Psychology - Applied Psychology (MA)

Why Choose This Course

The MA in Applied Psychology will appeal to psychology graduates who want to pursue a professional career or take further professional postgraduate training in psychology. The particular strength of this course lies in its applied ethos. Graduates from the MA have found their placement and research experiences to be particularly beneficial in supporting their successful application to specific professional education courses in psychology.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Students on the MA in Applied Psychology have the opportunity to gain relevant work experience through the six-month placement module (AP6153).

A core feature of the MA Applied Psychology is critical community psychology. This lens is applied across a number of modules including placement. Therefore placements generally occur in community based settings, the focus is not clinical. Students have the opportunity to secure their own placements but this must be discussed with the programme directors to ensure that learning outcomes can be achieved. Existing placement providers interview interested students, placement is not guaranteed

Skills and Careers Information

On completion of this course you have:

• The ability to critically appraise psychological research and practice in a range of settings
• Advanced knowledge of the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology
• An adequate level of competence in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues
• Skills in planning and implementing an effective research course

 Further competencies developed through this course include interview, assessment, communication and presentation skills.

Requirements

A candidate for this MA programme must:

1. Hold an a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology.
2. Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society.   This can be demonstrated by:
   • Evidence that your undergraduate degree is accredited by the PSI or BPS (see www.bps.org.uk) or
   • Evidence from the BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to a PSI/BPS accredited degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society.
3. The name and contact details of a Referee will be required and may be contacted.   Written references will be required for placement interviews.
4. Supply a personal statement conveying:
   • An understanding of what applied psychology entails;
   • Reasons for applying to the programme and how this programme fits with the applicant's experience and career objectives;
   • A proposed topic for research dissertation that demonstrates your ability to identify a research problem and design a study to address it.
5. A second-class honours grade one degree is required. Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be given to second-class honours grade two candidates, where for example an applicant has significant and directly relevant work experience or has performed impressively in another Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee.  In such cases, the applicant should set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the supplementary statement

Eligible candidates may be interviewed.  Selection from amongst eligible candidates will be made according to the following criteria:

1. Academic performance
2. Research Capacity
3. Commitment to the area of applied psychology

Note:  A minimum intake of 10 students will be required to run this programme.

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

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is €7,130.

The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,800.

How Do I Apply

Additional Requirements

ALL APPLICANTS:  The MA in Applied Psychology online application must be completed by the application closing date: 8 April, 2022

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.    Applicants should demonstrate in their motivation statement, an understanding of what applied psychology entails and their reasons for applying to the programme and how this fits with the applicants experience and objectives.

• Briefly describe a research proposal which may form the basis of your dissertation.   The research proposal should include a proposed topic for research dissertation and demonstrate your ability to identify a research problem and design a study to address it.  Please ensure that you complete the form in its entirety, each section is considered important in the decision making process. Your research statement should be strong as it demonstrates your ability to complete a large research dissertation in a busy course of study- consider including situating your research question in a relevant literature, statement of a research question, proposed method and analytic approach and potential implications (i.e. a very short research proposal using the wordcount available to you - 500 words max).

• All applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree/qualification which is evidenced as an accredited qualification by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS).List of accredited qualification lists can be found by using the following links:
  Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) website
  British Psychological Society (BPS) website
  If your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) ARE accredited by the PSI or BPS please locate them on the relevant PSI or BPS website, linked above, and upload a screenshot here of your degree as listed on that webpage, as evidence of accreditation. If your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) are NOT evidenced as accredited qualifications by the BPI or PSI, as mentioned above, evidence is required from the PSI or BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to a 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 - application fee €260); or BPS ( see BPS- Non-UK courses - application fee €21) and uploading official documentary evidence here that the society deems you eligible for graduate membership.

• The name and contact details (email) of two Referees (one academic and one professional/experience) will be required and may be contacted during selection (Written references will be required for placement interviews later).

Deferrals

Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

The MA in Applied Psychology gives you an advanced understanding of the discipline of psychology in applied settings. The course is designed to help you appreciate the potential and values of applied psychology, think critically about psychological theory and practice and give you the opportunity to explore your own particular interests.

Applied psychologists use research and theory to analyse real-world situations, develop appropriate interventions, and evaluate outcomes. The course has strong links with community-based partners working with children, families and communities. The course will enable you to pursue postgraduate professional training opportunities and to pursue a variety of career paths where psychological expertise is needed.

MODULES 

Students take 90 credits as follows

Part I

Core Modules - Students take 30 credits as follows:

• AP6016 Research Methods and Data Analysis (10 credits)
• AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)
• AP6177 Critical Community Psychology (5 credits)
• AP6173 Service Design and Evaluation (10 credits)

Elective Modules - Students take 30 credits from the following:

• AN4009 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
• AP3119 Psychological Therapies (5 credits)
• AP6128 Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Skills (5 credits)
• AP6129 Health Psychology (5 credits) 
• AP6153 Applying Psychology in Community-Based Settings Placement (15 credits)
• AP6174 Clinical Presentations (Child, Adolescent, Adult, and ID) (10 credits)
• AP6178 Psychological Principles and Skills in Working with Children and Families (5 credits)

(Electives may be subject to minor changes. AP6153 Placement is offered each year).

Part II

• AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

Students who have completed and passed modules to the value of at least 60 credits in Part I and who do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology.

Further details on the content and modules are available in the:  Postgraduate College Calendar

This is a one-year full-time course.  Lectures take place on Monday-Fridays.   A placement, which is a non-compulsory module (AP6153), is considered a unique learning experience that will give you workplace experience over a six-month period. Please note that placements are not guaranteed for every student.
There may be travel costs associated with module AP6153, a non-compulsory placement module.”

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (NFQ Level 9, Major award)

Students who have completed and passed modules to the value of at least 60 credits in Part I and who do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are incorporated into the MA in Applied Psychology. These include essays, research funding applications, portfolios, reports, class tests, research proposals, journal of learning, class presentations, research thesis, taped practice work with transcript and analysis.

Who teaches this course

The MA in Applied Psychology is delivered by staff from the School of Applied Psychology in the main. Contributions are also made from other professional/voluntary bodies where appropriate.

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.