Psychodynamic Practice

A one year part-time graduate course providing training in advanced clinical work and research methodology in psychodynamic practice, involving the opportunity to undertake supervised original research.

The course forms part of the University of Oxford's master’s programme in psychodynamic studies, which is accredited by the UPCA (Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association). At completion of the full programme and the necessary clinical hours you will be eligible for professional accreditation via the UPCA with UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy), as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. In addition, if you wish you may apply individually to the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

The MSt course seeks to consolidate the clinical and academic work of the programme and provides training in advanced clinical work and research methodology, with the undertaking of supervised research. It is primarily orientated towards increasing the understanding and application of counselling/psychotherapy research in practice. The course is designed to bring you to an advanced level of professional competence.

You should have satisfactorily completed the PGDip in Psychodynamic Practice and will continue your clinical placement and personal therapy. Please note that successful completion of the MSt will result in the PGDip award being subsumed by the MSt award.

The course consists of:

• weekly Wednesday evening clinical and research seminars during Michaelmas and Hilary terms
• two Saturday workshops, in September at the start and end of the course
• two tutorials with the senior clinical tutor
• four tutorials with the research tutor
• a minimum of one meeting per term with an off-course research project supervisor
• a 15,000 word research project dissertation
• a viva voce examination
• a minimum of 100 clinical hours with supervision at a minimum 1:6 ratio to clinical hours
• a minimum of 40 hours personal therapy over the year, with a psychodynamically trained and course-approved therapist/counsellor.

The hours of private study are those needed to bring both clinical understanding and the dissertation to the standard required by the MSt both tutors will assist in monitoring this. However, at least 10 hours study per week between the taught periods is envisaged.

The on-course research tutor and off-course research project supervisor will support and guide you with regard to the research project dissertation, which nevertheless must remain an original piece of individually-researched work authored entirely by you. All tutors are professionally qualified and accredited counsellors or psychotherapists.

No applicant currently in therapy/counselling with a course tutor will be admitted to the course.

It is necessary to have successfully completed the PGDip in Psychodynamic Practice, or to be currently studying on the second year of the PGDip, in order to apply to this course.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any subject. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA normally sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Personal statement:500 words
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course