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Master of Arts, Master of Education

MA, MEd in Counselling Psychology

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

SFU Requirements

For admission to this program, you must meet SFU's master's admissions requirements as follows:

  • a bachelor’s degree from SFU or its equivalent from a recognized institution
  • a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B), or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 units of undergraduate courses. Any graduate work is also considered. Individual graduate programs may set a higher admission grade point average.
  • submitted evidence, usually references from qualified referees, of the applicant’s ability to undertake advanced studies in the area of interest.
  • proof of English Language proficiency*

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted with lower formal qualifications when there is significant experience relevant to the proposed area of scholarship.

*Students whose primary language is not English may be required to satisfy the University and the graduate program committee as to their capability in English (i.e. TOEFL / IELTS scores). Academic equivalency by country.

Note: The Counselling Psychology programs do not offer conditional or qualifying admission.

Program Requirements

Experience Prerequisite

Applicants require a minimum of approximately two years (or 400 hours) of volunteer or paid experience working in a helping related position. Any human service work would be acceptable. Typically, it is met through crisis line work or applied behavioural education support, as those are the most accessible opportunities for our applicants. Other occupations that apply include, but are not limited to, teaching activities, working one-on-one advising or guiding others, or working in health care, etc.

Academic Prerequisites

We consider applicants from diverse academic backgrounds.

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to applying to the program. Applications must include transcripts that show final grades in all prerequisite courses.

You will need the following specific prerequisite courses:

Assessing and choosing your undergraduate courses

Note: Due to the high volume of applications and inquiries received for this program, we do not provide pre-admissions evaluation for the undergraduate course pre-requisites.

Counselling Skills Requirement:

SFU EDUC 423 (Helping Relationships) or equivalent course. To be equivalent, the course must cover basic counselling skills and must include an experiential component in which students practice counselling skills, evaluate and reflect on their use of counselling skills, and receive feedback from an instructor on their use of counselling skills (usually through the recording and transcribing of mock counselling sessions with classmates).

Counselling Theories Requirement:

SFU EDUC 323 (Theories of Counselling) or equivalent course. Any course that is entirely devoted to a survey of theories of counselling and psychotherapy is a suitable equivalent.

Developmental Psychology Requirement:

Any course that provides an overview of developmental psychology or that is devoted to particular topics in developmental psychology (e.g., cognitive development, social development, developmental psychopathology) or to looking at a particular stage from the perspective of developmental psychology (e.g., infant development, childhood development, adolescent development, adulthood and aging). SFU EDUC 322 (Social Lives of School Children) and SFU EDUC 464 (Early Childhood Education) are suitable for this requirement.

Research Methods Requirement:

Any course that covers research methods (quantitative or qualitative) or design in the social sciences (including courses in statistics or data analysis).

Cognitive Psychology/Educational Psychology Requirement:

Suitable courses include those in learning disabilities, educational psychology, the psychology of memory, cognitive psychology, or learning theory.

Other Relevant Course Requirement:

At a minimum, all applicants must have courses in counselling skills, counselling theories, research methods, developmental psychology, and cognitive or educational psychology plus one additional relevant course. The additional course may be drawn from any one of the following areas: social psychology, multicultural counselling or education, personality theory, psychopathology or abnormal psychology.  A course in cultural anthropology, sociology, or women’s studies that is relevant to counselling psychology will also satisfy this requirement.

If you wish to include additional information about your courses in your application, such as the course syllabus as well as any other descriptive material you have for the course that shows how it would meet our requirement, please upload this as an Optional Document at the time of application.

Programs that meet these prerequisities

Coming soon

On This Page ↓

Admission to the Counselling Psychology program is very competitive. We receive approximately 250-300 applications each year, competing for a maximum of 12 spaces. Read the information on admission requirements carefully before applying. 

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

We recommend you apply early to ensure all aspects of the application are completed by the deadline.

Your application will require you to:

  • complete the online application
  • pay the application fee
  • submit your reference contact details
  • upload your supporting documents

Note: Reference responses and supporting documents are due on the application deadline. Therefore, we recommend that you complete your online application and pay the application fee early enough to allow your referees time to submit their reference.

References for Counselling Psychology

AFTER submitting your online application and paying the application fee, you will be required to provide the contact details for 3 people willing to provide a reference and who are most familiar with your research and/or academic potential.

Your referees will be asked specific questions on the reference form link, and they may include an option reference letter.

Tip: Download and share with your referees the questions that will be asked: Blank Reference Report form.

Selecting Your Referees

Your selected referees should include a combination of academic and professional references.

