International students chat at the Gryphon Statue

Study Social Science in Canada

Redefine the Future with the University of Guelph

Do you want to learn more about what drives human behaviour? How to empower people to live their best lives? What it takes to create a just and equitable society? How to improve the relationship between people and their environment? Then you're in the right place!

Turn your passion into skills to make an impact on issues you care about by studying social and applied human sciences at the University of Guelph.

At U of G, you'll join a community of faculty, staff and students who are driven to improve the ecological, social, physical, and economic health and wellbeing of our planet and its people.

Attend a Webinar Admission Requirements Chat with a Student

30,000 students: from 135+ countries
Top 10: places to live in Canada
$27 Million: in scholarships and bursaries distributed last year
92% of graduates: find employment within 6 months

How Will You Make Your Impact?

A multiracial family gets together for a photo

Human Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour

Uncover the drivers of human behaviour and help people achieve their health and wellness goals. Our programs in human health, wellbeing and behaviour look at human well-being from multiple angles and stages of life.

Choose to learn about the science of the brain, patterns and tendencies that drive human behaviour, how to work with children, how well-being and relationships are impacted by factors across the lifespan, or the biological and societal aspects of human nutrition.

A busy street in New York City bustles with traffic

Society, Environment and Global Change

Discover how you can make a positive impact on the pressing issues you care about that impact our global community.

When you study a program related to society, environment and global change, you'll uncover the underlying factors that impact our global environment, Indigenous peoples, social movements, inequality, and food insecurity to find creative ways to improve our interactions with our environment and with each other.

Protestors come together for racial justice

Explore the forces that shape justice, law and public policy. Politics and public policy play an important role in the shaping of society and how we enact justice.

Choose to dive deep into the causes of crime and the workings of the criminal justice system, gain a deeper understanding of how justice and legal institutes shape and are shaped by government and society, or discover how power and politics influence the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Discover Your Major

What Students Say About U of G

Maaike sits in a recording studio wearing over-ear headphones around her neck and smiling.

"From my first visit to U of G, the energy felt right. The smiles, eye contact, and warmth of the campus community drew me in, and I'm so happy with my choice. I started in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program, but during second year I realized my passion for neuroscience and psychology and the interdisciplinary connection between them and decided to complete a double major."

Maaike Brijker, Undergraduate Student
from Curaçao

"I moved to Canada a little over a decade ago, having grown up in India and the Middle East. I am a first-generation Canadian who came here with my family, with no ties. It was the extracurriculars that I immersed myself in at the University of Guelph that allowed me to gain the skills needed in applying to governmental and research-based positions."

Anindita Ponkshe, Undergraduate Student
from Canada

"All my professors in my undergrad were very understanding and supportive, even when I was finishing my degree in China [during the COVID-19 pandemic] and faced challenges due to the time difference. I wanted to re-enter that environment where I felt supported... that's one of the main reasons I wanted to come back to U of G for the Master of Applied Nutrition."

Yang Tzu-Yi, Graduate Student
from China

"I chose U of G for the beautiful and welcoming campus, but I was most impressed with the support I received as a student. The supportive professors in the sociology program have inspired me to continue my education and enroll in a master's degree program where I'm excited to continue my learning journey at the University of Guelph."

Grace Pinkerton, Graduate Student
from New Zealand

"From my first visit to U of G, the energy felt right. The smiles, eye contact, and warmth of the campus community drew me in, and I'm so happy with my choice. I started in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program, but during second year I realized my passion for neuroscience and psychology and the interdisciplinary connection between them and decided to complete a double major."

Maaike Brijker, Undergraduate Student
from Curaçao

"I moved to Canada a little over a decade ago, having grown up in India and the Middle East. I am a first-generation Canadian who came here with my family, with no ties. It was the extracurriculars that I immersed myself in at the University of Guelph that allowed me to gain the skills needed in applying to governmental and research-based positions."

Anindita Ponkshe, Undergraduate Student
from Canada

"All my professors in my undergrad were very understanding and supportive, even when I was finishing my degree in China [during the COVID-19 pandemic] and faced challenges due to the time difference. I wanted to re-enter that environment where I felt supported... that's one of the main reasons I wanted to come back to U of G for the Master of Applied Nutrition."

Yang Tzu-Yi, Graduate Student
from China

"From my first visit to U of G, the energy felt right. The smiles, eye contact, and warmth of the campus community drew me in, and I'm so happy with my choice. I started in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program, but during second year I realized my passion for neuroscience and psychology and the interdisciplinary connection between them and decided to complete a double major."

Maaike Brijker, Undergraduate Student
from Curaçao

"I moved to Canada a little over a decade ago, having grown up in India and the Middle East. I am a first-generation Canadian who came here with my family, with no ties. It was the extracurriculars that I immersed myself in at the University of Guelph that allowed me to gain the skills needed in applying to governmental and research-based positions."

Anindita Ponkshe, Undergraduate Student
from Canada

Download transcript

Meet a Bachelor of Applied Science Student

"The program I'm in is preparing me in so many different ways for my future, but I'm so glad and thankful that I'm learning such practical skills in life that will be able to translate into any career, just even like engaging with people in general. I'm learning so much about interactions and relationships. That is really intriguing and exciting."

– Tatiana Fisher

A student smiles for the camera in the library

Resources for International Students

Attend a Webinar How to Apply

Study Social Science in Canada

Redefine the Future with the University of Guelph