Psychology - Applied Psychology

Course Outline

Our MA in Applied Psychology gives you an advanced understanding of the discipline of psychology in applied settings. The course is designed to help you appreciate the potential and values of applied psychology, think critically about psychological theory and practice, and give you the opportunity to explore your own particular interests.



Applied psychologists use research and theory to analyse real-world situations, develop appropriate interventions, and evaluate outcomes. The course has strong links with community-based partners working with children, families, and communities. The course will enable you to pursue postgraduate professional training opportunities and to pursue a variety of career paths where psychological expertise is needed.



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



On completion of this MA you will have acquired many skills including:

• The ability to critically appraise psychological research and practice in a range of settings;

• Advanced knowledge of the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology, and in service design and evaluation;

• Competence in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues;

• Skills in planning and implementing an effective research course



Further competencies developed through this course include interview, assessment, communication, and presentation skills.

Modules (90 credits)

Part I

Core Modules (30 credits)

AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)

AP6060 Advanced Issues in Quantitative Research Methods (5 credits)

AP6061 Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis (5 credits)

AP6138 Critical Community Psychology (10 credits)

AP6174 Clinical Presentations (Child, Adolescent, Adult, and ID) (10 credits)

AP6122 Psychological Principles and Skills in Working with Children and Families (10 credits)

AP6185 Service Design and Evaluation (15 credits)



Part II (30 credits)

Core Modules

AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology 1 (30 credits)

Applicants must:

1. Hold a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology.



2. Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of either the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS). This must be demonstrated by the applicant by providing evidence that your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is accredited by the PSI or by the BPS. Applicants whose undergraduate degree/qualification(s) is not listed as an accredited qualification by either the PSI or the BPS are required to provide evidence from the PSI or the BPS that they (the PSI or the BPS) consider your undergraduate degree/qualification(s) to be equivalent to the PSI/BPS degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society. This evidence must be sought by the applicant by applying directly to either the PSI or BPS for graduate membership as appropriate.



3. Provide an academic reference. Once you have submitted your online application you will be requested to provide the name and email address of 1 academic referee. A communication will issue immediately from UCC to your referee requesting the that they submit a reference directly to UCC.



4. Supply statements detailing:

A research proposal, which must include details that would ordinarily be contained within an abstract. Your research proposal is very important for your application as it demonstrates your potential to undertake and successfully complete a research dissertation. The research proposal requires significant detail and must include: a research topic and demonstrate your ability to identify a research problem and design a study to address it; an average word count of ~500 is expected.



Motivation and readiness, which should include information on:

Your understanding of what applied psychology entails

Reasons for applying to the programme and how your reasons fit with your experience and career objectives.



Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements as stated above but who present with a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology and have significant and directly relevant work experience or has performed impressively in a relevant Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee. In such cases, the applicant must clearly set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the motivation and readiness statement.



Applicants may be interviewed and will be selected based on the following:

academic performance,

evidence of research capacity,

academic reference,

commitment to the area of applied psychology

Please note that:



If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate degree in Psychology or a conversion/Masters degree you must be in receipt of your final results (whether undergraduate or postgraduate) before 31st July.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.

Closing Date: 3 March 2025

Non-EU Closing Date: 3 March 2025

A variety of assessment methods are incorporated into the MA in Applied Psychology. These include essays, research funding applications, portfolios, reports, class tests, research proposals, journal of learning, class presentations, research thesis, taped practice work with transcript and analysis.

1 year full-time.

Start Date 8 September 2025