Psychology

HDip Psychology

Graduate Taught (level 8 nfq, credits 120)



The Higher Diploma in Psychology is an intensive two-year postgraduate conversion course for graduates with an honours degree in a discipline other than psychology, who would like to take the first step towards a professional career in psychology.



Applicants to the Higher Diploma in Psychology programme must be graduates with an honours degree (typically a 2.1 or higher), or final year students on an honours degree programme in any discipline. Offers to applicants who are not yet graduates will be contingent on degree results. The programme welcomes applications from mature students. The selection process for the Higher Diploma in Psychology will take account of: 1) undergraduate record and, where relevant, postgraduate record; (2) certified modules or courses in psychology; (3) experience of psychology through work or voluntary activities; (4) employment record; (5) references; (6) applicant's personal statement on the application form.



Course features:

- Psychology conversion course

- Equivalent to Honours BA degree in Psychology

- Two years fulltime or four years part time

- Accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)

- Internationally recognised degree

- Enables further postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, health or other types of psychology



The purpose of the Higher Diploma in Psychology in UCD is to foster an evidence-based appreciation of mind, brain, lived experiences, social context, and behaviour, and the nature and outcomes of their complex interactions. Students will learn the importance of psychological approaches to problems in modelling the full richness of mental life, as well as the role of empirical research in shaping and influencing theory. The programme stresses the importance of critical thinking, informed awareness of the multiplicity of levels of understanding psychological phenomena, the significance of building research skills, and of ethics in research and practice.

Module Trimester Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

PSY10060 Brain and Behaviour Autumn 5

PSY10080 Introduction to Social Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20020 Child & Adolescent Development Autumn 5

PSY20050 Laboratory Practicals in Psychology I Autumn 5

PSY20150 Foundations of Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20160 Research Methods & Stats II Autumn 5

PSY20240 Language, Perception & Social Cognition Spring 5

PSY30110 Laboratory Practicals in Psychology II Spring 5



Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:

Select 4 of the following

PSY20100 Introduction to Disability Studies Autumn 5

PSY20130 Introduction to Work and Organisational Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20170 Clinical Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20180 The Science + Art of Therapy: From Freud to Zinn Autumn 5

PSY20200 Psychology for Everyday Life Autumn 5

PSY20110 Introduction to Health Psychology Spring 5

PSY20220 Psychology of Ageing Spring 5

PSY30080 Psychology and Crime Spring 5

PSY30290 Applied Health Psychology Spring 5

PSY30320 Career development in psych Spring 5

PSY30380 Youth Mental Health Spring 5



Stage 2 Core Modules

PSY30450 Research Project and Skills 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 20

PSY30050 Behavioural Neuroscience Autumn 5

PSY30340 Human Intelligence and Personality Autumn 5

PSY30350 Research Methods & Stats III Autumn 5

PSY30040 Lifespan Developmental Psychology Spring 5

PSY30140 Advanced Social Psychology Spring 5



Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:

Select a minimum of 3

PSY20020 Child & Adolescent Development Autumn 5

PSY20100 Introduction to Disability Studies Autumn 5

PSY20130 Introduction to Work and Organisational Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20170 Clinical Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20180 The Science + Art of Therapy: From Freud to Zinn Autumn 5

PSY20200 Psychology for Everyday Life Autumn 5

PSY30400 Cross-Cultural Psychology Autumn 5

PSY30410 Advanced Cognitive Psychology Autumn 5

PSY20110 Introduction to Health Psychology Spring 5

PSY20220 Psychology of Ageing Spring 5

PSY30080 Psychology and Crime Spring 5

PSY30290 Applied Health Psychology Spring 5

PSY30320 Career development in psych Spring 5

PSY30380 Youth Mental Health Spring 5

PSY30440 How to Change Behaviour Spring 5

Between 15 and 20 students are admitted to the Higher Diploma in Psychology each year.



Applicants to the Higher Diploma in Psychology programme must be graduates with an honours degree (typically a 2.1 or higher), or final year students on an honours degree programme in any disclpline. Offers to applicants who are not yet graduates will be contingent on degree results. The programme welcomes applications from mature students. The selection process for the Higher Diploma in Psychology will take account of: 1) undergraduate record and, where relevant, postgraduate record; (2) certified modules or courses in psychology; (3) experience of psychology through work or voluntary activities; (4) employment record; (5) references; (6) applicant's personal statement on the application form.



Applications for this program will open on October 1, 2023 and close on March 08, 2024. Applicants may contact : psychology@ucd.ie for further information



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

120

2 years full-time (W014), 4 years part-time (W202).

HDip Psychology (W014) Full Time

EU Year 1 - € 8895

EU Year 2 - € 7210 aa

nonEU Year 1 - € 17615

nonEU Year 2 - € 14245 aa


HDip Psychology (W202) Part Time

EU fee per year - € 5730

nonEU fee per year - € 9950


aa Second Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20


*** Fees are subject to change


Please note that the part-time option (W202) is not available to non-EU students.


Up-to-date tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

Commencing September 2025

Enables further postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, health or other types of psychology.