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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

The MA Psychoanalytic Studies provides you with a unique opportunity to critically explore the origins of psychoanalysis, its central concepts, and their application to areas of culture, society, history and politics. Starting with the foundational texts of Sigmund Freud, and tracing the development of psychoanalytic ideas from nineteenth-century Vienna to the global present, you will learn how psychoanalysis has come to provide one of the most important and controversial ways of understanding the forces that shape the mind, and the social and political worlds we live in. Why choose this course?

  • You will be taught by internationally acclaimed, research-active scholars at the forefront of their field.
  • This course has close links with the Institute of Psychoanalysis, one of the main training providers for psychoanalysts in the country.
  • If you have strong clinical interests and the necessary experience, by choosing the Foundation Course at the Institute of Psychoanalysis as one of your option modules you will learn psychoanalytic theory from some of the most senior and eminent psychoanalysts in the country.
What you will learn This course focuses on the interface between psychoanalysis as an evolving clinical practice, as a form of knowledge, and as a mode of critique. You will explore how psychoanalytic thought has been used to illuminate pressing social and political concerns, and examine the controversies that have surrounded its application outside the clinical setting. You will be introduced to the key psychoanalytic concepts in detail, starting with Freud and moving through the history of psychoanalysis to contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice. You will then critically assess the use of psychoanalysis to think about contemporary experiences of gender and sexuality, love and care, violence, war, racism and colonialism. 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. Classes take place in the evening and may include lectures, seminars, small-group work, and group tasks such as presentations. We provide you with creative and accessible learning materials including pre-recorded lectures, films, radio broadcasts, artistic work and online resources. You will also be encouraged to seek out psychoanalytic events beyond Birkbeck to write about them regularly. You will devise your own independent research project, individually supervised by an expert in your area of interest. You will also choose option modules covering a wide variety of related areas to broaden your knowledge and skills, from race, empire and postcoloniality to mental health, past and present. 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, which enables on-campus students on this course with Portuguese language skills to undertake an option module at the university.
  • 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, you will have gained important transferable skills including:
  • an advanced ability to understand and apply 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
  • collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented work.
Graduates have pursued a 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