The MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) is a full-time programme running for 12 months, or a part-time programme running for 24 months, from the date of first registration for the programme.

A candidate for this MA programme must:

1. Hold an honours undergraduate degree in Psychology that satisfies the eligibility requirements of the Psychological Society of Ireland; a 2H1 degree is required.  Only in special circumstances will consideration be given to 2H2 candidates where, for example, an applicant has relevant work experience or has performed impressively in another Master's degree acceptable to the School selection committee.  In such cases, the applicant should set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the supplementary statement.
2. All applicants must arrange for one Referee's Report form to be posted directly to the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork.   The reference must be a professional reference from someone who has experience of the applicant in a professional capacity, whether paid or voluntary work. 
3. Supply a personal statement conveying:
   i) An understanding of what applied psychology in mental health entails;
   ii) Reasons for applying to the programme;
   iii) A proposed topic for research dissertation.
4. Satisfy the interview board
5. UCC requires all students on the MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) to undergo garda vetting.

Applicants will be shortlisted for interview for this programme based on their academic performance, referee report, evidence of research capacity and commitment to the area of applied psychology.   Applicants cannot be short-listed for interview if a completed referee report form has not been submitted to the School.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I (60 credits)
AP3110 Psychological therapies (5 credits)
AP6016 Research Methods and Data Analysis (10 credits)
AP6023 Psychological Assessment (5 credits)
AP6128 Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Skills (5 credits)
AP6144 Applied Clinical Issues (Adult Mental Health) (5 credits)
*AP6153 Placement (15 credits)
AP6155 Applied Clinical Issues (Child and Adolescent Mental Health) (5 credits)
AP6156 Psychology and Intellectual Disabilities (5 credits)
AP6172 Methods of Investigation (5 credits)

*Placements
While all students will be offered a placement, specific placements will be secured through a competitive placement interview process in semester 1. Placements may be located throughout Ireland. If a student chooses not to accept the placement offered by the School of Applied Psychology, it will then become their responsibility to secure an alternative placement for themselves which meets with the School of Applied Psychology placement criteria for MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health).

All placements will be supervised in a work setting relevant to the programme of study. Placements will run two days a week (usually Thursdays and Fridays) for six months (approx. 340 hours). 

Students failing the Placement may, with the approval of the programme team, be permitted to either extend or repeat the Placement. Students may repeat the placement only once in a repeat year.  Students failing or not completing the placement because of a serious ethical breach will not be permitted to repeat the placement.

Part II
AP6137 Dissertation in Applied Psychology (30 credits)
On the recommendation of the School, an Examination Board may decide that a dissertation is a borderline pass/fail and may agree to permit the student to make minor corrections to achieve the pass standard (40 or 50 per cent, as detailed in the module description) for the Dissertation within six weeks of the publication of examination results.  This option should apply only where examiners are satisfied that the research described in the Dissertation is fundamentally sound and that the fail judgement relates solely to the presentation of the Dissertation.

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Mental Health)
Students who have completed and passed modules to the value of at least 60 credits in Part I and who fail or do not wish to proceed to Part II may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Mental Health).

Transfer to MA (Applied Psychology)
Students who pass 45 credits in Part I but fail the Placement (and repeat placement if taken) or are deemed unsuitable to undertake a placement may be permitted to transfer to the MA (Applied Psychology) with exemption of 45 credits to complete the remaining 15 credits of taught modules and 30 credit dissertation on the MA (Applied Psychology) or complete 15 credits of taught modules and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2016 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2015/2016.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Understand the discipline of psychology and its value in mental health contexts;
• Critically appraise psychological research and practice;
• Utilise the principles of applied psychological practice, gained through coursework, in mental health placement settings;
• Know the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology in mental health placements;
• Develop an adequate level of knowledge and competence with working practices in the area of mental health;
• Display skills commensurate with planning and implementing an effective research dissertation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology (Mental Health) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Understand the discipline of psychology and its value in mental health contexts;
• Critically appraise psychological research and practice;
• Know the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology in mental health contexts;
• Utilise the principles of applied psychological practice, gained through  coursework, in mental health placements;
• Develop an adequate level of knowledge and competence with working practices in the area of mental health.