrates Project: Undergraduate TAs
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• Noēsis: the Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy
• Master of Arts (MA) Programs
• Course Requirements
• Breadth Requirements
• Revision Paper Requirement
• Logic Requirement
• Research Tool Requirement
• Qualifying Requirement
• Thesis Prospectus Requirement
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• Thesis Requirements
• Residency Requirement
• 4-Year PhD Timeline
• Thesis Requirement
• 5-Year PhD Timeline
• Courses (2023-2024 and 2024-2025)
• Safety Abroad Requirements
• Roles and Responsibilities
• PhD Defence Scheduling & Convocating
• PhD Residency Requirement
• Leaves of Absence 
• Honours and Awards
• Graduate Program Forms
• PhD Placement Record: 1970-1979
• PhD Placement Record: 1980-1989
• PhD Placement Record: 1990-1999
• PhD Placement Record: 2000-2009
• PhD Placement Record: 2010-2019
• PhD Placement Record: 2020-present
• Graduate Philosophy Students’ Union (GPSU)
• Climate, Diversity, and Inclusiveness

The department admits students to two degree programs: Master of Arts (MA) (Philosophy OR Philosophy of Science Concentration) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, four-year OR five-year streams).

Applications for 2024-25 are now CLOSED.

The application deadline for 2025-26 is Wednesday January 8, 2025.

Please read this page carefully for instructions on how to apply. You can also learn more in the School of Graduate Studies’ Admissions Guide .

Note that students applying for admission should not submit GRE scores. GRE scores are no longer required and will not be considered . Applicants should, however, submit CVs for the upcoming admissions season.

Domestic students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Canadian Graduate Scholarship Master’s (CGSM). Find information about the CGSM on the School of Graduate Studies website. The deadline for CGSM applications will be late November or early December 2024 . Those who receive the CGSM can be enrolled in either a master’s program or our direct-entry PhD program (five-year stream).

Listen to Professor Amy Mullin talk about the department’s graduate programs or watch a video in which members of the department, including two current grad students, describe their experiences. You can also review some application tips in another video. One piece of advice has changed – it is best to submit a writing sample in one of your proposed areas of research so that the faculty reading it are those in whose areas of research you plan to focus.

The Graduate Department of Philosophy offers online information sessions about common admissions questions and concerns. The next session will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 7 PM EST . Interested participants must register to receive the appropriate Zoom link.

If you have questions related to your application, please see Admissions FAQ for Prospective Graduate Students .

Learn more about our limited Application Fee Waiver program for students who identify as a member of an underrepresented group  and have self-identified financial need. The deadline to apply is Dec. 2, 2024 by 12:00pm EST.

Need to reach the Director of Graduate Studies directly? Email the m .

Domestic and International Students

Both programs are open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as international applicants; however, our current structure for financial support makes it much easier for us to allocate MA program places to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. We strongly encourage international applicants to apply to the PhD program rather than the MA. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are very welcome to apply to either program.

Cohort Sizes

About 12 new PhD and 15 new MA students enroll each year. Typically, the MA students are domestic, with the majority being admitted to our Philosophy Concentration, and the remainder to our Philosophy of Science Concentration. All students entering both programs are guaranteed funding to cover tuition and living expenses. For details, see our funding and fellowships page .

Applicants who have questions about admissions are encouraged to carefully read through the following sections:

• Admissions Requirements
• Application Procedure
• Application Deadline
• Visiting and Special Students

1. Admissions Requirements

Admission to the MA program (Philosophy Concentration, hereafter ‘Philosophy’) requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. The applicant must have a strong background in philosophy (roughly equivalent to an undergraduate major), with minimum average grades of mid-B in the applicant’s overall program and A- in the philosophy courses.

Admission to the MA program (Philosophy of Science Concentration, hereafter ‘Philosophy of Science’) requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. The applicant must have strong interest in philosophy (evidenced in an excellent writing sample, personal statement, and letters of reference) and a superior academic background in either philosophy or, typically, a subject in the natural or social sciences, with minimum average grades of A-.

Our one-year MA program (Philosophy) is intended primarily for those seeking only a more comprehensive and concentrated training in philosophy than undergraduate study permits. The MA also serves as preparation for a PhD program; graduates of the Toronto MA program have gone on to top philosophy PhD programs in Canada and internationally, as well as to law school and careers in government, business and the non-profit sector.

Our one-year MA (Philosophy of Science) is intended primarily for those seeking a more comprehensive and concentrated training in philosophy and the philosophy of science than undergraduate study permits. The concentration also serves as preparation for a PhD program; like other graduates of the Toronto MA (Philosophy), graduates of the MA (Philosophy of Science) will be competitive for application to PhD programs in Canada and internationally, as well as to law school and careers in government, business and the non-profit sector.

Admission to the PhD program requires either a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in philosophy from a recognized university.

