Studying Psychology in Ontario

Western University

Apply to Social Science (EO)

You choose psychology at the end of first year, during Intent to Register in March.

Psychology has no OUAC code of its own — you apply to the Faculty of Social Science (EO), which only requires ENG4U. Both the BA and the BSc come out of EO, so do NOT apply to Science for the BSc; Western recommends SBI4U plus SCH4U or SPH4U for the BSc because the BSc module requires first-year Biology 1001A/1002B and a chemistry/physics/computer-science course. Every psychology module needs first-year math (Data Science 1000A/B plus a calculus or math course), so take a Grade 12 U math even though it is not an admission requirement. Main campus offers Honours Specialization in Psychology (BA), Honours Specialization in Psychology (BSc), Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (BSc), a Major and a Minor — there is no plain Specialization. The Honours Specialization is limited enrolment and needs a 75% average in your 3.0 principal first-year courses with nothing below 60%; meeting it does not guarantee a seat.

Queen's University

Apply to Arts (QA)

You choose psychology during Plan Selection in May at the end of first year.

Queen's own Psychology department says you apply to Arts or Science, never to Psychology: "Students may apply for admission to Queen's Arts (QA) or Science (QS)." You can finish with a BA or a BSc. Take PSYC 100 in first year — the department states "PSYC100 must be taken at Queen's for admission into an Honours Psychology plan," and it is the prerequisite for every other psychology course. The plan is requested in May, not granted on admission. If you want the BSc, apply through the Science side (now the Biological and Cognitive Sciences pathway, QSB) rather than Arts.

McMaster University

Apply to Social Sciences I

You choose psychology at the end of first year, ranking up to four Level 2 programs in Mosaic in April.

Psychology at McMaster is called Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PNB) and there are two different doors. The BA route is Social Sciences I; the BSc route is the Life Sciences Gateway. Neither is a program you apply to by name on OUAC. PNB is limited enrolment — McMaster's own wording is that meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission. Social Psychology is a separate Level 2 program, also off Social Sciences I.

University of Toronto — St. George

Apply to Life Sciences (including Psychology)

You choose psychology at the end of first year.

U of T's program finder lists St. George Psychology only as HBSc under TLG — the category is literally named 'Life Sciences (including Psychology)'. The Major is limited enrolment: PSY100H1 at 75% plus a passing grade in BOTH Grade 12 Calculus and Grade 12 Biology (the calendar states recent cut-offs ran roughly 77-79%). SBI4U and MCV4U are required to apply in the first place.

University of Toronto — Mississauga

Apply to Psychological and Brain Sciences

You choose psychology after first year (4.0 credits).

At UTM psychology is a SCIENCE with its own admission category, and the degree is an HBSc. Prerequisites are ENG4U, MHF4U and SBI4U, so no Grade 12 biology means no psychology at UTM. Do not apply to Social Sciences (TMS) expecting to find it. Forensic Psychology is a separate application (TMK, Forensic Sciences) — verified on its own page. UTM's program pages label this category simply 'Psychology (TMP)' while the category list calls it 'Psychological and Brain Sciences'; same code either way.

University of Toronto — Scarborough

Apply to Psychology & Health Studies

You choose psychology end of first year, on ACORN.

Only Grade 12 English is required to be admitted (mid-to-high 70s; low 80s for co-op), but Grade 12 Biology and one Grade 12 math (Calculus & Vectors, Advanced Functions or Data Management) are required by second year — you cannot skip them. Psychology is a limited POSt: getting into the category does not guarantee the major. The Health Sciences stream version of this category is OUAC TXF and is direct-from-high-school only.

University of Waterloo

Apply to Honours Arts

You choose psychology at the end of first year.

There is no Psychology admission code. Two different routes with very different prerequisites. The BA is Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business — six 4U/M courses including any 4U English at 70%, admission average high 70s, no math and no science required. The BSc is Life Sciences (wls), which requires Advanced Functions AND Calculus and Vectors plus two sciences, so a student without calculus has already closed that door. On the BSc side you must also hold 60% cumulative overall, 60% cumulative Science, and 75% cumulative Psychology to actually declare the major after first year.

Carleton University

Apply to Bachelor of Arts - Honours (CH)

You choose psychology on the OUAC application, as your 'area of study' inside the Bachelor of Arts. Carleton's BA is one code (CH, 75%) for 31 majors. Leave the area blank and you are BA Undeclared; entrance requirements are the same for almost all BA majors, so changing later is a one-form request Carleton says takes 1-3 days.

Psychology has no OUAC code of its own at Carleton. It is offered as a BA major under CH (75%) and as a BSc major under CT (78%); name whichever on the application. The BSc version suits students heading toward research or neuroscience. Carleton's Honours BA is a single OUAC code, CH, at 75%, covering 31 majors — you name the major on the application rather than applying to it separately. The 3-year non-honours BA is CA. Because entrance requirements are nearly identical across BA majors, switching after admission is a short online form.

Nipissing University

Apply to Bachelor of Arts (PA)

You choose psychology on the application or after — the Bachelor of Arts (PA, 70% minimum) is a genuinely undeclared door, and you choose a major from the twenty inside it.

Psychology is a major inside both the Bachelor of Arts (PA) and the Bachelor of Science (PS) — Nipissing's page lists it as 'Degree type: Bachelor of Arts', 'Available as: Honours Specialization, Specialization, Major, Minor'. Pick the degree, then the major. Nipissing admits to the Bachelor of Arts as one OUAC code, PA, at a 70% minimum, and nearly every arts major is chosen inside it rather than applied to separately. Only Criminal Justice (PAJ) and History with Orientation to a Master's (PAH, 80%, limited enrolment) have their own codes. Nipissing's own concurrent-education listings describe the BA entry as 'Undeclared'.