BA PSYCHOLOGY

Explore the scientific study of mental life and behaviour with Maynooth University's BA Psychology. Accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), across this 3-year degree you'll study the human mind and behaviours – all backed by the rigours of scientific testing.

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Student with headphones round neck smiling at laptop
Qualification
Bachelor Of Arts Degree
CAO Points
481
CAO/MU Apply code
MH106
Award Type and NFQ level
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)
Study Mode
Full time
Closing Date
01 February 2027
Jump to
CAO Hub

Overview

This degree is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and is suited to students who are interested in studying the human mind and behaviours with the rigours of scientific testing.

Psychology is the scientific study of mental life and behaviour. It involves topics such as:

  • Brain and Behaviour
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Psychological Research Methods

Choose this degree if you would like to study psychology along with two arts subjects in first year – examples of available subjects include languages such as German, Nua-Ghaeilge and Spanish along with subjects such as Philosophy, Law, Anthropology and Sociology.

You will concentrate on psychology only in second and third year.

Students use research methods including observation, measurement, hypothesis testing, experimentation, logical inference and statistical analysis.

For those who wish to pursue a career as a professional psychologist, this PSI-accredited degree opens up a variety of study options and career paths.

Psychological Studies is a subject in the Bachelor of Arts degree MH101. There is no transfer option from MH101 into MH106.

Course structure

Duration: 3 years (BA) or 4 years (BA International)

First year

  • Psychology plus 2 other subjects. The subjects are timetabled in the MH101 degree groups - available groups are 1, 3, 4, 5 (you can choose only 1 subject per group).
  • 1 of your other subjects may be Critical Skills in first year.

Second year and Final year

  • Students concentrate on Psychology in second and final year
  • At the end of first year, students who do not wish to continue with MH106 have the option of transferring to the Bachelor of Arts degree (MH101) and continuing with their other 2 Arts subjects, or with Psychological Studies and another subject as a Double Major
  • Option of an Elective in second year

There is no transfer option from MH101 into MH106.

Students may apply to study overseas after second year (on Erasmus or Study Abroad) and graduate with a BA (International) after 4 years. See the International Studies website for details.

Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually.
Important: The information on this page is for prospective students, MU current students and staff should use Programme Directory.

Year 1

PS1F30 - Psychology

Credits: 30  |  Compulsory

Psychology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PS152

7.5

1

Y

PS153

7.5

2

Y

PS150

7.5

1

Y

PS151

7.5

2

Y

AN1V30 - Anthropology

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Anthropology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN169

7.5

2

Y

AN167

7.5

1

Y

AN170

7.5

2

N

AN171

7.5

1

N

CS1V30 - Computer Science

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Computer Science modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CS192

7.5

2

N

CS181

7.5

1

Y

CS182

7.5

2

Y

CS191

7.5

1

N

EC1F15 - Economics

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Economics modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC103

7.5

2

Y

EC101

7.5

1

Y

EN1V30 - English

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

English modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EN106

7.5

1

N

EN107

7.5

2

N

EN101

7.5

1

Y

EN102

7.5

2

Y

FN1F15 - Finance

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Finance modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC103

7.5

2

Y

EC101

7.5

1

Y

GY1V30 - Geography

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Geography modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GY161

7.5

1

N

GY162

7.5

2

N

GY151

7.5

1

N

GY152

7.5

2

N

GN1F30 - German For Beginners

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

German For Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN151

15

1

Y

GN152

15

2

Y

GN1F15 - German For Non-Beginners

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

German For Non-Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN181

7.5

1

Y

GN182

7.5

2

Y

KD1V30 - International Development

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

International Development modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

KD156

7.5

2

Y

KD158

7.5

2

N

KD159

7.5

1

N

KD157

7.5

1

Y

LW1V30 - Law

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Law modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

LW158

5

2

N

LW152

5

1

N

LW157

5

2

Y

LW155

2.5

1

Y

LW156

2.5

2

Y

LW153

2.5

1

N

LW151

5

1

Y

LW177

2.5

2

N

MS1F15 - Mathematical Studies

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Mathematical Studies modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MT105A

7.5

1

Y

ST122

5

2

Y

MT112A

2.5

2

Y

MU1V30 - Music

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Music modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MU102A

5

1

Y

MU101A

2.5

1

Y

MU101B

2.5

2

Y

MU153

7.5

1

N

MU154

7.5

2

N

MU102B

5

2

Y

MU1TF15 - Music Technology

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Music Technology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MU159

7.5

2

Y

MU158

7.5

1

Y

NG1V30 - Nua-Ghaeilge

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Nua-Ghaeilge modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

NG154

7.5

1

N

NG153

7.5

2

N

NG151

7.5

1

Y

NG152

7.5

2

Y

PH1F15 - Philosophy

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Philosophy modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PH157

7.5

2

Y

PH156

7.5

1

Y

SO1F15 - Sociology

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Sociology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SO156

7.5

2

Y

SO152

7.5

1

Y

SPA1F30 - Spanish For Beginners

Credits: 30  |  Not compulsory

Spanish For Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA151

15

1

Y

SPA152

15

2

Y

SPA1F15 - Spanish For Non-Beginners

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Spanish For Non-Beginners modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA181

7.5

1

Y

SPA182

7.5

2

Y

ML1SK - Language And Culture

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Language And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CN171

7.5

1

N

CN172

7.5

2

N

FR171

7.5

1

N

FR172

7.5

2

N

GN171

7.5

1

N

GN172

7.5

2

N

SPA171

7.5

1

N

SPA172

7.5

2

N

SK1US2 - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK105X

7.5

2

N

SK105Y

7.5

2

N

SK1USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1051

7.5

1

N

SK1061

7.5

2

N

SK2USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1052

7.5

1

N

SK1062

7.5

2

N

SK3USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1053

7.5

1

N

SK1063

7.5

2

N

SK4USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1054

7.5

1

N

SK1064

7.5

2

N

SK5USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1055

7.5

1

N

SK1065

7.5

2

N

SK6USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1056

7.5

1

N

SK1066

7.5

2

N

SK7USK - Universal Critical Skills

Credits: 15  |  Not compulsory

Universal Critical Skills modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK1057

7.5

1

N

SK1067

7.5

2

N

Year 2

PS2SM - Psychology

Credits: 60  |  Compulsory

Psychology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PS249

5

2

N

PS250

5

1

Y

PS251

5

1

Y

PS261

5

2

Y

PS258

5

1

Y

PS256

5

1

Y

PS260

5

2

Y

PS252

5

1

N

PS253

5

2

Y

PS254

5

2

Y

PS259

5

2

Y

PS257

5

1

Y

AC2EL - Accounting In Society

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Accounting In Society modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AC210

5

1

N

AC211

5

2

N

GC2MEL - Ancient Mythology - Epic And Tragic Tales

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Ancient Mythology - Epic And Tragic Tales modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GC231

5

1

N

GC232

5

2

N

AN2EL - Anti-Racism

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Anti-Racism modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN215

5

1

N

AN216

5

2

N

CN2BEL - Beginning Chinese

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning Chinese modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CN261

5

2

N

CN260

5

1

N

FR2BEL - Beginning French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR260

5

1

N

FR261

5

2

N

GN2BEL - Beginning German

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning German modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN260

5

1

N

GN261

5

2

N

SPA2BEL - Beginning Spanish

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Beginning Spanish modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA260

5

1

N

SPA261

5

2

N

CAT2EL - Catalan Language And Culture

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Catalan Language And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA225

5

2

N

SPA215

5

1

N

PHY2EL - Climate Change And Sustainable Energy

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Climate Change And Sustainable Energy modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PHY260

5

1

N

PHY261

5

2

N

CN2CEL - Continuing Chinese

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Chinese modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

CN281

5

1

N

CN282

5

2

N

FR2CEL - Continuing French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR281

5

1

N

FR282

5

2

N

GN2CEL - Continuing German

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing German modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

GN281

5

1

N

GN282

5

2

N

NG2CEL - Continuing Nua-Ghaeilge

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Nua-Ghaeilge modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

NG211

5

2

N

NG201

5

1

N

SPA2CEL - Continuing Spanish

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Continuing Spanish modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA281

5

1

N

SPA282

5

2

N

PD2DEL - Eden Entrepreneurship Design And Innovation

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Eden Entrepreneurship Design And Innovation modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PD217A

5

1

N

PD218A

5

2

N

MD2EL - Film And Screen Studies

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Film And Screen Studies modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MD240

5

1

N

MD216

5

2

N

MU226

5

2

N

SPA223

5

2

N

SK2EL - Foundations In Science Writing And Communication

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Foundations In Science Writing And Communication modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SK252

5

2

N

SK251

5

1

N

GN2GEL - Gender And Sexuality In Society And Culture

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Gender And Sexuality In Society And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

IS201

5

1

N

IS202

5

2

N

TH2GEL - Good And Evil

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Good And Evil modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

