Overview
Professional Development or Personal Enjoyment
The Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) study option offers you the attractive opportunity to study, at an Honours degree level, an array of interesting psychology modules, through online distance learning, without having to commit to a full-time, or part-time, campus-based programme.
The psychology modules are part of a programme that is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), which ensures that the programme meets the highest standards for undergraduate, pre-professional education and training in Psychology.
Click on this link to watch our Open Day taster lecture and find out more.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
The Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) allows students to undertake study at university degree level for personal enjoyment or professional development purposes without having to commit to study towards an exit award.
Studying on the Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) modules will develop skills such as critical thinking, high quality written expression, and transferable skills such as organisation and time-management. The knowledge, abilities and skills you will develop are highly valued by employers and will also be useful and valuable to you should you undertake any further study.
The Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) is often used by students as a stepping stone to further study of, and careers within, the discipline of psychology.
Entry Requirements
Applicants aged over 23 years on January 1st in the year of entry are eligible for admission to the programme and are granted a place subject to 1) submission of an application, supporting documentation where appropriate and deposit, 2) availability of a place.
Applicants under 23 years on January 1st in the year of entry must satisfy the normal minimum degree entry requirements of Dublin City University which are detailed: https://www.dcu.ie/registry/entry.shtml, and are granted a place subject to 1) submission of an application, appropriate supporting documentation, and deposit, 2) availability of a place.
All Applicants must complete a personal statement and indicate which module(s) they wish to take. Personal Statement Template
In addition, applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must satisfy the university requirements for competency in the English language.
Course Structure
The Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) study option allows students to undertake study at (level 8) degree level for personal enjoyment or professional development without having to commit to study towards an exit award.
This stand-alone programme offers students great flexibility in that they can vary the number of modules they register for in a given year to match the other responsibilities in their life. Given that registering for a module means committing to the workload associated with that module, this flexibility allows a student to only take on the work they can accommodate in a given year. When deciding how much work to take on, students should consider the time needed to: study learning materials; actively participate in tutorials; and the time they need to set aside to interact with tutors and other students in the online discussion forums. Students on this programme also have a good degree of flexibility in terms of time, place and pace of studying as they do not have to attend campus-based classes on a regular basis.
The psychology modules are part of a programme that is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), which ensures that the programme meets the highest standards for undergraduate, pre-professional education and training in Psychology.
Course Structure/Module Selection:
Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) students may choose from the following modules depending on the number of credits, and type of module, they want to study, or need to achieve for upskilling purposes:
- PY100: What is Psychology?
- PY110: Exploring Psychological Research
- PY230: Cognitive Psychology and Biopsychology
- PY310: Abnormal Psychology and Psychological Counselling
It should be noted that studying one, or a small number of, psychology modules is not a route to graduate membership of a Psychological society, and therefore is not a route into the field of Psychology in and of itself. Students need to complete one of our psychology programmes, for example the MSc in Psychology (Conversion) programme or the online BA in Humanities (Psychology Major) programme in order to be eligible for graduate membership of a Psychological society.
Please note that the programme is under constant review and there may be changes to the structure, content and presentation of the programme in future years.
Each module is awarded 15 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credit points.
Mathematics Recommendation:
Please note that the Single Module Programme Psychology (SMPPY) programme involves a number of modules that focus on Psychology research methods, which require a competence in mathematics roughly equivalent to pass Leaving Certificate level. While a Leaving Certificate mathematics qualification is not mandatory, students without recent exposure to mathematics should consider updating their skills by enrolling in a Leaving Certificate mathematics course or by studying Leaving Certificate mathematics textbooks.
Because of the way the programme is structured, you do not have to defer commencement of the programme while you develop your competence in mathematics. You could update your skills in parallel with other modules not requiring competence in this area, specifically PY100: What is Psychology?, before taking PY110: Exploring Psychological Research.
Technology and Online Skills Requirements:
Your learning experience as a DCU Connected student is enhanced through the use of learning technology and rich digital media. We understand that students will have varying degrees of technical experience and ability when they begin their studies. Due to the key role technology will play in your studies you should be ready to engage with relevant technologies to a minimum level when you begin your studies. That is, you should be familiar with using email, browsing the Internet, downloading files, and using the word processing package Microsoft Word. When you begin your studies you will then further develop your skills with using technology in your studies. Becoming more confident in the use of technology, as you study, will then help you succeed as an online learner.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
Please see Application Procedures or E-mail ugadmissions@dcu.ie.
Notification of commencement of this programme for September 2025 entry, to be confirmed.
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.