Queen's psychology admission requirements: apply to Arts or Science, take PSYC 100, then choose psychology in Plan Selection

The Psychology Department says students are admitted into the Faculty of Arts and Science, in either the BAH or the BScH. After first year, you apply for a Psychology degree plan through a process called Plan Selection.

The department's page tells you to apply to Queen's Arts (QA) or Science (QS). For Fall 2027, the admission requirements page no longer lists a single Science code. It lists science pathways instead. The Faculty's science gateways page puts Psychology under Biological and Cognitive Sciences (QSB). Treat QSB as the BSc route, and confirm with Queen's admission if you are unsure.

You don't need to be in Science to study psychology. An Arts student can take the Arts Psychology Major and graduate with a BAH.

For Arts (QA), Queen's asks for ENG4U. The other five required courses may be 4U or 4M. That is the lightest list at Queen's.

For Biological and Cognitive Sciences (QSB), Queen's asks for ENG4U, MCV4U and two of SBI4U, SCH4U or SPH4U. The other two courses may be 4U or 4M.

If you might want the Biology and Psychology Specialization later, take SBI4U. That plan asks for B- in BIOL 102 and 103 in first year. Plan your Grade 12 timetable with our high school course planner.

Queen's posts a competitive average for each program. It says these are minimum averages for September of last year, based on prerequisite courses. They can be higher this year.

Arts (QA) was low 80s. Science (QS) was low 80s. Queen's has not posted an average for the new QSB pathway. Queen's says preference goes to applicants with the strongest overall qualifications.

Check where your marks sit with our Top 6 average calculator. Queen's does not publish an acceptance rate for psychology.

Plan Selection happens in May of first year. Every Arts and Science student who has finished 24.0 units must take part. Each plan has an automatic acceptance threshold and a pending list threshold.

Queen's posted 2026 thresholds and says 2027 thresholds may change and will be available in January 2027. In 2026, the Psychology Major in Arts or Science gave automatic acceptance at a cumulative GPA of 2.7 with an A in PSYC 100. The pending list started at 2.3 with a B- in PSYC 100. The Biology and Psychology Specialization had no automatic acceptance. The department decided each case, from a 2.3 GPA with B- in PSYC 100, BIOL 102 and 103.

PSYC 100 is a prerequisite for every other psychology course. The department says it must be taken at Queen's for admission to an Honours Psychology plan. The 2026 threshold sheet lists the Majors but not the 60-unit Psychology Specialization the department describes. Ask the department how students join the Specialization.

The department offers Specialization plans (BAH and BScH) with 60 units of psychology, including advanced statistics and research methods. The BScH Specialization needs 12 more units of science. There is a thesis pathway, pending prerequisites and a supervisor match.

The Majors (BAH and BScH) have 48 units of psychology. The Biology and Psychology Specialization has 42 units of psychology. There is also a 24-unit Minor.

The department's page disagrees with itself on the Major. One part says there is no option to do a thesis through the Major. Another says Major students finish with a thesis or three advanced seminars. Ask the department before you plan around a thesis.

Queen's lists a mandatory supplementary application only for Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing. Arts and the science pathways have no essay, interview or video. Queen's may still post items on your SOLUS To-Do List, so check it after you apply.

Applications opened October 1, 2026. Queen's strongly recommends applying on OUAC by November 20 if you want the Major Admission Award. The award application is due December 8, 2026.

Applications for Arts and the science programs are due March 1, 2027. All documents are due March 31, 2027. Queen's receives Ontario high school grades from OUAC by April 30, 2027. Compare this with your other schools on our Ontario deadlines page.

The psychology pages show no co-op program. The work option is the Queen's Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP). It's a paid, full-time internship of 12 to 16 months.

QUIP is open to Arts and Science students in a BAH or BScH. Students in general programs without Honours can't register. Research is the other big option. The department says all students can get involved in research, and directed research courses include PSYC299, PSYC570 and PSYC575.

Queen's charges Arts and Science tuition per unit. For 2026-27, Ontario students pay $206.82 per unit. A normal load of 30 units is $6,204.60 in tuition. Add $100.00 SAL and $1,466.51 in ancillary fees for a listed total of $7,771.11.

Out-of-province Canadian students pay $258.76 per unit, or $9,329.31 in total. Fall 2027 rates are not posted yet. Residence, meals and books are extra.

Queen's considers you for automatic admission awards when you apply. Grade-based awards need at least 90%. Principal's Scholarships go to students in the top 3% of the competitive admission average for each program and are worth $7,000 for one year.

The Major Admission Award needs its own application by December 8, 2026. For more options, see our entrance scholarships list.

Admission to Queen's is not admission to psychology. Your child earns a psychology plan in May of first year, mostly through their GPA and PSYC 100 grade. In 2026 an A in PSYC 100 was needed for automatic entry to the Major.

Arts is the easier door to open, with ENG4U as the only named course. The BSc route asks for calculus and two sciences.