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Psychoanalytic Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This MA Psychoanalytic Studies gives you the chance to explore the origins of psychoanalysis, its history and its main ideas and their applications. You will be able to examine key psychoanalytic concepts in detail and place those concepts in context. Why choose this course?

  • You will be taught by internationally acclaimed, research-active scholars who are experts in their respective fields, and will study theory and practice while developing new skills and insights.
  • This course links closely with the British Psychoanalytical Society through its events and teaching staff, and its Foundation Course in Psychoanalysis.
  • If you have strong clinical interests and the necessary experience, by choosing the Society’s Foundation Course as one of your option modules on this MA you will learn psychoanalytic theory from some of the most senior and eminent psychoanalysts in the country.
What you will learn You will examine key concepts in detail, from Freud through to contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice, and the methodological, epistemological and ethical issues around them. You will learn how far modern thought on war and other forms of violent conflict, fascism, terrorism, racism and xenophobia has had an influence on the way we think about the unconscious mind. You will also explore how psychoanalytic accounts of interpersonal and intra-psychic relationships have shaped - or been shaped by - wider cultural attitudes to love, intimacy and destructiveness, and discussions of gender and sexuality, racism and postcolonialism. How you will learn You can study this course full- or part-time and on campus, online or combining both through a flexible learning option. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, and these may include short lectures, seminars and small-group discussions, or group tasks such as the analysis of policy. You will devise your own independent research project, supervised by one of our specialists. You can also follow your interests with option modules covering a wide variety of related areas to hone your knowledge and skills, from race, empire and postcoloniality to mental health, past and present. A limited number of our students can choose to take the option module in psychoanalysis at the British Psychoanalytical Society too. This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. Highlights
  • Birkbeck has established a formal link with the University of São Paulo, Brazil. This link enables on-campus students on this course with Portuguese language skills to undertake an option module at the university as part of their programme of study at Birkbeck.
  • As well as the core course staff, lectures on our summer programme are given by internationally renowned Birkbeck associates.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this MA Psychoanalytic Studies, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • an advanced critical ability in understanding and applying psychoanalytic ideas
  • an understanding of how this links to real-world ideas and contemporary debates
  • a grasp of the complex ethical debates and controversies around different ideas
  • strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented work.
Graduates have pursued a whole range of career paths in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, counselling, research, education, journalism and politics. Possible professions include:
  • psychoanalyst
  • psychotherapist
  • counsellor
  • clinical psychologist.

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, 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

At least a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any discipline relevant to the course, including most humanities and social science disciplines, such as psychology, history, English, languages, sociology, politics, philosophy and cultural studies. In exceptional circumstances, you will be considered if you do not meet this criterion but have substantial relevant professional experience (for example, in teaching, journalism, social work, counselling and psychotherapy, mediation, development work) 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 £12450 Year 1
Northern Ireland £12450 Year 1
Scotland £12450 Year 1
Wales £12450 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.
Psychoanalytic Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS