Who is this course for?

The programme provides professional training in many areas of work, including child and adolescent clinical psychology, adult clinical psychology, lifespan disabilities and other selected areas of practice such as older adults, infant mental health, neuropsychology, health psychology and forensic psychology. The programme is designed to train psychologists to be eligible for appointment to the post of Staff Grade Clinical Psychologist as per the Department of Health and Children guidelines, in any of the core areas of child clinical psychology, adult clinical psychology, and intellectual/lifespan disability services. 

The overall objective of the programme is to produce competent and capable staff grade clinical psychologists to work in the Irish health service and provide a solid foundation for subsequent specialisation through continuing professional development (CPD). The programme particularly emphasises to trainees the need to have an on-going programme of post-qualification CPD to enable more specialist skills to develop in a chosen area.  

What will I study? 

The DPsychSc course runs over three full calendar years and includes three inter-related elements: Academic Programme, Research Programme, and Clinical Placements.  

Clinical 

• Train Clinical Psychologists to work in an applied clinical setting and an appropriate theoretical context, in a variety of roles and settings and with a variety of client groups in the Irish health service at a Staff Grade level in the profession.
• Be responsive to the needs of the Health Service in terms of clinical psychology training.
• Be responsive to the needs of the profession of clinical psychology and to developments in the profession of clinical psychology in terms of the content and structure of the training programme. 

Academic 

• Provide a broad theoretical and academic knowledge base across a range of core competencies and clinical specialist areas.
• Provide opportunities to explore and increase trainees’ understanding of theory-practice links.
• Develop good oral and written communication skills as required for the practice of clinical psychology. 

Research 

• Provide research and evaluation training to enable the clinical psychologist to practice within the evidence-based environment of the health service.
• Promote an appreciation of the importance of ongoing service-based research and to provide the requisite skills and confidence to enable trainees to conduct research in the clinical setting. 

Professional 

• Promote the personal and professional development of trainees.
• Promote the development and adherence to a high level of ethical and professional responsibility in trainees.  

Organisational 

• Develop in trainees an understanding of the broad social, cultural, political and organisational context in which clinical psychologists and the health service operate. 

Students are expected to have an awareness of issues pertaining to minority groups and the clinical practice implications arising from same to ensure that services are optimally and sensitively orientated towards such clients. They are also required to conduct themselves at all times in a manner fully consistent with the values espoused in the Code of Ethics of the Psychological Society of Ireland. 

The academic programme includes core modules required for accreditation, as well as other courses designed to enable students to be effective practitioners in a variety of clinical settings. The modules cover the following areas: 

• Adult Clinical Psychology  
• Child, Adolescent and Family Clinical Psychology 
• Clinical Psychology of Learning Disability
• Clinical Psychology of Older Adults
• Advanced Topics (e.g., Forensic psychology, Neuropsychology)
• Professional issues (including ethical and legal issues)
• Methods of Psychological Research 

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

• The programme provides professional training in many areas of work, including child and adolescent clinical psychology, adult clinical psychology, lifespan disabilities and other selected areas of practice such as older adults, infant mental health, neuropsychology, health psychology and forensic psychology. 
• The programme is designed to train psychologists to be eligible for appointment to the post of Staff Grade Clinical Psychologist as per the Department of Health and Children guidelines, in any of the core areas of child clinical psychology, adult clinical psychology, and intellectual/lifespan disability services.
• The overall objective of the programme is to produce competent and capable staff grade clinical psychologists to work in the Irish health service and provide a solid foundation for subsequent specialisation through continuing professional development (CPD). 
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are core values of the programme and EDI principles are embedded across all aspects of training. The programme aims to prepare practitioners who are culturally competent, socially aware, and dedicated to anti-discriminatory practice. 
• Graduates are trained to engage critically with global mental health perspectives, challenge dominant narratives in psychology, and advocate for equitable, ethical, and culturally responsive practice. 
• Our unique partnership with the MSc in Clinical psychology at the University of Addis Ababa bring our trainees into an innovative and collaborative relationship with Ethiopian trainees fostering deeper insights into global mental health issues.
• Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in research has been actively promoted by the DPsychSc programme since 2021 in collaboration with the PPI Ignite Network.  

Formal training in relevant clinical skills will be provided prior to placements. Further clinical training, as well as the development of consultation and presentation skills, will be provided by means of lectures, seminars, workshops and demonstrations throughout the programme. These will be delivered by experienced practitioners as well as by University staff.  

Clinical competence is developed in six placements over the three years of the programme. The placements provide trainees with experience of clinical psychology practice under the supervision of experienced clinical psychologists. All students will have placements in  settings working with  child and adult clients, and in services for people with a learning disability. Other placements shall include services for older adults,  prisons,  services for people with acquired brain injury, services for people with addictions, and specialist  clinical settings in general hospitals (e.g., psycho-oncology). A key aspect of the placement experience will be the development of personal awareness and interpersonal sensitivity.

Accrediting Body 

The programme is accredited by The Psychological Society of Ireland as a postgraduate professional training course in clinical psychology.  

Within the next couple of years, the DPsychSc programme will be subject to approval by CORU, the statutory regulator for health workers and social care professionals.  

• Dr John Bogue
• Dr Tom Burke
• Dr Anne O’Connor
• Prof. Brian McGuire
• Dr Kate Moran
• Dr Eoin Ryan
• Dr Kiran Sarma

Teaching methods reflect modern practice in education. The trainees are recognised as adult learners and the approach to teaching recognises the significant depth of knowledge and life experience among the trainee cohort. Lectures are combined with workshops to facilitate participative learning. Teaching methods include lectures, skills and competency-based workshops, experiential learning, discussion groups, case presentations, simulations and role-plays, use of technical media (video/audio presentations), and peer feedback.   

