Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Clinical Psychology Profile Applicants

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Admission Requirements ↓
Selection Criteria and Process ↓
Special Considerations ↓

Admission Requirements

Students can apply to the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Clinical Psychology Profile with one of two different backgrounds:

1) University Studies Basis

The minimum requirements for admittance on the basis of university studies include:

• a bachelor’s degree in psychology or equivalent⁽¹⁾,
• a minimum GPA of 3.6/4.3 (A- or 80%),
• proof of English language proficiency⁽²⁾,
• proof of French language proficiency⁽²⁾,
• an application file⁽³⁾.

OR

2) Sufficient Preparation Basis

The minimum requirements for admittance on the basis of sufficient preparation include:

• membership to the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (OPQ),
• proof of English language proficiency⁽²⁾,
• an application file⁽³⁾.

⁽¹⁾ The university studies must include all the elements of the common core required by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (42 credits, as shown in the table below) and have been completed in courses or training taken in the last 10 years:

⁽²⁾ Since English is the primary language of instruction and communication at Bishop’s University, applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English. Furthermore, to become a member of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec and obtain a licence to practice, graduates must have an appropriate knowledge of the French language that is to say, be able to speak, write and work in French.

As such, all applicants must provide proof of English and French language proficiency regardless of citizenship or immigration status in Canada. Please identify the entry below that best describes your situation in order to determine which additional supporting documentation you must provide with your application for admission:

English Proficiency

I. Completed a DEC at an English CEGEP in Québec.

• Document required: Québec permanent code.

II. Completed at least three years of instruction at an accredited secondary institution, recognized by Bishop’s University, where English is the primary language of instruction.

• Document required: High school transcript from the institution where English is the primary language of instruction.

III. Completed/completing at least 30 credit hours (or equivalent to one full year of study) at a post‐secondary institution, recognized by Bishop’s University, where English is the primary language of instruction.

• Document required: Transcript of studies from the post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction.

IV. Completed a recognized English assessment with appropriate minimum score:

• Duolingo English Test (DET) minimum score of 115 with no sub-score under 90.
• TOEFL minimum overall score of 90 (internet-based) with no component score below 20.
• IELTS academic test, minimum overall score of 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
• Cambridge English, minimum overall score of 176 on one of the following:
  • B2 First
  • C1 Advanced
  • C2 Proficient
• Document Required: Official English assessment test score report sent to Bishop’s University directly from the testing organization.

French Proficiency

I. Passed the fourth of fifth year secondary level examinations in French as the first language in Québec.

• Document required: Québec permanent code.

II. Completed a DEC at a French CEGEP in Québec.

• Document required: Québec permanent code.

III. Completed at least three years of instruction at an accredited secondary institution, recognized by Bishop’s University, where French is the primary language of instruction.

• Document required: High school transcript from the institution where French is the primary language of instruction.

IV. Completed/completing at least 30 credit hours (or equivalent to one full year of study) at a post‐secondary institution, recognized by Bishop’s University, where French is the primary language of instruction.

• Document required: Transcript of studies from the post-secondary institution where French is the primary language of instruction.

V. Completed/completing the Bishop’s University Micro-Certificate in French for Professional Integration (15 credits – CONFPI).

• Document required: Transcript of studies from Bishop’s University.

VI. Completed a recognized French assessment with appropriate minimum score:

• TEFAQ/TEF Canada with a minimum score of B1+ to B2 in all four competencies.
  • Bishop’s University will be organizing a TEFAQ testing day on January 13th, 2024. Please contact jcouturi@UBishops.ca for more information.
• TFI™ Test from Educational Testing Service with a minimum score of 700 on 990.
• Bright Writing Solution test with a minimum score of 3.5.
  • The Writing Solution test can be done entirely online. To pass the test you must register online.

