Preparing for Psychology Graduate Applications
Start with the program that fits your goals
Research doctorates, clinical doctorates and programs combining research and intervention have different aims and selection criteria. Degree names also vary across universities. A psychology PhD does not necessarily qualify you to practise as a psychologist: check the training pathway and program requirements. Université Laval, for example, distinguishes its research doctorate from professional pathways.
Make a comparison table of programs: prerequisites, grades, expected experience, supervisor requirements, documents, deadlines, funding and location constraints. Consult official information for each admission cycle. The advice below can strengthen an application; it cannot guarantee admission.
Priorities to develop
| Dimension | Practical advice |
|---|---|
| Academic results | Aim for the best grades possible, ideally A+, in every course while protecting your well-being. Reserve study time before adding commitments. |
| Research experience | Seek real tasks, feedback and a contribution you can explain. Meaningful learning and follow-through matter more than simply listing laboratories. |
| Helping experience and relevant service | For clinical programs, develop appropriate experience through employment, volunteering, placements or community work. Respect training and role boundaries; volunteering does not authorize practising as a psychologist. |
| Scholarships and prizes | Find eligible, relevant opportunities, prepare early and ask for focused feedback. Awards can recognize your achievements and support your studies financially. |
| Skills and outputs | Develop examples of critical reading, analysis, writing or programming that you understand and can defend. |
| References and fit | Work reliably with people who can describe your contribution, then identify supervisors whose interests and availability match your project. |
For example, UQAR’s official PsyD selection considers academic results, helping and research experience, the proposed project, motivation, interviews and other relevant dossier elements, including scholarships and prizes. An essay supervisor must be found before admission. These criteria should not automatically be applied to every PhD or PsyD.
If you cannot find a research placement
Explore remote roles at other universities, paid or credited opportunities and projects using existing data. Our page on accessing research experience describes these routes and what to clarify.
Develop skills through course assignments and reproducible practice projects too. Describe their status honestly: a workshop or personal project is not automatically a research-assistant role. Community experience can support other aspects of an application without replacing the scientific experience a program expects.
Publishing: a possibility, not a shortcut
A publication can strengthen an application, but research projects and editorial assessment often take longer than an application timeline. Avoid choosing a journal or project simply to add a quick CV entry. A substantial contribution may also be demonstrated through a thesis, poster, analysis sample or manuscript in preparation, depending on what the program accepts.
An especially strong course assignment can sometimes be developed into a book review, commentary, focused synthesis or article if a journal accepts the format and the text makes a genuine contribution. This requires rewriting, checking sources and choosing an appropriate outlet.
During my master’s, I developed a course assignment into a book review published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2019. There was no publication fee for me at the time. This illustrates a possible pathway, not a guarantee that the journal still offers the same format or conditions. Check its current article types and fees before preparing a submission.
A book review is not an empirical study; its value in selection depends on the program and your contribution. Clearly distinguish published, accepted, submitted and in-preparation work on your CV. A preprint is not automatically a peer-reviewed article.
Build the application without doing everything at once
- Choose a few suitable programs: record their current criteria and the gaps in your application.
- Protect academic results: plan a sustainable workload and ask for support early when needed.
- Choose one or two useful experiences: prioritize continuity, learning and a realistic role rather than accumulating commitments.
- Look for funding: consult the UQAR scholarship directory, check eligibility and plan for deadlines.
- Prepare evidence and references: keep records of your contributions and request letters early with the program’s instructions.
- Write a targeted inquiry: demonstrate fit with a supervisor and project through examples rather than promises of perfect autonomy.
Considering supervision with Rémi? Read what to know before applying with me for the PsyD. If you are already starting an agreed role, our research-assistant onboarding guide explains how we work. The SAGE Community can support conversation and peer feedback without guaranteeing a placement or admission.
Access to experience and awards is unequal. Applications develop over time, and their outcome does not define your worth. Look for a setting where your goals, resources and available supervision fit.
Official sources consulted September 30, 2026. Requirements, journal formats and opportunities can change; verify them before applying or submitting.