A student seeking admission on the basis of a bachelor’s degree must have a strong background in philosophy (roughly equivalent to at least an undergraduate major), with minimum average grades of B+ in the applicant’s overall program and A- in the applicant’s philosophy courses.

A student seeking admission on the basis of a master’s degree in philosophy must have an average grade of at least an A- in that master’s program. The PhD program is intended primarily for those interested in teaching philosophy and doing advanced philosophical research. Applicants must satisfy the Admissions Committee that they are capable of independent research in philosophy at an advanced level.

Note that admission to our MA and PhD programs is highly competitive and selective.   Students who wish to be considered for both graduate-level programs should apply to the PhD program. You do not need to submit two applications – simply indicate that you are open to being considered for both.

Note to international applicants

The academic records of applicants who completed their final degree(s) at a non-Canadian university will be evaluated to determine their equivalency to a University of Toronto four-year bachelor’s degree and a minimum academic standing of A-.  Please refer to the School of Graduate Studies website to verify your qualifications.

2. Application Procedures

Note:  The required documents and application procedures are the same for the MA and PhD programs.

The application and all supporting documents except for English Proficiency Test scores (TOEFL, etc.) must be submitted through the School of Graduate Studies Online Admission Application page:

SGS Online Admission

More detailed application instructions

• You may need to disable pop-up blockers in your browser if you have difficulty completing the online process.
• If you are applying to our MA program, you will be asked to choose between MA (Philosophy) and MA (Philosophy of Science) .
• The former is our standard 5-year PhD program , which requires two years of coursework;
• The latter is our 4-year PhD program , which is designed for students entering with an MA in philosophy and requires one year of coursework.
• If you are uncertain about which program you would like to apply to, select the 5-year PhD, even if you already have an MA.
• From the following nine areas, select the one that best characterizes your proposed research area:
• Ancient Philosophy
• Medieval Philosophy
• 17th and 18th Century Philosophy
• Continental Philosophy
• Analytic Metaphysics/Epistemology/Philosophy of Science
• Analytic Philosophy of Language/Philosophy of Mind/Logic
• Ethics/Political Philosophy/Aesthetics
• South Asian Philosophy
• East Asian Philosophy
• The selection above will just determine which members of the Admissions Committee initially review your file; students are at liberty to change their focus of study once admitted.
• If you are applying for external funding (e.g., SSHRC), check the box on your application next to “Awards/Scholarships/Fellowships applied for and related to this application.” This box is for record-keeping purposes only; the status of any external funding applications is not a consideration that is taken into account during our admissions process.

Supporting documents 

• All submitted documents must be in PDF format.
• The  Statement of Interest  is a statement of about 300 words which indicates your areas of interest in philosophy at the graduate level. If there is information about you that you would like the committee to have, but that cannot be included elsewhere in the application, you may include it here.
• The  Writing Sample is a piece of your written work in philosophy (in English or French), such as a term paper. Submit one writing sample only, of about 20 pages double-spaced (this excludes Notes and Bibliography). The writing sample should be as recent as possible and should provide evidence of your ability to do philosophy at an advanced level. All students applying to the PhD are advised to submit a writing sample in one of their proposed areas of research interest. MA students with a strong sense of their proposed areas of research interest are likewise counseled to do so.
• All applicants are required to upload one electronic or scanned transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. The School of Graduate Studies online application instructions explain how to do this (details TK). Admissions decisions will be made on the basis of the scanned transcript; however, if you accept an offer of admission, you will then be required to send official paper transcript(s) to our department.
• Graduate Record Exam  (GRE) scores are not required and will not be reviewed for admission.
• Scores on English Proficiency Tests:  All applicants whose primary language is not English or who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution recognized by the University of Toronto in which the language of instruction is English must satisfy the School of Graduate Studies requirements for English-Language Proficiency and (if different) the requirements for doctoral programs in Philosophy ; scores should be reported electronically to the University of Toronto (Enrolment Services) by the testing agency.
• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must   provide contact information for at least two, but preferably three, philosophy instructors who have indicated they are willing to write a recommendation. The system will automatically email an electronic submission request to each referee as soon as the referee’s information is entered on the Recommendations page of the application. Referees may upload their letters of recommendation before the applicant has paid their application fee. As letters of reference are due at the same time as all supporting materials with the application – by the next deadline in January 2025  – it is important to request them from your referees as early in the process as possible. Email addresses for referees should be institutional . If one (at a maximum) of your referees does not have access to an institutional email, please have them   submit their letter as a pdf, signed and on institutional letterhead. Please note that referees using an institutional email  may simply type or copy and paste a signed and dated letter of reference . 
• Curriculum Vitae : Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV.

