When to Join

Undergraduate students often wait until their final year to approach potential research supervisors, but we suggest seeking a lab placement much earlier. You can apply for work study or ROP (PSY299) openings as early as the spring of your first year. And many psychology labs have year-round volunteer openings for students at any stage of their academic career. Getting involved in lab work early gives you more time to explore your interests, perhaps by trying out multiple labs before you graduate, or becoming more deeply involved in a particular lab that suits your interests and needs best. Students who start out in our lab in their first or second year often receive priority when we consider applications for IRP (PSY403/404) and honours thesis (PSY400) placements. See the table below for more details.

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If you are a prospective PhD student interested in joining the CLASS Lab, we encourage you to contact Dr. Johnson directly in the fall before you apply to make sure Dr. Johnson is considering applications in the next application cycle (applications are due each year in early December). Be sure to mention Dr. Johnson’s name when you apply if you want to ensure she sees your application. The U of T Psychology Department no longer accepts students to the MA program, but excellent applicants with a BA/BSc or MA/MSc in psychology or a related field can be accepted directly into our PhD program.