11 Psychology Internships for Undergraduates in Toronto Â
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 18
- 8 min read
If you are an undergraduate student studying psychology, doing an internship can help you understand how the subject works beyond textbooks and lectures. You can apply theory to real situations, whether that means assisting with research, observing counseling sessions, or supporting data collection in labs or clinics. Hosted by top institutions, these internships are conducted by experts and researchers in the field, giving you access to top mentorship and helping you build your network. They can help show that you have taken initiative in exploring your field and be beneficial when applying for graduate programs or jobs.
Toronto offers many opportunities for psychology students, with its universities, hospitals, research centers, and community organizations. These settings let you see how psychology connects to areas like healthcare, education, and social services. You can explore specializations such as clinical, cognitive, or organizational psychology while gaining professional skills like communication, analysis, and teamwork.Â
With that, here are 11 psychology internships for undergraduates in Toronto!
11 Psychology Internships for Undergraduates in TorontoÂ
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by format
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including fall, spring, summer, and winter
Application deadline: Varies depending on the cohort—Summer: May | Winter: November | Spring: January | Fall: September
Eligibility: College students and young professionals who can work for 5–10 hours/week for eight weeks
Ladder University Internship Program offers undergraduate students the chance to work directly with startups that have raised over $1 million in funding. These startups operate in areas like engineering, technology, and related fields. During the internship, you work on projects with guidance from a startup manager, helping you learn how startups function and what day-to-day operations look like. You also build practical skills and explore potential career paths in your field. At the end of the program, you present your work to the organization, summarizing what you accomplished and learned.
2. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Computer-Mediated Interpersonal Communication Lab (CMICLab)
Location: Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
Cost/Stipend: Not listed; no stipend or funding details published
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published
Program Dates: Not listed; participation is flexible and based on project availability
Application Deadline: Rolling; applicants must submit a CV and interest form to the lab team
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students, staff members, researchers, private companies, and non-profit organizations interested in collaboration
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Computer-Mediated Interpersonal Communication Lab (CMICLab) is a research hub where you’ll explore the complex social dynamics of digital communication. Under the guidance of Dr. Mahdi Roghanizad, you’ll contribute to projects on persuasiveness, trust-building, deception detection, and predicting cooperation in online environments. Your work will focus on how different communication channels shape social outcomes and user perceptions. You’ll engage in meaningful academic collaboration and may have the opportunity to co-author journal articles or present findings at conferences.
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto
Cost/Stipend: Free. A stipend of $7065.60 CAD is provided, or a stipend of $4565.60 CAD plus 8 weeks of housing.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not listed. The program uses a 4-step review process involving eligibility screening, nomination, a stratified lottery, and mentor review.
Dates: June 9 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized and have completed at least 16 semester-long classes by the program start. Applicants must be interested in applying to PhD programs in Psychology, Management, or Neuroscience. Students graduating in the current academic year are eligible.Â
The Canada Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is an 8-week research and mentorship initiative for undergraduate students who are Indigenous, Black, or racialized. You’ll conduct an independent psychology research project for 20 hours per week under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Depending on your placement, your work may focus on cognitive science, clinical psychology, or behavioral neuroscience. The program includes a free Kaplan GRE course to help strengthen your applications. You’ll conclude the experience by presenting your findings at the SROP Symposium.
Location: Universities across Canada
Cost: Free; includes round-trip airfare, housing, food stipend, enrollment fees, local transportation, and emergency health insurance
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; thousands of applicants annually
Program Dates: 12 consecutive weeks between May 1 and October 31
Application Deadline: Typically early SeptemberÂ
Eligibility: You must be at least 18, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or combined undergraduate/master’s program at a Mitacs partner institution, have 1–3 semesters left, meet your country’s GPA criteria, and be fluent in English or French (as required by the project).
Through the Globalink Research Internship, you’ll spend 12 weeks conducting hands-on research in psychology at a Canadian university. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors, graduate students, and research associates on projects that may involve cognitive testing, behavioral experiments, or data analysis using tools like SPSS or R. Your daily work could include designing studies, collecting and coding data, reviewing literature, and contributing to lab meetings or research publications. Alongside your research, you’ll take part in professional development workshops and social events that help you build transferable skills and connect with peers from around the world. The program covers travel, accommodation, and provides a stipend, making it accessible to students from select partner countries.
Location: SickKids, Toronto, ON
Stipend: Paid; students earn at least Ontario’s minimum wage plus 6% vacation pay
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; positions are filled by individual labs and receive high volumes of applications
Program Dates: 15 weeks, typically mid-May to mid-August
Application Deadline: Positions are posted in late fall/early winter and filled on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to students who will be enrolled in a university, college, or medical school in the fall following the program.Â
The SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program is a 15-week opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct a research project in a laboratory or clinical setting under the guidance of leading scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children. You will gain hands-on experience in biomedical research while developing your professional skills through weekly seminars led by hospital and Research Institute experts. You’ll also have the chance to network with professionals during Career Night and strengthen your presentation skills. The program concludes with the Summer Student Symposium, where you will present your research to peers and the broader SickKids community.
Location: University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published; selection is competitive
Program Dates: May 16 – August 1 (11 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in early February
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and medical students; some positions also available for graduate students, college students, and health professional learners
The UHN Summer Training and Research (STAR) Program is a competitive summer research opportunity hosted by Canada’s largest hospital network. You will conduct research under the direct supervision of a UHN scientist, gaining hands-on experience in a clinical or biomedical setting. Throughout the program, you’ll attend educational sessions focused on research integrity, scientific communication, and professional development. At the end of the program, you’ll present your research at the UHN STAR Research Day and, upon fulfilling participation requirements, receive a certificate of completion.Â
Location: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON
Stipend: Paid hourly; $17.88 (post–year 1), $18.96 (post–year 2), $20.51 (post–year 3+), plus 4% vacation pay
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; top 25 applicants receive the SRI Summer Studentship Award
Program Dates: May to late August (12–16 weeks, full-time)
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students enrolled in a university program with at least a B+ average in their most recent year of study
The Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) Summer Student Research Program is a hospital-based research experience designed to introduce you to postgraduate academic and clinical environments. You’ll begin the summer with an orientation to SRI, then attend regular seminars led by faculty members who share insights into their research and career paths. Throughout the program, you’ll work directly with a scientist on a hands-on research project, gaining exposure to clinical, biomedical, or health science fields. You’ll receive mentorship and training while contributing to meaningful research.Â
Location: Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON
Stipend: Paid; minimum $7,224 CAD for 12 weeks (based on Ontario minimum wage)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published; selection is competitive and lab-specific
Program Dates: 12 weeks, typically May to August; exact dates arranged with supervising scientist
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate (1st–4th year) and medical students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and eligible to work in Canada.Â
The RRI Summer Student Program at Baycrest is a 12-week paid internship that allows you to conduct hands-on research in neuroscience and cognitive aging. You’ll be matched with a supervising scientist and work on laboratory or clinical research projects, gaining full-time experience in a professional research environment. Throughout the program, you’ll receive individualized mentorship and have access to Baycrest’s research infrastructure. International students are welcome to apply, though offers depend on travel and work visa approvals.Â
Location: National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University
Cost/Stipend: Free to apply; winners receive a $1,000 CAD award
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published
Program Dates: Nomination window: September 26 – October 24
Application Deadline: October 24
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at a Canadian college or university.Â
The National Institute on Ageing and RTOERO Canadian Leadership in Ageing Awards is a national competition that recognizes student leadership in advancing healthy ageing and supporting older adults. You can apply in either the undergraduate or graduate category, with a $1,000 prize awarded in each. As an undergraduate, you’ll showcase a significant project or research initiative that has made a positive impact on older adults. As a graduate student, you’ll highlight your leadership in policy development, advocacy, or systems-level change. To apply, you’ll submit a cover letter via email detailing your work and its contributions to Canada’s ageing population.
Location: University of Toronto, St. George campus
Cost: Free; unpaid research placement
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published; varies by project and supervisor
Program Dates: Offered in Summer, Fall, and Winter terms; dates vary by session
Application Deadline: Early-March (for summer placements)
Eligibility: Must be a full- or part-time student entering second or third year in the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T St. George.Â
The University of Toronto Research Opportunities Program (ROP) is a for-credit research experience designed for second and third-year undergraduate students. Through ROP, you’ll join a faculty member’s research project and gain hands-on experience in academic inquiry, data collection, and analysis. You’ll build a close working relationship with your supervising instructor while developing research skills that strengthen your graduate school applications. The program also connects you with a peer community of fellow ROP students, fostering collaboration and shared learning. A key highlight is the bi-annual Research Fair, where you’ll present your findings and engage with the broader academic community.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Not listed; unpaid remote internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published
Program Dates: Flexible; start and end dates negotiated with selected interns
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a Bachelor's program with a major or minor in social or clinical psychology.
The Shared Secrets Lab Psychology Internship is a writing-intensive opportunity focused on the psychology of gift-giving. You will explore multiple domains of human psychology while researching and drafting articles for blogs and publications. Your work will follow SEO guidelines to help increase web visibility, and you’ll be responsible for proofreading and editing your own content. Throughout the internship, you’ll receive mentorship from industry experts, participate in training sessions, and may have the chance to publish your work on leading websites or in academic journals.
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in pursuing university-level research in STEM or other subjects, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1–1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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