Info on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology UL

Bally8

I am very interested in the doctoral programme in clinical psychology in UL. I am hoping that someone who is currently on the course or is applying by the end of Jan 08 will give me some info.

I have 6 years experience working with teenagers and recently completed a psychology degree in Limerick. Im wondering if there are any chances of me getting on the course at all. I missed the add in the press in December but emailed admissions and they sent me out the application.

Should I wait until next year to apply and try get some more experience or maybe a foundation in counselling course under my belt. I work as a part- time tutor at present but the course requirements say you have to be a professional to do the course.

If anyone knows more about the course- even info such as how much of the 10,000 euro a year fee does the HSC pay? I would be grateful for any comments
Thanks

Myksyk

It would be unusual (though not entirely unprecedented) for someone without a relevant Masters degree to get on this course. Almost all successful applicants have a combination of a good primary degree, a relevant post-grad degree and good quality, relevant experience. There may be cases where someone with a lot of experience and a first class honours primary psychology degree is successful but they would also bring excellent personal skills/maturity to the application.

Bally8

Thanks for your comment. I think you are right about the difficulty of someone in my position to get on the course. I think I will probably try a masters first, gain some relevant experience and then go for the clinical course in the future.

mc-panda

I agree. The selection criteria does not overtly say this but a postgraduate qualification in the area is practically a must.

Also, however, with six years of experience in youth work styled employment, it may be wise to get a flavour for some of the different areas of competency that willbe taught on the course. Try get a grounding in Adult I.D for instance.

Another unwritten rule that is commonly employed is publications. Although not a concrete prerequisite, having papers published in peer reviewed journals does give you a huge advantage. In fact, according to one of the Senior lecturers on the NUIG course, it's one of the most important items in selection. Trinity's application form has an entire section devoted to this also. I can only imagine that UL weighs it equally.

I'm trying also this year, and even though you may not feel you will be succesful, I recommend you apply anyway. At least your name is in the hat, and, when you apply again in the future, your interest and commitment to the job will appear very strong indeed.

Bally8

Thanks Mc Panda. I am realising more and more that getting accepted on the course is only a pipe dream at the moment. Plan now is to work on getting published once I get accepted on a post grad (so far I have only had an abstract published in the Irish Psychologist) and gain relevant experience.

Thanks for the idea of applying anyway- I have had contact with Patrick Ryan already so as you said my interest now will hopefully stand to me in the future

Best of luck with the application. Let me know how you get on.

mc-panda

Dude...

I have no publications. Not even abstracts. I was very unwise and chose not to attend any conferences. However, it's not only a pipedream. I'm currently doing the Forensics course in Cork, and the Galway chap I mentioned gave us a very insightful lecture about career directions recently. It is possible, and I quote..."to be too qualified". The course selectors may feel you're more suitable than another person with a doctorate on the basis that you may be more easily moulded into thinking in a clinical and applied fashion.

You have a wealth of experience, and having worked in secure care settings for a bit, I'm guessing you're more than qualified to take on a team leader position (if you're not already in one). I'm also guessing that would be looked at in good light. You'd bring a lot to a course. Add that the selection team probably will probably remember you from your undergrad and your chances get even higher.

Apply. Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. If you don't succeed this year, what about it?

Best of luck in any case though.

Bally8

Thanks btw I'm a dudette!!

mc-panda

My apologies.

However, I always considered "dude" to be more of a universal title than a gender specific one. All the same, I'll use dudette anyway.

Best of luck...dudette.