Since we originally wrote this post in 2015 the Irish Universities have added the following statement to their websites:
“We welcome applications from Non-EU students for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. However as clinical psychology trainees are employees of the Health Service Executive (HSE) or other approved Health Care Agencies, we require that applicants have the right to work in Ireland without restriction. Non-EU applicants are therefore not considered unless they have a pre-existing right to work in Ireland for the duration of the course and the required three years after completion.”
Unfortunately, this means that international students will not be able to apply to train as Clinical Psychologists in Ireland (unless you somehow already have the right to work there).
We have left the information below for your reference:
To become a clinical psychologist in Ireland an accredited honours undergraduate degree where psychology is the major subject is required, as well as completion of a recognised postgraduate training programme in clinical psychology. Candidates can enhance chances of achieving a place on such a programme by achieving a high-grade at undergraduate level (minimum 2.1 grade) and obtaining further research or academic experience relevant to the field of clinical psychology.
Do I need to be licensed or registered to practise as a psychologist in Ireland?
At present, there is no official statutory regulation of the practice of psychology in Ireland. Therefore, it is not compulsory for you to be licensed or registered with a government agency or professional board to practise as a psychologist. However, employers and clients are likely to request evidence of your ability to practice so in practice it is important to be accredited by a reputable organisation
Who accredits psychologists in Ireland?
The PhD and doctorate (PsyD) courses in Clinical Psychology are accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
If I train as a Clinical Psychologist in Ireland will I be able to practice in my home country?
It is advisable to check with relevant authorities or potential employers in your home country to determine whether an Irish qualification will be recognised.
How much will it cost?
Annual fees for international students range between €13,000 (Euros) & €30,000 per year.
You should also consider how much it will cost to live in Ireland. Information on cost of living in Ireland can be found on the Irish Council for International Students website.
Which Irish Universities currently offer places for international students to study clinical psychology?
It isn’t entirely clear which courses offer places to international students but these courses might:
- University College Dublin, PhD Clinical Psychology
- University of Dublin, Trinity College, Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
This was originally written on 20th March 2015 and was most recently updated on 27th October 2022. It is my opinion based on information available online. Please email us at webadmin@psychologist.com.my to suggest amendments.
6. How is compliance to ethical standards monitored?
I’m not sure of the specifics in Ireland as I haven’t worked there. However, a common approach is to have the individual clinical psychologists sign up to ethics standards as part of the registration or licensing process. If a client, fellow professional or anyone else suspects unethical behaviour they can report the psychologist to their registering or licensing body. A panel will judge the complaint and if it’s upheld then the psychologist will be sanctioned. That may include them being struck off the register which would prevent them working in a country that requires registration. IN other countries it might make it very difficult for them to work as they won’t be able to show that they are a competent practitioner.
If you’re asking about the courses adherence to ethical standards then the process is similar except that the courses will also be inspected by the accrediting body at regular intervals.
I have another question.
What if rather than doing a conversion masters (if my degree ends up being BPS accredited), I wait for two years getting clinical experience and saving money and then apply for DClinPsych.
Would that increase my chances of being selected as an international student??
Hi Momina, there’s no rush to get on the clinical psychology courses so if you take some time to save some money and gain some work experience that would normally be well regarded by the university courses. As I mentioned in my previous reply – for international students it’s more about funding than how competitive the courses are. They usually require at least a years experience of relevant clinical experience but what’s most important is what you learn, the perspective you gain, rather than the length of the time you spend working.
Sir, iam an international student who like to take masters in UK… My question is, can I take DClin after my masters….how much found is needed for that study
HI Anjana, you may want to view my post on the training to be a clinical psychologist in the UK as an international applicant (https://resolve.my/uk-clinical-psychology/). There’s a section on costs. The tuition fee for a doctorate in clinical psychology is usually about 25,000 pounds per year for 3 years. You’ll also need to cover living costs.
Hi. Can u please guide me about working as a psychologist in ireland and uk.
Im psychology masters graduate from pakistan and currently enrolled in MS clinical psychology.
Are these MS degrees enough to work in ireland or uk, or ill need to get a degree in ireland in order to work in ireland,. Please guide
Hi Annie, if you have a qualification from overseas you would need to demonstrate that it is equivalent to the qualifications in Ireland or the UK. You can check this with the relevant licensing board (e.g the HCPC for the UK here: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/registration/getting-on-the-register/international-applications/) by applying to see if they will accept your qualification as equivalent. Unfortunately, I think that it is unlikely that a Masters from Pakistan will be seen as equivalent. You can see my guide on becoming a clinical psychologist in the UK for more information about the process (although the main challenge is that it is too expensive for most people).