Master's programmes

(Thanks to our Patreon member Johanna for this)

The below description of this programme is based on my personal experience as a student. While I have tried to give as balanced and detailed an overview as possible, I would encourage anyone interested in this degree to make themselves familiar with the course website, and to reach out to other (former) students to gain more insights, and ultimately to base your decisions on a thorough consideration of your goals, preferences, and the fit between yourself and the programme.

This is a 12-month postgraduate degree (90 credits) designed to prepare students for doctoral training in clinical, counselling, or educational psychology. The course is intentionally structured in a way that mirrors professional doctoral programmes, so it offers strong preparation for those pathways.

The programme is divided into three main components:

• Coursework: 40 credits

• Dissertation: 30 credits

• Placement: 20 credits

Because of this structure, the course tends to be more intensive than many traditional MA programmes.

To note, UCC’s Applied School of Psychology offers multiple postgraduate degrees. The general MA Applied Psychology includes similar modules, but does not offer a placement (though they do try and dedicate time to helping students gain experience within community psychology).

Placement

The placement component requires a minimum of 340 hours completed over approximately 6 months. Some placement providers offer flexibility in terms of how these hours are scheduled.

Students can be placed in a wide variety of settings, for example:

• Prisons

• Hospitals (e.g., psycho-oncology or psychiatric services)

• CAMHS (inpatient or outpatient)

• Childhood Matters

• Enable Ireland (bursary placement, which means that there is an interview for the placement)

It’s important to note that students cannot specify a preferred placement location or client group. Placements can also be located outside Cork (e.g., Dublin, Kildare, Portlaoise), and travel costs are not covered by UCC, so commuting is something to consider.

The level of clinical exposure versus administrative work varies depending on the placement site and supervisor. Examples of tasks may include:

• Assisting with administrative tasks

• Shadowing individual therapy sessions

• Taking notes and writing formulations for initial assessments

• Attending multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings

• Scoring psychometric assessments

• Conducting service evaluations

• Preparing psychoeducational or promotional materials

Assessment for the placement consists of:

• Supervisor feedback (pass/fail)

• A reflective portfolio

Modules

There are no electives on the programme. All students complete the same modules. The below was our schedule, but please consider that assignments can always change from year to year.

In term 1 (we had classes on Tues, Wed, Thurs):

• Psychological Assessment - introduction to why and how psychological assessments are conducted

  • Assessment: final essay

• Psychological Therapies – overview of major therapeutic approaches

  • Assessment: exam

• Qualitative Research

  • Assessment: final essay (a pluralistic analysis)

• Quantitative Research

  • Assessment: preregistration assignment and a research essay

• Clinical Case Presentations - guest lectures from practicing psychologists on their areas of expertise

  • Assessment: two essays

In term 2 (we had classes on Tues and Wed, placement mostly Thurs and Fri):

• Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Skills – skills-based module using role play

  • Assessment: video-taped role play assessment and a critical reflection on the same

• Critical Perspectives on Mental Health Law – introduction to key issues within Irish mental health legislation

  • Assessment: a short presentation and an essay on a specific legal topic covered in class and its relevance to your placement

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial research component and can include primary research (qualitative or quantitative), or secondary research (e.g., systematic review, statistical analysis of existing data). In my cohort, students met with potential supervisors whose research areas interested them. Students could either propose their own project ideas or join an existing project. Not everyone able to be allocated their preferred projects.

Supervisors vary in their level of involvement: some take a more hands-off approach, while others are more structured and involved. It’s helpful to reflect in advance on what style of supervision works best for you, but also to be open and flexible in your approach to adjusting to your supervisor’s approach.

Key components include:

• Research presentation in June

• Final dissertation due in September

• Mock grant proposal

Many supervisors encourage conference presentations and publication of dissertation research.

Workload

The workload is  high, particularly during the first term, when most coursework deadlines occur. UCC is strict on extensions and waivers etc., so there is no flexibility around these deadlines, which means that you need to be able to effectively organise your time and energy to make sure that you can submit assignments to your preferred standard.

The second term typically involves fewer assignment deadlines but includes several parallel responsibilities:

• Coursework

• Placement

• Dissertation

This can make the latter half of the programme complex to manage, even if the number of assignments is lower.

Things to Consider Before Applying

The course is intentionally aligned with professional doctorate training, which means it is intensive but provides specific preparation for clinical, counselling, or educational psychology pathways. UCC’s School of Applied Psychology offers strong exposure to applied research and teaching from practicing clinicians, which is a distinctive aspect compared to some other psychology departments.

I would particularly recommend reflecting on these practical considerations:

• Housing in Cork (price and overall availability issues)

• Commuting to placement locations (or commuting to classes if you would not move to Cork)

• Balancing work alongside the programme

• Because of the workload and other demands of the course, it’s essential to have good self-care routines and support systems in place

If you’re considering this course or applying to similar programmes, it can be a challenging but valuable year for building experience, research skills, and insight into applied psychology careers.