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About University of Galway
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Psychology—Full (HDipA)
Course Overview
Watch course video presentation here.
The HDipPsych (Full) is a two-year, full-time programme for graduates who have already received a higher degree in a field other than Psychology but who wish to pursue Psychology as a career option. By completing the HDipPsych (Full), you will cover course content equivalent to that of the University of Galway BA Psychology programme, thus qualifying you for entry to postgraduate professional programmes in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The HDipPsych (Full) is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and thus satisfies the requirements specified by PSI for graduate status in psychology. The programme qualifies graduates for entry to postgraduate professional programmes in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the University of Postgraduate Applications System.
Who Teaches this Course
- Professor Ruth Curtis, BA, MA, HDipEd, PhD, AFPsSI, AFBPsS, CPsychol
- Dr Padraig Mac Neela, BA, PhD

School of Psychology
Room 1034
Arts Millennium Building
NUI Galway
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School Of Psychology
Room 1035
Arts Millenium Building
NUI Galway
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School of Psychology
University of Galway
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School of Psychology
Room 1032
Arts Millennium Building
NUI Galway
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Requirements and Assessment
Assessment on the HDipPsych (Full) programme varies from module to module. Many modules are assessed by examination and some wholly or partially through continuous assessment. Work submitted for continuous assessment includes written essays, written reports, presentations and research projects.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
The programme is intended for graduates with at least a Second Class Honours level in any field other than Psychology. Places are awarded on the basis of academic merit. The two-year HDipPsych (Full) is not intended for graduates who have the BA (Omnibus) with Psychological Studies from University of Galway (or its equivalent as deemed by the College of Arts), which is intended to synchronise with the one-year full-time HDip in Psychology (Conversion).
Additional Requirements
Duration
2 years, full-time
Next start date
September 2023
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
8
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
60
Award
CAO
Course code
HDIP-PSY
Course Outline
The programme provides detailed training in the science of psychology. Students take modules from the BA Psychology second and third year programme.
The modules on offer include those on the psychology of learning; memory and cognition; developmental psychology; perception, attention and performance; biological psychology; issues in cognitive neuroscience; applied organisational psychology; social psychology; health psychology; psychological measurement (theory and practice); advanced research methods (both quantitative and qualitative); and computer skills training (SPSS).
Students take part in a series of experimental workshops throughout the two academic years and, in addition, are required to complete a research project under supervision in their final year. Finally, a recent innovation allows students to choose elective modules across both academic years.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required PS338: Theories of Personality - 5 Credits - Semester 1Required PS214: Developmental Psychology 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS413: Qualitative Research Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS220: Psychology of Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS403: Biological Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional RPL015: Recognised Prior Learning - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional RPL005: Recognised Prior Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional PS412: Experimental Psychology Workshop I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required PS2100: Experimental Psychology Workshop - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS415: Perception, Attention & Performance - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS428: Social Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS320: Memory & Cognition - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS219: Research Methods in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS3104: Professional Skills in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional PS414: Experimental Psychology Workshop 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional PS427: Forensic, Abnormal & Clinical Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Optional PS340: Neuropsychology - 5 Credits - Semester 3Optional PS408: Human Sexuality - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS342: Introduction to Positive Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS409: Psychology, Science & Pseudoscience - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS3114: Introduction to Communication Skills and Counselling - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS405: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS420: Psychological Measurement: Theory & Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS334: Applied Behaviour Analysis - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS325: Research Project 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required PS322: Health Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional RPL015: Recognised Prior Learning - 15 Credits - Semester 3
Optional RPL005: Recognised Prior Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS3109: Vertically Integrated Projects 1 S1 - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS338: Theories of Personality - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional RPL010: Recognised Prior Learning - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional PS3106: Language & Cognition: A Contextual Behavioural Approach - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS4100: Technology and Health - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS345: Applied Developmental Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS343: Pediatric Clinical Behavioural Interventions - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS336: Psychology, Society & Human Values - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW365: Criminology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required PS427: Forensic, Abnormal & Clinical Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required PS3100: Historical and Conceptual Issues in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required PS418: Issues in the Cognitive Neurosciences - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required PS327: Research Project 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS3110: Vertically Integrated Projects 1 S2 - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional ED2104: Design Your Life Semester 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS329: Service Learning in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS341: Introduction to Collaborative Enquiry & Applied Systems Science - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS3101: Modelling Learning and Decision Making - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS3107: Introduction to Psychophysiology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS3102: Brain and Behaviour: Theory & Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS3103: Health and Well-Being: Theory & Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS339: Behavioural Medicine - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS320: Memory & Cognition - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional PS419: Relational Frame Theory, Language & Cognition - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
This programme provides an excellent foundation for further postgraduate courses of study and careers in a variety of areas. Completing this degree will enable a graduate to gain access to further training to become a professional psychologist (e.g., a clinical, counselling or occupational psychologist) or to undertake a research degree in psychology (e.g., a PhD in Psychology).
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2023/24). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.
Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.
Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.