MA Applied Psychology Mental Health

at University College Cork

The MA Applied Psychology (Mental Health) is a one-year full-time programme.  It is structured in two parts
 

Part I (Taught modules)

• Psychological therapies
• Research Methods and Data Analysis
• Psychological Assessment 
• Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Skills
• Clinical Presentations (Child, Adolescent, Adult and ID) 
• Critical Perspectives on Mental Health Law
• Mental Health and Disability Placement
   

Placements: While sufficient placements will be secured for all students on the programme, if a student chooses not to accept the placement offered by the School of Applied Psychology, it will then become their responsibility to secure an alternative placement for themselves which meets with the School of Applied Psychology placement criteria for MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health).Placements may be located throughout the Republic of Ireland. 
 

All placements will be supervised in a work setting relevant to the programme of study. Placements will run two days a week (usually Thursdays and Fridays) for at least six months (340 hours minimum).
 

Part II 

• Dissertation in Applied Psychology.  
   

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) (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 fail or do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Mental Health).
 

Transfer to MA (Applied Psychology)
Students who pass the taught modules Part 1 but fail the Placement (and repeat placement if taken) or are deemed unsuitable to undertake a placement may be permitted to transfer to the MA (Applied Psychology) to complete the remaining 20 credits of taught modules and 30 credit dissertation on the MA (Applied Psychology) or complete 20 credits of taught modules and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology.

A candidate for this MA programme must:
 

1. Hold a primary honours undergraduate 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. This can be demonstrated by:
   • Evidence that your undergraduate degree is accredited by the PSI or BPS (see 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. A Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) is required. Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be given to Second Class Honours Grade II 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.
    
4. All applicants must add the name and email address of 1 referee.  A Written Reference will be requested from your designated Referee by the School of Applied Psychology.
    
5. Supply personal statements conveying:
   A proposed topic for research dissertation describing a research proposal to include pertinent details as would be contained in an abstract.
   • Reasons for applying to the programme;
   • How your experience to date has prepared you for a mental health-related placement
   • How you will prepare for placement
   • How the MAAP-MH programme fits with your career plan
      
6. Satisfy the interview board.
   Applicants will be shortlisted for interview for this programme based on their academic performance, referee report, evidence of research capacity, commitment to the area of applied psychology and awareness of professional issues in placement settings. Applicants cannot be short-listed for interview if a completed referee report form has not been submitted to the School or if ALL the supporting documentation for application to MAAP-MH has not been submitted by the time of shortlisting.
    

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. 
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & ExaminationsThe minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.IELTS*  
 

• 6.5 Overall
• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

TOEFL iBT  

• 90 Overall
• Listening 20
• Reading 19
• Speaking 21
• Writing 20

Fees and Costs

• The EU fee for this course is €7,130.
• The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,400.
   

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 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.

This programme will support students in securing places on professional education programmes (level 10) in psychology. Securing a place on professional education programmes in clinical and counselling psychology is particularly competitive. Completing the MAAP (Mental Health), 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 attractiveness of graduates from this programme for level 10 programmes.