Systemic Psychotherapy (Ind, Couple, Families)

International applicants should contact UCD Global to find out about their own specific eligibility for postgraduate study in Ireland on this programme.

A list of FAQs for international applicants is available here: https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/faqs/

• Enables clinicians to practice as family therapists in Ireland and abroad
• Covers theory of systemic psychotherapy, clinical practice, personal professional development, and research
• Clinical experience in years 2 and 3 in established family therapy services
• Live Supervision of clinical practice is a central and unique feature of this course
• Analyse and critically evaluate a wide range of systemic theories and relevant research findings.
• Apply Systemic theories and models with a high level of clinical competency when working with families, couples and individuals in a live setting and in retrospective practice.
• Communicate, through case presentation and written assignments, an integrated understanding and knowledge of the Theory and Methodology of Systemic Family Therapy.
• Conduct a piece of qualitative research and present it in a thesis format.
• Make links between professional, personal and theoretical experiences in a self-reflexive manner and present these in Supervision, in Group and within their written assignments.
• Reach a sufficient academic and clinical level to meet the criteria to allow for registration with the Family Therapy Association of Ireland (FTAI), the Irish Council for Psychotherapy and the European Association of Psychotherapy.
• Show, through supervision and in their portfolios, an awareness and understanding of the personal and cultural knowledges that inform their clinical practice.
• Understand, anticipate and reflect on ethical concerns for clinical practice and thesis research.

Career Opportunities

Areas in which Systemic Psychotherapists have previously secured employment or developed experience in independent practices include:

• Primary Care Settings
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
• Adult Psychiatric Services
• Voluntary Agencies providing Couple and Family Therapy
• Family Resource Centres
• Family Court work
• Private Practice

Graduates from the programme have a qualification that is recognised within Europe, which facilitates employment mobility.

With regard to the anticipated deployment of Psychotherapists throughout the Health Services  (Ref. Vision for Change 2006 Dept. of Health and Children) Psychotherapy graduates from this programme will have met all the requirements for employment as registered Psychotherapists

PhD Opportunities

We are currently accepting PhD proposals for January 2024 and September 2024 deadlines. Please note that research proposals should be aligned with the core research topics of the team.

The core research topics are:

1. Family processes in a changing social and cultural environment.
2. Psychotherapy training in the digital era.
3. Practitioner Research.
4. Innovative research methods for clinical practice and family functioning.

For more information, please contact the Research Coordinator, Marina Everri, at marina.everri@ucd.ie.

The minimum four-year ProfMasters in Systemic Psychotherapy is accredited by the Family Therapy Association of Ireland (FTAI) a constituent member of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) which is a member of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) 

ProfMasters Systemic Psychotherapy (Ind, Couple, Families) (XA01) Part Time
EU          Year 1 - € 6600
nonEU    Year 1 - € 12100
EU          Year 2 - € 8400
nonEU    Year 2 - € 14400
EU          Year 3 - € 8400
nonEU    Year 3 - € 14400
EU          Year 4 - € 6300
nonEU    Year 4 - € 12100

***Fees are subject to change

Eligibility criteria

This graduate level programme is open to candidates who have three years graduate level training in the human sciences (medicine, psychology, social work, sociology, education, etc) or its equivalent.  Applicants must have relevant experience of working in a responsible and caring role with people. During training they will be expected to work in a setting which provides opportunities for clinical practice.

Applicants must have:

• A primary degree in the human sciences (medicine, psychology , social work , sociology, education etc.) or its equivalent.
• Equivalence through Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL): Candidates applying through this route must demonstrate clearly that they have equivalence to an undergraduate degree in a field relevant to psychotherapy or have a combination of work and life experiences that add up to a similar competency.
• Relevant experience in working with people in a responsible and caring role.
• To be in a work setting or role which will provide candidates with opportunities to implement their learning such as  work within the helping professions, counselling support services and /or project / community work.
• Names and contact details of two referees who can assess a) your academic and  b) professional abilities.
• If English is not your native language, unless you have done your primary degree through English in an English speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes.
• Successful applicants will be required to consent to garda clearance being sought which is standard procedure for professionals engaged in direct work with young people and families.

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

This Programme is for graduates of the human sciences or suitable candidates applying under the APL (Approved Prior Learning) System who have relevant experience of working with people in a responsible caring role and who wish to develop  their theoretical and clinical skills and qualify as Systemic Psychotherapists. 

The Programme will appeal to:

• Psychiatrists in training who are required to undertake psychotherapy training in some modality


• Psychologists


• Social workers


• Nurses whose task in mental health requires specialist training in couple and family therapy


• Child care professionals whose task requires preparation for the management of complex treatment plans in the delivery of child care strategies


• Addiction counsellors desiring to extend their therapeutic repertoire to include family and couple therapy skills


• A range of other individuals who are re-directing their career pathways towards psychotherapy