TH251

5

1

N

TH252

5

2

N

EN2BEL - Great Books

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Great Books modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EN280

5

1

N

EN281

5

2

N

EC2EL - Influential Ideas In Economics

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Influential Ideas In Economics modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EC216

5

2

N

EC222

5

1

N

PH2LEL - Introduction To Philosophy In The Digital Age

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Introduction To Philosophy In The Digital Age modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PH221

5

2

N

PH215B

5

1

N

TESL2EL - Introduction To Teaching English Language

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Introduction To Teaching English Language modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

TESL201

5

1

N

TESL202

5

2

N

NG2IEL - Irish Cultural Heritage

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Irish Cultural Heritage modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

ID001

5

1

N

ID001X

5

2

N

ID013X

5

2

N

ID013

5

1

N

POR2EL - Portuguese Language And Culture

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Portuguese Language And Culture modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SPA216

5

1

N

SPA226

5

2

N

KD2AEL - Prioritising People And Planet

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Prioritising People And Planet modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

AN261

5

2

N

KD212

5

1

N

FR2REL - Refresh Your French

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Refresh Your French modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

FR271

5

1

N

FR272

5

2

N

PD2SEL - Service Innovation

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Service Innovation modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PD201

5

2

N

PD264

5

1

N

EX2EX - Skills For Success:professional Development

Credits: 5  |  Not compulsory

Skills For Success:professional Development modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

EX202

5

2

N

EX201

5

1

N

MN2EQEL - The Growth And Development Of The Irish Equine Industry

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

The Growth And Development Of The Irish Equine Industry modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

MN232

5

2

N

MN230

5

1

N

SG2EL - Wondrous People And Places: An Introduction To Celtic Literature

Credits: 10  |  Not compulsory

Wondrous People And Places: An Introduction To Celtic Literature modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

SG228

5

2

N

SG256

5

1

N

Year 3

PS3SM - Psychology

Credits: 60  |  Compulsory

Psychology modules

Module

Code

Credits

Semester

Compulsory

PS356

5

1

Y

PS361

5

1

N

PS358

5

2

Y

PS349

5

1

N

PS357

20

Year-Long

Y

PS351

5

1

Y

PS354

5

2

N

PS360

5

1

N

PS350

5

1

N

PS352

5

2

Y

PS359

5

Year-Long

N

PS355

5

2

Y

After Graduation

Choose from a variety of career paths, both within and outside psychology: for students who aim to pursue a career as a professional psychologist, an undergraduate degree is the first stage in professional training that will require an additional two to six years of study and supervised experience.

Examples of professional psychologists include:

  • clinical psychologists who provide comprehensive mental and behavioural health care across the lifespan
  • educational psychologists who promote better understanding of children’s and young people’s strengths and needs, and support and enhance schools’ systems
  • organisational psychologists who identify solutions to problems that improve the well-being and performance of organisations and their employees

A variety of career paths outside of psychology are also open to graduates. Some graduates choose to pursue postgraduate conversion courses in different fields of interest.

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate Applicants

Required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, third language.

DARE

Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is an alternative entry route to third level education for school-leavers whose disability affected their second level education.

HEAR

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a pathway to third level education for school-leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information on these access routes.

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.

Entry requirements table

Subject

Required

Ordinary Level Grade

Higher Level Grade

Irish

Yes

O6

H7

English

Yes

O6

H7

Language

Yes

O6

H7

Mathematics

No

N/A

N/A

Science

No

N/A

N/A

* This course requires 3 additional subjects.

  1. EU / EFTA Applicants - further information can be found on this page.
  2. International Applicants - International (Non-EU) applicants for undergraduate programmes will submit their application online via our online application portal. Applications will open on 14th October 2026 and will close on 1st July 2027. For further information can be found on this page.

Mature applicant information

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1 January in the year of entry.

For part-time degrees the mature age is 21.

Visit our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on this page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia) and require support for any required written exercise/interview/online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2027. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.

Visit the Access Office for more information on available supports and required documentation.

Mature applicant deadline: 01 February 2027

How to apply

Apply online to the CAO (Central Applications Office)

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are.

Categories of applicant:

  • School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
  • Mature students (23 years or older by 1 January in the year of entry/21 years if part-time)
  • EU/EFTA/UK students
  • International students (outside the EU)
  • QQI (Further Education) students
  • Transferring students
  • Deferring students

Learn more about undergraduate applications and access routes.

Got a question about this course?

Maynooth University Department of Psychology
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/psychology

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