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Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Course summary

This MA Psychosocial Studies pioneers an exciting interdisciplinary approach to understanding the psychosocial constitution of the human subject and the relationship between the psychic and the social. It gives you the chance to develop an in-depth understanding of the relation between individual subjectivities and identities, and historical and contemporary social and political formations.  Why choose this course?

  • It offers you a range of critical frameworks to explore, including psychoanalytic theory, social theory, feminist and queer theory, cultural and post-colonial studies and qualitative psychosocial methodologies.
  • It is specifically designed to develop the skills and knowledge you need to work with a psychosocial lens in a range of future employment situations.
  • It gives you the opportunity to undertake your own psychosocial research project. We encourage you to take a creative approach to this, for example employing visual or art-based methods.
What you will learn On this course you will develop your understanding of human experience, social conflict and mental health beyond conventional distinctions made between the psychological and social.   You will gain a grounding in the work of key social and psychoanalytic theorists, exploring power, ‘otherness’, violence, affect, aesthetics, memory, resistance, care and identity. To help you put theory into practice, you will be given training in psychosocial research methodologies, including visual and arts-based methods. How you will learn This MA Psychosocial Studies is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. Teaching on this course is a combination of lectures (some pre-recorded) and seminars. Lectures will provide you with an outline or overview of the topic, to engage you with the material and direct you to other resources. Seminars are group sessions with discussion or group work, and often a class presentation around the topic, with material set in advance. Highlights
  • Our psychosocial studies team is genuinely interdisciplinary, so you will benefit from the experience of academics coming from backgrounds in anthropology, decolonial studies, gender and sexuality studies, sociology and psychoanalytic studies.
  • Psychosocial studies at Birkbeck is globally recognised and we have been at the forefront of the field for more than twenty years. We have connections with world-renowned scholars such as Professor Judith Butler.
  • Birkbeck has a rich research environment for students to immerse themselves in. For example, the Birkbeck Institute for Social Research, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality organise regular talks, film screenings and masterclasses, which our students can attend.
Careers and employability On successfully completing this MA, you will have gained an array of important skills, including:
  • the capacity to apply a psychosocial understanding to key problematics and phenomena
  • an understanding of psychosocial epistemologies and methodologies for empirical and theoretical research
  • ⁠the ability to design and carry out a piece of independent research
  • ⁠the ability to work effectively in a small group, including group presentations.
Graduates can pursue career paths in psychological, psychotherapeutic and counselling settings; health and social care; education; social and psychological research; social policy; international development; human rights; the cultural industries; social research, including further study at MPhil/PhD levels. Possible professions include: 
  • counselling psychologist
  • ⁠further education lecturer
  • human resources officer
  • social researcher
  • psychotherapist.

Modules

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

Assessment method

Written and practical assignments, oral presentations and a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.

How to apply

International applicants

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 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

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £11070 Year 1
Northern Ireland £11070 Year 1
Scotland £11070 Year 1
Wales £11070 Year 1
International £20340 Year 1

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

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS