Program Overview

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Applied Psychology (Mental Health and Psychological Therapies) - MSc

Overview

The programme provides an opportunity for students to enhance their skills and knowledge in areas of applied psychology related to mental health practice and research. It trains and equips students wishing to:

• Enter further professional training in Clinical, Counselling, Educational or Forensic Psychology;
• Become more employable for positions in the public and private sector (such as Assistant/ Associate Psychologist posts, Research Assistant/Analyst post);
• Pursue PhD research in the area of mental health.

Programme Routes

There are three different ‘routes’ that you can take during your time on the programme, depending on your interest or the experience you would like to gain from your training. These routes have been designed based on feedback from students, which has suggested that some people like to maintain a broad range of skills and experience, whereas others prefer to focus on a particular area of practice.

• Route 1 – The ‘Main’ MSc course route – This route offers a breadth of experience in theory and skills training, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Family Therapy & Systemic Practice skills modules, Advanced Research Methods, and modules focusing on Professional Issues and working with mental health concerns across the lifespan.
• Route 2 – The ‘Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner’ route – This route incorporates training as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP), which is fully accredited by the British Psychological Society. PWPs work in primary care mental health services, delivering low intensity psychological interventions (with a CBT focus) for people experiencing mild to moderate emotional problems such as depression and anxiety.
• Route 3 - the 'Clinical Associate Psychologist' (CAP) Route – This route incorporates training as a Clinical Associate Psychologist, specialising in Children & Young People (CAP-CYP), with an associated CAP training post. These posts will be based within Psychology Services in the NI Health and Social Care Trusts, and candidates must secure a Trust post in order to undertake the CAP training route within the MSc.

Modules

• Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Practice
• Research Dissertation
• Advanced Research Methods in Applied Psychology
• Psychological Interventions for Children and Families
• Assessment, Formulation and Intervention (CBT model)
• Developmental & MH Considerations across the Lifespan (Assessment, Formulation and Intervention)
• Psychological Assessment and Engagement
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Low Intensity) for Common Mental Health Problems
• Values, Diversity and Context
• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Clinical Placement
• Research Methods and Clinical Evaluation
• Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Practice
• Clinical Associate Psychology (CAP) Clinical Practice Placement

Attendance

• Duration One year full-time
• Mode of Attendance Depending on the route taken, there will be a slight variation in the days that students will be on campus or on placement.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The modules on the programme are delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, practical skills training, and student-led seminars. There is a strong emphasis on experiential learning and skills analysis. Assessment methods vary across the modules, dependent on their focus - students will undertake a selection of written assignments (essays, reflective commentaries, research reports, online timed assessments), presentations, and assessed role-plays of clinical skills. All students will complete an MSc Research Project over the duration of their time on the programme.

Academic profile

Four members of staff are BPS Chartered/HCPC Registered as a Counselling Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Health Psychologist, or Forensic Psychologist. Three members are fully qualified and experienced Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

Careers & opportunities

Currently, our graduating students are successful in acquiring Assistant Psychologist positions, which with experience is allowing people to apply for Associate Psychologist positions. Others are successful in gaining entry onto Professional Doctorate programmes in Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology. Our graduates also secure posts in research and PhD scholarships in Psychology across the UK and Ireland.

Work placement / study abroad

The MSc programme has a number of opportunities to connect clinical placement experiences with studies on campus. The BPS-accredited Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner training (which forms a part of one of the course routes), includes a clinical placement in low-intensity psychological therapies services, arranged by the course team. The Clinical Associate Psychologist (CAP) training route is connected to training posts within Psychology Services in the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts.

Professional Recognition

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) against the requirements for qualification as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.

Fees and funding

• Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees £7,240.00
• International Fees £17,810.00

Additional mandatory costs

• 'Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner' Route: In addition to the course fee for the MSc programme, those students undertaking the 'Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner' Route will be required to pay an additional fee for the specific MSc modules associated with this accredited training.
• ‘Main Route': There are no additional expenses/costs associated with this route.

Standard entry conditions

• Entry Requirements: Applicants must hold at least a 2:1 degree in Psychology, which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
• English Language Requirements: The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Exemptions and transferability

Those who have already undertaken professional postgraduate training in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice or CBT may be exempt from undertaking the modules related to these therapeutic methods. Those who have attained a PhD may be exempt from the Advanced Research Methods module. Applicants in either of the above situations can enquire about Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) at the time of applying.