The Higher Diploma in Psychology is a full-time programme running over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme. (The programme may also be taken over a maximum of four academic years part-time (last intake for this option is 2019/20)).
Candidates should normally have at least a Second Class Honours, Grade I degree.
It may be necessary to limit numbers, and candidates will have to satisfy a Selection Committee at interview. Previous study of psychology, although not a requirement, is highly advantageous.
Year 1 (From 2019/20)
Students take 60 credits as follows:
AP2041 Critical skills for Applied Psychologists (5 credits)
AP2042 Introduction to Clinical Psychology (5 credits)
AP2043 Biological Psychology II (5 credits)
AP2044 Applied Cognition (5 credits)
AP2045 Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence (5 credits)
AP2046 Research Design and Statistical Analysis II (5 credits)
AP2047 Social and Organisational Psychology (5 credits)
AP2048 Psychology and Everyday Life (5 credits)
AP2049 The Psychology of Aging (5 credits)
AP2050 Research Methods in Psychology II (15 credits)
Students Repeating First Year from 2019/20 onwards
A student who repeats the first year of the programme must pass and progress in accordance with university rules, as well as selecting from modules available in the repeat year which may differ from those available in an earlier attempt year. Where a student has been granted exemptions due to having passed module(s) in an earlier attempt year, an exemption in any particular module is relevant to the repeat year only where that module is included in the current prescribed programme. Students repeating first year from 2019/20 onwards may be required to take new modules as prescribed by the School. In some instances, modules may potentially carry different credit weightings and content compared to an earlier attempt year.
Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.
Year 2 (for 2019/20 only)
Students take 35 credits as follows:
AP3101 Abnormal Psychology (5 credits)*
AP3108 Practical Project Work (20 credits)
AP3111 Professional Skills (5
credits)
AP3114 Cognition and Real Life Applications (5 credits)**
plus
25 credits (with a minimum of 10 credits and maximum of 15 credits in
each semester) from the following:
At least one module from:
AP3102 Applied Biological Psychology (5 credits)
AP3039 Evolutionary Psychology (5 credits)
AN4009 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
AN4012 Medical Imaging and Biomedical Devices in the Neurosciences (5 credits)
and
At least two modules from:
AP3115 Health Psychology: Models and Applications (5 credits),
AP3015 Forensic Psychology (5 credits)
AP3110 Psychological Therapies (5 credits)
AP3030 Special Educational Needs: Aetiology, Assessment and Intervention (5 credits)
AP3399 Psychological Measurement (5 credits per module)
and
At least one module from:
AP3104 Applied Developmental Psychology (5 credits)
AP3033 Positive Psychology (5 credits)
Year 2 (From 2020/21)
Students take 45 credits as follows:
AP3117 Research Project (20 credits)
AP3112 Conceptual and historical issues (5 credits)
AP3116 Applied Psychology seminars (5 credits)
AP3118 Psychological measurement (5 credits)
AP3119 Psychological therapies (5 credits)
AP3120 Personal and career development (5 credits)
plus 15 credits from the following:
AN4009 Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (5 credits)
AN4012 Medical Imaging and Biomedical Devices in the Neurosciences
AP3121 Forensic Psychology (5 credits)
AP3122 Special Educational Needs: Aetiology, Assessment and Intervention (5 credits)
AP3123 Positive Psychology (5 credits)
AP3124 Work Psychology (5 credits)
AP3125 Cognitive psychology: new perspectives (5 credits)
AP3126 Health Psychology: Models and applications (5 credits)
Students Repeating Second Year from 2020/21 onwards
A student who repeats the second year of the programme must pass and progress in accordance with university rules, as well as selecting from modules available in the repeat year which may differ from those available in an earlier attempt year. Where a student has been granted exemptions due to having passed module(s) in an earlier attempt year, an exemption in any particular module is relevant to the repeat year only where that module is included in the current prescribed programme. Students repeating second year from 2020/21 onwards may be required to take new modules as prescribed by the School. In some instances, modules may potentially carry different credit weightings and content compared to an earlier attempt year.
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 2019/2020 Book and for
each module in the Book of Modules, 2019/2020.
Programme Learning Outcomes for Higher Diploma in Psychology (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: