H.Dip. Psychology TCD or UCD?

jackthelad321

Hi all

have been offered a place on the H.Dip.Psych in both TCD and UCD. Absoloutely delighted, obviously, but now I have to decide on which to go for.

TCD has plenty of pros, but as many cons. Fee's are very high, considerably higher than UCD. Apart from that one girl on the H.Dip course in TCD said it was very heavy on neuroscience as TCD is very highly regarded in Neuroscience. Anecdotal evidence, of course, but it does look like they offer a lot of Neurosciece-heavy modules as compulsory.

TCD = 47th for Psychology; UCD = 92th for Psychology

Clearly both departments are good, and I know TCD fairly well being into the library. Not so up to date on UCD but the department seem nice, in fairness and have some good lecturers out there.

Anyone have experience of the (1) H.Dip.Psych or (2) the Psychology department in TCD/UCD?

My main criteria is a good education, but not overpriced. On TCD's fees - I wonder if they are really worth it? it's about 7,000 more over the two years. (not that you asked!). Is the education really worth 7,000 more than UCD's? I know people will say IReland's education has gone to the dogs and perhaps it's fallen recently, but I will be doing the H.Dip in one of these colleges on way or the other as I have to be in Ireland.

Really torn on this one
Jak

The Black Oil

The fees are ridiculous, yes. I'm not sure departmental rankings will matter in the long run/if you pursue full training. As for the day to day contact with the department and how it's run, I've been out of it a while. I never had any major issues. I don't know that I'd call the course neuroscience heavy, there's a good deal in it, sure, but it's been flavour of the month for ages won't disappear any time soon.

jackthelad321

The Black Oil wrote: »

The fees are ridiculous, yes. I'm not sure departmental rankings will matter in the long run/if you pursue full training. As for the day to day contact with the department and how it's run, I've been out of it a while. I never had any major issues. I don't know that I'd call the course neuroscience heavy, there's a good deal in it, sure, but it's been flavour of the month for ages won't disappear any time soon.

This may seem a strange question, not related to the course, but could you use the 24 hour postgrad room as a h.dip student? UCD's postgrad section in their library doesn't cover H.Dip students which annoys me as you pay fees like any other postgrad. That 24 hour postgrad room is one of the massive pros in favour of TCD for me.

The Black Oil

Yes, you can use the 1937 room as your card will say postgraduate on it. It was my favourite place to study. However, your library borrowing rights are only that of an undergraduate unless things have changed, which seems unlikely as the library wouldn't budge when we were there.