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Psychodynamics of Human Development at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Course summary

This MSc Psychodynamics of Human Development is taught jointly by the British Psychotherapy Foundation (BPF) and the Centre for Counselling at Birkbeck. It provides you with an understanding of human development from both a psychoanalytic/Jungian and a psychosocial perspective. Why choose this course?

  • As teaching on this course takes place in Birkbeck and the British Psychotherapy Foundation, you will benefit from the expertise of both academics and clinicians who are experts in the field.
  • It is a pre-clinical foundation course that offers you a two-year mother-infant observation and fulfils the entry requirements for a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Doctorate, or for application to further clinical training, such as our MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents.
What you will learn This course offers you a Jungian and a psychoanalytic stream, as well as the chance to carry out a theoretical or an empirical research project as part of your final dissertation. You will also explore a distinctive approach to social and psychological research, characterised by a focus on the interweaving of psychological and social concerns and linking especially strongly with psychoanalytic theory, social theory and critical qualitative methodologies. How you will learn This course is taught through large and small group seminars, theory lectures and study days which focus on research methodologies in preparation for the final-year dissertation. Seminars take place at the BPF in Kilburn, North London, or are delivered by Birkbeck through online classes and study days. Throughout the course you will be exposed to a range of different teaching resources and will learn from an academic, experiential and personal perspective. We employ student-centred teaching techniques that foster discussion, creative and collaborative learning opportunities for you. Our teaching resources are based on contemporary psychodynamic, psychoanalytic/Jungian and psychosocial resources and source texts, and our teaching is grounded in a contemporary vision of therapeutic approaches. We offer this course as a Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma. For the Diploma you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation. Highlights
  • This course offers a valuable opportunity to combine the knowledge of practising clinicians from a leading psychotherapy training institution with theoretical and critical learning offered by an internationally recognised university department.
  • Teaching takes place in both the clinical and academic setting.
  • The infant observation component of this course provides you with experiential learning that can be accredited for psychotherapy training.
  • Following your interests, you will have the opportunity to attend additional lectures, workshops and activities including those hosted by the Birkbeck Centre for Counselling, such as their annual conference.
Careers and employability On successful completion of this MSc Psychodynamics of Human Development you will have gained valuable transferable skills including:
  • a critical understanding of psychoanalytic or Jungian analytic approaches
  • development of a critical approach to psychosocial perspectives
  • observational skills
  • reflexivity
  • research skills and knowledge of methodologies.
Graduates can pursue career paths in psychotherapy, psychology and education. They can pursue roles in social and community care, nursing and mental health care. They can also apply for training in child and adolescent psychotherapy, adult psychoanalytic psychotherapy or Jungian analytic psychotherapy. Possible professions include:
  • psychotherapist
  • clinical psychologist
  • further education lecturer
  • educational psychologist
  • careers adviser.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Year 1: two essays (2500-3000 words) and a two-week ‘take-away’ examination paper. Year 2: one infant observation essay (5000-8000 words).

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • British Association of Psychotherapists

How to apply

International applicants

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.

Entry requirements

Experience of working with children, adults or families is an advantage. Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above, or an equivalent international qualification.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

To be confirmed
Psychodynamics of Human Development at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS