As she graduates with a Masters of Science in Psychology and Wellbeing, Holly Browne feels she is, ¡°a stronger candidate for psychology roles,¡± and her qualification will be a stepping stone to doctoral-level training in the future.

Holly, who completed her BSc in Psychology at DCU in 2019, said, ¡°I began my MSc in Psychology and Wellbeing the following year and decided on this specific course because l am pursuing a career in clinical psychology - I believed this course would strengthen my practical and research skills, make me a stronger candidate for assistant psychologist positions, and act as a stepping stone to doctoral-level training eventually.

She chose DCU for her Masters¡¯ because, ¡°I had such positive professional and personal experiences throughout the duration of my undergrad course that I knew I would be happy to complete a postgraduate course at DCU too.¡±

¡°The psychology team in the School of Psychology were supportive and encouraging, and so generous with their knowledge and time. It is a real privilege to have acquired my knowledge and skills from such impressive and involved academic staff.¡±

The specific Masters¡¯ programme appealed to her because of the comprehensive content as well as, ¡°it¡¯s strong focus on research skills, which I personally wanted to strengthen in preparation for doctoral-level training, and also because of the option to complete the course part-time. This meant that I would be better able to balance my academic workload with my part-time job, and still have time in my schedule to gain clinical experience as an assistant psychologist.¡±

Her research project for her Masters¡¯ - ¡®Professional Perspectives on Developing Approaches to Early Identification of Eating Disorders¡¯ ¨C and she explained, ¡°I decided to research this topic because we know from prior research findings that early intervention is key for preventing entrenchment in eating disorders and improving chances of recovery, however there is a lack of research on how early intervention efforts can be maximised.¡±

¡°I interviewed experienced healthcare professionals on how early identification of eating disorders  could be achieved. I am currently working towards publishing this research with the support of my research supervisor. I also hope to specialise in this area when I¡¯m qualified so that I can help support people affected by eating disorders.¡±

Holly, who is from Waterford, did the course over two years and says her DCU degrees, ¡°have truly boosted my confidence on a personal and professional level. I feel excited for the future, and ready and motivated to achieve my career goals.¡±

¡°The Wellbeing Summer School that took place in June as part of the different MSc psychology programmes, was particularly energising in terms of showcasing the highly transferable skillset we have been carefully honing over the duration of the course and opening our minds to the various applications of such, whether it be in clinical, research or industry settings.¡±

She describes her overall experience of DCU as, ¡°one of the best times of my life! I had so much fun becoming part of the vibrant campus community and getting involved in the various societies and events. The academic staff are so impressive, very approachable and supportive, and the quality of teaching is excellent.¡±

¡°I am filled with pride to be an alumnus of such an innovative and widely respected university that is so clearly invested in supporting its students, providing a cutting-edge educational experience, and readying them to develop meaningful careers.¡±

DCU Prospectus - Go to the MSc in Psychology and Wellbeing