⁽³⁾ The application file includes:

• The Admissions form (choose the Post-Graduate application form).
• An official copy of all university-level transcripts.
• Click to download “The Ordre des Psychologues du Québec common core requirements” form.
• Click to download “The Clinical Psychology Candidate Profile” form.
  • The purpose of this form is to demonstrate the candidate’s aptitude to pursue postgraduate studies in psychology. In this form, the student describes a) the steps taken with a potential director (professor of psychology) to direct their doctoral essay (b) their post-secondary education; c) training courses taken in connection with psychology; (d) scholarships, prizes and distinctions obtained; e) scientific publications or presentations; f) the elements that may have influenced their academic progress; g) what motivates them to pursue doctoral studies in psychology; h) their professional development interests; i) the themes and research questions they wish to explore during the doctorate; k) work and volunteer experience within the helping relationship, teaching, research, and other related fields.

The application deadline for the fall 2024 semester is February 1, 2024. This includes submission of all required supporting documents.

This program’s admissions and registration procedures are in accordance with the admissions conditions and regulations specific to the UQAC Doctor of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Profile.

Selection Criteria and Process

The following criteria are used to assess and rank applications for admission:

• Academic grades from the bachelor’s degree as well as from other university studies (eg, certificate, master’s, doctorate)
• Helping relationship experience
• Interpersonal and communication skills and competencies
• Research experience
• Teaching experience
• Scientific skills and competencies
• Scholarships, distinctions and prizes

Selection Process

Candidate evaluation is based on their application file which includes: the admissions form, official transcripts, the Ordre des psychologues du Québec common core requirement form, and the Clinical Psychology Candidate Profile.

Three independent committees carry out the selection process.

*Only selected candidates will be invited to the interview on the basis of their combined score from committees 1 and 2.

**Candidates who do not score at least 10 out of 25 on the interview will be denied admission to the program.

All complete and eligible application files are simultaneously evaluated by Committees 1 and 2.

Committee 1 ranks candidates based on their academic grades.

Committee 2 ranks candidates based on the information provided in the Clinical Psychology Candidate Profile.

Candidates are then ranked based on the combined evaluations from Committees 1 and 2. Only short-listed candidates are invited to the interview which is conducted by Committee 3. Committee 3 receives the list of top-ranked candidates, in alphabetical order. Not all candidates are necessarily invited to the interview.

Committee 3 conducts the interview and evaluates the candidate’s interpersonal and communication skills, including proficiency in both English and French.* Importantly, Committee 3 does not have access to the candidates academic transcripts, nor their Clinical Psychology Candidate Profile.

*Candidates who do not demonstrate proficiency in both English and French will be denied admission to the program.

Following the interviews, candidates are ranked based on the results from the three committees with a maximum total of 100%. Candidates are offered admission according to their rank on the final list. The top sixteen (16) candidates are selected to form the following years’ cohort. NOTE: Selection criteria and processes are reassessed annually by the UQAC and Bishop’s admissions committees. Any change will be published on the website as soon as it is adopted by the institutional authorities.

This program anticipates a competitive admission for its first cohort. The number of students that will be admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year is sixteen (16).

Special Considerations

Doctoral Essay Supervisor

When applicants receive an offer of admission to the program, they will also receive a form asking them to identify the full-time professor who will supervise their research project. Applicants have twenty (20) working days to complete the form and send it to admissions@ubishops.ca to keep their place in the program.

Criminal Record

Each student must submit a Declaration Concerning a Judicial Record ahead of EACH practicum or internship. Depending on the nature of the reported offenses, the student could be denied access to the practicum or internship and community placement environments.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Candidates who wish to obtain recognition of prior learning for one or more courses of the doctorate in psychology on the basis of their previous training or professional experience must submit a request to the Registrar’s Office following confirmation of their admission, in accordance with UQAC’s Procedure for the recognition of prior learning and skills (available in French only).

Recognition of prior learning will be assessed by the program director in accordance with the course and program objectives. They may be refused if the training or experience does not meet these requirements.

Special features of the program:

• Internships are excluded from the recognition of prior learning;
• A request for recognition for an activity/experience that took place more than five (5) years ago cannot be authorized.

The program director can ask the student to pass an oral and/or written equivalence test chosen and administered by a professor who teaches in the discipline.

Internship Access

The program director and the essay supervisor authorize, or not, the student to carry out their internship. Authorization is based on each of the following requirements having been met: successful completion of courses and practicums; acceptance and satisfactory progress of the proposed doctoral essay project.