Master of Science (MSc) Psychology (Pending QQI validation)
Psychology is increasingly recognised as being integral to solving societal challenges including mental health, workplace well-being and sustainability. This flexible, inclusive and high-quality MSc Psychology (Conversion) Programme is the first of its kind in Ireland and offers a part-time, mainly online, 2-year master’s degree, designed for graduates from non psychology backgrounds. It has been purpose built for adult learners balancing study with work and life commitments, with inclusive design and strong academic, technical and pastoral support throughout. It is currently pending QQI validation.
ICEP Europe has almost 25 years in providing flexible, accessible and innovative online programmes and our faculty comprises research experts of international quality and reputation in the fields of psychology and education.
This MSc is also being submitted to the Psychological Society of Ireland to seek recognition as an approved programme* so that upon completion, graduates holding a minimum 2:2 Honours degree will become eligible for Graduate Membership (GMB) with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) —a necessary step for professionally accredited psychology training in Ireland.
*ICEP Europe is in the process of seeking accreditation from PSI. Once accredited, all students who complete the programme will be eligible to gain Graduate Membership of the PSI.
This Programme is Perfect for:
- Graduates from a non-psychology background or those who have studied some psychology (e.g., through a minor or psychological studies degree).
- Those who are passionate about human behaviour and wish to access a flexible, blended, Masters level psychology programme, leading to eligibility for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).*
- Mature learners from diverse academic, cultural and professional backgrounds who may be working full time or part time and also have caring responsibilities.
- Professionals who want to enhance their current career with psychological knowledge, transition to a related field or would like to enter professional practice in psychology
“Very interested in it being mainly online as I have small children and this option isn’t available anywhere else in Ireland currently.” Survey Respondent, March 2025
Future Careers
Completion of the programme with a 2:2 or above will allow students to apply for Graduate Membership with the PSI* – an essential steppingstone into graduate employment, training, and education. Graduates of the MSc Psychology (Conversion) will be well positioned to pursue further training in areas such as clinical, counselling, educational, and forensic psychology. They will also be prepared for graduate level roles such as assistant psychologists, researchers, and support workers.
Professionals from cognate sectors, such as education and social work, can also benefit greatly from pursuing psychology studies to advance their careers. This course will support teachers and education professionals looking to enhance classroom practice or transition into educational psychology, SEN support, or school counselling. It will equip prison officers, probation workers, and forensic professionals with skills to support offender rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address mental health needs. It will benefit HR professionals, leadership coaches, and corporate trainers by providing expertise in workplace wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and employee engagement. It will expand the workforce for counselling, mental health support, and community-based psychological services.
Skills to Make an Impact
In addition to building strong disciplinary knowledge, the programme emphasises psychological literac —enabling learners to apply psychological concepts, theories, and insights to contemporary societal issues. Graduates will also develop high demand transferable skills, such as critical and scientific thinking, digital literacy, ethical reasoning, effective communication, and the ability to understand and engage with diverse perspectives. These skills are highly relevant across a wide range of professional contexts, enhancing graduates’ employability beyond traditional psychology roles.
Course Delivery
Designed as a part time, two-year course, this programme offers flexibility for learners to balance their studies with other commitments and be accessible to diverse adult learners.
The academic year is divided into three terms per year, allowing for manageable module loads (15-20 credits per term) while ensuring consistent progression through the PSI core curriculum. Modules are carefully sequenced to build on foundational knowledge and allow for integration of theory, research methods, and applied content.
The course enables students to study key areas of psychology in a thriving research environment, and research methods modules are positioned early to ensure learners are prepared to engage with empirical literature and to begin planning their independent dissertation project, which runs across the second year of the programme. A key feature of the programme is the integration of both online and in-person psychology laboratories, which will support students in developing essential hands-on research skills.
“I have been waiting for a course like this to appear! I have been actively seeking options to become an educational psychologist.” Survey Respondent, March 2025
Course Modules
The programme has been developed to meet the criteria for Graduate Basis for Membership of PSI*, which is a prerequisite for further postgraduate training in psychology. The curriculum is designed to cover all six core areas of the discipline with a strong emphasis on the development of research skills, scientific understanding, and ethics, which are critical to the professional practice of psychology.
