This course is available through the following application route(s)
Group Analysis training as a clinical training can offer new understanding and practice for psychotherapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and a range of other health professionals, members of voluntary and statutory agencies.
Group analysis as a theory and a form of group work practice offers leaders, teams and organisational development experts new understanding by applying group analytic concepts to analysis of unconscious processes in groups and organisations.
This 5-year course is part of a 6 year Pathway Programme which includes the Graduate Certificate in Group Analytic Studies (XA24) and culminates in the Professional Masters in Group Analytic Psychotherapy (XA21).
In years 1-2 of the Professional Masters, through participation in group work supervision, skills seminars, theory discussion groups and an experiential group analytic therapy group, students have an opportunity to reflect on group interactions, relationships, leadership phenomena. Students will also, through the establishment of a short term group, learn about the unconcious dynamics in establishing and facilitating a group. Students also will explore their own style of relating within a group.
In years 3-5 of the Professional Masters, students actively begin to work clinically through the establishment of a training group. They also continue to benefit from supervision, skills seminars, theory discussion groups and an experiential group analytic therapy group.
The Professional Masters in Group Analytic Psychotherapy is a five-year part-time postgraduate course.
Group Analysis focuses on the relationship between the individual and the group, emphasising the essentially social nature of human experience. As a therapeutic tool, Group Analysis aims to strengthen the relationship between the individual and the group to achieve a healthier integration of the individual in his or her communal network.
The ethos of Group Analysis as proposed by Foulkes (1975) gives weight and value to the experiential nature of learning in a group. As a result, group analytic training privileges group participation, and attendance and willingness to engage are therefore fundamental to an optimal group experience at every level of the training.
The main characteristics of this course are:
Learning Outcomes:
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - *A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 1. |
PSCO40470 | Group Analytic Psychotherapy | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - *A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 1. |
PSCO40560 | The Theory of Group Analysis | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - *A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 1. |
PSCO40570 | Group Work Skills | Year-long (12 months) | 2.5 |
Stage 1 Options - *A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 1. |
PSCO40580 | Supervision and The Self | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 2. |
PSCO40520 | Advanced Group Work Skills 1 | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 2.5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 2. |
PSCO40480 | Group Analytic Psychotherapy 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 2. |
PSCO40500 | Supervision, Inquiry & GWP 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 2. |
PSCO40540 | States of Mind - Theory 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 3. |
PSCO40530 | Advanced Group Work Skills 2 | 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) | 2.5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 3. |
PSCO40490 | Group Analytic Psychotherapy 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 3. |
PSCO40510 | Supervision, Inquiry & GWP 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 3. |
PSCO40550 | States of Mind - Theory 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 4. |
PSCO40350 | Advanced GA Psychotherapy 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 4. |
PSCO40380 | Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 2 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 4. |
PSCO40410 | Therapeutic GAP - Theory 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - A)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 4. |
PSCO40440 | Adv Group Analytic Skills 1 | Year-long (12 months) | 2.5 |
Stage 2 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 5. |
PSCO40360 | Advanced GA Psychotherapy 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 5. |
PSCO40390 | Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 2 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 5. |
PSCO40420 | Therapeutic GAP - Theory 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - B)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 5. |
PSCO40450 | Adv Group Analytic Skills 2 | Year-long (12 months) | 2.5 |
Stage 2 Options - C)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 6. |
PSCO40370 | Advanced GA Psychotherapy 3 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - C)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 6. |
PSCO40400 | Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 3 | Year-long (12 months) | 7.5 |
Stage 2 Options - C)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 6. |
PSCO40430 | Therapeutic GAP - Theory 3 | Year-long (12 months) | 10 |
Stage 2 Options - C)4 of: Choose all 4 modules in year 6. |
PSCO40460 | Adv Group Analytic Skills 3 | Year-long (12 months) | 2.5 |
On completion of this course and following the completion of their clinical paper Students/Trainees are eligible for full membership of Irish Group Analytic Society (IGAS) and recognised by the Psychoanalytic Section of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP).
For information on course fees please visit UCD Fees & Grants Office website.
Students do not enter XA21 directly.
Students need to complete Year 1 Stage 1 of the Professional Masters Programme by registering for XA24 - Graduate Certificate in Group Analytic Studies or have an equivalent qualification.
Instructions to Students:
Stage 1:
XA24 -Year 1 - complete all 4 modules
XA21 - Year 2 - complete all 4 modules
XA21- Year 3- complete all 4 modules
Stage 2:
XA21 - Year 4 - complete all 4 modules
XA21 - Year 5- complete all 4 modules
XA21 - Year 6 - complete all 4 modules
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Group Analytic Psychotherapy:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | XA21 Group Analytic Psychotherapy Professional Masters Part-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |