MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy

Overview

The MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy is the only postgraduate degree in Integrative Psychotherapy offered in Greece, initiated in 2010. It is accredited by a TOP30 UK University and aligns with the criteria set by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Programme Structure

• The programme consists of six 20-credit modules and a diploma thesis of 60 credits, allowing students to approach various theoretical and methodological models within the field.
• A compulsory clinical placement of 300 hours (including 60 hours of supervision) is required, providing students with practical experience in various counselling settings.
• Key modules include:
  • Integrating Psychotherapeutic Theory and Practice
  • Current Developments in Integrative Practice
  • Research Methods, Ethics, and Law in Psychotherapeutic Practice
  • Professional Integrative Practice
  • Two Professional Practice modules

Teaching and Learning Methodology

• Instruction is experiential and includes:
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Experiential exercises and problem-solving tasks
  • Case study discussions and debates
  • Role plays and group assignments
  • Clinical practice and supervision

Admission Requirements

• Applicants are required to provide:
  • A copy of the latest studies certificate
  • Copies of professional certificates (if applicable)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English
  • Two reference letters
  • An excellent command of English (IELTS 7.0 level or equivalent)
  • An academic interview
  • Two passport-sized photos
  • A copy of ID card/passport
  • A copy of the criminal record

Note

• Candidates without a degree may still apply if they possess relevant professional qualifications and experience in counselling, along with a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue diverse opportunities across various settings, including:

• Counselling services and centres
• Community support and social welfare units
• NGOs focused on humanitarian and developmental work
• Educational institutions such as schools
• Private practice as independent integrative counsellors or psychotherapists

Further Study

Graduates may also opt to continue their education towards a PhD or PsyD, deepening their expertise in the field.

Unique Programme Features

• The integrative approach combines three essential psychotherapeutic frameworks: Humanistic, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive-Behavioral.
• The course offers robust professional training through extensive practical placements and supervision.
• It leverages a wide network of partner organizations to support clinical practice and enhance individual therapy experiences.

This programme is designed to equip future practitioners with the skills needed to address the complexities of client needs effectively through an integrative model of practice, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges of a dynamic work environment in mental health and wellness sectors.

Degree Overview:

• The MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy aims to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work as independent integrative counselors and psychotherapists.
• The program emphasizes the development of a student's understanding of theoretical, social, cultural, and ideological contexts in relation to clients' problems.
• It delves into major trends and orientations within the integrative therapeutic field, equipping students to identify and utilize appropriate supervision sources within counselling practice.

Outline:

• The program consists of six 20-credit modules, culminating in a 60-credit diploma thesis.
• Modules:
• Integrating Psychotherapeutic Theory and Practice
• Current Developments in Integrative Practice
• Research Methods, Ethics and Law in Psychotherapeutic Practice
• Professional Integrative Practice
• Independent Scholarship
• Professional Practice 1
• Professional Practice 2
• Throughout the program, students explore methodological and theoretical models and their application in real-world scenarios.
The program also delves into the nature of counseling and psychotherapy, their relationship to theory and practice, and the significance of ethical and legal implications, including the code of practice. Additionally, students complete a 300-hour supervised clinical placement (including 60 hours of supervision) and are encouraged to engage in individual therapy.

Assessment:

• Assessments vary depending on the module but may include coursework, presentations, group assignments, individual research, clinical practice, and supervision.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods incorporate a blend of theoretical and practical elements, including:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Experiential and problem-solving exercises
• Case study discussions and debates
• DVD-watching
• Role-plays
• Individual research
• Clinical practice
• Supervision
• The program emphasizes developing critical thinking and self-awareness while fostering personal and professional development.

Careers:

• Graduates have the potential to work as independent integrative counselors and psychotherapists in various settings, including:
• Counselling services and centers
• Community support and social welfare units
• Humanitarian and development NGOs
• Health sector settings
• Schools
• Private practice
• Alternatively, graduates can pursue further studies towards a PhD or PsyD.

Other:

• Mediterranean College boasts extensive experience and expertise in delivering higher education courses in psychology and counseling at various levels.
• The program is offered in collaboration with the University of Derby, ranked among the top 26 UK universities and a leader in student employability.
• It is the only program in Greece to combine an MSc degree with the integrative psychotherapeutic approach, opening doors for graduates to pursue professional opportunities in both the private and academic sectors.
• Additionally, the program offers the following advantages:
• Combines three essential psychotherapeutic approaches and emphasizes research findings for effective therapeutic treatment.
• Includes a compulsory 300-hour supervised clinical practice with support in finding suitable placements.
• Enrichment through various activities offered by the School of Psychology.
• All academic staff are accredited lecturers with the University of Derby.
• The program provides the opportunity to attend specialized seminars on psychometric tools and certified training courses in counseling, psychotherapy, and clinical diagnosis/evaluation.

Mediterranean College is the first independent Anglophone college to be founded in Greece, established in 1977. For nearly five decades it has operated continuously according to the standards of countries with a long tradition in higher education, principally the United Kingdom and the United States. It holds the distinction of being the first college in Greece to introduce franchise degree programmes from a British state university, a model it pioneered in 1992 and which has since become the standard framework for private higher education across Greece and the wider European Union.

Today, Mediterranean College operates campuses in Athens (two locations), Glyfada and Thessaloniki, all centrally located and accessible by public transport. Across these campuses it delivers a portfolio of over 80 undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development courses through 10 academic schools, serving students from Greece and internationally.

Our mission

Mediterranean College has evolved into a higher education institution with a leading role in Greece across the study fields of Economics, Business, Computing, Social Sciences, Tourism, Health Professions and Engineering. Its mission rests on four pillars: academic excellence, student success, academic and technological innovation, and social contribution. The College's aim is to become a renowned international learning centre in Greece, delivering high-quality programmes within an educational environment where quality consistently meets student needs.

To realise that mission, the College is guided by the following commitments:

• Providing thorough preparation in each chosen field to support graduates' successful entry into the job market
• Creating a learning environment that challenges students while promoting ethics, responsibility and integrity
• Developing transferable skills including critical thinking, creativity, analysis and communication, applicable in any professional, academic or social context
• Enhancing employability through active industry connections and support for gaining practical experience
• Preparing students for leading positions in national and international economies through broad and varied academic exposure.
• Offering flexible delivery patterns and scholarships to make higher education accessible to all qualified students
• Broadening research relations with national and international institutions and academics of international reputation
• Participating actively in the social and cultural life of the community

Academic partnership: University of Derby

Mediterranean College's primary and longest-standing academic partner is the University of Derby, a British university with a 180-year history and a student-centred philosophy. The College has held a strategic franchise partnership with Derby since 2010, under which franchised programmes delivered at Mediterranean College are identical to those delivered on Derby's own campuses in the UK. The university retains full responsibility for curriculum content, teaching and assessment methods, and quality assurance mechanisms.

As a result of this partnership, Mediterranean College ranks first in Greece in the study fields of Business, Marketing, Education, Hospitality and Mechanical Engineering, according to the Guardian University Guide. The University of Derby itself holds a TEF Gold rating for teaching excellence, is ranked in the top 5 in the UK for Marketing and PR and for Civil Engineering (Guardian 2026), and 96.3% of its graduates move into employment within six months of graduating.

A Mediterranean College student enrolled under this partnership is simultaneously a University of Derby student, studying the same curriculum delivered on Derby's home campus. They hold the same rights and responsibilities as Derby students in the UK, may participate in exchange schemes, fieldtrips and university-organised projects, and are eligible for postgraduate scholarships at the University of Derby. Their degree is professionally equivalent to degrees awarded by other Greek and international universities, and enables registration with UK professional bodies and the right to practise in the UK, Greece and abroad.

Additional academic partnerships

• European International University (EIU), Paris: a private institution licensed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, accredited by ASIC and recognised by the Business Graduates Association (BGA), ATHEA and the European Council for Business Education (ECBE). Through this partnership, Mediterranean Professional Studies offers internationally recognised Advanced Professional Diploma, Professional Diploma and Executive Diploma certifications across a broad CPD portfolio.
• Pearson: the world's leading certification organisation, supervised by UK Ofqual, SQA Accreditation and CCEA Accreditation. Mediterranean Professional Studies has been a Pearson Approved Training Centre (formerly Edexcel) since 1997, delivering CPD courses under Pearson's Quality Assurance Scheme.
• ABC Awards and Certa Awards: Mediterranean Professional Studies offers Level 5 Higher Professional Diplomas under the European Qualifications Framework through the ABC/Certa Quality License Scheme.

