MSc in Psychotherapy

How is the course accredited?  
The MSc in Psychotherapy is accredited by Dublin City University and therefore provides graduating students with an internationally recognised Level 9 qualification.  

While psychotherapy is a designated health service profession that is in the process of being regulated by Coru (the Irish regulatory body for health and social care professions), as statutory registration is not in place in Ireland as yet, DCU has course accreditation from two professional organisations, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the National Association for Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy. Psychotherapists registered with professional organisations such as the IACP or the NAPCP are recognised by many state and private employers in Ireland. 
 

How and when are lectures scheduled?  
The DCU academic calendar runs over two semesters, each semester normally running over a 12-week period (from September in semester 1 and from January in semester 2). 

Typically, there are 10 three-day blocks of face-to-face and online teaching for the first two and a half years of the programme, five in Semester 1 and five in Semester 2 – these blocks normally occur about every two to three weeks during the academic year, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and sometimes Saturdays (however, this schedule is open to revision from year to year, and students will be given advance notice of an upcoming revision to the typical schedule).  

There are a reduced number of teaching days in the second semester of year three and in year four (1-2 days’ teaching per block over the 10 blocks), however students also attend individual research supervision meetings during this part of the programme (approximately once-monthly).  

Face-to-face and online lectures, workshops, skills practice and tutorials are delivered by staff from  the School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health in DCU (face to face teaching takes place on the Glasnevin campus). 

All teaching is supported by Loop (Moodle) as its online learning platform. 

A sample timetable for year one is provided below as an example of how class times are normally configured. As this is a clinical training programme, students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all module classes each semester. 
 

What are the entry requirements and how do I apply?  
The primary entry requirements are:

• A relevant level 8 undergraduate degree (on the NFQ: National Framework of Qualifications; or its equivalent outside of Ireland; for example, in social care/work, psychology, nursing, education, healthcare, sociology, etc.)
• A minimum of one year's recent relevant professional experience in a caring or helping role, which has included some training and supervision (for example, voluntary counsellor/helpline work, social care, nursing, special needs teaching or guidance counselling, psychology assistant or pastoral care experience). The majority of this experience needs to have been working with adults and be based on verbal communication (not text or email communication)
• Demonstrate personal readiness and suitability for psychotherapy training
• Successfully undertake a selection interview

Further details and direction to the online application portal is available below. The application portal is normally open from November of the previous year, with a closing date in late February and shortlisted, eligible applicants are invited for interview during April and May.  It is a competitive process as the number of places available on the programme is restricted to meet student/lecturer ratios (currently we have an intake of 20 students per year).   
 

Can I still apply if I do not meet the exact entry criteria? 
It is not possible to compensate for not having the required professional experience but if you do not have a relevant level 8 degree, it is possible to apply for consideration of other relevant qualifications, learning and experience through completing an additional Recognition of prior experience and learning criteria (RPEL) application. 

The RPEL application is submitted only after successful online application and interview for the MSc. 

However, it is important to closely review what is required in the RPEL application form before submitting your online application to the MSc and to include in your personal statement your intention to apply through RPEL, and on what grounds. The RPEL form is available from either the MSc programme administrator, Lilija Prialgauskiene (lilija.prialgauskiene@dcu.ie).
 

Can I apply if I am already accredited as a counsellor or psychotherapist but want to upgrade my qualification? 
Applicants who are already accredited as a psychotherapist or counsellor with a recognised professional organisation and who have relevant educational achievements may apply to enter the programme at year two or year three, through submitting an additional Recognition of prior experience and learning (RPEL) application. 

The RPEL application is submitted only after successful online application and interview for the MSc. However, it is important to closely review what is required in the RPEL application form before submitting your online application to the MSc and to include in your personal statement your intention to apply to join the MSc in a later year through RPEL, and on what grounds. 

The RPEL form is available from either the MSc programme administrator, Lilija Prialgauskiene (lilija.prialgauskiene@dcu.ie).

What are the fees and are there any additional costs?  
The programme fees are outlined below (fees are set by the university and may be open to revision). There are some additional costs for personal therapy and clinical supervision, as noted below. 

Do I have to attend personal therapy?  
All students are required to attend 80 hours of individual personal therapy over the course of the four year MSc programme (approximately 20 hours per year), which is an additional cost and time commitment to attendance at classes in DCU. 

Personal therapists need to be professionally accredited and meet requirements as set by DCU and the accrediting bodies (IACP and NAPCP).

Do I have to attend clinical supervision?  
Students attend group supervision within each of the 10 academic blocks in DCU during years 2, 3 and 4 of the MSc programme. 

Students are also required to attend one hour of individual clinical supervision for every four client practice hours (75 hours in total) during years 2-4, which is an additional cost and time commitment to attendance at classes in DCU.  

The programme team provide guidance on sourcing a clinical supervisor and supervisors need to be professionally accredited and meet requirements as set by DCU and the accrediting bodies (IACP and NAPCP). 

Do I get help with sourcing placements?  
Students commence clinical placement following successful completion of the first year of the programme.  

All students are required to engage in an average of 100 hours of clinical practice during each of years two, three and four of the programme (total 300 hours).  

The programme team provide guidance on sourcing a clinical placement from the current list of approved placements or in gaining approval of a new placement.  

Can I undertake the programme if I am a non-EU student or if I’m not a native English speaker?  
DCU welcomes international students. Students applying from outside the EU are advised to contact our DCU Global Office to have their qualifications verified by the university and to get information on living and studying in Ireland prior to application.   Non-EU fees apply to international students (see link to fees above).  

International students applying to take the programme should always check their national requirements for practising as a psychotherapist as standards vary from state to state.  Guidance regarding English language competency requirements and testing/certification are available at this link: https://www.dcu.ie/registry/english-language-requirements-non-native-speakers-english-registry