Applying for the application fee waiver ? Please follow the steps below by 12:00 noon, Monday, December 2, 2024 :

• Start an application through the SGS Online Admission Application portal and upload your transcripts under “Academic History” -> “Add Institution.” The transcript drop box is at the bottom of that page. You should upload a transcript for each academic institution you have attended/are attending. These transcripts can be unofficial at this point, although official transcripts will be required to register.
• Submit a Diversity Statement (used to indicate why you are applying for a fee waiver, and how you belong to an equity-seeking group) to Belinda Piercy at [email protected] by 12:00pm December 2, 2024.

3. Application Deadline

The closing date for applications for 2024-25 is Wednesday, January 8, 2024, 12:00 pm EST. Processing of applications will begin after this deadline, and decisions will be announced by mid-March. You can check the status of your application on the School of Graduate Studies website after the 3rd week in January. The status of your application will be updated from “Documents Pending” to “Under Review” by mid-February. Your application is complete, however, and you needn’t take any further action unless and until you are notified of your admission by our department. This will happen via email.

4. Visiting and Special Students

Graduate students wishing to take one or more graduate courses offered by the department as non-degree students should apply for admission as Special Students. In particular, graduate students in philosophy at other institutions are welcome to apply to spend a year studying at the University of Toronto. The application procedure and deadline are the same as for the PhD program.

Graduate students from other Ontario universities may apply to take courses through the Ontario Visiting Graduate Students Exchange program . Contact your home university for information about the required paperwork.

Graduate students from institutions outside Canada who wish to visit the department to do research under a particular faculty member should contact that faculty member and consult the Centre for International Experience .

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Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle open mid-October, 2024 !

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The Ph.D. Program

Characterised by small student cohorts and substantial opportunities for engagement with faculty and esteemed visitors, the Ph.D. program provides students with opportunities to pursue intensive, high-level studies and research. In their first year, students complete course work that satisfies distribution requirements in the areas of Value Theory and Metaphysics and Epistemology, for the sake of acquiring an advanced, general education in philosophy. In their second year, students complete comprehensive papers on areas pertinent to their proposed doctoral research as well as a doctoral dissertation proposal, under the supervision of their dissertation committees. Upon successfully completing their comprehensive requirements and orally defending their dissertation proposals, doctoral candidates begin writing their dissertations. The program is structured to ensure that candidates are able to defend in their fifth year. Candidates also acquire teaching experience, often having opportunities to take full responsibility for courses as Teaching Fellows, typically in their fourth or fifth years. 

Prospective Students

Recent graduates of the Ph.D. program have gone on to tenure-track positions, sessional and other teaching positions, postdoctoral fellowships, bioethics fellowships, and professional work in clinical ethics and bioethics. Further information about Ph.D. placement can be found at the button below.

Ph.D. Placement

Applications for all graduate programs in philosophy are hosted online by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).  Information on how to apply online can be found here . Click below to begin your application.

89 Best universities for Philosophy in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 15.8M citations received by 712K academic papers made by 89 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Toronto

For Philosophy

2. University of British Columbia

3. University of Montreal

4. McGill University

5. University of Alberta

6. University of Ottawa

7. Laval University

8. University of Waterloo

9. McMaster University

10. Western University

11. University of Calgary

12. University of Quebec in Montreal

13. York University

14. Queen's University

15. Simon Fraser University

16. University of Victoria

17. Dalhousie University

18. University of Manitoba

19. Carleton University

20. Concordia University

21. University of Sherbrooke

22. University of Saskatchewan

23. University of Guelph

24. Memorial University of Newfoundland

25. HEC Montreal

26. University of Windsor

27. University of Regina

28. Polytechnic School of Montreal

29. Wilfrid Laurier University

30. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

31. University of New Brunswick

32. Ryerson University

33. Brock University

34. University of Moncton

35. University of Lethbridge

36. Laurentian University

37. Trent University

38. University of Winnipeg

39. Lakehead University

40. University of Quebec in Outaouais

41. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

42. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

43. St. Francis Xavier University

44. University of Quebec in Rimouski

45. University of Northern British Columbia

46. Saint Mary's University

47. Royal Military College of Canada

48. Ontario Tech University

49. Acadia University

50. Cape Breton University

51. Mount Allison University

52. MacEwan University

53. University of Quebec

54. Mount Saint Vincent University

55. Bishop's University

56. University of Prince Edward Island

57. Mount Royal University

58. National School of Public Administration

59. Trinity Western University

60. Brandon University

61. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

62. Nipissing University

63. Kings University in Canada

64. University of Saint-Boniface

65. Thompson Rivers University

66. Royal Roads University

67. British Columbia Institute of Technology

68. University of Sainte-Anne

69. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

70. University of the Fraser Valley

71. Quest University Canada

72. Vancouver Island University

73. St. Thomas University - Canada

74. OCAD University

75. Concordia University of Edmonton

76. Redeemer University College

77. University of King's College

78. Algoma University

79. Dominican University College

80. Capilano University

81. SAIT Polytechnic

82. First Nations University of Canada

83. Ambrose University

84. Emily Carr University of Art and Design

85. Crandall University

86. Canadian Mennonite University

87. University Canada West

88. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

89. NSCAD University

The best cities to study Philosophy in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Montreal , and Edmonton .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Canada

Our Phd Program

Our faculty and staff provide a supportive environment for realizing your research goals and for developing the professional skills needed to flourish both within and outside academia.  

