Study Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada: Top Colleges, Fees, Ranking, Eligibility, Admission Process, Scholarships, Placements

Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada is available as an MA, MS, and MEd degree at top Canadian colleges and universities. International students can expect to pay around 34,000-45,000 USD (25 lakhs to 34 lakhs) annually to pursue this 2-3 year program. 

Counselling psychology majorly involves using principles of psychology to improve well-being and mental health. Usually, graduates of a counselling psychology master's program land jobs as therapists. Despite the fact that the admissions are highly competitive for this program, one can potentially earn salaries between 204,000 and 304,000 CAD after graduation. Minimum salary packages at entry-level can range from 55,000 to 75,000 USD. Therefore, you are likely to begin your career earning somewhere around 41-56 lakhs per annum.

Top Universities in Canada for Masters in Counseling Psychology

Tabulated below are the top Canadian universities offering masters in counselling psychology, as well as their latest rankings and the types of courses they offer:

University	QS World Rankings 2022	Course Offered
University of Toronto	#26	M.Ed.
University of British Columbia	#46	MA
McGill University	#27	MA
University of Alberta	#126	M.Ed.
University of Calgary	#235	MSc
Western University	#170	MA
Simon Fraser University	#298	M.Ed.
University of Victoria	#334	MA
University of Lethbridge	-	MEd and Masters in Counseling
Trinity Western University	-	MA
Adler University	-	MA

Course Structure of Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada 

The course duration in Canada for a master's degree in counseling psychology is around 2-3 years. Moreover, it is available both as a thesis-based and a course-based degree. As far as the curriculum of the program is concerned, the following are its major course offerings:

• Theories of counselling
• Basic skills & interventions
• Career counselling
• Interviewing skills
• The study of behavioural disorders, 
• Research in counselling psychology, 
• Trauma theory & practice 
• Couple and family counselling

Masters in Counseling Psychology Admission Requirements

To secure admission to masters in counseling psychology in Canada, one must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. This means applicants are required to attain around 83-86% or a B grade. International students need to visit university websites or admission portals to apply for the program. One must be very careful with the application deadlines and apply well in advance so that the Canada study permit is processed in time.

Eligibility Criteria for Masters in Counseling Psychology

Eligibility requirements in Canada for masters in counselling psychology vary according to the university and the type of program. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to visit the official website of the respective university for detailed information on admission requirements. Some of the common requirements to apply for the program are summarized in the table below:

Degree/Requirement	Resume	Work Experience	Statement of Purpose	LOR	GRE Score
M.A.	May or may not be required	Mostly required	Required	2-2	May be required
M.Ed.	Required	Required	Required	2-3	Not required
M.S./M.C	Required	Not required	Required	2	Optional (Recommeded)

Institute-Specific Eligibility Requirements

Overseas applicants from non-native English-speaking countries are required to provide evidence of language proficiency by submitting IELTS or TOEFL scores. Here are the minimum test score requirements of different universities, along with their UG academic requirements:

University	Academic Requirement	Minimum IELTS Score	Minimum TOEFL Score
University of Toronto	B+ in the final year of bachelor’s degree	7.0	93
University of British Columbia	76% or B+ in UG degree	6.5	90
University of Alberta	Bachelor’s in a relevant discipline	7.0	93
McGill University	3.2 on a 4.0 scale in UG	6.5	86
Simon Fraser University	3.0 on a 4.0 scale  in UG	7.0	93
University of Calgary	3.0 on a 4.0 scale  in UG	7.0	97
Trinity Western University	B grade in UG degree	7.5	105
Western University	A 4-year bachelor’s degree with at least 70%	6.5	86
University of Lethbridge	B+ in UG	6.5	86
University of Victoria	UG in a relevant discipline	7.0	95
Adler University	3.0 on a 4.0 scale in UG	7.0	92

Documents Required

Students must note that they need to upload some important documents while filling out their applications for masters in counseling psychology in Canada. Listed below are the major documents required:

• Academic transcripts
• English language proficiency proof 
• Standardized test scores (GRE/GMAT)
• Statement of purpose/ letter of intent/ research statement
• Resume/CV
• Writing Samples (if required)

Some universities like Trinity Western University, Adler University, and the University of Lethbridge require applicants to attend interviews as part of the admission process.

Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada Admission Decisions

Admissions for masters in counselling psychology in Canada are highly competitive. In recent years, it has been observed that there has been a decrease in the acceptance rate of universities. For instance, UBC offered admissions to only 15% of applicants in the class of 2018. Similarly, UCalgary accepted only 12.8% of applicants for the masters in counselling psychology program. 

Canadian universities admit students based on their performance in interviews, entrance tests, etc. Some universities, such as Simon Fraser University and Adler University, also demand students to submit their writing samples. However, students must note that merely meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee admissions because of the stringent admission policies.

Cost of Pursuing Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada

There are various expenses that international students have to bear while studying abroad in Canada. Here we have categorized these expenses into three broad categories: pre-arrival expenses, tuition fees, and living costs in Canada.

Pre-Arrival Expenses

Among the pre-arrival expenses are the application fees, entrance exams fees, airfare, etc. The following table provides the complete list of pre-arrival expenses that one has to incur for studying in Canada:

Type of Expense	Cost (in INR)
Application Fees	8600-11,490
Visa Application Fees	14,086
Health Insurance	6 Lakhs
TOEFL Fees	12,000-19,100
IELTS Fees	14,500
GRE Fees	15,600-17,600
GMAT Fees	19,150
Airfare	34,460-1.07 Lakhs

Tuition Fees

There is a significant variation in the tuition rates of different Canadian universities offering masters in counselling psychology. Refer to the table below for tuition fee details:

University	Average Tuition Fees/Year (USD)
University of Toronto	12900
University of British Columbia	10250
McGill University	8500
University of Alberta	7900
University of Calgary	9500
Western University	5500
Simon Fraser University	4500
University of Victoria	1000
University of Lethbridge	4100
Trinity Western University	15000
Adler University	22600

Living Costs in Canada

The cost of living in Canada varies according to location, university, accommodation, meal options, and other factors. Listed below are the estimated living expenses for international students planning to pursue masters in counseling psychology in Canada:

Type of Expense	Annual Cost (INR)
Books and Supplies	Up to 9 Lakhs
Food and Beverages	2.3 to 3.89 Lakhs
Accommodation	3.44 lakhs to 8.02 Lakhs

Top Scholarships in Canada for Masters in Counseling Psychology

Pursuing a master’s degree program in Canada is a costly affair for international students. Therefore, top universities and colleges in Canada offer various scholarship opportunities to students looking to pursue masters in counseling psychology. Mentioned below are some of the institute-specific scholarships in Canada:

Scholarship	Amount (in USD)	Offered by
Ontario Graduate Scholarship	11,280/Session (Varies)	University of Toronto
School of Graduate Studies University-wide Awards
Total Scholarship for Women	10,000	University of British Columbia
Spring Graduation Awards Competition	150-18,000
International Tuition Award	3200 per year
University of Alberta Thesis/Course-based Masters recruitment Scholarship	16,550 (only for the first term)	University of Alberta
Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship	26,000/year
Graduate Entrance Scholarships	13,600/year	Simon Fraser University
Graduate Dean Entrance Scholarship	21,000/year
Ontario Graduate Scholarship	11,280/session	Western University
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship	37,800 for a period of up to three years	McGill University

Scope of Masters in Counseling Psychology in Canada

International students studying counselling psychology in Canada have access to a variety of lucrative career opportunities. With a master’s degree in counselling psychology, students can work as counsellors, psychologists, therapists, etc. Shown below are the top masters in counseling psychology jobs available in Canada for international students:

Jobs	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Career & School Counselor	45.57 lakhs
Clinical Social Worker	58.92 lakhs
Clinical Psychologist	74.46 lakhs
Neuropsychologist	74.46 lakhs
Mental Health Counselor	53.94 lakhs
Substance Abuse & Behavioral Counselor	47.80 lakhs
Health Psychologist	59.6 lakhs
Professor in Clinical Psychology	65.81 lakhs