Psychology - Doctor of Clinical Psychology

The Doctor of Clinical Psychology is a full-time, three year postgraduate professional course in clinical psychology, designed to train psychologists to be eligible for appointment as Clinical Psychologists in the health services. The clinical psychology programme at University College Cork is the newest in Ireland. Whilst embracing the core training standards for the profession evident across all programmes, the Cork programme is growing a unique identity as outlined in Course Details.



The programme is delivered in partnership between the University and Health Services Executive (HSE) and other organisations. Trainees spend about 45% of their time at UCC, studying, and carrying out supervised research and about 55% on clinical placements. Each student is offered a specified purpose contract of employment for 3 years as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist with the HSE or other organisations.



Most placements will be located in the Cork / Kerry region. However, they may be located anywhere in Ireland. Trainees must be available to travel to placements beyond Cork city. Application to the programme is considered acceptance by candidates that they are prepared to travel as such.



As well as completing placements and study in Adult Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Autism, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and Elective areas, trainees also receive support for Personal and Professional Development, and an advanced training in clinical research leading to a research thesis.



Over the three years, students spend about 45% of their time studying and carrying out supervised research and about 55% of their time on supervised clinical placements. As placements can be located anywhere in Ireland, trainees must be available to travel to, and as required for, placement activities. Application to the programme is considered acceptance by candidates that they are prepared to travel the required distances. The course is organised in specific blocks of lectures and study, followed by placements in that area of specialization. While on placement students have study time, and occasional academic days back at the university.

Year 1 (90 credits)



Core Modules (50 credits)

AP7010 Adult Clinical Psychology (10 credits)

AP7011 Adult Mental Health Placement (20 credits)

AP7012 Child Mental Health and Disability 1 (10 credits)

AP7013 Research Design Analysis (10 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Thesis work (assessed annually; final submission in Year 3)



Year 2 (90 credits)



Core Modules (50 credits)

AP7014 Child Mental Health Placement (20 credits)

AP7015 Disability Placement (20 credits)

AP7016 Child Mental Health and Disability 2 (10 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Continued thesis development (assessed annually)



Year 3 (90 credits)



Core Modules (50 credits)

AP7006 Elective Topics in Clinical Psychology (25 credits)

AP7007 Advanced Placement in Clinical Psychology (25 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Completion and submission of 30,000-word thesis (viva voce examination)

Minimum eligibility criteria



Applicants must be eligible for graduate registration with the Psychological Society of Ireland



Applicants must have a minimum Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8). This can be either:



An honours primary degree in Psychology which confers eligibility for graduate registration OR



An honours primary degree in another subject (minimum Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) together with an accredited conversion qualification (minimum Second Class Honours Grade 1) which confers eligibility for graduate registration.



Furthermore, applicants with a minimum Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in either of the above categories may also apply if they have also been awarded an additional Masters or a PhD relevant to Clinical Psychology.



Applicants must have postgraduate experience within mental health, disability or related settings (includes voluntary experience).



Applicants must submit a short personal statement that clearly indicates how their postgraduate education and/or work experience has prepared them in terms of their knowledge/experience of clinical psychology practice.



Applicants must submit contact details for two referees, one academic and one associated with clinically relevant experience.



Applicants who are not resident in the EU must have proof of eligibility to work in the EU and their Psychology degree must be approved by the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society as equivalent to their accredited degrees.



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. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date January 2026

3 years

Start Date 7 September 2026

This course has been developed to meet the high demand for Clinical Psychologists in the Munster area and beyond. Successful applicants are employed by the Health Service Executive or the Irish Prison Service as Trainee Clinical Psychologists for the three years of the course and will start on the first point of the scale https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/pay/pay-scales/



In addition to the salary, the sponsor will pay 60% towards the trainee’s annual doctoral fee for EU students. Trainees are liable to pay the remaining 40%. Total fee is €14,630 in 2023/2024. It should be noted that the fee for non EU students is €29,000.



Skills and Careers Information

Clinical psychologists provide a variety of services including assessment, therapy, and consultancy. They work primarily, but not exclusively in child and/or adult and disability services where emotional, behavioural, psychiatric or developmental difficulties are addressed.



Career opportunities exist for professionally qualified clinical psychologists in a variety of health, prison services and social care settings. Opportunities may also be found in educational services and institutions. Most D.Clin.Psych. graduates take up employment in the HSE but some are also employed within other agencies such as the charity sector and prison service.