Program Overview

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MSc in Psychotherapy

Course Details

Course Code:

DC715

Course Type:

Postgraduate

NFQ Level:

9

Delivery Modes:

Part-Time

Duration:

4 years

Email:

[insert email]

Overview

This programme will see you gain the skills and knowledge you need to work with a diverse range of clients with complex and multifaceted needs.

During the course, you’ll study evidence-based, flexible and responsive psychotherapeutic approaches to help you support and treat adults with psychological issues. You’ll also complete modules on adult intimate relationships and psychosexual wellbeing, meaning once you graduate, you can work with couples as well as individuals.

Careers & Further Options

Careers

There are career prospects for counsellors and psychotherapists within the Statutory, Education, Voluntary and Private sectors. Due to the programme's specialism, you will find specialist psychotherapeutic practice with individuals and couples.

Alternatively, researchers in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research projects are always in demand.

Entry Requirements

General Entry Requirements

For admission to the M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, entrants will normally:

• Have a relevant level 8 undergraduate degree (on the NFQ: National Framework of Qualifications; or its equivalent outside of Ireland; for example, in social care/work, psychology, nursing, education, etc.)
• Have completed a minimum of one year's recent relevant professional experience in a caring or mental health helping role, which has included some training and supervision (for example, voluntary counsellor/helpline work, social care, nursing, special needs teaching or guidance counselling, psychology assistant or pastoral care experience). This year of experience should be completed prior to application. The majority of this experience needs to have been working with adults and be based on real time verbal communication (in person or by phone/video, but not text or email communication)
• Be able to establish and demonstrate reflective capacity, personal readiness, and professional suitability for psychotherapy training
• Successfully undertake a selection interview

Programme Structure

The MSc in Psychotherapy is a four-year part-time professional training programme at Level 9 NFQ (120 credits). Students may exit after two years with a Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy (60 credits; although please note that the Graduate Diploma is not a qualification to practise psychotherapy).

The MSc programme is an integrative psychotherapy training programme, focused on working with adult clients (individuals and relationships); not for working with children or adolescents, as this would involve further or more specialised training. Our programme is integrative in comprising of and holding instruction and in-formation within the theories and practice of humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic and systemic approaches.

Fees and Funding

Fees

Part-time

• EU Status Fee Part-time: €7,000 per annum
• Non EU Fee Part-time: €13,400 per annum

How To Apply

Make an Application

All applicants must submit:

• All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal
• Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable
• Copy of passport
• Certified copy of parchment / degree certificate
• Personal Statement outlining both your personal and professional motivations for applying to this course, what brought you to this point, what you would want from the course, and after, making explicit within this what psychotherapy means to you and for you." (800 to 1000 words max)
• Two references using the required templates on this webpage (one academic & one professional)

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is the course accredited? The MSc in Psychotherapy is accredited by Dublin City University and therefore provides graduating students with an internationally recognised Level 9 qualification. While psychotherapy is a designated health service profession that is in the process of being regulated by CORU (the Irish regulatory body for health and social care professions), as statutory registration is not in place in Ireland as yet, DCU has course accreditation from two professional organisations, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the National Association for Professional Counselling and Psychotherapy.
2. How and when are lectures scheduled? The DCU academic calendar runs over two semesters, each semester normally running over a 12-week period (from September in semester 1 and from January in semester 2). Typically, there are 10 3-day blocks of face-to-face teaching for the first two and a half years of the programme, five in semester 1 and five in Semester 2 – these blocks normally occur about every 2-3 weeks during the academic year, usually on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (however, this schedule is open to revision from year to year, and students will be given advance notice of an upcoming revision to the typical schedule).
3. What are the entry requirements and how do I apply? For admission to the M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, entrants will normally have a relevant level 8 undergraduate degree, have completed a minimum of one year's recent relevant professional experience in a caring or mental health helping role, be able to demonstrate reflective capacity, personal readiness, and professional suitability for psychotherapy training, and successfully undertake a selection interview.
4. Can I apply if I am already accredited as a counsellor or psychotherapist but want to upgrade my qualification? Applicants who are already accredited as a psychotherapist or counsellor with a recognised professional organisation and who have relevant educational achievements may apply to enter the programme at year two or year three, through submitting an additional Recognition of prior experience and learning (RPL) application.
5. What are the fees and are there any additional costs? The programme fees are available at this link. They are currently €7,000 per annum for those with EU Status and €13,400 per annum for those designated as non-EU Fee. These annual fees are set by the university and may be open to revision. There are additional costs for personal therapy and clinical supervision.
6. Do I have to attend personal therapy? All students are required to attend 80 hours of individual personal therapy over the course of the four-year MSc programme (approximately 20 hours per year), which is an additional cost and time commitment to attendance at classes in DCU.
7. Do I have to attend clinical supervision? Students attend group supervision within each of the 10 academic blocks in DCU during years 2, 3 and 4 of the MSc and is provided within DCU as part of the MSc programme. Students are also required to attend one hour of individual clinical supervision for every five client practice hours (60 supervision hours in total) during years 2-4, which is an additional cost and time commitment to attendance at classes in DCU.
8. Do I get help with sourcing placements? Students commence clinical placement following successful completion of the first year of the programme. All students are required to engage in an average of 100 hours of clinical practice during each of years two, three and four of the programme (total 300 hours). The programme team provide guidance on sourcing a clinical placement from the current list of approved placements or in gaining approval of a new placement.
9. Can I undertake the programme if I am a non-EU student or if I’m not a native English speaker? DCU welcomes international students. Students applying from outside the EU are advised to contact the international office to have their qualifications verified by the university and to get information on living and studying in Ireland prior to application. Non-EU fees apply to international students whose definitions are decided by the university. International students applying to take the programme should always check their national requirements for practising as a psychotherapist as standards vary from state to state.