Psychology: The Science of Behaviour and Mind
This course is now finished for 2025/2026. Applications for the Evening Course 26/27 will open mid to end July 2026.
This lecture course will present an overview of contemporary psychology and introduce participants to cutting edge research undertaken by the school of Psychology staff.
Topics include:
- New Breakthroughs in Brain Stimulation for Treating Mental Disorders
- Climate change and mental health
- The language puzzle: Infant language acquisition
- Early Experiences and Development
- Inherent difficulties experienced by Young Drivers
- Rethinking ‘normal’ evolving perspectives on mental health and illness
- Measuring and Modelling the Emergence of Cognition in Infants
- The Psychology of the Climate Crisis
- Psychological Trauma, Adaptation, and Resilience
- Let’s talk about young people’s mental health: Trends, gender differences and predictors of change over time
- How close is AI coming to matching human intelligence?
- The Experience of Dread: A Psychoanalytic Approach
- .... and many more.
This course is a lecture series, and there are no exams or course work involved. Participants who attend at least 12 out of the 16 lectures will receive a certificate of attendance. The course does not provide an academic qualification.
€260 for sixteen weeks - Applications will open mid to end July 2026
A concession rate (€100) is available to second and full time third-level students, unemployed persons, and those in receipt of a social welfare pension. Payment and proof of status MUST accompany the application form. This may be, for example, a letter from second/third level institution, proof of receipt of social welfare pension or unemployment benefits.
Please note this course is now complete for 2025/26. Applications for 2026/27 will open mid to end July.
Please pay using the PayPal link below and then quote the PayPal transaction ID number when you fill out the application form which is available online only here.
The applications are currently not open.
When Applications are open for 2026/27. You may apply as follows:
-
Please apply in advance;
-
If seeking a concession rate, email the proof of status to the evening course coordinator at psyeve@tcd.ie;
-
Applicants may pay their fee online using a Credit or Debit card via the PayPal facility available on the evening course website
A welcoming email will be sent in September with more detailed information and the Zoom link for the first lecture. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
Lectures will take place every Wednesday at 7:00 pm( Location will be confirmed once applications are complete)
| Lecture | Date | Lecture | Professor |
| Mich. Term 2025 | |||
| October | |||
| 1 | 30.092026 | New Breakthroughs in Brain Stimulation for Treating Mental Disorders | Sven Vanneste |
| 2 | 07.10.26 | The language puzzle: Infant language acquisition | Jean Quigley |
| 3 | 21.10.26 | Early Experiences and Development | Elizabeth Nixon |
| 28.08.26 | Reading Week | ||
| November | |||
| 4 | 04.11.26 | Inherent difficulties experienced by Young Drivers | Michael Gormley |
| 5 | 11.11.26 | Rethinking ‘normal’ evolving perspectives on mental health and illness | Claire Gillan |
| 6 | 18.11.26 | Measuring and Modelling the Emergence of Cognition in Infants | Rhodri Cusack |
| 7 | 25.11.26 | The Psychology of the Climate Crisis | John O'Connor |
| December | |||
| 8 | 02.12.26 | Psychological Trauma, Adaptation, and Resilience | Michael Dolezal |
| 9 | 09.12.26 | Paul Dockree | |
| December Break | |||
| January | |||
| 10 | 20.01.27 | Let’s talk about young people’s mental health: Trends, gender differences and predictors of change over time | Alina Cosma |
| 11 | 27.01.26 | How close is AI coming to matching human intelligence? | Redmond O’Connell |
| February | |||
| 12 | 03.02.27 | Lorraine Swords | |
| 13 | 10.02.27 | ‘The Experience of Dread: A Psychoanalytic Approach’ | John O’Connor |
| 14 | 17.02.27 | Ben Butlin | |
| 15 | 24.02.27 |
“I don’t have enough time” - Understanding the science behind time and temporality |
Dale Whelehan |
Contact
Enquiries to the School of Psychology regarding the Evening Course via email: psyeve@tcd.ie.
Lecture Notes
The Lecture recordings and notes for this course will be available here.