Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology

Academic Qualification

Applicants will have a minimum upper second class honours (2.1) degree in psychology or an equivalent qualification, recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland or equivalent, as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership.

AND

Experiential Component

An equivalent of two year's relevant full-time experience working in the field of education or psychology or both is required (Psychological Society of Ireland, 2010).

Interview

Short-listing of applicants for interview normally occurs. Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of requirements 1, 2 and 3 (if applicable) above. Short listed applicants will be assessed by a panel, to include the Course Director, the core course team and, where feasible, representation of the placement supervisors (PSI, 2010). The selection panel will pay particular attention to the personal suitability of applicants to work with children (PSI, 2010, p.10). In judging applicants’ suitability, account will be taken of academic qualifications, professional and research experience, interpersonal skills and communication skills in addition to the quality of references provided.

Garda Vetting

Successful applicants will be Garda vetted prior to final acceptance on to the course.

You cannot apply until you have obtained your psychology degree results. Applicants must hold an accredited qualification in psychology by the closing date for applications.

A 2:1 or equivalent is required to demonstrate that applicants possess the competencies required for undertaking the Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology.

You will need to demonstrate that you have relevant experience of working in educational, childcare, or community settings. Some work experience or combinations of work experience allow applicants better opportunities to acquire the necessary competencies. It is important that applicants can demonstrate what they have learnt from their experiences and how this is relevant to work as an educational psychologist. Applicants should be able to give examples of how they have could apply the knowledge gained though their psychology degree.

Two years’ full time (or four years’ part time) experience working with children in an educational, child care or community setting is a recommended minimum. This can be cumulative or continuous. Voluntary experience of various kinds may also assist applicants in demonstrating a breadth of relevant experience.

NB: periods of continuous professional experience of less than three months full-time employment will not count towards the two years minimum experiential requirement.

If your degree does not have sufficient psychology modules then you should contact the Psychological Society of Ireland, where you will find details of conversion courses available to you.

Applicants must have a degree in psychology or an equivalent qualification (e.g. Higher Diploma in Psychology or a Masters in Psychology), recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland or equivalent, as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership. If you wish to pursue a qualification in psychology, please see a list of accredited conversion courses on the Psychological Society of Ireland website.

Applicants with a BPS accredited psychology degree who meet the minimum academic requirements will be eligible to apply.

There are a variety of routes you can take in pursuing a place on the programme.  The route you choose must enable you to meet the minimum entry requirements and should also depend on your own interests.

No, it is not essential that you complete a teaching qualification before applying. You should only undertake a teaching qualification if you feel you have a desire to teach.

To practice as an Educational Psychologist in the UK you must be registered with the Health Professions Council (HCPC). The HCPC assess applicants who have trained outside of the UK against Standards of Proficiency for practicing psychologists. If an applicant meets these standards they are eligible to apply for registration. For further information please refer to the Standards of Proficiency on the HCPC website.

Visa: The Department of Justice website is very detailed and takes prospective students through the visa process. In the event that you are offered a place on the programme and you require a visa, we will provide the letter of offer required for your application. It is then a matter for the applicant and the embassy.

English language proficiency: For English language, candidates will require an IELTS test score of 6.5-7.0, with no less than 6.0 in any one component.

The fees for international students outside of the EU for 2021/22 were €20,425 per annum.

Trainees on the programme undertake substantial professional placements in a variety of settings over the course of the three years. The placement coordinator will organise each of the psychology placements. Trainees will be placed near their home base where possible.

Trainees are consulted with regard to school placement (20 days) at the early stages of the programme. Please note trainees are likely to require their own transport and must be prepared to travel to placements.

The programme is a full-time three year programme. A part-time option is not available.

The programme includes a combination of taught modules, professional placements and research.

Taught Components: The programme is sufficiently flexible in content and structure to adapt readily to current and future needs and to the emergence of new knowledge in educational psychology and related fields. Taught modules will be typically delivered by qualified psychologists in four-day blocks over the first two years. In addition to taught modules, a variety of workshops and seminars are organised for trainees and delivered by experienced practitioners e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Video Interactive Guidance, Assistive Technology, Dynamic Assessment. One day per week is normally assigned to study.

Placement: Professional placements, totalling over 300 days, are organised in a variety of settings (e.g HSE Disability services, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Child Psychology (Primary Care/CAMHS). The professional placements provide extensive opportunities for the development of professional competencies. Detailed placement handbooks are provided to trainees in advance of each placement. Trainees typically attend placements for 3-4 days per week. Where possible, trainees will be placed close to their home base. In addition to professional placements, trainees also undertake a 20-day placement in an educational context in Semester 1. This placement will provide opportunities for trainees to carry out.