The program is designed to take four years to complete:

• In your first year you will begin your coursework--our students typically take 3 graduate courses per semester including the PhD Seminar which will guide you in writing your thesis proposal (this course will also train you in a number of professional skills: grant-writing, teaching, publishing, conference presenting, etc).
• In your second year you will complete your coursework, including the mandatory PHIL*6970  PhD Thesis Research course   in the fall of your second year. The winter semester is devoted to preparing a thesis proposal, and at the end of the winter semester, you sit your Oral Qualifying Exam to defend that proposal.
• In your third and fourth years you will undertake the writing of your thesis and you will defend it at the end of your fourth year.  

We give our students a lot of teaching opportunities:

Many of our introductory courses have tutorial components--if you are a teaching assistant for those classes, you get the opportunity to run your own weekly tutorial classes with undergrads. In the third year, you will also be offered your own course to teach. The department will provide you with a teaching mentor to help you out with any questions you might have about preparing and teaching your own course.   

How to apply to our program

• The application process ( deadline: January 03, 2025)
• Admission requirements

Doing the program:

• Philosophy PhD Program Regulations
• PhD Degree Regulations (from Graduate Calendar)
• Graduate course listings 
• Registration Information for new students  

We also offer interdisciplinary options:

We have options for our graduate students to explore interdisciplinary avenues of research. Graduate students are free to take courses outside of philosophy and a number of our students have availed themselves of opportunity. We also offer collaborative programs at the MA and PhD levels with International Development Studies and Neuroscience (please see below for information about these program options).

Interdisciplinary MA Collaborative Specialization in Sexualities, Genders and Bodies (SGB)  

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with a SGB collaborative specialization. Students in SGB study advanced concepts relating to human identity, embodiment, and self-expression. Students explore theories drawn from the fields of feminism, decolonialism, postcolonialism, LGBTQ+, race/whiteness, queer-of-colour, indigeneity, masculinities, and disability/crip studies among many others. Students engage with these topics from interdisciplinary perspectives and apply these concepts, theories, and methodologies to research in their home discipline. In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take: 

• SXGN*6000: Somatic Entanglements: Issues and Methods
• SXGN*6100: Challenging Bodies: Theorizing Sexualities and Genders

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the SGB specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization.

Please visit the SGB website  for more information.

Interdisciplinary PhD Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience (CSN)

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with a Neuroscience collaborative specialization. The Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience offers the opportunity for Master’s and PhD students to combine their studies in Philosophy with multidisciplinary exposure to the field of neuroscience. Doctoral and Master’s (thesis or course work and major research paper) students wishing to undertake graduate studies with emphasis on neuroscience will be admitted by the Philosophy Department and will register in both Philosophy and in the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience.

In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take:

• NEUR 6000: Principles of Neuroscience
• students and faculty meet once a month to hear talks from experts in the field and discuss the presented research. NEUR*6100 is a two-semester commitment, and students will register for the course twice each year.

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the CSN specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization in neuroscience.

Please visit the CSN website for more information.

Interdisciplinary PhD in Collaborative International Development Studies (IDS)

The Philosophy MA or PhD can be combined with an IDS collaborative specialization. This offers an interdisciplinary framework for the study of international development that combines training in a selected academic discipline with exposure to a broad range of social science perspectives. In addition to Philosophy program course requirements, students take:

• For the MA: "IDS Seminar" (IDEV 6100)
• For the PhD: "Theories and Debates in Development" (IDEV 6800) and "Developmental Research and Practice" (IDEV 6850)

Please ensure that your statement of intent explains how your research ideas fit with the IDS specialization, and also explains how your background and interests will contribute to the vitality of the specialization in development studies.

Please visit the  IDS website  for more information.

Online learning

The Philosophy Department offers online courses each term (Fall, Winter, Spring) through out the academic calendar year.  These courses are available from the CEL: Centre for Extended Learning (formerly known as Distance Education).

Enrolment policies for online courses:

Please be aware that the Philosophy Department applies the following enrolment policies regarding Online courses without exception :

• Overrides will not be granted for fully enrolled courses.
• The Philosophy Department does not maintain waiting lists. It is therefore the student's responsibility to keep checking QUEST for any changes in the enrolment status of a course.
• Though course reserves may be adjusted from time to time during the course selection period, reserved spaces will not be granted by override . It is the student's responsibility to keep checking QUEST for spaces that may become more generally available due to adjustments in course reserves.
• Students will not be allowed to enroll in Online courses beyond the end date of the Add period--typically, the end of the second week of term. Spaces that remain unfilled by the end of that date, or that open up because of drops that occur beyond that date, will not be treated as new opportunities for students to join a course.

