How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Toronto: Choosing a Campus, and Requirements for Canadian and Chinese High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Toronto offers psychology on all three campuses: St. George (downtown), Mississauga (UTM) and Scarborough (UTSC), leading to an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) with Specialist, Major and Minor options. Getting into U of T psychology involves two steps: first being admitted to a campus, then applying to the psychology program after first year based on your university grades (limited enrolment). Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on U of T’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (including Ontario and BC students and international students in Canada), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. Choosing and applying to a campus

• St. George: Psychology is in the Faculty of Arts & Science, OUAC code TLG, with Major, Minor and Specialist options, plus a Psychology Research Specialist. Work-integrated learning is available.
• Mississauga (UTM): Psychology HBSc, OUAC code TMP.
• Scarborough (UTSC): Psychology and Mental Health Studies HBSc, OUAC code TPS, with co-op options, plus a Health Sciences Stream (OUAC code TXF).
• You can apply to all three: All applications go through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). You can apply to up to three program areas in one cycle, but only one per faculty or campus, so you could apply to psychology at St. George (Arts & Science), UTM and UTSC at the same time.
• You apply to an admission category: For most programs you are admitted to a category and choose your specialist, major or minor after first year.
• Grades only: Psychology on all three campuses has no supplemental application. Decisions focus on your most recent two years of study, especially prerequisite marks. U of T notes it cannot admit everyone who meets the minimum requirements and selects on competitive strength.

2. Academic requirements: Canadian high schools

Every program requires Grade 12 English (ENG4U/EAE4U in Ontario or equivalent), and it counts in your admission average. Psychology prerequisites differ by campus:

• Ontario: OSSD with six 4U/M courses including English; the co-op component of Grade 12 courses is not used.
  • St. George: English ENG4U, Biology SBI4U, Calculus & Vectors MCV4U; Chemistry SCH4U and Physics SPH4U recommended.
  • UTM: English ENG4U, Advanced Functions MHF4U, Biology SBI4U.
  • UTSC: English ENG4U; Biology SBI4U and one math (MCV4U, MHF4U or MDM4U) recommended.
• British Columbia: High school diploma with six Grade 12 academic courses including English; AP and IB courses are acceptable; co-op, challenge exams, career education and work experience courses are not used. Equivalents:
  • English (ENG4U): English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12
  • Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U): Calculus 12 or AP Calculus (AB/BC)
  • Advanced Functions (MHF4U): Pre-Calculus 12
  • Biology (SBI4U): Anatomy & Physiology 12
  • Chemistry (SCH4U): Chemistry 12; Physics (SPH4U): Physics 12
• A note for BC students: For St. George psychology, Pre-Calculus 12 is not enough. You also need Calculus 12 (or AP Calculus) and Anatomy & Physiology 12. All St. George psychology programs require Grade 12 calculus and biology and will not waive them when you apply to the program; if you are missing them, you will need to take them at college or university level.
• Conditional offers: U of T makes conditional offers based on available Grade 11 and 12 marks, as long as you are enrolled in all required Grade 12 courses; if a Grade 12 prerequisite mark is not available, the Grade 11 mark is used. All courses and graduation requirements must be completed by the end of June.
• Sending grades: Ontario high schools send grades automatically through OUAC. Students in BC and other provinces upload transcripts and complete the self-reported grades form on the Join U of T applicant portal. Students finishing in Ontario who completed Grade 11 elsewhere should apply by November 7 and submit Grade 11 results by December 1.
• Fees: International students at Canadian high schools pay international fees but are assessed on their school’s curriculum.

3. Academic requirements: high schools in China

• Minimum: Senior High School Graduation Diploma issued by the Ministry of Education, the Huikao (academic proficiency test), and the Gaokao.
• Tests: SAT or ACT scores may be submitted; AP results are encouraged.
• Dual-diploma programs: Students in Sino-US, Sino-UK, Sino-Canadian and similar programs follow the requirements for their accredited diploma.
• Prerequisites: You also need equivalents of the psychology prerequisites for your campus (English, biology, math); St. George psychology programs require Grade 12 calculus and biology.
• Final results: Most offers are conditional on interim marks, and you submit final results as instructed on the applicant portal.

4. English requirements

If English is not your first language, you need to show English proficiency unless you qualify for an exemption (request it on the Join U of T portal after applying):

• Four or more years of full-time study (completed or in progress) at a recognized Canadian school in Canada; or
• Four or more years of full-time study at an English-language school in a country where English is the dominant language.

