Expand+Candidates should have obtained a degree qualification in psychology to at least Upper Second Class Honours level (or equivalent international qualification). Admission to a research degree is at the discretion of the potential Supervisor and Directo...

Hide-Candidates should have obtained a degree qualification in psychology to at least Upper Second Class Honours level (or equivalent international qualification). Admission to a research degree is at the discretion of the potential Supervisor and Director of Research, and is based on a proposal from the applicant following discussion with the member of staff whose academic area of interest is most appropriate.

Entry requirements for DPsychSc

1.Applicants must demonstrate that they are eligible for full membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland Division of Clinical Psychology

2.Applicants other than those who are self-employed must provide written evidence of approval from their employer to undertake the course

3.Applicants must have a viable research proposal for their major thesis.

Expand+DPsychSc

The programme focuses on the development of research skills and is assessed through a series of academic and research projects, including a research thesis. The programme consists of three years of part-time study. The time commitment fo...

Hide-DPsychSc

The programme focuses on the development of research skills and is assessed through a series of academic and research projects, including a research thesis. The programme consists of three years of part-time study. The time commitment for class attendance is a half day per week of lectures on research methods for 12 weeks per year plus orientation activities (library skills etc). Candidates are expected to dedicate the equivalent of one day per week throughout the year in order to complete the work requirements of the course. In addition, candidates attend occasional specialist workshops in research skills and statistics and meetings with the programme team and research supervisors. The total ongoing time commitment over the three years of the programme is a minimum of one day per week.

Programmes available

MLitt (Psychology), full-time
MLitt (Psychology), part-time
DPsychSc (Top-up Doctorate), part-time


Areas of interest

Forensic clinical psychology; suicide and parasuicidal behaviour; psychopathy; actuarial and clinical risk assessment; offending behaviour.

Health promotion; coronary heart disease; primary care; health behaviour change, communication in health care settings; blood donation.

Stress-illness relationship; cognitivebehavioural interventions with patients with breast cancer; psychoneuroimmunology.

Psychological time and process psychophysics and their relation to consciousness. Cognitive dysmetria as applied to any disorder, especially schizophrenia.
llness cognitions and health outcomes; coping and adjustment in chronic illness; self-management interventions for chronically ill patients.

Child health psychology; children's experiences including their understanding of psychological problems; child-centred research methodology.

Developmental psychology; cognitive aging; performance psychology; electrophysiological windows into brain functioning; happiness.

Psychological aspects of stress, in particular psychophysiological and cardiovascular reactivity. Individual differences and psychosocial factors that moderate stress responsivity.

Laboratory studies in health psychology,including blood pressure regulation, psychophysiological aspects of stress, and addictive processes; behavioural epidemiology.

Pain and its management; rehabilitation and illness; utilisation of health services.

Derived stimulus relations in adults and young children; applied behaviour analysis and autism; applications of behavioural principles in the treatment of autism.

Rehabilitation of acquired brain injury; management of chronic pain; abnormal illness behaviour. symptom magnification and malingering; learning disability and challenging behaviour.