Recommendations for successful enrolment in online courses:

• Do not miss the course selection period as online courses frequently fill up early.
• If you are currently unable to enroll in an online course, keep checking QUEST in case spaces open up prior to term due to drops or adjustments in reserve restrictions.
• You will enhance your chances of securing a space if you check QUEST regularly and often.

If you want more information about the details of the Philosophy online courses or specific advice concerning course selection and degree requirements, you are urged to consult the Department's Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Katy Fulfer ,  or Extended Learning Coordinator, Dr. Gerry Callaghan .

Philosophy (MA)

Part of the Faculty of Arts

Program Overview

Format : Full-time

Degree Earned : Master of Arts

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Philosophy is a rising centre of excellence in the North American philosophical community. This innovative and intensive program contributes to the thriving research culture in Canada’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. Focused on core areas of philosophy, the program enables students to augment their undergraduate experience and pursue doctoral studies.

At a Glance

Admissions information.

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate (or equivalent) degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum GPA or equivalent of 3.00/4.33 (B) in the last two years of study (3.33/4.33 GPA (B+) strongly recommended)
• Statement of interest
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Sample of work
• English language proficiency requirement

More information on  admission requirements . Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program. 

Program-specific requirements

Check Application Deadline

Students are encouraged to submit applications prior to the first consideration date to increase their chances of securing financial support for their graduate studies. Applications received after the first consideration date will be accepted and reviewed based on spaces remaining in the program.

See application dates .

Financing Your Studies

For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit  Fees by Program .

For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit  Financing Your Studies.

Sample Courses

Philosophy (MA) graduate program calendar

Research Areas

• 19th-Century Philosophy
• Ancient Philosophy
• Canadian Philosophy
• Contemporary Continental Philosophy
• Existentialism
• Metaphysics
• Moral Philosophy
• Phenomenology
• Philosophy of the Environment
• Philosophy of Language
• Philosophy of Law
• Philosophy of Mind
• Philosophy of Religion
• Social and Political Philosophy
• Experience with diverse philosophical approaches: faculty have a record of excellence in teaching and research in both the analytic and continental traditions of philosophy.
• Solid preparation for PhD study in philosophy: students have been accepted to PhD programs at Oxford, the University of Toronto, Western, McGill, King’s College (London), Duquesne, UCLA and other schools.
• Engagement with prominent figures in contemporary philosophy: each semester, the department hosts philosophers from across Canada, Britain and the United States, who lecture and engage with students in small seminars.
• Opportunities to develop teaching skills through a combination of classroom experiences, teaching and research assistantships.

Graduate Admissions

Admissions information and how to apply

Graduate Studies Admissions Office 11th Floor, 1 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON Telephone: 416-979-5150 Email:  [email protected]

For information specific to programs, please see the program contact information below.

Program Contacts

Dr. David Ciavatta Graduate Program Director BA Hon., PhD Research areas: Kant and 19th Century Continental Philosophy; Existentialism and Phenomenology; Philosophy of Art Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 552698 Email: [email protected]

Malu Maia Graduate Program Administrator Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 552711 Email:  [email protected]

“[TMU]’s professors and student community have fostered my growth as both a student and professional. The summer area readings gave me the fulfilling opportunity to work closely with a professor in my area of research and served as the foundation for my major research project.” Dwayne Ford, MA student

Student Profile  (external link) 

The strong faculty community encouraged Madelaine Ley (philosophy MA alumna) to pursue innovative, cross-disciplinary research in bioethics, to make positive change in the world.

Find curriculum, course descriptions and important dates for Philosophy (MA).

Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.

As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Go to programs search

Psychology is a diverse discipline that attempts to understand the basis of behaviour, thoughts and emotions. Psychology at UBC was introduced as a single course in 1915 and was initially offered by the Department of Philosophy. Over the years, the number of courses and instructors grew until we officially became the Department of Psychology in 1958.

Information on research areas offered in the department, as well as admissions-related information, can be found on the department website . Read the department program website carefully before contacting the department with specific questions that are not addressed on the website.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

UBC’s Department of Psychology is a top ranked research department in Canada and in the world. Our 58 faculty members and 130 full-time graduate students and postdoctoral fellows conduct research across the spectrum of psychology, representing seven sub-disciplinary specializations: Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive Science, Developmental, Health, Quantitative Methods, and Social/Personality.

The strength of our graduate programs lies in the highly productive research faculty, well-organized programs of study, extensive opportunities for student-faculty interaction, and rich offering of research specializations. Our faculty are well known for their research expertise in health, happiness, language acquisition, gambling, child development, gender roles, environmental behaviour, neuroscience, and many other areas of psychology. Our research programs are well funded by major national granting agencies, and our faculty are committed to research excellence and interdisciplinary collaborations within UBC’s Faculties of Medicine, Science and Arts, the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability and many other institutions around the world.

