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Course Overview
** Please note that Applications for the year 2025/26 will be closed on Friday 11th April 2025 **
The MSc (Health Psychology) is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme of academic study in the discipline of health psychology. The programme is fully accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).
Health Psychology is concerned with the application of psychological theory, research, and practice to the promotion and maintenance of health; the identification and amelioration of psychological factors contributing to physical illness and the improvement of the health care system and formulation of health policy.
The overall aims of the Programme are:
- To equip graduates with a comprehensive knowledge base in health psychology, at postgraduate level
- To train students to conduct high quality research in the area of health psychology
- To train students in a wide range of transferrable skills, including communication skills, group work, evidence synthesis, critical review, and professional and ethical conduct.
- To prepare students to undertake future professional training in health psychology and other areas of psychology, such as clinical psychology
Programme staff are active in developing and promoting health psychology in Ireland and internationally. A number of internationally recognised health psychologists contribute to the programme throughout the year. It is intended for psychology graduates seeking to develop their knowledge and expertise in Health Psychology. The MSc will enable students to conduct high quality research and will prepare them to undertake further professional training in health psychology and other areas of psychology.
Our graduates enter a wide range of jobs and future training opportunities. Some decide to pursue a career in research and progress to either a research post or a PhD. Others are more interested in applied options and may progress to further training, such as the Structured PhD in Health Psychology Practice, Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology. Some go directly into applied work settings, such as the Department of Health or private industry.
Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
The selection of candidates is based on academic merit. In recent years, candidates who have been offered a place on the programme have at least an upper Second Class Honours (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in Psychology The degree (or equivalent) should be accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland, or should be an equivalent international qualification.
Please refer to the Key Facts section for more detailed requirements.
Who Teaches this Course
The people below are the core programme staff. Other members of staff and external academics also contribute to the teaching and learning programme.
Requirements and Assessment
Semester One exams: December. Semester Two exams: April/May. A minor dissertation is submitted at the end of the summer semester. A range of assessment methods are used, including essays, projects, reports, presentations and written examination.
- To demonstrate equivalence, applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree in Psychology accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland, are required to submit module descriptors, module weightings and a copy of their supervised research project.
- Applicants in their final year can upload an abstract or overview of their intended project. The full final project will be required for upload once applicants have completed their final year.
Further information on requirements to demonstrate equivalence is provided under the Key Facts section.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Undergraduate degree in Psychology at National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 (or equivalent) accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or equivalent qualification.
- The selection of candidates is based on academic merit. In recent years, candidates who have been offered a place on the programme have at least an upper Second Class Honours (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in Psychology
- If an applicant does not hold an Undergraduate degree in Psychology accredited by the PSI, they will needed to provide information on their qualification to demonstrate equivalence.
- To be considered “equivalent” a qualification should be greater than >50% Psychology and be based on a relatively broad range of psychology courses including the biological psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality and individual differences (including psychometrics) and research methodology.
- Applicants must demonstrate research competence in practical work and in the completion of a supervised research project. This project should include carrying out an extensive piece of empirical research and would normally involve the collection and analysis of original empirical data.
- In deciding on equivalence, we follow the PSI Guidelines on the Accreditation of Undergraduate and Conversion Programmes
International applicants are required to submit module descriptors, module weightings and a copy of their dissertation. The English language requirement for non-native English speakers on this programme is: IELTS of 7.0 overall, with not less than 6.5 in any component.
Duration
1 year, full-time; 2 years, part-time
Next start date
September 2025
Course Outline
The course is concerned with the application of psychological theory, methods and research to health, illness and healthcare.
Modules included on the programme are:
- Health Promotion and Behaviour Change
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Biobehavioural Processes in Health and Illness
- Psychological Processes in Health and Illness
- Research & Professional Skills
- Minor Dissertation
The modules cover a wide variety of topics, including adjustment to chronic illness, doctor-patient communication, management of chronic pain and the nature of stress and its psycho-biological consequences.
Students also take classes in research methods in health psychology and carry out an empirical research project in a health-related area. In addition, they have the opportunity to attend research seminars given by international experts in the field of health 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.
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.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.
Year 1
(90 Credits)
RequiredPS579: Research Methods in Health Psychology
PS579: Research Methods in Health Psychology
Semester 1 | Credits: 10
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the pertinent questions to consider when developing the methodology for your research proposal
- Describe the components that should be dealt with in the methodology section of your research proposal
- Identify the appropriate statistical test to analyse a given set of data/research design
- Compute a series of statistical tests on SPSS when given a set of data
- Interpret SPSS printouts
- Prepare and present a set of results APA style
Assessments
- Written Assessment (40%)
- Continuous Assessment (60%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module PS579: "Research Methods in Health Psychology"
and is valid from 2024 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS584: Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
PS584: Health Promotion & Behaviour Change
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the study of health promotion and the science of behaviour change. Students will explore the latest research in the area of health behaviour intervention development and evaluation.
