Clinical Psychology
The course is structured so that the academic teaching typically takes place in term time for one and a half days per week. In addition, each placement is preceded by a teaching block of approximately four weeks duration. Students complete six clinical placements during the course, each of approximately five months duration, providing knowledge, skills and experience to work with as wide a range of clients as possible. Research training is continuous across the programme.
Course requirements include continuous clinical assessment, examinations and a research portfolio combining reports of clinical activity, small and large scale research projects and demonstrating research competency across a range of methodologies. Progress on the course is assessed by an end-of-year review which each student must pass.
Research interests of staff include attachment theory, developmental psychopathology, health psychology, research methods, forensic psychology, risk perception, quality of life perception and applied behaviour analysis.
Students of the course are employed by an approved health care provider and graduates are required to complete an additional three-year contract of employment with their sponsoring service provider.
Entry requirements
Admission Requirements
The course currently attracts a high number of applicants and competition for the limited number of places is intense. Requirements for selection include a primary honours degree in psychology with at least an upper second-class award or equivalent. Good research skills and relevant experience are essential. Candidates are required to hold graduate basis for registration with the Psychological Society of Ireland.
Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, see https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/undergraduates/garda-vetting.php for further details.
The course is based in the School of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin and placements are undertaken in a variety of clinical settings throughout Leinster and adjoining regions. The Programme is under an obligation to send trainees to all HSE locations within this area once supervisor availability and accommodation have been secured. All HSE Community Health Organisation (CHO) providers across these counties (CHO Areas 6, 7 & 9) contribute to the funding of training. As a result, trainees are required to undertake significant journeys to some placements. Trainees are expected to make their own arrangements for all travel. This normally necessitates the use of a car. However, it should be noted that the mode of travel used will not influence placement allocation except in exceptional circumstances, for example, where a trainee is unable to drive because of a disability.
Important: It is a requirement that applicants upload a completed Course Application form to the supporting documents area of their College application by the deadline date.
Application dates
Closing Date: 30 June 2023
Duration
3 years full-time
Post Course Info
Career Opportunities
The course aims to train students who on completion will be equipped to function as independent career grade clinical psychologists in the Irish health service under appropriate supervision. A number of graduates also go on to further clinical research.