Quality assurance and accreditation

Mediterranean College is subject to quality controls from four distinct bodies, an unusually rigorous multi-layered oversight structure:

• Greek Ministry of Education: the College holds a licence to operate in Athens and Thessaloniki under Law 4093/2012 (License Number: 120863/2-9-13, Government's Gazette 2278/B/12-9-13)
• British Accreditation Council (BAC): a founding member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education), established in 1984 by the British Council, the QAA, the Council of Validating Universities and the British Universities' Council of Vice-Chancellors. Since 2000, Mediterranean College has been continuously reviewed and accredited by the BAC as an institution providing higher education.
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): the UK body responsible for auditing academic standards at universities and colleges. In the most recent QAA audit of transnational education provision in Greece (2015), Mediterranean College and its partner the University of Derby received an outstanding report, commending the two institutions' performance on quality assurance.
• Collaborating universities: under franchise agreements, the partner universities maintain complete control over and responsibility for programme content, teaching, assessment and quality. The degrees awarded to Mediterranean College graduates are recognised in Greece, across the EU and in the broader international academic community.

Degree recognition

Degrees awarded to Mediterranean College graduates by partner universities are fully recognised internationally and professionally equivalent to degrees awarded by Greek state universities. They are also recognised by UK NARIC (now ENIC-NARIC), the national agency for the recognition of international qualifications in the UK. This recognition enables graduates to pursue professional registration in the UK and Greece, and to continue to postgraduate study worldwide.

Schools and academic areas

Mediterranean College delivers programmes across 10 academic schools, covering a wide range of disciplines at both undergraduate and postgraduate level:

• School of Economics and Business
• School of Computing
• School of Engineering
• School of Psychology
• School of Education
• School of Health and Sport Sciences
• School of Shipping
• School of Tourism and Hospitality
• School of Arts and Design
• School of Law and Governance

Leading institutional initiatives

Mediterranean College has established a series of distinctive initiatives that set it apart from other higher education providers in Greece:

• MC Employability Scheme: a holistic programme designed to enhance graduates' readiness for the job market, developed in collaboration with a wide network of industry partners across Greece
• Board of Visitors: an advisory body connecting the College with senior professionals and industry leaders who contribute to the strategic direction of academic programmes
• Annual Learning and Teaching Conference: a forum for academic staff, researchers and education professionals to share best practice and drive pedagogical innovation
• Education Festival: a public event that positions Mediterranean College as an active participant in Greece's broader educational and cultural landscape
• Greece as an International Education Hub initiative: a strategic effort to position Greece and Mediterranean College as a destination for international students
• Sports and Education initiative: linking athletic development with academic achievement
• The Education Awards and Student Excellence Conference: exclusive events recognising outstanding student performance and contribution

Research

Mediterranean College maintains an active research agenda, with academic staff engaged in applied research across business, computing, psychology, engineering, health sciences and education. The College actively develops research relations with national and international academics and institutions, and supports staff development through conference participation, publications and collaborative research projects.

Student support and welfare

Mediterranean College is explicitly student-centred in its approach. A comprehensive suite of support services is available at all campuses to help every student succeed:

• Personal Tutoring: each student is assigned a personal tutor for academic guidance and pastoral support throughout their studies
• Academic Skills Centre: targeted support for study skills, academic writing and research methods
• Counselling Centre: professional psychological support and mental health services
• Language Centre: English language and additional language support for all students
• Learning Support Centre: specialist support for students with learning differences or disabilities
• Career Services: internship placement, career planning and employer connections
• Bursaries and Scholarships: academic and social scholarships to ensure accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds
• International Office: dedicated support for international students, including visa guidance and accommodation assistance
• Alumni Club: a network connecting graduates with each other and with the institution for lifelong professional benefit

Student life

Mediterranean College offers an active student experience beyond the classroom. The Students' Union leads a broad programme of clubs, societies, volunteer opportunities and sporting activities. Students can participate in intercollegiate and recreational sports, community service projects, and a range of cultural and academic events organised throughout the year. Facilities across campuses include libraries with digital and physical resources, IT labs, specialist workshops and laboratories tailored to each school's discipline, and digital learning platforms supporting blended study.

Why Mediterranean College

1. The first Anglophone college in Greece, with nearly 50 years of uninterrupted operation to the standards of UK and US higher education
2. Over 80 programmes across 10 schools, from undergraduate to postgraduate and CPD levels
3. Internationally recognised, UK-awarded degrees that are professionally equivalent to Greek state university degrees and recognised by UK NARIC
4. A multi-layered quality assurance framework including Greek Ministry of Education licensing, BAC accreditation, QAA review and franchise university oversight
5. A primary partnership with the University of Derby, ranked No.1 in Greece across Business, Marketing, Education, Hospitality and Mechanical Engineering
6. A dedicated Employability Scheme backed by an active industry network, supporting students' transition from education to employment
7. Campuses in Athens, Glyfada and Thessaloniki, centrally located and accessible across Greece
8. Comprehensive student welfare services including personal tutoring, counselling, learning support and career services