Program Overview

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MSc in Psychology (Conversion)

Course Details

Course Code:

DC767

Course Type:

Postgraduate

NFQ Level:

• Please see for further information

Delivery Modes:

• Full-Time

Duration:

1 year

Overview

This one-year conversion course will help you take the next steps on your psychology career path and gain a Psychological Society of Ireland pre-professional qualification.

During the course, you’ll delve deeper into the six pillars of psychology: biological bases of behaviour, developmental and lifespan psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality and individual difference, and research design and methods. You’ll also work on a supervised research project across all three trimesters.

The course contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition.

This course also offers a range of elective modules specifically designed for graduates who intend to pursue further study in applied settings including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

Careers & Further Options

Careers

This course has been designed to enable graduates to seek membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland upon completion. Such membership is a prerequisite for further study in psychology, including clinical and applied areas.

Graduates from this course who wish to pursue further study in psychology as a discipline can go on to specialise with either Master’s and Doctorate qualifications in counselling, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, research and a range of other specialist areas in psychology.

Most students study psychology because they aim to pursue a career as a psychologist. However, others choose to study psychology because it offers a broad training in a behavioural science, it develops a wide range of valued transferable skills and it can be used as a stepping-stone into several other careers.

Career Prospects:

• Assistant psychologist positions
• Marketing
• Management
• Research
• Data analysis
• Human resources
• Health promotion
• Community development

Entry Requirements

General Entry Requirements

For admission to the MSc in Psychology (Conversion), entrants will typically hold:

• A (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with aH2.1 or international equivalent in adiscipline cognate to Psychology(e.g. Humanities; Human Sciences, Education Sociology, Health and Society, etc.) or havecompleted a Psychology Honours Degree thatdid not confer eligibility for the graduate basis from thePsychological Society of Ireland (otherwise known as Psychological Studies degree).
• Applicants should also have a minimum combined total of 60 ECTS in Psychology modules(or modules with a substantial element of Psychology, e.g Health Promotion, Human Resources, etc.) and/orResearch Methods modules (or equivalent modules, e.g. Research Project/Thesis, Statistics, Data Analysis/Data Handling etc.)
• Candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here.

Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above

As part of the application process applicants may be called for interview.

In addition to the above, applicants with appropriatecombinations of professional qualifications and experience may be considered. This may include demonstrated substantial additional prior experiential learning in Psychology and/or Research Methods. These individuals will be considered on a case by case basis. We will particularly recognise those individuals who have substantial Research Methods and Statistics experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.

Programme Structure

This course is a one-year, intensive, full-time MSc, which has been fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland. Classes are timetabled for between 20-30 hours per week each semester.

Overview

This course covers the key mandatory areas of psychology outlined by the Psychological Society of Ireland including:

• Biological Bases of behaviour
• Developmental and Lifespan Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality and Individual Difference
• Cognitive Psychology
• Research Design and Methods

The research skills module focuses on developing advanced research skills and students will also complete a year-long supervised individual MSc research project.

The course contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition.

This course also offers a range of elective modules specifically designed for graduates who intend to pursue further study in applied settings including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.

Fees and Funding

Fees

Full time

EU Status Fee

€8,900 per annum

Non EU Fee.

€16,500 per annum

How To Apply

Make an Application

To apply for this programme:

• All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.
• Provide a Personal Statement (maximum of 500 words) addressing why you wish to do this particular programme indicating clearly your experience in Psychology and Research Methods to date (academic, experiential and professional).
• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see linkApplication Deadlines

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:

• Closing date for non EU applicants is 31st March 2025.
• Closing date for EU applicants is 31st March 2025.
• All required documentation to support an application must be submitted by 31st March 2025.

All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.

Application Queries

For EU applicant queries, please visit postgraduate-taught-admissions or email

For non EU applicant queries, please visit

postgraduate or email

Commencement of Programme

The programme commences in September 2025.