Psychology

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The Master of Art in Psychology (MA Psychology) is a new full-time 1-year master programme that integrates existing undergraduate modules and postgraduate modules. The programme is designed for students with prior experiences in psychology and research methods (e.g., BA Joint Honours), providing students with a menu of modules that reflect the breadth of psychological research and its applications. The undergraduate modules will be provided by the Department of Psychology (Education and Health Science); the postgraduate modules will be provided by the Department of Psychology, the Department of Design and Technology (Faculty and Science and Engineering), the Department of Personnel and Employment Relations (Kemmy Business School), and the Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department (Faculty of Education and Health Sciences).

Objectives:

On successful completion of the programme, it is expected that the student will be able to:

* Identify the fundamental psychological processes that underlie psychological phenomena in cognition, developmental psychology, social psychology, personality psychology, and biological psychology.
* Understand the fundamental principles of research methods.
* Critically evaluate current issues in psychological research and its applications in society.
* Demonstrate how psychological issues can be investigated and critically evaluated.
* Select and develop strategies to investigate and solve psychological issues on the level of individuals and groups.
* Apply the fundamental psychological concepts and practices to psychological issues in research and in the social context.
* Demonstrate expertise in applying psychological methods when assessing and solving psychological issues.
* Demonstrate interpersonal competencies and professional sensitivity including ethical behaviour.
* Conceptualise, research and write critical assessments of psychological areas of investigation.
* Understand and evaluate the significance of psychological research and the findings that it can provide.
* Critically evaluate psychological applications to solutions in society considering contextual limitations and the feasibility of psychological interventions.

Overall, a student will take 11 modules over the course of 12 months. In the Autumn, the student will take 5 modules. In the Spring the student will also take 5 modules. In the Summer the student will take 1 module. Specifically, the student will take 4 core modules and 1 elective module in the Autumn semester. Similarly, the student will take 4 core modules and 1 elective module in the Spring semester. In the Summer the student will take 1 core module, the major research project. The 11 modules contribute to 90 ECTS, and each semester (Autumn, Spring, Summer) provides 30 ECTS. All modules listed as electives are Level 9 modules. All modules listed as electives can serve as substitutes. Substitutes are taken in addition to the electives. Electives and substitutes need to be consistent with the overall curriculum and the learning goals of the course. For example, a student who has little experience in statistics will not be able to take the module 'Advanced Analysis in Psychology 1' as an elective. But a student who has taken a statistics module such as 'research methods', will be allowed to take the advanced analysis module as an elective. Note that modules will only be substituted if the modules taken as part of the earlier education overlap with the content of modules on courses that have been accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society. It is therefore essential that the Course Director agrees to the student's preferred electives. Note also that the course consists of an "exit option", which allows students to complete their study after the first two semesters (10 modules; 60 ECTS) with a Higher Diploma (Level 8) degree.

Autumn Semester

Psychology of the Personality; Biological Basis of Human Behaviour; Empirical Psychology; Social Influence and Attitude Change

Spring Semester

Human Development and the Life Span 1; Research Methods; Advanced Empirical Psychology; Cognition 1

Summer Semester

Major Research Project

Elective Modules: 1 in Autumn

Advanced Research Designs in Psychology; Advanced Analysis in Psychology 1; Problem Solving & Decision Making; Psychology of Employee Relations; Human Reliability; Human Performance; Applied Exercise and Health Psychology

Elective Modules: 1 in Spring

Advanced Analysis in Psychology 2; Community Psychology; Advanced Perspectives in Social Identity Research; Work Psychology; Occupational Ergonomics; Applied Sport Psychology

Normally a 2.2 honours degree (NFQ Level 8) is required, with a minimum of 60 ECTS or equivalent experience in psychology and research methods in a cognate field (e.g., sociology). The amount of credits associated with psychology modules must be equivalent to more than 50% of the overall credits. In the case of international candidates, the overseas equivalent as determined by the Course Board and the guidelines of UL Graduate School Admissions is required. Where candidates are non-native English language speakers, certified demonstrable achievements in a standard English language competency test in line with UL requirements will be necessary. Where deemed necessary, candidates may be interviewed as part of the selection process.WHAT TO INCLUDE WITH YOUR APPLICATION * Qualification transcripts and certificates * English language qualification if English is not your first language * Certified English translations of your transcripts/certificates where the originals are in a language other than English * 1 (one) academic reference. * A copy of your birth certificate (long document) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 80

External Funding

This page contains information on funding opportunities that are available outside of the University. The information below is intended as a guide only and applicants should contact the funding agencies directly for further information.