At least TWO out of the THREE required reference letters should be written by referees who are able to:

  • comment on your academic abilities in relation to undertaking advanced study in the program you are applying to
  • make an informed judgment about your likelihood of success in graduate study (e.g., professors)

Note: If a referee is providing references for you on more than one application, they must submit each reference separately.

Entering Referee Information

When entering your referees’ contact information in the online portal, you must provide their professional or institutional email address.

Referees will then receive an email asking them to complete their reference on the online application system. They will answer the questions noted on the Reference Report form and can provide an optional letter.

Optional Reference Letters

Should your referee provide the optional reference letter, that letter must be:

  • specific to your application
  • addressed to SFU
  • on the referee’s institutional or professional letterhead
  • submitted by the application deadline

Tip: We encourage you submit your application and pay the application fee early enough to allow your referees time to submit their reference.

Required Supporting Documents

TRANSCRIPTS

You are required to provide an unofficial PDF transcript for each post-secondary institution you have attended.

Transcripts must:

  • show final grades for any pre-requisite courses; in progress courses will not be considered
  • include all pages of your transcript 
  • include the grading scale (typically located on the back of the page or a separate sheet)
  • be in English and/or French, or be fully bilingual including one of these languages (all words and notations must be in English or French, in addition to any other language)
  • include an official translation (For transcripts not in English or French only)

Note: Official transcripts will only be required if you receive an offer of admission.

More info about transcripts

ACADEMIC WRITING SAMPLE

You are required to submit a recent (within the past 5 years) writing sample that demonstrates your ability to write an academic paper.

Your writing sample should:

  • introduce the topic
  • sustain an argument
  • develop a logical conclusion
  • express ideas in clear and appropriate language
  • use proper citations

Acceptable previously authored work should meet regular university standards and expectations and could be a dissertation or an essay that was written during an Undergraduate course, or an argumentative text with an introduction, development and conclusion.

If you do not have a recent paper, you should write one on any topic that is of interest or relevance to you. You could choose an article from a professional journal on a subject you are interested in, develop argumentation for or against it and make links to related personal and professional experience or other related readings. 

All academic writing samples must:

Note: Your academic writing sample may not be co-authored, including with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME 

You will need to provide your current curriculum vitae/resume; it may include a summary of publications.

Ensure that your curriculum vitae/resume is:

  • no more than 3 pages
  • saved as a single PDF

LETTER OF INTENT FOR COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY

You will need to prepare a typed letter of intent that outlines your reasons for pursuing graduate studies and for choosing counselling as a profession.

Organize your letter of intent using the following headings: 

  • Personal motivations for pursuing a degree in counselling. Include significant life experience (if any) that contributed to your choice to pursue a career in counselling.
  • Goals and Plans. Describe the competences you expect to have developed by the end of your program and your plans post-degree (e.g. in what kind of settings and with what populations do you plan to work immediately after completion of the program? Five years later?)
  • Any other topics you would like the admissions committee to consider when evaluating your application.

Ensure that your letter:

  • is one single-­spaced page using a 12-pt. font and 1-inch margins
  • has your last name and first initial inserted in the header of the document
  • is saved as a PDF

Download a Sample Letter of Intent.

Note: Your letter of intent may not be written with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Research Statement (MA applicants only)

Within your research statement write a paragraph or two on each of the following:

  • your research interests and specific topic areas you may wish to investigate in your thesis work
  • how your research interests match your proposed supervisors' research interests and expertise
  • what kind of research methodology you would like to use to conduct your research

Your research statement must:

  • be one single-spaced page (max) using a 12-pt. font and 1-inch margins
  • have your last name and first initial inserted in the header of the document
  • be saved as a PDF

Note: Your research statement may not be written with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST RESULTS (IF APPLICABLE)

If your primary language is not English, you must demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies.

For programs conducted entirely in French, you will be exempt from the English Language requirement but must demonstrate command of French sufficient to pursue graduate studies in that language.

International applicants are not required to complete an English-language test if they have completed a degree at an institution where the language of instruction and examination was in English in a country where English is the primary language.

