Psychology - Applied - Mental Health & Psychological Therapies

The comprehensive syllabus of this MSc programme will enhance your skills and competencies in areas required by all professional psychologists. The course provides an in-depth consideration of psychological theory and research concerned with the aetiology, assessment, and treatment of psychological problems across the lifespan.

You will develop a working knowledge of some of the major psychological therapies (namely Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and/or Family Therapy and Systemic Practice), and will gain some practical experience in their use, with the opportunity to apply for clinical placement during and after the course. You will also undertake a Masters-level research project.

Our graduates have successfully acquired Assistant or Associate Psychologist positions. Others are successful in gaining entry onto Professional Doctorate programmes in Clinical, Counselling, and Educational Psychology, or have secured research posts and PhD scholarships in Psychology across the UK and Ireland. In addition, students who have undertaken the accredited Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) training strand within the course have successfully acquired PWP positions.

Work placement / study abroad
The programme has a number of opportunities to connect clinical placement experiences with studies on campus. As students approach the end of their MSc programme, they are eligible to apply for a 15-credit standalone placement module ('Clinical Placement in Applied Psychology'). A selection of clinical placements have been secured in Psychology Services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, in specialisms including Adult Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Paediatric Psychology, Older Adults, Personality Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder Services. This post-MSc module is only open to those students who have completed the MSc at Ulster, and students who enrol on this module will be working as the equivalent of Assistant Psychologists on a voluntary basis in these services (length of placements are typically between 6 months and one year).

For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Year one
Advanced Research Methods in Applied Psychology
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Year two
Research Project
Family Therapy and Systemic Practice 1
Professional Issues (with Community Engagement Project) This module is optional
Psychological Assessment, Formulation, and Intervention in Applied Psychology This module is optional
Childhood Mental Health & Developmental Trauma This module is optional
Adult Mental Health This module is optional
Professional Issues for Practitioners This module is optional

Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

The closing date for applications is the 1st March 2024.

Applicants must hold at least a 2:1 degree in Psychology, which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).

Those with a 2:2 are welcome to apply, but preference will be given to those who have some additional relevant clinical experience to add to their CV.

NB: All applicants, regardless of qualifications, are advised to use the space provided in the personal statement/additional information section of the online application process, to discuss any skills and experience that may be relevant to studying the MSc in Applied Psychology, and what they would like to gain from studying on the programme. This information may be used for selection purposes when offering places on the MSc.

Other Qualifications
Only those with a primary degree in Psychology are eligible to apply. However, if you have a degree in another discipline, and feel strongly about making a career change into Psychology, you can apply to the British Psychological Society to undertake a Conversion Course in Psychology, which then gives you eligibility for Chartered Membership in the future. If you have successfully completed a conversion course, or you are currently studying on one, your application for entry to this MSc programme will then be considered.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

The closing date for applications is the 28th February 2024.

Attendance
2 years part-time

Mode of Attendance:
Students will attend on Wednesdays throughout Year 1 and Thursdays in Year 2. Note: depending on the modules a student may want to undertake in Semester 2 of Year 2, they may attend on Wednesday mornings and Thursday mornings for that semester (although this is optional).
Skills Block: All students must attend an initial skills block in the first week of the programme, lasting 4 days. Classes will then commence the following week, on the days outlined above.

Start time and finish time on taught days:
Each taught day will commence at 9:15am and run until 5:00pm. This applies to the days during the skills block and the days throughout each semester.

Start time and finish time on placement days:
If you are undertaking a placement of any kind, then these days should be treated as full days in a professional work context.

Please note that, while unlikely, these details are subject to change.

Start Date: September 2024

Career options
Currently, our graduating students are successful in acquiring Assistant Psychologist positions, which with experience is allowing people to apply for Associate Psychologist positions. Others are successful in gaining entry onto Professional Doctorate programmes in Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology. Our graduates also secure posts in research and PhD scholarships in Psychology across the UK and Ireland.