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Doctor of Psychological Science

- Contents -

Aim & Orientation

Programme Content

Examination Arrangements

Professional Experience Programme

Career Opportunities

Admission / Selection

Application

Programme Fees

Downloads

Applying for Clinical Psychology Training

DPsychSc (Clinical) Programme News

aIMS & oRIENTATION

The Doctor of Psychological Science (DPsychSc) in Clinical Psychology is a taught doctoral programme that provides professional training in clinical psychology. The programme involves full-time study for three calendar years, and is provided in partnership with clinical psychology services in the Health Services Executive and other health service agencies. A maximum of twelve places are offered each year. The DPsychSc (Clinical) Programme at NUI Galway is fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland as a postgraduate professional training course in clinical psychology.

The Clinical Psychology Training Programme commenced at National University of Ireland, Galway in September 2003. The course has an annual intake of 12 trainees, all of whom are employed and sponsored by the health service and voluntary agencies as Trainee Clinical Psychologists. The programme plays an important role in training clinical psychologists for health services along the western seaboard. The programme is well supported by clinicians in the region and has a strong partnership with HSE. The programme aims to be responsive to the needs of the health service and to developments in the profession. The course promotes in all trainees a knowledge and ethos of professional practice in line with the PSI Code of Professional Ethics.

The programme provides basic professional training in many areas of work, including adult clinical psychology, child and adolescent clinical psychology, intellectual disabilities and other selected areas of practice such as older adults, neuropsychology, health psychology and forensic psychology. The programme is designed to train psychologists to be eligible for appointment to the post of Basic Grade Clinical Psychologist as per the Department of Health and Children guidelines, in any of the core areas of adult clinical psychology, child clinical psychology, and intellectual disability services. In addition, the programme aims to provide trainees with the requisite knowledge and skills to commence work as a Basic Grade Clinical Psychologist in more specialised services such as older adults, neuropsychology and forensic psychology services.

The overall objective of the programme is to produce competent and capable clinical psychologists for the Irish health service, through the provision of high quality training in the clinical, academic and research elements of clinical psychology.

The programme subscribes to the scientist-practitioner model and aims to develop highly competent clinical psychologists capable of practicing in a wide range of clinical and service settings. A key objective is that, on qualifying as clinical psychologists, students will have both the competence and confidence to undertake clinical research in professional settings and take a generally critical approach to their professional work.

Course title	ECTS
Year 1
Theoretical and Professional Issues in Adult Mental Health	15
Theoretical and Professional issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health	15
Research Methods	20
Applied Clinical Theory I	10
Clinical Practice I	10
Applied Clinical Theory II	10
Clinical Practice II	10
Year 2
Theoretical and Professional Issues in Disability, Older Adults and Neuropsychology	20
Research Methods	20
Applied Clinical Theory III	20
Clinical Practice III	15
Clinical Practice IV	15
Year 3
Research Methods & Thesis	55
Applied Clinical Theory V	15
Clinical Practice V	10
Clinical Practice VI	10

eXAMINATION aRRANGEMENTS

Assessment is through mandatory coursework, and evaluation of clinical competence on supervised clinical placements. Mandatory coursework requirements involve: three essays; four Reports of Clinical Activity; two Small Service-Related Research Projects; one Report of Large Scale Research Project/Thesis. In addition to assessed coursework, trainees are required to satisfactorily complete six supervised clinical placements over the duration of the programme. All required placements must be passed in order for the candidate to be deemed to have passed overall.

The thesis is the subject of oral examination by the External and Internal Examiners at the end of the programme.

pROFESSIONAL eXPERIENCE pROGRAMME

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 trainees have placements in mental health settings working with both child and adult clients, and in services for people with learning disability. Other placements include services for elderly people, rehabilitation services, services for people with acquired brain injury, services for people with addictions, and appropriate settings in general hospitals. The development of personal awareness and interpersonal sensitivity are fostered.

cAREER oPPORTUNITIES

Career opportunities exist for professionally qualified clinical psychologists in a wide variety of health, forensic and social care settings. Opportunities may also be found in educational services and institutions.

ADMISSION AND SELECTION

Admission to the programme is by way of open competition. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of written application, taking account of academic qualifications and relevant experience. Short-listed applicants are called for interview for final selection. Candidates must hold a degree or postgraduate diploma in psychology recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) as granting eligibility for graduate membership of PSI. The qualification must be at least upper second-class honours level (barring exceptional circumstances). Qualifications deemed equivalent by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies may also be accepted. At least one year of practical and/or research experience relevant to clinical psychology is also 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.

APPLICATIONS

his programme are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application code above right. Important links with regard to application for all postgraduate courses including the DClinPsych are as follows:

PROGRAMME FEES

Please consult the course secretary Alma Greally (Tel.: 091-493266) with regard to current Programme fees and funding arrangements.

D.PSYCH.sC. PROGRAMME DOWNLOADS

NUIG DPsychSc Programme Newsletter

DPsychSc Newsletter Vol.1(1)

NUIG DPsychSc Programme Handbook v1.11

NUI Galway DPsychSc (Clinical)

Programme Documentation

HSE Administration Documents

APPLYING FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING

The following is for general guidance only. NUI Galway cannot be held responsible for any externally maintained content or sources.

How to get on a clinical psychology training course. The Psychologist (1998)

Hints and tips for applying to clinical courses. The University of Glasgow

DPsychSc (Clinical) Programme - Open Evening Presentation

http://www.psihq.ie/

http://www.bps.org.uk/

http://www.psychapp.co.uk/

http://groups.google.com/group/AP_Ireland

http://www.psyclick.org.uk/

http://www.clinpsy.org.uk/

http://hdl.handle.net/10147/118070

http://clinicalpsychologyireland.blogspot.com/2009/07/online-resources.html

INFORMATION FOR 2013 Intake

Applications for the above programme should be submitted through the NUI galway on-line postgraduate applications system ( www.pac.ie/nuig) where further information is available to prospective applicants. The programme code is GYA37. The Closing Date for receipt of applications is 5.00pm on Friday, 1st March 2013.

Please be advised that interviews for the next intake of the DPsychSc (Clinical) Programme are likely to take place during March and/or April 2013.

If you are unable to attend our open evening for prospective applicants on Thursday the 31st January 2013 at 7.30pm you can download the presentation here. The open evening will feature presentations from Programme Staff, Current and Former Trainees, and provides an opportunity for informal discussions with the Programme Team.

For directions to the NUIG Clinical Psychology Training Programme : http://www.nuigalway.ie/psy/directionstowoodquay.html

DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE (D.PSYCH.SC.)IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR QUALIFIED CLINICIANS (“TOP-UP” DOCTORATE)

Please find further information on this new programme by downloading the information pack here:

DOCTORATE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR QUALIFIED CLINICIANS

Web Page last edited by John Bogue on 11/01/13

School of Psychology
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This page was last updated Friday, January 11, 2013