Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) or an equivalent international qualification, however, professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience are taken into consideration positively and may be accepted in place of a degree. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

You will need to have a minimum of six months' full-time experience in a helping/listening role or equivalent experience. You should also have completed a counselling/psychotherapy course at Certificate of Higher Education level or equivalent.

We will request a short assignment from non-standard entrants.

Months of entry

January, October

Course content

This MSc is a well-established training course grounded on the key principles of psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy with a strong focus on the psychosocial dimension of the therapeutic work and on the unconscious dynamics at work in organisational contexts.

Why choose this course?

This course offers an understanding of psychoanalytic-based theory and covers the technical processes of counselling, while developing the personal and professional awareness you need for effective practice as defined by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
It includes a two-year clinical placement with supervision. By the end of the course, you will have the ability to work as a psychodynamic counsellor or psychotherapist at an appropriate professional standard.
It is ideal if you are interested in working therapeutically within an organisational setting and already have some experience of working or volunteering in a helping role and previous experience of personal therapy or personal development work.
It is taught by experienced, practising psychodynamic and/or psychoanalytic psychotherapists with training in higher education teaching.

What you will learn

You will learn about psychodynamic theory and practice, using both contemporary resources and source texts. Taking part in compulsory personal therapy for the duration of the course fosters your personal development and a self-reflexive stance. There is a particular focus on the psychosocial and organisational dimension of the clinical work which, alongside the two-year clinical placement, supports you in entering the job market once you are qualified.

How you will learn

This course is available to study part-time in the daytime. We employ student-centred teaching techniques that foster discussion, creative and collaborative learning opportunities. You will be taught through formal lectures, small and large group seminars, clinical workshops, experiential group and small-case discussion clinical groups. You will also be supported by termly one-to-one continuous professional development meetings.

There are two large group events within the training to support the organisational and psychosocial aspects of your learning too: in the first year you will engage in a reflective practice event and in the second year in a group relations conference.

Highlights

This course is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and the British Psychoanalytical Council.
Birkbeck has 50 years' experience of teaching psychodynamic counselling and practice and an excellent reputation with employers.
There is an emphasis on how organisations and groups function, which will enable you to understand and manage professional settings and relationships.
The course attracts people from a range of backgrounds, including educational, medical, field and residential social work, youth work and voluntary agencies.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy you will have gained an array of valuable transferable skills, including in:

listening
clinical thinking
critical thinking
academic writing
observation
reflexivity
effective group/organisational participation.

Graduates can pursue career paths in counselling, human resources or education. Possible professions include:

counsellor
psychotherapist
careers adviser
human resources officer
market researcher.

Birkbeck graduates have gone on to work in the following organisations:

East London NHS Foundation Trust
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Queen Mary Advice and Counselling service, University of London
King's College student counselling service, University of London
Waterloo Counselling
Age UK.

Read about how you can become a professional counsellor or psychotherapist.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.