Course Summary
The MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) gives you an advanced understanding of the discipline of psychology in mental health settings.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must:
Hold a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology.
Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS). This must be demonstrated by the applicant by providing evidence that your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is accredited by the PSI or by the BPS. Applicants whose undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is not listed as an accredited qualification by either the PSI or the BPS are required to provide evidence from the PSI or the BPS that they (the PSI or the BPS) consider your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) to be equivalent to the PSI/BPS degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society. This evidence must be sought by the applicant by applying directly to either the PSI or BPS as appropriate.
Provide the name and email address of 1 referee. A written report will be requested from this referee by the School of Applied Psychology, UCC and must be submitted by the Referee (by 5th April 2024).
Supply statements detailing:
A research proposal which must include details that would ordinarily be contained within an abstract. Your research proposal is very important for your application as it demonstrates your potential to undertake and successfully complete a research dissertation.
Motivation and readiness which should include information on:
Reasons for applying to the programme;
How your experience to date has prepared you for a mental health-related placement; include details of any professional or voluntary positions held;
How the MA Applied Psychology (Mental Health) programme fits with your career plan.
Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements as stated above but who present with a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology and have significant and directly relevant work experience or has performed impressively in a relevant Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee. In such cases, the applicant must clearly set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the motivation and readiness statement.
Please note that:
If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate degree in Psychology or a conversion/Masters degree you must be in receipt of your final results (whether undergraduate or postgraduate) before 31st July.
Please Note: The application closing date for this programme is 11th March 2024. This means that the statements mentioned above (research proposal and motivation and readiness) must be fully completed by 11th March, 2024.
Supporting documentation, including non-UCC academic transcripts, evidence of eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the PSI or BPS must be uploaded to the submitted application by 5th April 2024.
Applicants will not be shortlisted for interview:
If final results are not available before 31st July.
If a fully completed referee report has not been submitted to the School, from the referee whose name and email address you supplied as part of your application, by the time of shortlisting.
If your application is missing information or supporting documentation (including: academic transcripts, evidence of eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the PSI or BPS, research proposal, detail on motivation and readiness) by the time of shortlisting.
Interview
Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:
academic performance,
referee report,
evidence of research capacity,
commitment to the area of applied psychology,
awareness of professional issues in placement settings,
preparedness for a mental-health related placement.
Garda Vetting
Please note that as part of this programme students will require Garda Vetting as they will take part in a placement or UCC related activity where they will be working in an unsupervised capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. For more information on this process please read the UCC Student Garda Vetting Policy.
Hold a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology.
Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS). This must be demonstrated by the applicant by providing evidence that your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is accredited by the PSI or by the BPS. Applicants whose undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is not listed as an accredited qualification by either the PSI or the BPS are required to provide evidence from the PSI or the BPS that they (the PSI or the BPS) consider your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) to be equivalent to the PSI/BPS degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society. This evidence must be sought by the applicant by applying directly to either the PSI or BPS as appropriate.
Provide the name and email address of 1 referee. A written report will be requested from this referee by the School of Applied Psychology, UCC and must be submitted by the Referee (by 5th April 2024).
Supply statements detailing:
A research proposal which must include details that would ordinarily be contained within an abstract. Your research proposal is very important for your application as it demonstrates your potential to undertake and successfully complete a research dissertation.
Motivation and readiness which should include information on:
Reasons for applying to the programme;
How your experience to date has prepared you for a mental health-related placement; include details of any professional or voluntary positions held;
How the MA Applied Psychology (Mental Health) programme fits with your career plan.
Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements as stated above but who present with a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology and have significant and directly relevant work experience or has performed impressively in a relevant Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee. In such cases, the applicant must clearly set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the motivation and readiness statement.
Please note that:
If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate degree in Psychology or a conversion/Masters degree you must be in receipt of your final results (whether undergraduate or postgraduate) before 31st July.
Please Note: The application closing date for this programme is 11th March 2024. This means that the statements mentioned above (research proposal and motivation and readiness) must be fully completed by 11th March, 2024.
Supporting documentation, including non-UCC academic transcripts, evidence of eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the PSI or BPS must be uploaded to the submitted application by 5th April 2024.
