Psychodynamic Practice (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

MSt
A one year part-time graduate course following on from the PG Diploma in Psychodynamic Practice, providing training in advanced clinical work and research methodology in psychodynamic practice, involving the opportunity to undertake supervised original research.

The course forms part of the Oxford University Master’s Programme in Psychodynamic Studies which is accredited by the UPCA (Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association). Students who complete the full programme and the necessary clinical hours will be eligible for professional accreditation with UPCA as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. UPCA hold this accredited register on behalf of UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). Students can also become members of UKCP, in addition to their membership of UPCA.

The MSt course seeks to consolidate the clinical and academic work of the programme and provides training in advanced clinical work and research methodology, with the undertaking of supervised research. It is primarily orientated towards increasing the understanding and application of counselling/psychotherapy research in practice. The course is designed to bring you to an advanced level of professional competence.

You should have satisfactorily completed the PG Diploma in Psychodynamic Practice and will continue your clinical placement and personal therapy. Please note that successful completion of the MSt will result in the PGDip award being subsumed by the MSt award.

The course consists of:

• weekly Wednesday evening clinical and research seminars during Michaelmas and Hilary terms

• two Saturday workshops, in September at the start and end of the course

• two tutorials with the clinical tutor

• four tutorials with the research tutor

• up to three tutorials with an off-course research project advisor

• clinical placement to be ongoing throughout the MSt course to complete a minimum total of 200 clinical hours including hours completed during the PG - Diploma in Psychodynamic Practice, with supervision at a minimum 1:6 ratio to clinical hours

• a minimum of 40 hours personal therapy over the year, with a psychodynamically trained and course-approved therapist/counsellor.

The hours of private study are those needed to bring both clinical understanding and the dissertation to the standard required by the MSt; both tutors will assist in monitoring this. However, at least ten hours private study per week is envisaged.

PGDip
The Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Psychodynamic Practice is a two year part-time graduate course which forms part of the University of Oxford master’s in psychodynamic studies. The PGDip aims to integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical experience, and to that end you will have a clinical placement, clinical supervision, and be in personal therapy. The PGDip aims to bring trainees to the level of professional competence.

The course constitutes the second part of the University of Oxford's master's programme in psychodynamic practice, which is accredited by the UPCA (Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association). Students who complete the full programme and the necessary clinical hours will be eligible for professional accreditation with UPCA as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. UPCA hold this accredited register on behalf of UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). Students can also become members of UKCP, in addition to their membership of UPCA.