Queen's University Belfast

Systemic Practice and Family Therapy PgDip

Queen's University BelfastBelfast, United Kingdom

Course overview

Systemic practice and family therapy helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives. Systemic family therapy has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.

Systemic practitioners and systemic family therapists work in many health and social care settings such as children’s services, older people’s services, physical health and disability, substance misuse, justice and mental health services. Our multidisciplinary Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes are suitable for professionally qualified staff who wish to enhance their skills of working with families, couples, individuals, other systems and relationship networks. There are three levels of training: Foundation (PG Certificate), Intermediate (PG Diploma) and Qualifying (MSc Systemic Psychotherapy).

This Postgraduate Diploma is designed for those who have completed Foundation level training and who wish to further enhance their ability to work systemically with families, individuals and organisations. The programme aims to develop reflexive and ethical practitioners who have a solid knowledge of the theories and research underpinning systemic family practice and its application to their specific area of work. Please note that this course is not eligible for a Student route visa.

Closing date for applications: Friday 31st July 2026 at 4 pm. Late applications may be considered.

Key highlights

  • Intermediate stage in a three-level systemic family therapy training pathway
  • Builds on Foundation training towards qualifying MSc Systemic Psychotherapy
  • Multidisciplinary programme for professionally qualified health and social care staff
  • Develops skills for working with families, couples, individuals and organisations
  • Covers theories and research underpinning systemic family practice
  • Focuses on developing reflexive and ethical systemic practitioners

Entry requirements

  • Degree: 2:2 — 2.2

Scholarships

  • International Postgraduate Taught Scholarship

    Year one award of between £2000 and £5000.

    Up to £2,000
  • The Burdett Trust MSc Nursing Scholarships

    For Home Students: Tuition fees £7,665 Stipend £10,250. For International Students: Tuition fees £24,295 Stipend £17,000

  • Vice Chancellor’s International Attainment Scholarship - Postgraduate Taught

    Value: 50% of tuition fees paid for up to a maximum of two years.

    Up to 50% of fees

Careers this course leads to

  • Systemic practitioner
  • Family support practitioner
  • Children's services social worker
  • Mental health practitioner
  • Substance misuse practitioner

Cost of study

UK/Home: £5,133 (NI/ROI), £6,933 (GB) | International: £15,333

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Queen's University Belfast, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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