Applicants will not be shortlisted for interview:
If final results are not available before 31st July.
If a fully completed referee report has not been submitted to the School, from the referee whose name and email address you supplied as part of your application, by the time of shortlisting.
If your application is missing information or supporting documentation (including: academic transcripts, evidence of eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the PSI or BPS, research proposal, detail on motivation and readiness) by the time of shortlisting.
Interview
Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on:
academic performance,
referee report,
evidence of research capacity,
commitment to the area of applied psychology,
awareness of professional issues in placement settings,
preparedness for a mental-health related placement.
Garda Vetting
Please note that as part of this programme students will require Garda Vetting as they will take part in a placement or UCC related activity where they will be working in an unsupervised capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. For more information on this process please read the UCC Student Garda Vetting Policy.
Application Details
Fees
The closing date for non-EU applications is 10 March 2023
The EU fee for this course is €7,130.
The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,800.
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment email our Fees Office at [email protected].
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:
You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Please include your reasons for applying to the programme, how the programme fits into your career plan and how your experience to date has prepared you for a mental health-related placement.
Briefly describe a research proposal to include pertinent details as would be contained in an abstract.
Please add the name and email address of one referee. A Written Reference will be requested from your designated Referee by the School of Applied Psychology.
For applicants whose undergraduate degree/qualification(s) are not evidence as accredited qualifications by the Psychology Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society, evidence is required from the PSI or BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to the PSI/BPS degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society. This can be evidenced by applying either to PSI (see PSI non-Irish courses), or BPS (see BPS Non-UK courses) and providing official documentary evidence that the society deems them eligible for graduate membership).
All supporting documentation (non-UCC results, evidence of PSI/BPS degree accreditation) must be submitted prior to 6th April 2023.
If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate programme in psychology or a conversion course, please note that all formal documentation evidencing your final degree result would need to be submitted prior to the commencement of the programme. Please be aware that such documentation for many MA programmes will not be available until mid-late September which is after the commencement of this programme therefore you may not be eligible to take up a place on this programme until the year post-completion of your MA conversion course.
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.
The EU fee for this course is €7,130.
The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,800.
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment email our Fees Office at [email protected].
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:
You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Please include your reasons for applying to the programme, how the programme fits into your career plan and how your experience to date has prepared you for a mental health-related placement.
Briefly describe a research proposal to include pertinent details as would be contained in an abstract.
Please add the name and email address of one referee. A Written Reference will be requested from your designated Referee by the School of Applied Psychology.
For applicants whose undergraduate degree/qualification(s) are not evidence as accredited qualifications by the Psychology Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society, evidence is required from the PSI or BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to the PSI/BPS degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society. This can be evidenced by applying either to PSI (see PSI non-Irish courses), or BPS (see BPS Non-UK courses) and providing official documentary evidence that the society deems them eligible for graduate membership).
All supporting documentation (non-UCC results, evidence of PSI/BPS degree accreditation) must be submitted prior to 6th April 2023.
If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate programme in psychology or a conversion course, please note that all formal documentation evidencing your final degree result would need to be submitted prior to the commencement of the programme. Please be aware that such documentation for many MA programmes will not be available until mid-late September which is after the commencement of this programme therefore you may not be eligible to take up a place on this programme until the year post-completion of your MA conversion course.
Deferrals
Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Career Progression
Skills and Careers Information
This programme will support students in securing places on professional education programmes (level 10) in psychology.
Securing a place in a professional education programme in clinical and counselling psychology is particularly competitive. Completing this MA, which includes modules and placements (endorsed by clinical and counselling psychologists practicing in the HSE and related agencies) similar to professional education courses in clinical and counselling psychology, will further enhance the attractiveness of graduates from this programme for level 10 programmes.
This programme will support students in securing places on professional education programmes (level 10) in psychology.
Securing a place in a professional education programme in clinical and counselling psychology is particularly competitive. Completing this MA, which includes modules and placements (endorsed by clinical and counselling psychologists practicing in the HSE and related agencies) similar to professional education courses in clinical and counselling psychology, will further enhance the attractiveness of graduates from this programme for level 10 programmes.
Duration
1 year full-time.