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Higher Diploma Psychology

HDip (NFQ Level 8)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The Higher Diploma in Psychology is an intensive two-year postgraduate conversion course for graduates with an honours degree in a discipline other than psychology, who would like to take the first step towards a professional career in psychology. 

Applicants to the Higher Diploma in Psychology programme must be graduates with an honours degree (typically a 2.1 or higher), or final year students on an honours degree programme in any disclpline. Offers to applicants who are not yet graduates will be contingent on degree results. The programme welcomes applications from mature students. The selection process for the Higher Diploma in Psychology will take account of: 1) undergraduate record and, where relevant, postgraduate record; (2) certified modules or courses in psychology; (3) experience of psychology through work or voluntary activities; (4) employment record; (5) references; (6) applicant's personal statement on the application form.

Course features:

  • Psychology conversion course
  • Equivalent to Honours BA degree in Psychology
  • Two years fulltime or four years part time
  • Accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
  • Internationally recognised degree
  • Enables further postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, health or other types of psychology

The purpose of the Higher Diploma in Psychology in UCD is to foster an evidence-based appreciation of mind, brain, lived experiences, social context, and behaviour, and the nature and outcomes of their complex interactions. Students will learn the importance of psychological approaches to problems in modelling the full richness of mental life, as well as the role of empirical research in shaping and influencing theory. The programme stresses the importance of critical thinking, informed awareness of the multiplicity of levels of understanding psychological phenomena, the significance of building research skills, and of ethics in research and practice.

 

About This Course

  • Communicating Broad: An ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear and incisive way. Specific: An ability to communicate and present scientific psychological data in a professional and sophisticated manner, in both written and oral form.
  • Integrating Broad: Comprehend, organise and use data in an effective manner, and apply psychological knowledge to real-world issues. Specific: Use a wide range of psychological tools and equipment incl. computer software and psychological tests.
  • Knowing Broad: Understanding the scientific process of building knowledge. Specific: A thorough knowledge of core domains of psychology incl. biological, cognitive, social and developmental psychology, individual differences and research methods.
  • Managing Broad: Demonstrate effective planning, time-management and project-administration skills. Specific: Carry out an independent research project from formulation of a research question through ethical approval, data analysis and write-up.
  • Planning and Implementing Broad: An ability to generate hypotheses and research questions. Specific: An ability to generate a hypothesis around why humans or animals act the way they do, and design a research process to test this hypothesis.
  • Thinking Broad: An ability to think critically & reason scientifically. Specific: An ability to appreciate the multiplicity of psychological approaches, and have an awareness of their theoretical, practical, methodological and ethical implications.

Enables further postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, health or other types of psychology.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY10060 Brain and Behaviour Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY10080 Introduction to Social Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY20020 Child & Adolescent Development Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY20050 Laboratory Practicals in Psychology I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY20150 Foundations of Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY20160 Research Methods & Stats II Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY20240 Language, Perception & Social Cognition Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
PSY30110 Laboratory Practicals in Psychology II Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20100 Introduction to Disability Studies Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20130 Introduction to Work and Organisational Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20170 Clinical Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20180 The Science + Art of Therapy: From Freud to Zinn Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20200 Psychology for Everyday Life Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20110 Introduction to Health Psychology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY20220 Psychology of Ageing Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY30080 Psychology and Crime Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY30290 Applied Health Psychology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY30320 Career development in psych Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:
Select 4 of the following
PSY30380 Youth Mental Health Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30450 Research Project and Skills 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30050 Behavioural Neuroscience Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30340 Human Intelligence and Personality Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30350 Research Methods & Stats III Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30040 Lifespan Developmental Psychology Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
PSY30140 Advanced Social Psychology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20020 Child & Adolescent Development Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20100 Introduction to Disability Studies Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20130 Introduction to Work and Organisational Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20170 Clinical Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20180 The Science + Art of Therapy: From Freud to Zinn Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20200 Psychology for Everyday Life Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30400 Cross-Cultural Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30410 Advanced Cognitive Psychology Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20110 Introduction to Health Psychology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY20220 Psychology of Ageing Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30080 Psychology and Crime Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30290 Applied Health Psychology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30320 Career development in psych Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30380 Youth Mental Health Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Select a minimum of 3
PSY30440 How to Change Behaviour Spring  5

The degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) as a first degree (equivalent to an Honours BA in Psychology), and confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of PSI. The Higher Diploma in Psychology is an internationally recognised degree that allows graduate membership of relevant psychological societies including the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Brendan Byrne
Graduate

The Higher Diploma in Psychology at UCD equipped me with the academic knowledge and practical skills I needed to transition into the field of Psychology. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

Higher Diploma Psychology (W014) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 10450
EU          Year 2 - € 8480 aa

Higher Diploma Psychology (W202) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6730

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2025 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2024/25
***Fees are subject to change

Please note that the part-time option (W202) is not available to non-EU students. 

Up-to-date tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

 

 

Between 15 and 20 students are admitted to the Higher Diploma in Psychology each year. 

Applicants to the Higher Diploma in Psychology programme must be graduates with an honours degree (typically a 2.1 or higher), or final year students on an honours degree programme in any disclpline. Offers to applicants who are not yet graduates will be contingent on degree results. The programme welcomes applications from mature students. The selection process for the Higher Diploma in Psychology will take account of: 1) undergraduate record and, where relevant, postgraduate record; (2) certified modules or courses in psychology; (3) experience of psychology through work or voluntary activities; (4) employment record; (5) references; (6) applicant's personal statement on the application form.

Applications for this program will open on October 1, 2023 and close on March 08, 2024. Applicants may contact : psychology@ucd.ie for further information

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No


A number of places on the Higher Diploma in Psychology are offered each year to international applicants. Applications for this programme typically open in October and close in  mid-March. International applicants may contact psychology@ucd.ie in the first instance to indicate their interest in applying for the Higher Diploma in Psychology. International applicants may apply for the Higher Diploma in Psychology through the UCD Online Applications homepage.



Teaching in Irish Universities is normally through the medium of English. All applicants are therefore required to demonstrate a high level of competence in the English language. Applicants whose first language is not English, and who are not presenting the subject English in a school-leaving examination which is at least of pass Leaving Certificate standard (e.g. GCSE grade C) must meet the minimum English Language Requirements in relation to TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) specified at the following website: Admission English requirement


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Higher Diploma Psychology:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W014
Higher Diploma Psychology
Higher Diploma
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W202
Higher Diploma Psychology
Higher Diploma
Part-Time
Commencing September 2024
Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W014
Higher Diploma Psychology
Higher Diploma
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W202
Higher Diploma Psychology
Higher Diploma
Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply
* you can change options at the top of the page