The D.Clin.Psych. is a full-time programme running for 36 months from the date of first registration for the programme. Candidates will be required to complete a three-year programme and accumulate 270 credits.

The selection process for the DClinPsych is composed of two stages:

Stage 1: Minimum eligibility criteria

• Applicants must be eligible for graduate registration with the Psychological Society of Ireland.
• Applicants must have a first or upper second class honours degree. This can be either:

• An honours degree in Psychology which confers eligibility for graduate registration

or

• An honours degree in another subject (2H1 or higher) together an accredited conversion qualification (2H1 or higher) which confers eligibility for graduate registration.
• Applicants who are not resident in the EU must have proof of eligibility to work in the EU and a statement of equivalence in psychology.
• Applicants must have six months full-time (or equivalent) 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 (max. 2 pages).
• Applicants must submit two references, one academic and one clinical or equivalent.

Stage 2: Selection process
As there are likely to be far more suitable applicants than places available, an interview shortlist will be prepared by the Programme Team. The shortlist will be based on the Programme Team’s ratings of the relevant competencies derived from evidence presented in applicants’ transcripts, application form, personal statements, and references. The competencies include: Academic ability; knowledge of psychology; personal development in areas relevant to clinical psychology training; research ability; clinically relevant abilities and experience; interpersonal skills.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a day-long assessment and interview.

The Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme is run in partnership with the Health Service Executive. As well as being offered a place on the programme, successful applicants are offered a specified purpose contract of employment for 3 years as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist with the Health Service Executive or other approved Health Care Provider.

As placements can be located anywhere in Ireland, trainees must be available to live near their placement and/or travel as appropriate while on placement. Application to the programme is considered acceptance by candidates that they are prepared to travel the required distances.

Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the first intake, this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

FIRST YEAR
AP7002 Clinical Psychology Applied to Adults (25 credits)
AP7003 Clinical Psychology Applied to Intellectual Disability and Autism 1 (15 credits)
AP7008 Clinical Research Methods and Data Analysis 1 (10 credits)

plus
Research (40 credits)
Students undertake work on the thesis to the value of 40 credits during Year 1, progress on which will be formally assessed through annual postgraduate research progress review procedure and finally assessed by means of the thesis submitted during Year 3.

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

SECOND YEAR
AP7004 Clinical Psychology Applied to Intellectual Disability and Autism 2 (15 credits)
AP7005 Clinical Psychology Applied to Child and Adolescent (25 credits)
AP7009 Clinical Research Methods and Data Analysis 2 (10 credits)

plus
Research (40 credits)
Students undertake work on the thesis to the value of 40 credits during Year 2, progress on which will be formally assessed through the annual postgraduate research progress review procedure and finally assessed by means of the thesis submitted during Year 3.

THIRD YEAR
AP7006 Elective Topic in Clinical Psychology (25 credits)
AP7007 Advanced Placement in Clinical Psychology (25 credits)

plus
Research (40 credits)
Students complete the research work and continue to develop their thesis in consultation with the Supervisor.  At the end of the year students present a thesis of approx. 30,000 words which will be assessed through a viva voce examination (see here).

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

Placements
All placements will be supervised in a work setting relevant to the programme of study.

Where an alternate placement setting is required for both AP7003 and AP7004 students must undertake one of their elective placements in final year in an intellectual disability setting.

One opportunity may be provided to repeat one failed clinical placement or, in exceptional cases and at the discretion of the Programme Board, those elements of the placement (competencies), that have been failed. A fail grade on a repeat or subsequent clinical placement will result in the trainees being required to leave the programme.

Students failing or not completing a placement because of serious misconduct will not be permitted to repeat the placement and will become subject to the Fitness to Practise policy.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Programme Learning Outcomes for DClinPsych (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Integrate psychological values, knowledge and skills in responding to clinical situations;
• Synthesise and generalise psychological theory and knowledge, at the forefront and covering all core areas of clinical psychology,  in assessment, formulation, treatment and evaluation;
• Display high-level communication skills in working effectively in multi-disciplinary teams with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds in a variety of health and community settings;
• Work effectively with appropriate levels of professional autonomy and accountability, including awareness of ethical, legal, organisational and governance responsibilities of Clinical Psychologists;
• Show professional competence relating to personal and professional development informed by awareness of the dynamic clinical, professional and social context of clinical psychology;
• Identify, review and critically appraise a substantial body of research evidence which is at the forefront of clinical psychology practice;
• Generate practice-relevant knowledge by applying appropriate research methods and techniques, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, to clinical research and service evaluation case studies;
• Design, carry out, and report advanced, independent, original research in clinical psychology.