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Masters in Counselling Psychology

College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences
PAC Course Code: CKE10
Qualification: MA
Duration: 2 years, full-time (calendar years)
EU Fees: The current EU tuition fee level for this Masters programme 2010/2011 (for 1 year of the programme) is €9,480.00. A similar level fee is payable in the second year of the programme. (This fee also relates to the placement and ractice elements of the programme but does not include personal therapy or workshop costs)
Non-EU Fees: €24,025 for 2010-2011 (1 Year full-time)
Closing Date - EU Applicants: Wed, 12 March 08
Closing Date - Non-EU Applicants: Fri, 22 February 08

Overview of Counselling Psychology (MA)

THE MA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY WILL NOT BE ON OFFER IN THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013. The programme is currently being restructured and is hoped to commence again in the academic year 2013/2014.

The MA in Counselling Psychology (CKE10) is a two calendar year full time course. The primary aim of the course is toprovide postgraduate training that will enable the trainee to become professionally qualified to work as a counselling psychologist mental health and development in the HSE or other mental health settings including counselling centres and private settings.

Other aims are to:

(a) develop a personal and professional identity commensurate with expectations and ethical commitments of the counselling psychology profession;

(b) assist a holistic development of students by utilising their assets and strengths to realise their potential in a process which is conceived of as lifelong and dynamic;

(d) assume positions in institutions of higher education and comparable institutions.

Please note placements on the Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology are located nationwide and consist of at least 2 full days per week in an agency that fits the PSI criteria for placement locations for training of Counselling Psychologists. If the student does not accept the placement option offered or does not secure the placement option through interview with placement facilitators, responsibility to find a placement that meets the PSI criteria for placement locations for training of Counselling Psychologists will then rest with the student. Such a placement will be subject to the approval of the Course Directors

What will I be Studying?

The programme is based on the scientist/practitioner model. Integration of theory, research, skills training, clinical practice and personal self-development occurs through systematic and parallel learning during both years of the course. Personal self-development occurs through group experiential growth work and personal counselling. Supervised placement is two days per week beginning in December of the first year. Students are assigned to different locations for placement in Year 1 and Year 2. Individual supervision is an essential feature of the course.

Assessment: Continuous assessment is a fundamental aspect of the course. A range of methods are used including case studies, video tapes, essays, placement reports by supervisors and students, an examination paper and research thesis.

Participants will be required to attend one workshop each year.

Supervision: Students will be required to undertake a minimum of 25 hours supervision with an assigned Supervisor in each year of the programme.

Personal Counselling: In each year of the programme, students are required to undertake twenty five hours of personal counselling with a counsellor from a recommended list (given at the beginning of the programme). Students attend the same counsellor for the entire 25 hours of each year.

Placement: A Placement (AP569A) of a minimum of 100 hours is undertaken by students as part of unit AP586 (Practice of Counselling) in Year I. This will be assessed on the basis of a placement report.

A Placement (AP569B) of a minimum of 150 hours is undertaken by students as part of unit CN430 (Advanced Counselling) in Year II. This will be assessed on the basis of a placement report.

Entry Requirements

have a degree in Psychology at first or second class honours level, or equivalent such that it forms the basis for graduate membership by the Psychological Society of Ireland;
have at least one years experience relevant to counselling up to the date of submission of application form;
have completed a Foundation Course in Counselling Skills or equivalent and
satisfy the selection committee

Shortlisting is based on criteria 1, 2 and 3.

In 2006/2007, five students were selected from the 52 applicants.

Shortlisted candidates are invited to interview.

Criteria for the selection of students at interview is based on experience relevant to counselling and ability to complete a Masters Degree, as well as overall personal development.

Experience of successful applicants: Successful applicants have gained experience in a variety of locations such as ISPCC, Brothers of Charity, COPE, CoAction.

Selection Panel: The panel consists of a course director, a supervisor and a representative of the course advisory committee.

N.B. Please note, The MA in Counselling Psychology offers educational and training opportunities which will require you to come in contact with the public and assume positions of trust. To ensure the protection of the public, and justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake these programmes of study/training. Consequently, University College Cork requires all students on the MA in Counselling Psychology to undergo GARDA/POLICE VETTING. University College Cork has made arrangements with the Gardaí with regard to Garda Clearance procedures.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL equivalent

Part-Time Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Please note that non-EU applicants are not eligible to study part-time programmes

Application Procedure

N.B. Please note completing the application for the MA in Counselling Psychology involves

1) submitting an ONLINE taught postgraduate studies application at www.pac.ie/ucc (Course Code CKE10)

2) COMPLETING AND POSTING a special Supplementary Candidates Statement form (which includes a 1,000 word statement) to the Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway. The selection panel attaches strong importance to the completed supplementary form and the 1,000 word statement. All questions MUST be answered. SupplementaryFormCKE10 (157kB)

3) Arranging for two Referee's Reports to be posted directly to the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork

4) Non-UCC applicants must submit evidence of any qualification(s) (academic results and certificates/parchments) that were not completed in University College Cork, evidence of completion/current attendance of a Foundation Course in Counselling or equivalenct and evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable) to the Online Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with your online Postgraduate Application Number)

5) On receipt of the online application and the supplementary Candidate statement forms and Referees Report Forms, applicants will be shortlisted for interview by the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork.

Career Opportunities

Graduates: Previous graduates work in the HSE, as senior or basic grade psychologists, directors of counselling centres, COPE Foundation, prison services, universities and institutes of technology.

Find out More

Number of Places: Min 5, Max 10. In 2006/07, five students were selected from the 52 applicants

Ms. Anna O’Reilly-Trace and Ms. Inge Nieuwstraten
School of Applied Psychology, UCC
Email: a.trace@ucc.ie or i.nieuwstraten@ucc.ie

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