Queen's University Belfast

Systemic Psychotherapy MSc

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 Family and Systemic Psychotherapists 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 systemic practice clinical training: Foundation (PG Certificate), Intermediate (PG Diploma) and Qualifying (MSc Systemic Psychotherapy).

This MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy is designed for those who have completed Intermediate level training and who wish to qualify as a Systemic Family Psychotherapist and achieve full registration as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist with the UK Council for Psychotherapy. Please note that this course is not eligible for a student route visa. Please note: intake for this programme is every two years, with September 2026 being the next intake.

Closing date for applications: Monday18th May 2026 at 4pm. Late applications may be considered.

Key highlights

  • Qualifying-level clinical training to become a Systemic Family Psychotherapist
  • Leads to full registration with the UK Council for Psychotherapy
  • Multidisciplinary programme for professionally qualified health and social care staff
  • Builds skills for working with families, couples, individuals and wider networks
  • Final stage after Foundation and Intermediate systemic practice training

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

  • Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
  • Systemic Family Psychotherapist
  • Systemic Practitioner
  • Child and adolescent mental health therapist
  • Couples therapist

Cost of study

UK/Home: £7,700 (NI/ROI), £10,400 (GB)

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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