The modular design facilitates a progressive and coherent learning experience that allows students from non psychology backgrounds to gain comprehensive, foundational, and advanced knowledge across key domains of psychological science while also developing essential research and applied skills.
These modules are designed not only to convey theoretical and empirical knowledge but also to encourage critical reflection, application to real world settings, and ethical reasoning. A strong emphasis is placed on cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and decolonial approaches to psychological science, helping learners understand and critique the dominance of Western paradigms and engage with global and indigenous psychologies.
In the first year, students will cover:
- Introduction to Psychology: Past and Present (5 ECTS)
- Social Psychology (10 ECTS)
- Biological Bases of Behaviour (10 ECTS)
- Individual Differences (10 ECTS)
- Research Methods and Statistics 1 (5 ECTS)
- Developmental Psychology (10 ECTS)
In year 2, the subjects covered are:
- Research Methods and Statistics 2 (5 ECTS)
- Cognitive Psychology (10 ECTS)
- Dissertation (20 ECTS)
- Contemporary Issues, Careers and Research in Psychology– this is a Seminar Series, a non-credit bearing component that runs throughout the second year
Award:
Level 9 Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology – 90 Credits
Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (60 ECTS —this exit award is available for learners who complete the taught stage but do not proceed to the dissertation.
Participants attend a face-to-face induction day, which covers a seminar on the Introduction to Psychology and will facilitate academic orientation and community building.
Modules are then delivered over a 12 week period, as a distance learning module with weekly live webinars. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with peers in online class discussions. Modules are based on continuous assessment and there are no exams. Participants will receive in-person input on research methods before and during the research methods and thesis modules commence.
A wide range of teaching and learning approaches, rich and varied online content, a state-of-the-art Virtual Learning Environment, a dedicated digital library, psychology labs, and student and academic support services provide a varied and rich array of learning opportunities.
In line with Universal Design for Learning, students are offered multiple means of engagement, expression, and representation, allowing them to demonstrate mastery through varied modalities (e.g., podcasts, blogs, concept maps, infographics, traditional essays). This enhances accessibility, supports diverse learning needs, and enables all students to engage meaningfully with the curriculum.
Students benefit from dedicated tutor guidance, academic support, library support, learning support and reasonable accommodations, dissertation supervision, and responsive technical assistance and can also avail of an individual counselling service.
The programme culminates in a dissertation, where students integrate their accumulated knowledge and skills to design and execute an independent empirical study under supervision. This capstone module reflects the programme’s overarching goals: to produce graduates who are critical, ethical, and applied thinkers, equipped to contribute to psychology and society in inclusive, culturally responsive, and impactful ways.
The ICEP Europe faculty is characterised by a unique blend of multidisciplinary skills and expertise. This includes respected specialists in clinical and educational psychology, education and training, research and advocacy work, each of whom has extensive experience in developing and delivering quality assured online and face to face training.
The MSc in Psychology (Conversion) is designed for graduates from non-psychology backgrounds, as well as those who have previously studied some psychology (e.g., through a minor or psychological studies degree) but have not met the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
Applicants should hold a Level 8 Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ or international equivalent) with a minimum award of H2.1 (or equivalent GPA) in a cognate discipline. Cognate disciplines may include (but are not limited to): Sociology, Education, Health and Society, Social Care, Nursing, Public Health, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Human Resources, Criminology, Youth and Community Work, Social Work, Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, Human Development, and other Health or Human Science-related disciplines.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate strong graduate attributes such as critical thinking, communication, analytical ability, and independent learning, along with mathematical readiness for research methods and statistics.
An applicant whose first language/primary mode of expression is not English must meet ICEP Europe’s English language requirements -IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent).
Applicants from a non-cognate discipline are also welcome to apply to the programme, provided they can demonstrate the relevant transferable skills and commitment to the field.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
In line with ICEP Europe’s RPL policy, applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experiential learning may also be considered. This may include those with substantial prior engagement in areas related to psychology, research methods, human behaviour, or data analysis, even if not formally certified. RPL applicants must submit a personal statement along with their application.
You are invited to register your interest, and we will be in touch with the application link after QQI validation. Given the popularity of psychology as a field and the limited number of places available, early application is strongly encouraged.
The fees for this academic year are €6,750 per annum, payable in 2 instalments.
There is an application fee of €65.
Other fees may include a learner protection charge, a QQI Award fee is payable in the award stage of all QQI programmes, a graduation fee, an RPL fee if applicable and any additional supplementary fees may be available in the VLE.
Participants may be eligible for tax relief and qualified teachers may be able to apply for the teacher refund scheme. Click here to find out more.
FAQs for the Master of Science (MSc) Psychology
This online course has two intakes each year, typically September and January.
However, the first intake will occur in April 2026, for which we are now enrolling.
Specifically, the course aims to ensure that graduates of the programme will:
- Develop a comprehensive foundation in psychology and be equipped with the knowledge, research skills, and critical competencies required for further professional training and careers in the dynamic field of psychology.
- Have opportunities to enter various sectors, from professional training as psychologists to psychology-cognate posts across the rapidly growing mental health, education, and community sectors all while integrating a lens of inclusion and equity.
- Upon completion, those holding a minimum 2:2 Honours degree will become eligible for Graduate Membership (GMB) with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) —a necessary step for professionally accredited psychology training in Ireland.
There will be an online application form on our website, which will open after QQI validation.
- A Level 8 Honours Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ or international equivalent) with a minimum award of H2.1 (or equivalent GPA) in a cognate discipline.
- An applicant whose first language/primary mode of expression is not English will be required to produce evidence of English competence.
- Possess a basic level of mathematical proficiency, sufficient to engage with research methods and statistical components of the programme. This may be demonstrated through prior academic results or relevant professional experience.
No, you don’t currently have to be employed to qualify for a place, but you do need to meet the criteria above. This programme particularly suitable to those learners seeking a more flexible postgraduate option due to personal circumstances, work, or other commitments including those on maternity leave or a career break.
- Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (60 ECTS credits)
- Level 9 Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology (90 ECTS credits)
This MSc Psychology (Conversion) Programme costs €6,750 per annum, payable in two instalments, the first before the commencement of the programme and the second in the second term.
This is a 2-year programme with 3 terms each year, September, April and January.
Each module is 12 weeks long, including a reading week.
There are no exams. Each module is assessed through continuous assessment (reflective journals, blogs, essays, lab reports, fieldwork studies and presentations (individual and group), literature reviews.
There will also be a supervised dissertation in year 2.
There are 4*5-hour face to face sessions over the 2 years including induction & support for dissertation and the rest of the programme is all online.
Students will only need a basic knowledge of IT for this programme. We provide orientation and ongoing support.
- The latest version of your chosen Internet browser.
- A valid and reliable email address.
- Access to a printer is recommended.
- Regular access to a PC or Mac capable of running standard MS Office software (or equivalent) for producing word processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Your PC must be capable of running the required plug-ins for the Virtual Learning Environment (Adobe Flash player, Adobe PDF Viewer, Apple QuickTime)
- Reliable internet access; at least a 56K modem connection, but broadband is highly recommended. For each module that you take, you will be expected to spend approximately 3-6 hours online per week, participating in discussions and accessing resources.
Access to high-quality academic resources is essential for success in postgraduate study. As a learner on this programme, you will have full access to ICEP Europe’s digital library, which provides a comprehensive range of research materials such as e-books, journals and databases to support your coursework, assignments, and dissertation preparation.
You will be introduced to the range of available supports during your induction. Pastoral support is provided by your Programme Director, Module Leads, Lecturers, and the Student Support Officer, who are available to offer encouragement, guidance, and—when needed—referrals to additional services. This support aims to help you navigate challenges, build confidence, and stay on track with your learning journey.
At ICEP Europe, we understand that it can be helpful to speak with someone in a supportive and confidential setting, especially when personal, emotional, or study-related challenges arise. All students have access to ICEP Europe’s subsidised counselling service, offering professional support in a safe and private space.
Students can also avail of responsive technical assistance.
Graduation is typically held in person; dates and arrangements are confirmed each year. Attendance is not mandatory.
Possibly—credit transfer/RPL is considered case-by-case, based on evidence and curriculum alignment.
Graduates leave with a recognised academic foundation in psychology supporting applications for PSI Graduate Membership (subject to accreditation) and progression to further professional training. The qualification is valued across education, health and social care, research, policy, HR/talent, user research, and related fields.
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NEXT INTAKE
April 2026
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DURATION
2 years part time
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ATTENDANCE
Mainly online
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FEES
€6,750 per annum