Otherwise, one of the following, achieved on a single date:

• IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online): 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0; IELTS Indicator and One Skill Retake are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: From January 21, 2026, 4.5 overall with 4.5 in Writing and 4.0 in Speaking; for earlier tests, 89 overall with 22 in Speaking and Writing. MyBest scores are not used. Institution code 0982-00.
• Duolingo English Test: 120 overall and 120 in Production; send results after you receive your U of T applicant number.
• PTE Academic: 65 overall, no part below 60.
• CAEL: 70 overall, no part below 60.

Every applicant, exempt or not, must present a Grade 12 English course (ENG4U or equivalent), which counts in the admission average.

5. Transferring from a Canadian university or college

• From a university: U of T looks at your overall record, with emphasis on your most recent (or highest) level of study and prerequisite results; prerequisites can be met in high school or university. Strong students may get a provisional offer. Transfer credit is assessed after admission, and students who have completed more than two years may not be allowed to transfer into the same field.
• From a college (an Ontario college or an equivalent college elsewhere, such as in BC): The overall record is considered and your program should include enough academic content. Prerequisites must be met at high school level, though two full college-level semesters of an academic subject may satisfy one.
• Not open to transfers: A few programs, including UTSC’s Health Sciences Stream programs, do not accept transfer applicants.
• Psychology programs: After transferring you still need to meet the program requirements in section 7, such as PSY100 and Grade 12 calculus and biology at St. George.

6. Timeline for September 2027 entry

• October 16, 2026: Deadline to apply to U of T for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (tuition, books, incidental fees and residence for four years, about 37 scholars a year), with school nominations due October 9, so both have passed for 2027 entry. It is for international students who need a study permit, and each high school can nominate one student a year; students starting in 2028 should talk to their counsellor between July and October 2027.
• November 7, 2026: Recommended application date. Apply by then and submit available documents by December 1 for early consideration.
• January 15, 2027: Application deadline for Arts & Science (St. George), UTM and UTSC.
• February 1, 2027: Document deadline (transcripts, English test scores and more); later documents are considered as space allows.
• Late January to late May 2027: Admission decisions; if you are not admitted to your first choice, you may be considered for another program or campus. Accept your offer through OUAC.
• End of June 2027: Complete all high school courses and graduation requirements.
• Scholarships: Most admission scholarships are considered automatically, with no separate application.

7. After you arrive: getting into a psychology program

Psychology is limited enrolment on all three campuses. You take introductory psychology in first year, and meeting the minimum only makes you eligible; actual cut-offs are often higher.

• St. George (applying with 4.0–8.5 credits):
  • Major: at least 75% in PSY100H1, plus passing Grade 12 calculus and biology; past cut-offs were about 77–79%.
  • Specialist: at least 80% in PSY100H1; past cut-offs were about 83–84%.
  • AP or IB Psychology cannot replace PSY100. Students who miss out can apply again with 9.0+ credits using a statistics course and two 200-level PSY courses (from 73% for the major, 75% for the specialist).
• Mississauga (end of first year, at least 4.0 credits): Major requires at least 64% in PSY100Y5, a CGPA of at least 2.0, and Grade 12 Biology and Advanced Functions or equivalents.
• Scarborough (at least 4.0 credits including 1.0 in psychology): Major requires at least 67% in both PSYA01H3 and PSYA02H3 (or 60% in both plus 72% in two B-level psychology courses); Specialist requires 75% in both. Grade 12 math and biology are also required.

Choosing: On the posted minimums, UTM and UTSC are easier to get into psychology than St. George, and UTSC’s Mental Health Studies Specialist connects to a combined HBSc and Master of Social Work. Since you can apply to all three, compare once you have offers.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools:

• OUAC application (up to three program areas, so all three campuses)
• Grade 12 English, plus biology and math for your campus (calculus for St. George: Calculus 12 or AP Calculus in BC, with Anatomy & Physiology 12 for biology)
• Ontario grades are sent automatically; students elsewhere upload transcripts and complete the self-reported grades form on Join U of T
• An English test score, or an exemption request, if you have studied in Canada for fewer than four years

Students at high schools in China:

• High school transcript, Huikao and Gaokao results (SAT/ACT/AP optional)
• IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo or PTE scores
• Grade 12 English and equivalents of the psychology prerequisites

Transfer students:

• Transcripts from every institution attended, including current courses and first-term results
• Confirmation that prerequisites have been met in high school or university

Sources: University of Toronto, Psychology; Canadian high schools; International high school requirements by country; English language requirements; Dates and deadlines; How to apply; Supplemental applications; Required documents; Canadian university or college; Pearson International Scholarships; Arts & Science Calendar: Psychology; UTM Calendar: Psychology Major; UTSC Calendar: Psychology. Information is for September 2027 entry; past program cut-offs are for reference only. Check U of T for the latest details.