Psychology
The BSc in Psychology is a four-year, full-time honours degree (Level 8). This unique programme provides a comprehensive undergraduate education in Psychology and includes learning in the workplace. This blend of scientific theory and real-world application gives students a chance to develop incredibly valuable critical thinking, problemsolving and communication skills.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | University of Limerick |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | University of Limerick | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Applicants are required to hold the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include at least two H5 (Higher Level) and four O6 (Ordinary Level) or four H7 (Higher Level) grades.
Subjects must include Mathematics, Gaeilge or another language, and English.
GARDA VETTING/CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECK
Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda Vetting/CRB checking process.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Please contact the Access/Disability Officer on T: +353 61 204927 or E: AccessOffice@mic.ul.ie for information on Language Exemptions granted on disability grounds. Deadlines apply.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
Psychology graduates enjoy some of the best career opportunities across the globe. Many will go on to study at postgraduate level and some will seek a career as a Psychologist in areas such as clinical, educational, coaching, counselling, forensic, health, academia, neuropsychology, work/organisational, or sport.
A majority of Psychology graduates will find rewarding careers in an allied profession. The understanding of people and development of inherently useful skills makes careers in healthcare, communications and marketing, human resourcing and development, management, and data analysis accessible options.
As a graduate of this programme, you will be prepared for successfully entering the 21st-century workplace. You will have developed important cognitive skills, such as analytical and critical thinking, creativity and decision making. You will strengthen your communication, both oral and written. You will enhance your digital skills and social skills, including working collaboratively. Most importantly, you will develop personally, gaining a greater understanding of yourself and others.
Further information
If you are at least 23 years old on the 1 January of the year of entry to college, you are considered as a mature applicant. All mature applicants who make an application to the College through the CAO for MI003 will be invited to attend for an interview and a short written test. Mature students who do not meet the normal minimum entry requirements will be considered for admission if, having attended for interview and written test, they satisfy the College as to their ability to benefit from and sustain participation in the programme(s) applied for. Mature applicants who have completed an interview and written test will be contacted by the College to indicate whether or not they are being considered for a place and all places will then be offered by the CAO.
GARDA VETTING/CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECK
Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda Vetting/CRB checking process.
GCE/GCSE/BTEC APPLICANTS
For further information about minimum grades and entry requirements please contact the MIC Admissions Office at E: Admissions@mic.ul.ie
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why study the BSc in Psychology at MIC?
Psychology is an excellent choice for prospective students wishing to develop their understanding of why people think, feel and behave as they do. As a scientific endeavour, this research-led programme also encourages critical thinking, problem-solving and digital skills.
MIC’s BSc in Psychology is a fouryear programme which allows for a focus on research and the application of Psychology. This is invaluable for using the skills gained from a Psychology degree in real world settings. Research is included throughout every year of the programme, as we encourage students to aspire to be the creators, rather than merely consumers of knowledge.
The culmination of the research is the dissertation completed in the final year. Here, you will work under the supervision of experts in their field to design, carry out, and present your research. We place an emphasis on being able to communicate scientific research as a valuable skill, rather than leaving it in a document that is rarely seen. This further develops important research and communication skills. As a consequence, Psychology students from MIC have an enviable record of conducting award-winning research.
A distinctive feature of the BSc in Psychology programme is the calendar year spent studying Psychology in applied contexts. The spring semester of Year 2 and the autumn semester of Year 3 are spent studying Psychology in practice. This means continuing to study Psychology, but in a more hands-on way. The placements are organised and supervised by the Department of Psychology. This can include any type of organisation, such as a business, an educational establishment, a sports organisation, a health setting, or a charity. This innovative approach to learning creates an opportunity to apply knowledge from the first part of the programme and develop a new perspective that will enhance skills and learning for the latter part of the programme.
The BSc in Psychology programme is designed to meet the criteria for accreditation by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). Graduates from accredited degrees are able to study Psychology at postgraduate level anywhere in Ireland or the UK, and to join the PSI as a graduate member
What you will study
The programme blends both the scientific subject of Psychology and application of Psychology. The scientific study of mind and behaviour addresses six core areas: personality and individual differences, cognitive psychology, biopsychology, social psychology, developmental psychology and research methods. Combined, these core areas provide graduates with the necessary psychological knowledge to pursue postgraduate studies in Psychology. We adopt a wide range of approaches to the delivery of the programme in order to maximise the skills you can develop. This will include learning individually and as part of a team. Many modules include lectures and small group tutorials, some include significant laboratory time, and some adopt a more problem-based learning approach. This has been carefully considered to ensure you are developing a range of important skills throughout each stage of your degree. Throughout the programme, you will also learn about the application of Psychology in various contexts. This includes work, clinical, educational, sport, health and coaching. The largest application is rooted in the middle of the programme, taking up one calendar year where you will be based in the workplace, exploring where Psychology could positively impact the performance and wellbeing of an organisation and individuals. There is also the potential for you to study abroad for a semester.
The research strand of the programme firstly introduces you to basic research design and analyses. As you progress through the programme and your research skills and confidence in this area increase, you will begin to design your own research before carrying out a significant project in the final year and communicating your findings.
Year 1
Semester 1
• Individual and Developmental Influences on Behaviour
• Cognitive Psychology
• Introduction to Research
• Psychology for Social Justice
• Skills for Study and Work 1
Semester 2
• Introduction to Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Research Design and Analyses
• Individuality, Difference and Psychological Science
• Skills for Study and Work 2
Year 2
Semester 3
• Information Technology for Psychology
• Controversies in Psychology
• Work and Organisation Psychology
• Critical Perspectives in Research
• Elective Arts Module (x1)
Semester 4
• Organisational Psychology in Practice 1
Year 3
Semester 5
• Organisational Psychology in Practice 2
Semester 6
• Psychology of Applied Settings
• Advanced Research Methods
• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Psychology Elective (x1) from:
• Health Psychology
• Psychology of Motivation
• Advanced Issues in Developmental Psychology
• Advanced Issues in Educational Psychology
• Sport Psychology
• Coaching Psychology
Year 4
Semester 7
• Design and Ethics of Research
• Undergraduate Dissertation in Psychology 1
• Applied Social Psychology
• Advanced Cognitive Psychology
• Elective Arts Module (x1)
Semester 8
• Communicating Psychological Science
• Undergraduate Dissertation in Psychology 2
• Psychology or Elective Arts Module (x1)
Professor Niamh Stack
Head of Psychology
Department
E: Niamh.Stack@mic.ul.ie
T: +353 61 2043111