MSc (Health Psychology)

The MSc (Health Psychology) is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme of academic study in the discipline of health psychology. The programme is fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).

Health Psychology is concerned with the application of psychological theory, research, and practice to the promotion and maintenance of health; the identification and amelioration of psychological factors contributing to physical illness and the improvement of the health care system and formulation of health policy.

The overall aims of the Programme are:

• To equip graduates with a comprehensive knowledge base in health psychology, at postgraduate level
• To train students to conduct high quality research in the area of health psychology
• To train students in a wide range of transferrable skills, including communication skills, group work, evidence synthesis, critical review, and professional and ethical conduct.
• To prepare students to undertake future professional training in health psychology and other areas of psychology, such as clinical psychology

Programme staff are active in developing and promoting health psychology in Ireland and internationally. A number of internationally recognised health psychologists contribute to the programme throughout the year.  It is intended for psychology graduates seeking to develop their knowledge and expertise in Health Psychology. The MSc will enable students to conduct high quality research and will prepare them to undertake further professional training in health psychology and other areas of psychology.

Our graduates enter a wide range of jobs and future training opportunities. Some decide to pursue a career in research and progress to either a research post or a PhD. Others are more interested in applied options and may progress to further training, such as the Structured PhD in Health Psychology Practice, Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology. Some go directly into applied work settings, such as the Department of Health or private industry.