Psychodynamic Practice
Visit the institution website for COVID‑19 updates
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree in psychology, or equivalent. Applications will be considered from those with an undergraduate degree in another subject, or from those without an undergraduate degree, but with relevant professional and/or clinical or counselling-related work experience.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
January, October
Course content
The programme is a preliminary course for those who have a first degree, or equivalent, in psychology, who wish to embark on clinical training in psychodynamic counselling or psychotherapy. The programme has been specifically designed as a progression route for students who wish to study one of Birkbeck's clinical Master's programmes in counselling and psychotherapy.
The course will also be of interest to those who wish to study the psychodynamic method and its application to group processes, especially as a way of understanding human experience and behaviour in more depth. You will gain a deep understanding of the (unconscious) dynamics that occur in groups and organisations through participation in an experiential group, which is an unstructured group that studies its own processes. Being a member of the experiential group will develop your capacity for self-awareness and emotional sensibility, key attributes necessary for psychodynamic practice.
This is an undergraduate-level qualification that will prepare you for postgraduate study. Graduate Certificates/Diplomas typically take one to two years to complete and are made up of two, three or four modules at final-year undergraduate degree level (worth 60, 90 or 120 credits).
- This innovative, creative and interdisciplinary course will help you become a competent, critical and responsible student of the social world and the psychological and social forces that shape individuals.
- Birkbeck has over 40 years' experience of teaching psychodynamic counselling and practice.
- The Department of Psychosocial Studies is genuinely interdisciplinary, with academics coming from backgrounds in anthropology, cultural and postcolonial studies, education studies, gender and sexuality studies, literary studies, critical psychology, psychoanalytic studies and sociology.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement 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.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- GradCert
- part time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700