Clinical Psychology Ph.D. - Admissions
Application Timeline:
September 15, 2025: Application Portal Open for Fall 2026 entrance
December 1, 2025, 10:00pm MST: Application deadline; entrance for 2026 Fall Semester only
December 20, 2024: Final date by which applicants will be invited to interview for Fall 2025 entrance
January 27, 2025: Interviews of Finalists conducted by admissions committee (remotely)
February 27-28, 2025: Optional Open House (by invitation): Select applicants are welcomed to BYU campus for tours and interactions with faculty and students. Admission decisions will not be contingent upon attendance.
January-April: Applicants will be notified of their status
How Applications are Evaluated:
The clinical psychology program's graduate admissions committee consists of four faculty members and one graduate student. Each member of the admissions committee reviews the completed applications using a holistic evaluation approach which integrates both quantitative and qualitative information. No application is flawless and strong performance in one area may compensate for less outstanding performance in another. However, research experience is highly valued and applicants are unlikely to be competitive for admission without at least one year of research involvement. We also value "goodness of fit" between the applicant's expressed interests and the strengths and offerings of our program as well as applicant fit with a potential faculty mentor. We follow a mentorship match model of admission, meaning that we evaluate how well your interests align with one (or perhaps two) of our current clinical psychology faculty. After the admission committee has reviewed your application, we consult with the potential faculty mentor whom you designate to determine whether they believe you are a good fit for their research lab. Then the committee meets to determine which applicants will be invited to interview. A similar process happens after virtual interviews are complete after which decisions regarding whom to recommend to Graduate Studies for admission are made. In recent years, we have admitted 7-8 students per year. As quickly as possible following the December 1 application deadline, the admissions committee begins notifying applicants of their status. We will inform you if you are being invited for a virtual interview or if you are no longer under consideration for admission. Although those applicants who are offered admission have until April 15 to either accept or reject our offer, applicants are strongly encouraged to notify us of their decision as soon as possible and, in fairness to other applicants, to "hold onto" no more than two offers of admission at any one time.
Please note that offers for admission follow the policies of the Council of Graduate Department of Psychology (COGDOP) and the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP). Here is a summary of the CUDCP policy. Please note, too, that a background check will be required after the start of the program before a student is permitted to see clients.
Prerequisites:
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum GPA of 3.0; 3.5 to be competitive; median GPA 3.89, range 3.05-4.00. Psychology degree preferred but not required.*
Prerequisite undergraduate courses
General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Research Design. Deficiencies can be completed after admission to the program and prior to the beginning of Fall Semester.
*Our program is open to accepting well-qualified students whose undergraduate degrees are not in psychology. To qualify for admission, these individuals must either (1) have completed the prerequisite courses: general/introductory psychology, abnormal psychology/psychopathology, statistics, and research methods or (2) have completed the GRE Psychology Subject Test and reported their scores to BYU prior to the application deadline.
GRE is optional; scores will be considered if submitted.
English Proficiency for International Applicants (International Applicants only)
See Graduate Studies website for detailed information and minimum standards of English Proficiency.
CAE C1: Cambridge Assessment English
GATEWAY (formerly E3PT): English 3 Proficiency Test
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
TOEFL iBT (internet based test): Test of English as a Foreign Language
Equal Opportunity and Minority Recruitment:
The University and Program are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Admissions policies include equal opportunity (see the Equal Opportunity Office for more information) and special encouragement for applicants from minority and other underrepresented groups. We keep our academic admission requirements flexible to accommodate the recognition of diversity, disability, and other particular needs.
Application:
To apply for any graduate program at BYU, fill out an online application.
This application requires the following:
1. Application for Admission, which includes:
-Personal Information
-Program Information (Select intended program: Psychology-Clinical Ph.D.)
-Educational Background (Upload unofficial transcripts)
-Resume/Vita/Employment History
-Statement of Intent
-Pre-recorded automated interview
2. Ecclesiastical Endorsement
-endorse.byu.edu
-Applicants, including current students, must select "Applicant" under the "Student" tab in order to receive the correct endorsement. Current students must have a new endorsement.
3. Three Letters of Recommendation
4. Official Transcripts (needed only if recommended for admissions to the program)
5. Application Fee of $50
Visit the Clinical Psychology PhD page at BYU Graduate Studies for further information.
International Students must provide additional documentation to Graduate Studies (e.g. IERF Credential Evaluation Report after being recommended for admission by the department, English Proficiency Test Scores). Go to the Graduate Studies website (gradstudies.byu.edu) and click on the “Prospective Students” tab. You will find links related to the admissions process for international students in two places: “International Students” and “Applying.” BYU’s International Student and Scholar Services website (iss.byu.edu) will provide information related to travel and the process of getting a visa.