I decided to study at UBC for its emphasis on research and its rigorous approach to conducting research studies. I really enjoy the breadth of opportunities available for students regarding professional development.

Ashley Battaglini

Quick Facts

Program Enquiries

Admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Please refer to the department website for all admissions-related information.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is required by some applicants. Please check the program website.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

A thesis-based MA or MSc in Psychology is required for applicants applying for the PhD program.  Applicants with only a BA/BSc degree must aply for the MA program as they are ineligible for the PhD program.

Other Requirements

GRE requirements vary depending on the area of research and/or intended research supervisor. Please visit the respective Research Stream page on the department website for area-specific GRE requirements.

2) Meet Deadlines

September 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Applicants will not be admitted without identifying a faculty member as their intended supervisor.  Admissions decisions are made by prospective research supervisors; applicants are encouraged to reach out to them directly for further inquiries after reviewing the information on the department's website.

Criminal Record Check

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research focus.

We offer research-intensive graduate studies in seven sub-disciplinary specializations: Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive Science, Developmental, Health, Quantitative Methods, and Social/Personality.  Please refer to the department's Research Streams page for more information.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

From September 2024 all full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please note that many graduate programs provide funding packages that are substantially greater than $24,000 per year. Please refer to the department's Funding page  for additional information on funding opportunities.

Average Funding

• 32 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 32 students was $10,912.
• 37 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 37 students was $7,725.
• 18 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 18 students was $2,366.
• 51 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 51 students was $16,504.
• 22 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 22 students was $32,136.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

112 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 is in a non-salaried situation; for 5 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 106 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

The PhD in Psychology is designed to prepare students for employment in academic or private sector settings. Recent graduates have taken positions as tenure track faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, practicing clinical psychologists, biostatisticians, and public policy quantitative analysts.

Alumni on Success

Zak Witkower

Job Title Postdoctoral Researcher

Employer University of Toronto

Kristina Uban

Job Title Post Doctoral Researcher

Employer Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Julie Belanger

Job Title Director, Research and Evaluation

Employer Education Partnerships Group

Kirsten Dalrymple

Job Title Research Associate

Employer University of Minnesota

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

Upcoming doctoral exams, wednesday, 18 september 2024 - 12:30pm - 2512, douglas t. kenny building, 2136 west mall.

