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Accessibility & LanguagePsychology—Conversion (HDip)
HDip (Psychology—Conversion)
Course Overview
Watch course video presentation here.
The HDipPsychology (Conversion) is a one-year, full-time programme designed for students who have completed the BAin Psychological Studies at University of Galway, or its equivalent. By combining the HDipPsych (Conversion) with the BA with Psychological Studies, students will have covered the course content equivalent to that of University of Galway’s BSc in Psychology programme.
The HDipPsychology (Conversion) in combination with course content covered by the University of Galway Psychological Studies degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). As such, the course satisfies the requirements specified by PSI for graduate status in Psychology. The programme thus qualifies graduates for entry to postgraduate professional programmes in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Please note, if you have a psychology degree that is not a University of Galway Psychology degree and have an interest in taking this Higher Diploma, you need to consider whether or not (i) your existing degree has covered content exactly equivalent to the content covered by the Psychological Studies degree according to the PSI; and (ii) whether this content, or modules covering this content are recognised by the PSI. If neither of these conditions are met strictly, you will not be eligible for a place on this Higher Diploma. You should enquire with the PSI concerning recognition/accreditation of your existing degree or courses/modules.
Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
BA, MA, HDipED, PhD, AFPsSI, CPsychol
Deputy Dean, College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies View Profile
Ph.D., M. Phil., B.A.
Senior Lecturer School of Psychology,
University of Galway
University Road
View Profile
PhD M.Psych BA
Associate Professor & Vice-Dean (Undergraduate Studies) School of Psychology
University of Galway
View Profile
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
- Candidates should have sat the entire suite of core Psychology courses available to BA (Psychological Studies) students at the University of Galway, or their direct equivalents.
- Equivalence here refers to course content and, where applicants apply with candidate courses to those sat in the BA (Psychological Studies), an application will be made by the HDip Director to establish these courses as providing a basis for recognition of prior learning.
- Such courses, i.e. those which have not been sat at University of Galway, will also need to be demonstrated by the applicant, at the time of application, to be recognised by the Psychological Society of Ireland.
- The HDip (conversion) in Psychology has a limited intake of 14 students per annum. Offers are made on the basis of application and grade point average for relevant psychology courses (i.e. those mentioned above)
Additional Requirements
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Duration
1 year, full-time
Next start date
September 2025
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
14
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
60
Award
CAO
Course code
HDIP-PSYC
Course Outline
Students on the HDipPsych (Conversion) programme undertake selected modules from the BSc Psychology second and third year programme.
The menu includes modules on the psychology of learning; perception, attention and performance; applied organisational psychology; psychological measurement (theory and practice); advanced research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) and computer skills training (SPSS). Students take part in a series of experimental workshops throughout the academic year and, in addition, are required to complete an independent research project under supervision. Finally, a recent innovation allows students to choose their final module from a selection of available ones.
This programme is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and thus satisfies the requirements specified by PSI for graduate status in psychology.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
RequiredPS405: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 1RequiredPS420: Psychological Measurement: Theory & Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredPS413: Qualitative Research Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredPS220: Psychology of Learning - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredPS325: Research Project 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredPS415: Perception, Attention & Performance - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalPS3106: Language & Cognition: A Contextual Behavioural Approach - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalPS418: Issues in the Cognitive Neurosciences - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalPS345: Applied Developmental Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalPS336: Psychology, Society & Human Values - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalLW365: Criminology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalPS3114: Introduction to Communication Skills and Counselling - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalPS341: Introduction to Collaborative Enquiry & Applied Systems Science - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredPS3104: Professional Skills in Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredPS2100: Experimental Psychology Workshop - 10 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredPS327: Research Project 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
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Study Abroad
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Course Fees
Fees: EU
€7,390 p.a. (including levy) 2025/26
Fees: Tuition
€7,250 p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Non EU
€18,000 p.a. (€18,140 including levy) 2025/26
Find out More
2025 QS Subject Rankings: Top 350
