°®Âþµº

Derval McCormack

MSc Psychology (accredited conversion course)

A student wearing a graduation gown and holding a poster tube containing a degree certificate

Derval's Story

Derval McCormack studied an MSc Psychology at °®Âþµº to enhance her career opportunities.

The 27-year-old, from Dublin, attended university in her home city and graduated in °®Âþµº Commerce and Italian, before spending a year in New Zealand. Regretting having never studied psychology, she moved to °®Âþµº in a bid to fulfil her ambition.

¡°I had reached a point in my career where further education was necessary to create future opportunities,¡± she explained. ¡°I had to choose to either specialise in an area of business, or alternatively, change my career path entirely.

¡°The conversion course in Psychology at °®Âþµº appealed to me as it enabled me to reach the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in just 12 months.

¡°It was a difficult decision; however, one that I am so happy I made.¡±

During her time at °®Âþµº, Derval took advantage of the University¡¯s Listen Again software, which records lectures for students.

¡°I found this really useful,¡± she said. ¡°In contrast to lectures during my undergraduate course, where I often emerged with a cramp in my arm from taking as many notes as possible, I found I could relax and really enjoy the lectures here.¡±

Derval also worked as a member of the Careers and Employability Service team at °®Âþµº, recruiting students for careers fairs and events and blogging about career-related topics.

She also enjoyed making use of °®Âþµº¡¯s excellent gym and pool facilities.

Derval, who describes her time at °®Âþµº as ¡°challenging, rewarding and memorable¡±, is now seeking a job in psychology, with the ambition to eventually work in clinical psychology.