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Alden, Lynn (Cognitive processes in the anxiety disorders, Social Anxiety Disorder, adult-onset Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, cognitive-behavior therapy)
• Baron, Andrew (cognitive development, infancy, childhood, adolescence, racism, race, stereotypes, cooperation, bias, innateness, science education, multiculturalism, gender, ethnicity, neuromarketing, attitudes, preferences, psychology )
• Biesanz, Jeremy (personality, Personality, interpersonal perception, accuracy, personality coherence, quantitative methods)
• Birch, Susan (Social perspective taking, social learning, social cognition, imitation, nonverbal behavior, confidence, communication, decision-making, impression formation, child development My primary area of expertise is the study of children and adults’ social perspective taking abilities (i.e., their abilities to reason about other peoples’ mental states–their intentions, knowledge, and beliefs) and how their abilities to take another person’s perspective impacts how they form impressions of others, learn from others, communicate with others, and informs a range of socials. Of particular interest is a) how children make inferences about what is credible information to learn (e.g., how they decide whether someone is a credible source of information based on how confident that person seems) and b) how a widespread bias in perspective taking referred to as ‘the curse of knowledge bias’ (a difficulty reasoning about a more naive perspective as the result of being biased by one’s current knowledge) can impair communication (both written and in person) and decision-making across a range of fields (politics, law, education, economics, medicine, etc.)., Development of language, learning, and social understanding in infants and children)
• Chen, Frances (Health psychology; social connection; social support; stress; coping; conflict and negotiation; hormones; Neuroendocrinology)
• Christoff Hadjiilieva, Kalina (brain, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, prefronal cortex, fMRI, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, executive functions, problem solving, reasoning, thinking, mind-wandering, attention, consciousness, real-time fMRI, trauma and PTSD, Cognitive and neural basis of human thought, reasoning and problem solving)
• Clark, Luke (Gambling, Problem Gambling, Addiction, Decision-Making, Reward, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms involved in gambling behaviour and disordered gambling)
• Dawson, Samantha (Psychology and cognitive sciences; Interventions for sexual dysfunction; Sexual function and dysfunction in individuals and couples)
• DeLongis, Anita (Psychology and cognitive sciences; social determinants of health; chronic illness; coping; couples; families; health; Health Psychology; marriage; social support; stress)
• Dunn, Elizabeth (Happiness, money and spending decisions, self-knowledge)
• Emberson, Lauren (Learning, Perception (audition, vision, crossmodal or multisensory), Language development, Face/object perception, Impacts of premature birth, Neural connecitivty, fNIRS, Neonatal and Infant development , Early adversity / Risk and resilience , Increasing diversity and representation in the neurosciences , Naturalistic neuroimaging recordings)
• Enns, James (Behavioural neuroscience of reward and motivation; attention; action kinematics; social perception; perceptual development)
• Flake, Jessica
• Floresco, Stanley (Neural circuits subserving learning and executive functions, behavioural and electrophysiological analyses of limbic-cortical-striatal interactions involved in decision making and behavioural flexibility, animal models of schizophrenia and drug addiction)
• Goetz, Friedrich (Psychology, social and behavorial aspects; Geographical psychology; Causes and consequences of regional personality differences; Mobility and migration; Wanderlust; Courage; Entrepreneurship; Personality development; open science)
• Hall, David Geoffrey (Lexical and conceptual development, semantic development, language acquisition)
• Hamlin, Kiley (Psychology and cognitive sciences; Cognitive development; Moral Judgement and Duty or Obligation Morals; Infant / Child Development; Foundations of Religious, Mystical, Mythical and Moral Thoughts; Infant moral cognition; infant social cognition)
• Handy, Todd (aging and cognition, aging and exercise, cognitive neuroscience, attention, migraine, fMRI, Cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, attention and its impairment in clinical populations, mind wandering, and real-world human behaviour)
• Heine, Steven (Culture and human nature in psychology, culture, how people strive to maintain a sense of meaning in their lives when they encounter anomalies which they are unable to make any sense of, how people understand essences and genetic foundations for human behavior )
• Hewitt, Paul (perfectionism, Therapy Perfectionism, personality vulnerability, depression, suicide in adults and children)
• Hoppmann, Christiane (Psychology and cognitive sciences; Aging Process; Social Aspects of Aging; stress; Health Promotion; social determinants of health; Health and well-being across the adult lifespan and into old age; individual differences in goals)
• Im, Hee Yeon
• Kerns, Connor (assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); childhood anxiety and stress-related disorders; trauma-related disorders; Autism; Anxiety; Comorbidity)
• Kim, Eric (Health psychology; Psychosocial, sociocultural and behavioral determinants of health; Epidemiology (except nutritional and veterinary epidemiology); psychological well-being; Purpose in life / Meaning in life; resilience; Optimism / Hope; Health Psychology; Social Epidemiology; Aging)
• Kingstone, Alan (Cognitive sciences; Brain mechanisms of human perception, attention, and behaviour in experimental & everyday situations)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Examining the relationship between children's theory of mind and social-emotional functioning
• When people do allyship : a typology of allyship action
• Identification and measurement of habit formation during slot machine gambling
• A translational investigation of vulnerability to cue-induced decisional risk and underlying dopaminergic mechanism
• Reciprocal associations between nightly sleep and daily stress. : individual differences and mechanisms
• The relationship between political leaders' integrative complexity and the use of violence in international crises
• Why we fear wolves in sheep’s clothing : moral impression-violations threaten meaning
• Cognition in young adults : physical activity, diet, and sleep’s effects on subjective and metacognitive functioning
• Misokinesia : exploring sensitivity to others' movements and its impact on attention and emotions
• Parent engagement in parenting interventions for children with ADHD : the role of parent mental health
• Psychological consequences of financial scarcity
• Understanding hoarding clean-outs : a public scholar approach
• Sociocontextual factors impacting the biological embedding of major transitions during adolescence
• Social values and social motivations as vulnerability factors for excessive acquisition
• Cognitive and affective dimensions of inattention

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Psychology (MA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

Further information, specialization.

Psychology covers most major areas of the discipline, including: behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, cognitive science, developmental psychology, health psychology, personality and social psychology, and quantitative methods.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

UBC offers a lot of opportunity for interdisciplinary research at least in the context of my work. The Department of Psychology has ties with, for example, the Centre for Brain Health and Sauder School of Business. I really look forward to collaborating with folks outside of the department so that...

Talia Morstead

My decision to study at UBC was driven in large part by my desire to work with Dr. Anita DeLongis, a foremost expert in the field of stress and coping. After coming across Dr. DeLongis’ work during my undergraduate studies and having the opportunity to volunteer in her lab, I saw that our research...

Bronwen Grocott

I applied to UBC because I wanted to work with my present supervisor, Dr. Joelle LeMoult. I was especially interested in researching social stress and depression using a mixed-methods, experimental approach and working with Joelle has made this possible.

Leilani Forby

Before I decided to pursue a graduate degree, I worked in the film industry and was required to do a lot of international travel. The business trips to Canada were always my favorite --- I fell in love with the cities and the people. When I decided that I would study how to support autistic...

Curious about life in Vancouver?