Specifically, in the module students will study:
• Determinants of health
• The role of behaviour in determining health
• Health behaviour change theories
• Individual and population approaches to promoting health
• Methods to develop and test interventions to change health related behaviours
o Choosing interventions and policies to change behaviour using the Behaviour Change Wheel
o Features of behaviour change interventions: behaviour change techniques; modes of intervention delivery
o Fidelity, adherence and engagement in behavioural interventions
o Reporting behaviour change intervention studies
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate, and reflect on, the key health psychology theories in relation to their contribution to health promotion and changing health related behaviour.
- Reflect on the process of behaviour change and health psychology theories of behaviour change in relation to their own behaviour.
- Debate the merits of individual versus population based approaches to health promotion.
- Critique health behaviour change interventions, specifically use of psychology theory in intervention development, specification of behaviour change techniques and intervention components, and the evaluation of interventions through randomised controlled trials.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module PS584: "Health Promotion & Behaviour Change"
and is valid from 2024 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS585: Perspectives in Health Psychology
PS585: Perspectives in Health Psychology
Semester 1 | Credits: 10
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module PS585: "Perspectives in Health Psychology"
and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS6136: Dissertation
PS6136: Dissertation
15 months long | Credits: 30
In this module students conduct and report an original empirical research project in a health-related area. The project may be carried out in a psychological laboratory or in a community or health-care setting.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Formulate an answerable research question or problem within the field of health psychology.
- Critique the various research methodologies available and decide on an appropriate research methodology.
- Review the literature in a topic area, and produce a critique of existing literature and justification for a research study.
- Apply ethical considerations to research projects.
- Conduct an independent piece of research.
- Collect and analyse data using the appropriate methods.
- Critically examine empirical findings and draw conclusions from these.
- Write a research manuscript in a format suitable for submission to the British Journal of Health Psychology or the Journal of Health psychology
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
- "Publication manual of the American Psychological Association" by American Psychological Association
Publisher: American Psychological Association
- "Your Psychology Project Handbook." by Wood, C., Giles, D. & Percy, C.
Publisher: Pearson Education Limited
The above information outlines module PS6136: "Dissertation"
and is valid from 2023 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS6137: Research and Professional Skills
PS6137: Research and Professional Skills
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
This module introduces a variety of key research and professional skills relevant to Health Psychology. Students will complete qualitative research and systematic review assignments to develop their understanding of these methodological approaches and associated methodological issues. Students will also be introduced to professional and research ethics, and will be supported in developing an ethics application and in planning their dissertation projects.
(Language of instruction: English)
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the purpose, execution, and relevance of systematic reviews of literature and meta analyses.
- Conduct a mini systematic review of research and produce an associated protocol.
- Perform literature searches for research purposes, using key library and online resources
- Demonstrate an understanding of qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis and the ability to reflect on these approaches.
- Use citation software for research writing and organization of references
- Apply the principles of research ethics to their research.
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
- "Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions (Vol. 4)." by Higgins, J. P., & Green, S. (Eds.).
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
The above information outlines module PS6137: "Research and Professional Skills"
and is valid from 2020 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS587: Psychological Processes in Illness and Health Care
PS587: Psychological Processes in Illness and Health Care
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
Assessments
- Written Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module PS587: "Psychological Processes in Illness and Health Care"
and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
RequiredPS588: Biobehavioural Processes in Health and Illness
PS588: Biobehavioural Processes in Health and Illness
Semester 1 | Credits: 10
(Language of instruction: English)
Assessments
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module PS588: "Biobehavioural Processes in Health and Illness"
and is valid from 2024 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Given the strong academic and research basis of this programme, this qualification has relevance for working in a diverse range of settings. Previous graduates have gained employment in research posts and health service evaluation. Other opportunities include working with health authorities or voluntary organisations, that provide support, education and training to those with health-related difficulties. Graduates may also find employment in the area of health promotion or health education.
In addition to helping to prepare for employment in which a background in psychology is an advantage, the MSc (Health Psychology) also provides an excellent foundation for further postgraduate study. Some previous students have progressed to PhD studies, and have gained employment in Universities and other higher education settings (eg. teaching psychology to health professionals or those in training, as well as psychology students and/or conducting research). Others have pursued studies in Clinical Psychology, with Clinical-Health Psychology a potential route in which to specialise.
Course Fees
Fees: EU
€8,640 full-time; €4,320 part-time (including levy) p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Tuition
€8,500 full-time; €4,250 part-time p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Student levy
€140 full-time; €70 part-time p.a. 2025/26
Fees: Non EU
€20,000 p.a. (€20,140 p.a. including levy) 2025/26
For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.
Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.
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