Every Irish psychology degree mapped side by side. Universities, technological universities, and private colleges. CAO codes, 2025 points, PSI accreditation status, specialisations, and the long road from undergraduate degree to becoming a qualified psychologist.
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is the professional body for psychology in Ireland. To work as a professional psychologist — whether clinical, counselling, educational, or organisational — you must first complete a PSI-accredited undergraduate degree with at least a 2.2 honours (GPA ≥ 2.48). This qualifies you for graduate membership of the PSI, which is the gateway to all postgraduate professional training. PSI and the British Psychological Society (BPS) recognise each other's accreditation, so a PSI-accredited degree also opens doors to UK postgraduate programmes. Not all psychology degrees listed in the CAO are PSI-accredited — this page clearly marks which programmes are accredited.
| CAO Code | Institution | Programme | 2025 R1 | Years | PSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR006 | TCD | Psychology | 578 | 4 | |
| GY104 | Galway | BSc Psychology | 541 | 4 | |
| CK120 | UCC | Applied Psychology | 536 | 3 | |
| MH106 | Maynooth | BA Psychology | 509 | 3–4 | |
| DN720 | UCD | BSc Psychology | 488 | 3 | |
| MH209 | Maynooth | BSc Psychology (Science) | 488 | 4 | |
| LM038 | UL | Psychology & Sociology | 481 | 4 | |
| SE205 | SETU | Psychology | 433 | 3 | |
| US924 | TUS Limerick | Applied Psychology | 424 | 4 | |
| US925 | TUS Athlone | Applied Psychology | 420 | 4 | |
| CK121 | UCC | Psychology & Computing | 409 | 3–4 | |
| NC010 | NCI | Psychology | 385 | 3 | |
| DL825 | IADT | Applied Psychology | 378* | 4 | |
| PC414 | Carlow College | Psychology | 306 | 3 | |
| AU362 | ATU | Cyberpsychology | 300 | 4 | |
| DB562 | DBS | Psychology | 260 | 3 |
= PSI-accredited = Not PSI-accredited (conversion course needed for professional psychology) * = Not all applicants on this score received an offer
A PSI-accredited undergraduate degree (3–4 years) is just the first step. To practise as a psychologist, you then need a professional doctorate (3 years full-time) in your chosen specialism — Clinical, Counselling, Educational, or Organisational Psychology. That's 7–8 years minimum before you can work independently. Doctoral places are extremely competitive: Clinical Psychology programmes at TCD, UCD, UCC, Galway, and UL typically receive 200+ applications for 12–20 places. Relevant work experience (e.g. as an assistant psychologist or in mental health support) is essential for your application. Clinical doctoral trainees receive a HSE salary (~€33k–€40k per year), but Counselling and Educational Psychology trainees currently receive no salary during training.
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions in HSE hospitals, community mental health teams, disability services, and private practice. The most competitive postgraduate route.
Work with people experiencing emotional and psychological difficulties in daily life. Growing demand in workplaces and community settings.
Assess learning needs, support children with special educational needs, advise schools and parents. Work in NEPS, schools, and private assessment.
Apply psychology in workplaces — recruitment, employee wellbeing, leadership development, team dynamics, and organisational change. High demand in Irish multinationals and tech companies.
Conduct psychological research and teach in universities. PhD programmes, postdoctoral research, and lectureships. Ireland has strong research output in neuroscience and clinical psychology.
Critical thinking, research skills, and understanding human behaviour open doors to UX research, marketing, HR, policy, data analysis, criminal justice, and social care.
| Career Path | Graduate / Trainee | Mid-Career | Senior / Principal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychologist (HSE) | €33k–€40k (trainee) | €62k–€100k | €109k–€135k |
| Counselling Psychologist (HSE) | €62k (staff grade) | €78k–€96k | €109k–€117k |
| Educational Psychologist (NEPS) | €62k (staff grade) | €78k–€96k | €109k–€117k |
| Organisational Psychologist | €35k–€42k | €55k–€75k | €80k–€110k+ |
| Private Practice Psychologist | €50k–€65k | €70k–€100k | €100k–€150k+ |
| UX Researcher | €32k–€40k | €50k–€70k | €75k–€100k+ |
| Assistant Psychologist | €28k–€35k | Stepping-stone role — most move to doctoral training | |
| Academic / Lecturer | €40k–€50k (postdoc) | €60k–€85k | €90k–€120k+ |
| HR / People & Culture | €28k–€35k | €45k–€65k | €70k–€100k |
| Director of Psychology (HSE) | — | €127k–€147k | |
HSE salary scales effective August 2025. Private practice income varies widely. Dublin-based roles typically 10–20% higher than regional.
Once qualified, Clinical, Counselling, and Educational Psychologists all sit on the same HSE salary scale (Staff Grade €62k–€104k, Senior €99k–€117k, Principal €116k–€135k). The difference is in training: Clinical Psychology doctoral trainees receive a salary during their 3-year programme, while Counselling and Educational Psychology trainees currently do not. All three routes lead to the same professional recognition — choose based on your interests, not the training salary.
If you want any chance of becoming a professional psychologist, PSI accreditation is non-negotiable. Without it, you'll need an additional conversion course (1–2 years) before you can even apply for postgraduate training. Always verify accreditation status on the PSI website — it can change.
TCD Psychology requires 578 points. DBS Psychology requires 260 — and both are PSI-accredited. A PSI-accredited 2.2 from any institution gives you the same eligibility for postgraduate training. What matters most for doctoral applications is your degree result, research experience, and relevant work experience — not your CAO points.
Doctoral programmes are fiercely competitive. They want to see real-world experience — volunteering with mental health charities, working as an assistant psychologist, supporting people with disabilities, or working in social care. Many graduates spend 2–3 years post-degree gaining experience before getting a doctoral place. Programmes with built-in placements (UL's Co-Op, TUS's work placement, IADT's professional practice) are particularly valuable.
Only about 15–20% of psychology graduates become professional psychologists. The rest use their transferable skills and thrive. UX research, HR at multinationals, market research, criminal justice, social policy, data analysis — psychology graduates are in demand everywhere. UCC's CK121 Psychology & Computing is designed specifically for this kind of dual career path.
Points change every year based on demand. Always check the CAO website for the most current data. All PSI-accredited degrees carry the same professional standing regardless of which institution awarded them — a PSI-accredited 2.1 from TUS is worth exactly the same as a 2.1 from TCD when applying for doctoral programmes.