Psychology - Clinical Psychology

The DPsychSc course runs over three full calendar years and includes three inter-related elements: Academic Programme, Research Programme, and Clinical Placements.



Clinical



Train Clinical Psychologists to work in an applied clinical setting and an appropriate theoretical context, in a variety of roles and settings and with a variety of client groups in the Irish health service at a Staff Grade level in the profession.

Be responsive to the needs of the Health Service in terms of clinical psychology training.

Be responsive to the needs of the profession of clinical psychology and to developments in the profession of clinical psychology in terms of the content and structure of the training programme.

Academic



Provide a broad theoretical and academic knowledge base across a range of core competencies and clinical specialist areas.

Provide opportunities to explore and increase trainees’ understanding of theory-practice links.

Develop good oral and written communication skills as required for the practice of clinical psychology.

Research



Provide research and evaluation training to enable the clinical psychologist to practice within the evidence-based environment of the health service.

Promote an appreciation of the importance of ongoing service-based research and to provide the requisite skills and confidence to enable trainees to conduct research in the clinical setting.

Professional



Promote the personal and professional development of trainees.

Promote the development and adherence to a high level of ethical and professional responsibility in trainees.

Organisational



Develop in trainees an understanding of the broad social, cultural, political and organisational context in which clinical psychologists and the health service operate.

Students are expected to have an awareness of issues pertaining to minority groups and the clinical practice implications arising from same to ensure that services are optimally and sensitively orientated towards such clients. They are also required to conduct themselves at all times in a manner fully consistent with the values espoused in the Code of Ethics of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

The academic programme includes core modules required for accreditation, as well as other courses designed to enable students to be effective practitioners in a variety of clinical settings. The modules cover the following areas:



Adult Clinical Psychology

Child, Adolescent and Family Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology of Learning Disability

Clinical Psychology of Older Adults

Advanced Topics (e.g., Forensic psychology, Neuropsychology)

Professional issues (including ethical and legal issues)

Methods of Psychological Research

Applicants must have the equivalent of an honours degree in psychology recognised by The Psychological Society of Ireland that confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of The Psychological Society of Ireland. The qualification must be at least upper second-class honours level. On an exceptional basis, candidates with a lower second-class honours level degree may be considered. Successful applicants are likely to have a combination of strong academic ability, relevant clinical or health related experience, and personal suitability for a career in clinical psychology. At least one year of practical and/or research experience relevant to clinical psychology is generally required.  Successful applicants are expected to have a means of transport to enable them to participate in all elements of the programme, including undertaking supervised clinical placements in health settings.



The Programme selects candidates on open competition principles. A joint selection process based on shortlist and interview operates between the University of Galway, the University of Limerick and University College Cork. Although a joint selection process is in operation, applicants must apply separately to each course for which they wish to be considered.

3 years, full-time

Next start date: September 2026

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities exist for professionally qualified clinical psychologists in a variety of health, forensic and social care settings. Opportunities may also be found in educational services and institutions. Most DPsychSc (Clinical) graduates take up employment in the HSE but a small number are also employed within agencies such as the Brothers of Charity Services and the Irish Prison Service.