Psychosocial Studies
Visit the institution website for COVID‑19 updates
Entry requirements
At least a second-class honours degree (2:2), or its equivalent, in a discipline relevant to psychosocial studies, which includes most humanities and social science disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, politics, history, cultural studies).
In exceptional circumstances, your application will be considered if you have substantial professional experience (for example, teaching, social work, counselling and psychotherapy, mediation, development work, arts and cultural industries) without an undergraduate degree, and can demonstrate through interview and a written assignment that you have the required academic abilities to complete a Master's-level course.
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
October
Course content
Our MA Psychosocial Studies explores multidisciplinary discussions on the connections between our precarious and increasingly interrelated collective histories and our ordinary, intimate, personal and psychic life.
The programme is designed for graduates from a wide range of backgrounds who are looking to develop an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the individual and social and political formations.
Our Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial Studies introduces you to substantial strands of psychosocial theory: theory that proposes different ways of understanding the interrelationship between the development of subjectivity and identity, and historical and contemporary social and political formations. The focus is on psychoanalysis and social theory.
The programme prepares you to identify and analyse a range of psychosocial phenomena (such as violence, war, trauma, terrorism, intimacies, communities, care, human rights, agency, resistance, and personal and social transformations). It will advance your study skills and provide you with the intellectual and academic foundations for further postgraduate programmes in psychosocial studies.
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).
- In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), Sociology at Birkbeck was ranked 13th in the UK.
- The Department of Psychosocial Studies has a formal link with the University of São Paulo, Brazil. This link enables students on the programme to undertake an option module at the university as part of their programme of study at Birkbeck.
- Birkbeck has three research institutes of relevance to students on this degree: Birkbeck Institute for Social Research, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality (BiGS). Each organises regular talks and masterclasses, which our students can attend.
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 7.0, with not less than 6.5 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
- MA
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- 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
