General Admission Requirements

Interested applicants for the 4 year direct-entry Applied Forensic Psychology program must:

• Meet the admission requirements set out by St. Francis Xavier University. See StFX Admission Requirements for more information.

• Complete the Applied Forensic Psychology Supplemental Form in addition to your application to StFX.

Admissions info can be found on the StFX Admission Requirements page.  

Applied Forensic Psychology Supplemental Form

Interested applicants in the AFP program must fully complete and submit their AFP Supplemental Form along with your StFX application in order to be considered for admission to Applied Forensic Psychology program. If the AFP Supplemental Form is not completed, your application will automatically defer to Bachelor with Major, pending eligibility requirements for admission. 

• Statement of Interest (250 words max.): your statement of interest should outline your specific areas of interest in the science and practice of psychology; shorter and longer term academic and/or career goals; how your education to date and other experiences (volunteer and paid work) have informed these goals; what you hope to achieve in the program; what particular skills you think you bring to the program. With the latter, avoid stating what your particular skills are but instead provide evidence. For example, rather than say you are a good writer, demonstrate it by composing a well written statement. Your statement of interest is your opportunity to build a case for why you are a good candidate for this program.

• Relevant work or volunteer experience: Paid work and/or formal or informal volunteer experiences are considered relevant for consideration to the Applied Forensic Psychology program. This relevant experience can be paid or volunteer work in any capacity or forum and can include participating in sports, music, humanitarian, or cultural pursuits.

The AFP supplemental form can be accessed here.

Admission Requirements for Transfer Students

Applied Forensic Psychology is a direct-entry program, meaning that students apply to the program when they apply to the university. Students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science at StFX and who would like to take Applied Forensic Psychology are eligible to apply to transfer into the program. 

If you're a student interested in transferring to the AFP program, click here for more information.  Note that transferring into the AFP program requires approval from the Dean of Arts. 

Applicants who have studied at an accredited college or university must submit an official transcript for evaluation. If course work has been completed at more than one institution, official transcripts for all academic work from each institution must be submitted. Admission will be assessed based on most recent relevant secondary or post-secondary courses completed that fulfill admission requirements for the program selected.

Special Considerations for Transfer Students Interested in AFP

The Applied Forensic Psychology program accredits its high student satisfaction to its utilization of cohort-based learning. Cohort learning is an educational approach that relies on grouping students by their year of study and moving through their studies together as a unified cohort.

A cohort-based university program fosters a collaborative learning environment by grouping students into cohorts that progress through their academic journey together. This model promotes strong peer relationships, encourages teamwork, and enhances academic support among peers. Students within an AFP cohort typically take the same Professional Skills course (e.g. PSYC 257) and follow a synchronized curriculum (taking PSYC357, PSYC457, PSYC 381, PSYC 382 with the same group of students), allowing for deeper engagement with course materials through shared experiences and discussions. Cohort learning emphasizes many skills relevant to students passionate about professionally with vulnerable populations effectively: community building, collective problem-solving, and networking opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, enhancing both academic and social development among participants.

There are two options to consider for transfer students:

1. It is highly recommended that students transferring from another University, despite the number of transferrable credits, that you spend at minimum three years in the Applied Forensic Psychology program, beginning as a second year student. Applications for Transfer are reviewed individually. AFP’s Academic Advisor will work with you to create an educational plan that fits both the needs of the student and meets the requirements of the program.

2. Interested applicants with lived experience working with vulnerable populations and minimum required transferrable credits may be eligible to complete the 2-year special concentration in Applied Forensic Psychology. Special permission is required by the AFP Program Manager.