Test scores:

  • must be valid at the time of submission
  • are valid for a period of two years from the date of the test; scores more than two years old cannot be verified and cannot be used
  • must be achieved in a single test

More information about English Language Requirements

Online Application Sections

The online application for graduate studies at SFU includes the following sections:

  • Privacy Notice
  • Biographical Information: Name; Date of Birth; Citizenship
  • Program of Application
  • Research Information (Doctoral application only): Your area of research; Potential Supervisor(s)
  • Academic History: All post-secondary institutions you have attended including current studies, even if a degree has not been awarded
  • Self-Reported Test Scores: Cambridge English Qualifications, CAEL, GMAT, GRE, IELTS, Pearson Test of English, TOEFL, Duolingo
  • Funding Information
  • Emergency Contact
  • Declaration and Signature

More information about the Online Application

HOW TO APPLY

STEP 1: Apply online

Complete the Online Application for Graduate Studies at SFU

Apply Here

The online application:

  • can take approximately 45 minutes to complete
  • will allow you to partially complete the process, save and return later
  • is only available during the program’s application period

Note: You do not have to wait until you have all your supporting documents are ready before applying. It is recommended that you begin your application early to complete the online sections and begin preparing and collecting the required documents.  

More detailed information about the Online Application for Graduate Studies at SFU

STEP 2: Pay the application fee

Once you complete and submit Step 1 of the online application, you need to pay the non-refundable application fee before the system will allow you to submit your references and upload your required documents.

Application Fees

  • $112 CAN (applicants with Canadian transcripts only)
  • $160 CAN (students with one or more international transcripts)

Payment must be made by credit card (Mastercard or Visa).

Once the payment is approved, you will receive an email confirming that your payment was successful and inviting you to proceed to submitting references and uploading documents.

Note: The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including if a program intake is cancelled due to insufficient applications.

STEP 3: Submit your references and upload supporting documents

You will only be able to submit references and upload the required documents to complete your application after your application fee has been processed.

Reminder: Reference letters and all supporting documents must be received by the application deadline.

REFERENCES

All references must be submitted through the online system by the referee directly. You must enter your referees' information in the application system for them to receive an invitation to submit their letter.

When entering your referees' information:

  • Choose "Education" as the type of reference
  • Use their professional or institutional email address

Note: If a referee does not receive the email invitation, ask them to check their junk/spam folder.

More information about references

Transcripts

Upload an unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution you have attended and listed in your online application form.

Reminder: All pages of the transcript must be included in the PDF and it must include the grading scale.

More info about transcripts

Academic Writing Sample

Upload your prepared academic writing sample as a PDF. 

Letter of Intent

Upload your letter of intent as a PDF. 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE Test Results (If Applicable)

Detailed information about how to submit your English Language test scores

APPLICATION REVIEW TIMELINE

From the close of the application period, reviewing submitted applications takes approximately 8-12 weeks.

After the intial review, we spend a few more weeks to develop a shortlist. Once the shortlist is finalized, we will let those who were not successful know, and then invite the shortlisted candidates to participate in an interview.

After admission decisions are made, applicants receive an email containing a link to their goGRAD portal, where they must log in to access the decision letter

TUITION & COSTS

Tuition (2026/27)

  • $2,192.57 (per term)

*Subject to estimated 2% fee increase each September.

SFU Ancillary Fees

Simon Fraser University assesses the Student Services fee, the graduate student activity fee, the U-Pass BC fee and the mandatory supplementary course fee to all eligible students in each term of enrollment.

More Information

Financial Resources

Note: Specific programs may be ineligible for Government student loans and grants. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the student and the program meets the eligibility requirements. Contact Financial Aid Services at fiassist@sfu.ca with any questions.

Information for International Applicants

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Counselling Psychology Specific

How long will it take to complete a Counselling Psychology Master's degree?

The shortest time in which the program may be completed is 8 terms. SFU operates 3 terms per calendar year, so the shortest time in which the program may be completed is 2 calendar years plus 2 terms. SFU graduate students are required to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their program.

Is it possible to continue working during the day while completing the program?

For most of the program, it is possible to continue working full-time or nearly full-time during the day. Courses in the program usually begin at 16:30 and meet once per week. Students usually take no more than 2 courses per term. In addition to time spent in class, students must expect to spend about twice as much time out of class reading and preparing assignments.

During the 2nd year of the program, students enroll in the Supervised Clinic courses (EDUC 799 in the fall and EDUC 800 in the spring) at the SFU Surrey Counselling Centre. These courses are also scheduled in the evening, however, due to the nature of the course activities, students must also spend some additional time outside class during the day at the Centre. 

During the 3rd year of the program, students usually complete the practicum courses (EDUC 801 and EDUC 802), which take place over two consecutive terms, from September through April. The practicum requires a minimum 2 full weekday commitment and also involves a weekly evening seminar on campus. Given the demands of the practicum, it is feasible to work half time at most during these terms.

Does this program require GRE for admission?

Admissions to these programs does NOT require the submission of a GRE result.

QUESTIONS?

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