The programme makes extensive use of virtual learning environments (CANVAS) for certain academic components such as the Research and Statistics modules. 

The academic curriculum comprises three learning domains that permeate the main teaching areas: Psychological Assessment, Psychological Intervention, and Psychological Disorders. In addition, there are key thematic areas that are deeply integrated within the main teaching areas but are also organised and delivered as independent teaching units in their own right. These areas are: Personal and Professional Development, Clinical Research Methods, and Current Issues/Advanced Topics in Clinical Psychology Practice. The sequence of the academic content reflects the sequence of the clinical placements. The academic programme emphasises the development and consolidation of basic skills in assessment, formulation, intervention and reporting in earlier stages of the programme and the development of more advanced clinical skills and competencies in later stages. 

The course content is delivered by members of the programme team and by a wide range of academic and applied psychologists, many of international repute, as well as by members of other professions. The course also has valuable input from service users, relatives of service users, and representatives from various groups reflecting the cultural and social diversity of contemporary Irish society. The programme encourages all trainees, as adult learners, to take personal responsibility for the progress of their learning. Active learning is encouraged and reflective practice is promoted at all times.   

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, skills and competency-based workshops, experiential learning in workshop format, use of technical media (video/audio presentations), role-play, debate and discussions. Contributors regularly use their own clinical material or hypothetical scenarios to elucidate theory-practice links and trainees also present clinical material during clinical practice discussions with a view to using theory to develop clinical formulations, interventions, reflective and evaluative skills. Attention is given to issues of consent and confidentiality in these situations. Similar methods are used when addressing professional issues when various ethical scenarios and dilemmas are presented. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Award of the DPsychSc (Clinical) is based on satisfactory performance in academic work (as assessed by three essays), satisfactory clinical performance (as assessed by the ratings of clinical supervisors and four Reports of Clinical Activity), and satisfactory performance in research (as assessed by a quantitative service-related research project, a qualitative service-related research project or systematic review and a major thesis). The assessment components are outlined below: 

1. Four (or in exceptional cases five) placements of supervised clinical practice must be passed.
2. Candidates must submit the following: 
   1. Four Reports of Clinical Activity: One from each of the following core areas: Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychology, Adult Clinical Psychology, Intellectual Disability and (in Year 3) one account of their ethical and professional development over the period of their clinical training in the form of a Reflective RCA. RCAs should not exceed 4,000 words excluding references and appendices.
   2. Three Essays: Three core placement essays (Child, Adult, and Intellectual Disabilities). Essays should not exceed 4,000 words excluding references and appendices.
   3. One quantitative service-based research project. Not to exceed 3,000 words excluding references and appendices.
   4. One qualitative service-based research project or Rapid Evidence Assessment.  Not to exceed 4,000 words excluding references and appendices. 
   5. Research Project. A thesis not to exceed 10,000 words excluding references and appendices and submission of an empirical paper based on the thesis to an international peer reviewed journal.  

Excellent career opportunities exist for professionally qualified clinical psychologists in a wide variety of health and social care settings. 

Graduates of the DPsychSc programme are in high demand and can expect immediate employment on qualification. Prominent employers include the HSE, Tusla – Child & Family Agency, the Irish Prison Service or social care organisations such as the Brothers of Charity Services.

Course queries: 
clinicalpsychology@universityofgalway.ie   

Programme Director(s):  

Dr John Bogue,  
Director 
Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology  
School of psychology
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies 
E: clinicalpsychology@universityofgalway.ie
T: 091 493266 

Minimum Entry Requirements

Applicants must have the equivalent of an honours degree in psychology recognised by The Psychological Society of Ireland that confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of The Psychological Society of Ireland. The qualification must be at least upper second-class honours level. On an exceptional basis, candidates with a lower second-class honours level degree may be considered. Successful applicants are likely to have a combination of strong academic ability, relevant clinical or health related experience, and personal suitability for a career in clinical psychology. At least one year of practical and/or research experience relevant to clinical psychology is generally required.  Successful applicants are expected to have a means of transport to enable them to participate in all elements of the programme, including undertaking supervised clinical placements in health settings. 

The Programme selects candidates on open competition principles. A joint selection process based on shortlist and interview operates between the University of Galway, the University of Limerick and University College Cork. Although a joint selection process is in operation, applicants must apply separately to each course for which they wish to be considered.  

English Language Entry Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

Supporting Documents

It is very important that applicants complete all required sections and provided all necessary documentation. Failure to do so will invalidate your application. Selection procedures may vary from year to year and may be conducted online if necessary. Academic and clinical references are carefully considered. 

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.  

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.  

Closing Dates 

For this programme, the closing date is stipulated on the School of Psychology webpage and is advertised in The Irish psychologist. The usual closing date is the second Friday in January each year.

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
DPsychSc	1	€12,861		€12,861	€140		€13,001	€13,001

Student Levy: €140—payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here https://su.universityofgalway.ie/

If you are being part-funded for this programme please scan confirmation letter of funding to fees@universityofgalway.ie

You must be an EU/EEA/UK citizen or have proof of entitlement to work in the Republic of Ireland if you are not an EU/EEA/UK citizen. 

All successful applicants are employed by the HSE on training contracts and must be eligible for EU fees. An EU student is defined as an EU national (i.e. holding an E.U. passport or birth certificate) who has been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years immediately preceding their entry to the third level course. Note: 'ordinarily resident' excludes residency for educational purposes.