Local Authority (Higher Education) Grants

Postgraduate students, who received an Irish local authority grant for their undergraduate studies, may usually extend this to cover one full-time postgraduate course in Ireland, including Northern Ireland. This applies to both masters and doctorate degrees as well as taught postgraduate diplomas and taught masters programmes. The grant covers fees and in some cases a maintenance payment.

A mature candidate (23 years of age on 1 January of year of entry to postgraduate study) may be eligible for a local authority grant on the basis of parents' income if ordinarily resident with parents or on the basis of own income if resident away from home. Details of income limits for eligibility are available from Local Authorities (Higher Education Section).

Students should contact their relevant local authority for further information.

Graduate Skills Programmes

The Graduate Skills Conversion Programme (GSCP) is a joint initiative with the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority, in response to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills needs, The aim of the programme is to provide graduates with the opportunity to acquire qualifications for employment in the ICT area. A composite fee applies to all courses under the programme. The fee for 2009-10 is 2,000.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarships and Fellowships 2011/2012

During the academic year 2010/2011, students and doctoral candidates from the EU are now eligible for Erasmus Mundus scholarships and fellowships.

European students or doctoral candidates interested in an Erasmus Mundus scholarship/fellowship should consult the list of Erasmus Mundus Masters and Doctorates on the Erasmus Mundus website . There are over 800 Masters and 70 PhD scholarships available in the A/Y 2011/12.

Candidates wishing to enrol in an Erasmus Mundus Joint Programme at masters or doctoral level in the academic year 2011/2012, will have to apply directly to the consortium or consortia of their choice during the period November 2010 - January 2011.

Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences funds graduate research in the humanities and social sciences, including law and business studies.
The Scholarships are valued at up to 16,000 per annum. While the scholarships are awarded initially for one year, they are renewable for up to two additional years subject to terms and conditions. Fees will also be covered for the period of the Scholarship. Applicants must be either citizens of Ireland or citizens of a member state of the European Union who have been ordinarily resident within Ireland for a continuous period of not less than three years.

Closing date for application: To be announced in January 2011

Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

The Embark Initiative's Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme is designed for either Masters or Doctorate level researchers in the sciences, engineering or technology.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology invites applications for funding from intending postgraduate researchers under the Embark Initiative Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme (2009).

The 2009 programme will fund new entrant Masters or Doctorate level researchers in the sciences, engineering and technology. A number of additional scholarships will be jointly funded by industry as part of IRCSET's Enterprise Partnership Scheme. The scheme is open to candidates worldwide with a small number of the scholarships available to exceptional candidates from non EU member states. Under the Postgraduate Research Scholarship Scheme, funding of 24,000 is provided for each of three years for Doctorate level research (total funding of 72,000) and one year (24,000) for Masters level research.

The Closing Date for all on-line applications is To be confirmed.

Opportunities aboard: Department of Education and Science

The Department of Education and Science provide information on opportunities abroad for postgrduate research/study and other offers.

General Information and Funding Opportunities

This website is a convenient and user-friendly source of information on financial support for further and higher education.

This site provides information on course fees and details on eligibility requirements for free fees. In addition, you will find out all you need to know about other sources of assistance for students, such as the Fund for Students with Disabilities, the Back to Education Allowance, the Student Assistance Fund and the Millennium Partnership Fund. You can find answers to possible questions you may have by accessing our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section. finally, there are details and links to a range of other organisations and websites that may be of interest and/or assistance.