Overview
This one-year conversion course will help you take the next steps on your psychology career path and gain a Psychological Society of Ireland pre-professional qualification.
During the course, you’ll delve deeper into the six pillars of psychology: biological bases of behaviour, developmental and lifespan psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality and individual difference, and research design and methods. You’ll also work on a supervised research project across all three trimesters.
Benefit from individual support
With just 20 places available, the small class size offers more tailored learning and access to individual support. This extremely popular programme is open to graduates with 60 European Credit Transfer System credits in psychology and research, which is equivalent to about one-year full-time related study.
Most students on this course aim to pursue a career as a psychologist, and you'll graduate with the knowledge and skill set for roles like counselling psychologist or assistant psychologist. . assistant psychologist, and gain the qualification necessary to pursue further professional study in psychology (e.g. in clinical, counselling or other applied areas). Once you graduate, however, you’ll have a wide range of transferable skills you could use in research, data analysis, health promotion or academia.
DCU People
After raising four children while working and spending time as a family carer for a parent with cancer, I decided to find a more meaningful career so I started the MSc in Psychology (Conv
Read more about Lucy Hayden
Careers & Further Options
Careers
This course has been designed to enable graduates to seek membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland upon completion. Such membership is a prerequisite for further study in psychology, including clinical and applied areas.
Graduates from this course who wish to pursue further study in psychology as a discipline can go on to specialise with either Master’s and Doctorate qualifications in counselling, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, educational psychology, research and a range of other specialist areas in psychology.
Most students study psychology because they aim to pursue a career as a psychologist. However, others choose to study psychology because it offers a broad training in a behavioural science, it develops a wide range of valued transferable skills and it can be used as a stepping-stone into several other careers.
"DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.
DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path."
Entry Requirements
For admission to the MSc in Psychology (Conversion), entrants will typically hold:
- A (NFQ) Level 8 Honours Degree with a H2.1 or international equivalent in a discipline cognate to Psychology (e.g. Humanities; Human Sciences, Education Sociology, Health and Society, etc.) or have completed a Psychology Honours Degree that did not confer eligibility for the graduate basis from the Psychological Society of Ireland (otherwise known as Psychological Studies degree).
- Applicants should also have a minimum combined total of 60 ECTS in Psychology modules (or modules with a substantial element of Psychology, e.g Health Promotion, Human Resources, etc.) and/or Research Methods modules (or equivalent modules, e.g. Research Project/Thesis, Statistics, Data Analysis/Data Handling etc.)
- Candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here.
Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above
As part of the application process applicants may be called for interview.
In addition to the above, applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may be considered. This may include demonstrated substantial additional prior experiential learning in Psychology and/or Research Methods. These individuals will be considered on a case by case basis. We will particularly recognise those individuals who have substantial Research Methods and Statistics experience.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.
Programme Structure
This course is a one-year, intensive, full-time MSc, which has been fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland. Classes are timetabled for between 20-30 hours per week each semester.
This course covers the key mandatory areas of psychology outlined by the Psychological Society of Ireland including:
- Biological Bases of behaviour
- Developmental and Lifespan Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Personality and Individual Difference
- Cognitive Psychology
- Research Design and Methods
The research skills module focuses on developing advanced research skills and students will also complete a year-long supervised individual MSc research project.
The course contains applied modules, which focus on psychological issues in the real world today; technological innovations in psychology, clinical applications and the emerging field of social cognition.
This course also offers a range of elective modules specifically designed for graduates who intend to pursue further study in applied settings including clinical, counselling and educational psychology.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
To apply for this programme:
- All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.
- Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.
- Provide a Personal Statement addressing why you wish to do this particular programme indicating clearly your experience in Psychology and Research Methods to date (academic, experiential and professional).
- If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.
Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:
- Closing date for non EU applicants is 31st March 2025.
- Closing date for EU applicants is 31st March 2025.
- All required documentation to support an application must be submitted by 31st March 2025.
Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025.
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
