Graduate Programs in Canada

[NeuroBatman]

Hi.  I have a few questions regarding graduate programs in Canada.  First, do Canadian clinical psych PhD programs require a master's degree prior to entering a doctorate program.  If so, does the master's count towards the PhD?  I know that in the U.S. a masters in clinical psych is not very useful and only serves to waive a few of the course requirements in a given PhD program.  I'm wondering if it works like this in Canada since, from what I gather, most if not all PhD programs require a masters.  Secondly, if one is required to get a masters, do the masters programs provide research or teaching assistantships? 

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at this, and if you can think of any other information that might be useful to an American student considering grad school in Canada, please let me know.

 

Cheers!

 

 

[spunky]

Hi.  I have a few questions regarding graduate programs in Canada.  First, do Canadian clinical psych PhD programs require a master's degree prior to entering a doctorate program.  If so, does the master's count towards the PhD?  I know that in the U.S. a masters in clinical psych is not very useful and only serves to waive a few of the course requirements in a given PhD program.  I'm wondering if it works like this in Canada since, from what I gather, most if not all PhD programs require a masters.  Secondly, if one is required to get a masters, do the masters programs provide research or teaching assistantships? 

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at this, and if you can think of any other information that might be useful to an American student considering grad school in Canada, please let me know.

 

Cheers!

 

as far as UBC goes, yes to both of your questions. and i think more generally speaking (at least when i was researching programs) you get into the MA which is like your stepping ladder towards the PhD. you usually do all of your courses during the MA stage and do the bulk of your research/practicum hours as you start getting closer to the PhD. and you do get TAing/RAing opportunities at the MA stage. i know i did

[TakeruK]

One general way to look at it is Masters programs in Canada are basically the first 2 years of a US PhD program. That is, if you imagine a US PhD program to be split into two phases (first two years vs. rest of it) graduate school in Canada is split into Masters and PhD in the same way. So you get funded and all that during the Masters just like the first two years of most PhD programs. Of course this is a very very broad/general way to look at it, but it's an important distinction between Canadian Masters degrees and US Masters degrees.

[NeuroBatman]

Thank you so much for the clarification.  It's really great of the both of you to take time out of your busy schedules and answer my questions.  I'm very gracious.  I have two more questions: 

 

A. Is getting into a masters program in Canada on par with getting into a masters program in the U.S.?  Or is it more on par with getting into a U.S. doctorate program, since the master's (as you so kindly clarified for me) is essentially the first two years of a doctorate?

 

B. Is it more difficult for American students to get into Canadian graduate programs than Canadian students?  I have noticed that there don't seem to be a lot of American grad students (if any) in the Canadian programs I've looked into.

Edited September 2, 2014 by justinhayes1982

[Dedi]

Thank you so much for the clarification.  It's really great of the both of you to take time out of your busy schedules and answer my questions.  I'm very gracious.  I have two more questions: 

 

A. Is getting into a masters program in Canada on par with getting into a masters program in the U.S.?  Or is it more on par with getting into a U.S. doctorate program, since the master's (as you so kindly clarified for me) is essentially the first two years of a doctorate?

 

B. Is it more difficult for American students to get into Canadian graduate programs than Canadian students?  I have noticed that there don't seem to be a lot of American grad students (if any) in the Canadian programs I've looked into.

B. Yes, definitely. American students are considered "international" and therefore most Canadian programs have limited spots for them. I'm applying to U of T's psych program, but I am not sure of my chances even with help from my POI...

[spunky]

A. Is getting into a masters program in Canada on par with getting into a masters program in the U.S.?  Or is it more on par with getting into a U.S. doctorate program, since the master's (as you so kindly clarified for me) is essentially the first two years of a doctorate?

 

 

i think  we'd need a little bit more clarification with what you mean by "on par". you mean on par that you'd be taking the same courses? on par in terms you'd be able to get a PhD-level job? on par in terms of whether you'd be getting paid the same? i guess i'd more tentatively answer it'd be on par with a master's program in the U.S., particularly because there's no way you can cram coursework, research and practicum in just 2 yrs. 

 

 

B. Is it more difficult for American students to get into Canadian graduate programs than Canadian students?  I have noticed that there don't seem to be a lot of American grad students (if any) in the Canadian programs I've looked into.

 

i think Dedi made it clear: you'd be an int'l student so you'd be competing with all the other int'l applicants. your tuition would be higher (i know this because i was an int'l student for most of my MA) which means you'll need more funding which means you'll need to get more grants, more applications and an overall more complicated process (unless you program fully covers your tuition). plus (and as a few of my American colleagues remind me every now and then when i see them at conferences): "why would we go to Canada if the best schools are here?"

 

always keep in mind (a little out of date but still gets to the point):

 

 

 

HA! it cracks me up every time XD

Edited September 3, 2014 by spunky

[Piagetsky]

That video is completely hilarious!

I am also an American student planning to do my apps in Canada. I know it's a long shot, but Canada or bust!

Edited September 3, 2014 by searpr

[NeuroBatman]

 

i think  we'd need a little bit more clarification with what you mean by "on par". you mean on par that you'd be taking the same courses? on par in terms you'd be able to get a PhD-level job? on par in terms of whether you'd be getting paid the same? i guess i'd more tentatively answer it'd be on par with a master's program in the U.S., particularly because there's no way you can cram coursework, research and practicum in just 2 yrs.

 

I'm talking about 'getting into' a masters program.  In the U.S. it's much easier to get into a masters program than a doctorate program.  I was wondering if getting into a master's program in Canada is 'on par' with 'getting into' a master's program in the U.S.

 

 

i think Dedi made it clear: you'd be an int'l student so you'd be competing with all the other int'l applicants. your tuition would be higher (i know this because i was an int'l student for most of my MA) which means you'll need more funding which means you'll need to get more grants, more applications and an overall more complicated process (unless you program fully covers your tuition). plus (and as a few of my American colleagues remind me every now and then when i see them at conferences): "why would we go to Canada if the best schools are here?"

 

So no TA's or RA's for master's students?  I was wondering if the MA programs in Canada are like PhD programs where you get full tuition reimbursement and a stipend for being a TA or RA. 

 

As for the Simpson's video: I spent a summer in Vancouver and adored the city, the culture and the people.  I am becoming increasingly jaded by the state of things in the U.S., so I would certainly welcome a break.

[spunky]

I'm talking about 'getting into' a masters program.  In the U.S. it's much easier to get into a masters program than a doctorate program.  I was wondering if getting into a master's program in Canada is 'on par' with 'getting into' a master's program in the U.S.

 

 

OH! i see. thanks for clarifying. then yes, i'd say getting into an MA in Canada would be the equivalent of getting into a PhD in the U.S, in terms of the onerous process. particularly because once you get in an MA is relatively straightforward to jump into a PhD. plus it's also pretty common for people to just keep on doing their PhD within the same program out of convenience more than anything else. since there are fewer universities in Canada people rarely switch universities from MA to PhD, particularly if you manage to get into a prestigious program

 

So no TA's or RA's for master's students?  I was wondering if the MA programs in Canada are like PhD programs where you get full tuition reimbursement and a stipend for being a TA or RA. 

 

 

there are plenty of opportunities for TAships/RAships at the MA level, so i wouldn't worry about that. on the other hand, there aren't many $$$ goodies unless you're a Canadian citizen/permanent resident. the few stuff that's out there for int'l students is really hard to get (unless you're in the natural sciences, they have it easier). i know for a fact that 2 prospective int'l students (actually one was American) decided against joining our lab because we couldn't offer them a lot of money (where by "a lot" i mean a livable stipend)

 

As for the Simpson's video: I spent a summer in Vancouver and adored the city, the culture and the people.  I am becoming increasingly jaded by the state of things in the U.S., so I would certainly welcome a break.

 

well... what can i say about that. i go to UBC and i can't complain i guess i like pulling that every now and then because my allegiance to UBC prohibits me from saying nice stuff to our archenemies, the evil U. of Toronto and the villainous McGill U. XD

Edited September 3, 2014 by spunky