Antonia Soldovieri
Doctor of Philosophy in School and Applied Child Psychology (PhD)
Educators' perceptions and experiences of teacher training and inclusive teaching
Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more
The doctoral program in school and applied child psychology is designed to prepare psychologists who can serve as practitioners and supervisors in the field, trainers of school psychologists, researchers, and leaders in school psychology. The typical doctoral program is 39 credits, beyond completion of the UBC School Psychology MA or equivalent program. The PhD Program of Graduate Study (PGS) for each student is developed to reflect program requirements and individual student career goals, as well as professional and academic background and preparation.
Top Five Reasons to join the School and Applied Child Psychology program at UBC:
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
Overall score requirement: 100
Reading
22
Writing
22
Speaking
25
Listening
25
Overall score requirement: 6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Listening
6.0
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is not required.
Program Prerequisites In addition to the minimum admission requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a M.A. in School and Applied Child Psychology equivalent to the requirements of the UBC M.A. program (see coursework listed below), and graduate or senior undergraduate preparation in Human Development (3 credits), History and Systems of Psychology (3 credits), and Biological Bases of Behaviour (6 credits), Basic Interviewing Skills (3 credits). Prerequisites not met prior to entry may be included in the doctoral program of study.
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Required Coursework and Experiences EPSE 551 (3) Consultation Advanced Professional Practice Electives (minimum 6 credits) Research Electives (minimum 6 credits—at least 1 quantitative and 1 qualitative across MA and PhD programs) CNPS 587 (1) History and Systems of Psychology EPSE 633 (3) Community Based Systems EPSE 661 (12) Doctoral Practicum in School and Applied Child Psychology1 (6 credits each year 1 and 2) EPSE 688 (1) Supervision of School and Applied Child Psychology Practice EPSE 689 (3) Pre-doctoral Internship in School and Applied Child Psychology Multicultural and Diversity Elective (can be combined with coursework in another area) Comprehensive Examination EPSE 699 (0) Dissertation Total: 35 credits
The Psychoeducational Research and Training Centre (PRTC) is a university-based setting for research and clinical training within the Faculty of Education. The PRTC supports graduate training in educational assessment and counselling, maintains an up-to-date Test Library of assessment instruments, provides service and leadership in the profession and community, and facilitates research in education.
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $118.50 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $1,912.84 | $3,360.55 |
| Tuition per year (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%) | $5,738.52 | $10,081.65 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (for eligible individuals) | $3,200.00 (-) | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees (yearly) | $1,169.35 (approx.) | |
| Costs of living | Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies. | |
Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.
All full-time students in UBC-Vancouver PhD programs will be provided with a funding package of at least $40,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD from September 2026. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships. Please check with your prospective graduate program for specific details of the funding provided to its PhD students.
This results in a net balance (any funding provided to the student minus tuition and fees) mean of $28,165 and median of $23,215.
All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.
Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.
Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union.
Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
UBC has working agreements with MPower Financing - an organization providing international students with no-cosigner, no-collateral education loans to study in Canada - and Windmill Microlending - an organization providing loans to skilled immigrants.
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
School Psychology is a great career. There are many openings in BC and throughout North America, and starting salaries are excellent. With a Master's degree in School and Applied Child Psychology, the most common job is as a School Psychologist working in a school district and job prospects are excellent. In addition to working in schools, individuals with a degree in School and Applied Child School Psychology with PhD work in a variety of settings, including univerisities as researches and/or teaching, mental health agencies, child development centres, children’s hospitals, and private practices. With a M.Ed. degree in School and Applied Child Psychology from UBC, you would be eligible to apply for certification with the BC Association of School Psychologists. With a PhD, you would be eligible for registration as a psychologist with the College of Psychologists of BC and most other provinces and states in North America.
These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in School and Applied Child Psychology (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
This program went through a name change in previous years that may have included curriculum changes. It was previously known as: Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology until 2021. Historical data on this page may include data collected under the previous name(s) of the program.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 1 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 11 |
| Offers | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| New Registrations | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Total Enrolment | 16 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 19 |
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.
This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Dr. Dmyterko developed a theory of neurodiversity-affirming practice based on the perspectives of 30 autistic adults. Her research emphasizes the importance of integrating the neurodiversity paradigm and social model of disability into clinicians’ approach, environment, and actions to better support neurodivergent individuals and their families. |
| 2025 | Dr. Ee studied parents with ADHD and their experiences of raising children with the same condition. Her research provides a unique perspective on the complex family dynamics when parent and child share similar ADHD traits, highlighting how parental ADHD can be leveraged as a strength to help overcome challenges and support children's development. |
| 2024 | Dr. Saqui developed and evaluated a classroom-based anxiety intervention for children with intellectual and developmental disorders in inclusive settings. The findings support teaching specific coping skills, guide future interventions, and enhance knowledge of accessible and inclusive mental health interventions for children. |
| 2024 | Dr. Sagar studied intergenerational bipolar disorder. She heard stories of how having the same diagnosis as a parent shapes one's own experiences. This research helps inform meaningful, mindful, and empathic practices to support families as they navigate their journeys with intergenerational BD. |
| 2024 | Dr. Rahimi used discursive methodologies to study prevalent ideologies and emotion talk in psychologists' and immigrant parents' discussions of their experiences. The results of the study contribute to our understanding of the impact of ideologies on the psychological construction of emotion talk of psychologists and immigrant parents in feedback sessions. |
| 2024 | Dr. Cheng provided convincing evidence that factors such as interest and difficulty impact an individual's reading experience and persistence. Her research paves the way for new ways to build healthy reading habits for children. |
| 2024 | Dr. Bailey examined PATH implementation for individuals with disabilities in a BC secondary school. Findings included, PATH features, accountability, barriers, and positive impacts, with recommendations for improvement and theory-practice integration in future studies. |
| 2023 | Dr. King studied the experiences of youth returning to high school and re-engaging in their education after sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury/concussion. This research helps us understand the barriers these students face, what is helpful to them in this time, and what can be improved to better support their transition back to school. |
| 2023 | The Squamish Nation afforded Dr. Nelson a collaborative community project exploring how youth identify and access support for mental health and wellness. Concrete examples of what youth do to support themselves through engagement in Indigenous practices and the use of Western strategies help us learn how to provide more responsive support to youth. |
| 2023 | Dr. Starosta's research examined high school teachers responses to exclusionary behavior. Not only did teachers in her study recognize that both identity- and non-identity-based bullying were serious and required intervention, but they also appreciated the need to respond in ways that were supportive and addressed the specific type of bullying. |
School and Applied Child Psychology prepares students to become psychologists who work in a variety of settings, including: research, academic, school, community, and private settings. The primary goal of the program is to develop professional psychologists whose research, training, and practice activities increase the educational and psychological well-being of children and youth. The program follows a scientist-practitioner model, with emphasis on the integration of theory, research, and clinical skills. Training encompasses academic, social, emotional, behavioural, consultation, intervention, and prevention domains. Students receive training in the integration of assessment and intervention, and in relevant professional, legal, and ethical issues.
Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form.