Find out how Vancouver enhances your graduate student experience—from the beautiful mountains and city landscapes, to the arts and culture scene, we have it all. Study-life balance at its best!

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Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes

Ph.D. Graduate Program in Psychological Sciences and Human Development

Introduction.

The Graduate Field of Psychological Sciences and Human Development (PSYHD)  includes faculty members from departments across the university including Psychology, Neurobiology and Behavior, Communication, and Philosophy.  See below for more on the Cornell Field System. The dominant strengths of the PSYHD Field lie in four broadly defined areas: Cognition , Development ,  Neuroscience , and Social and Personality . The goal of the Field is to educate students to become researchers, scholars, and teachers who will contribute to the future of psychology as a scientific discipline in academic or other research-oriented settings.

Our program prepares students for research and teaching careers in academic life, work in government agencies, and careers in industry or other public and private sectors.  We encourage you to explore the history of our M.A. and Ph.D. theses through the  Cornell University Theses/Dissertations guide .

Please note that we do not offer training in clinical psychology, counseling, school psychology, community psychology, industrial psychology, or clinical neuropsychology.  Applicants with primary interests in these subjects are not admitted.

To enter the PSYHD Doctoral (Ph.D.) program, you must  apply directly  to the Cornell University Graduate School. You may also want to investigate the  Cornell Graduate School  site for additional information about applying.

Application portal opens on September 1   Application portal closes on December 1 (11:59 pm)

Ph.D. Program

We offer three Ph.D. Degrees:

•Ph.D. in Psychology  •Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology  •Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies

The Ph.D. Graduate Student Handbook (Quick Guide) can be found here.

The Ph.D. program in PSYHD is a research focused, apprentice-styled (mentor-mentee) graduate program.  The curriculum and requirements are designed for a 5 year program; the median time to complete the Ph.D. is 5.5 years.

Student progress is supervised by a Primary Advisor who serves as the Chair of a Special Committee comprised of two faculty members, typically within the Psychological Sciences and Human Development graduate field . Prospective students should investigate the faculty members within the PSYHD field, and particularly within the Department of Psychology, whose research interests are compatible with the students' interests.  Prospective students for the Ph.D. program should then contact those faculty directly before applying.

Application requirements

• Unofficial transcript of the undergraduate record
• Three letters of recommendation , with a fourth letter optional, which your recommenders will upload to the application.

Academic Statement of Purpose

Describe (within 1000 words) the substantive research questions you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies, and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. Additionally, detail your academic background, intellectual interests and any training or research experience you have received that you believe has prepared you for our program. Within your statement, please also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.

Personal statement of interest

Please describe (within 1000 words) how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, provide insight on your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together. We also encourage you to include information on any of the following areas:

• How your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient especially when navigating challenging circumstances.
• How you engage with others and have facilitated and/or participated in productive teams.
• How you have experienced or come to understand the barriers faced by others whose experiences and backgrounds may differ from your own.
• If relevant, how your research interests focus on issues related to diversity, inclusion, access, inequality, and/or equity.
• Your service and/or leadership in efforts to advance diversity, inclusion, access, and equity especially by those from backgrounds historically underrepresented and/or marginalized.
• Additional context around any perceived gaps or weaknesses in your academic record (including, but not limited to, personal and family struggles with unemployment and health as a result of the pandemic, systemic discrimination and the fight for civil rights, and any other situational factors that may have impacted achievements throughout your life).

Applicants are not required to submit scores on the GRE; the GRE subject test in psychology, or to have had an undergraduate major in psychology. 

Prior research experience is highly desirable; applicants may submit research reports or work.

Additional requirements for International applicants:

• English Language Proficiency requirement (TOEFL or IELTS)
• International Degree Equivalencies

The Field Structure

At Cornell, graduate study is organized using a field structure.   Fields are composed of faculty members from a number of departments who come together around a shared intellectual interest, and may draw from different campuses or colleges.  Graduate students are admitted to fields of study.  Within each field, they select major and minor subjects, which are research interests or concentrations.

Fields span departments and even disciplines.  It’s possible for a student in the field of economics to include faculty on his or her special committee from industrial labor and economics, civil and environmental engineering, and sociology, along with the more traditional economics and management.

Click here for the complete "Fields of Study, Subjects, and Concentrations" in PDF form .

Student Life

Alexander G. Ophir, Director of Graduate Studies Uris Hall, Room 218 E-mail:  [email protected] Phone:  607-255-3714

Pamela A. Cunningham, Graduate Field Assistant   •  Psychology Ph.D. Uris Hall, Room 211A E-mail:  [email protected] Phone:  607-255-3834 Fax: 607-255-8433

Marianne Arcangeli, Graduate Field Assistant   •  Developmental Psychology Ph.D.   •  Human Development and Family Studies Ph.D. Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Room G201B E-mail:  [email protected] Phone:  607-255-4661