Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (M.Sc. / P.Grad. Dip.)

Course Overview

This is a two-year course in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, conducted as part of a four-year training programme in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The course provides students with a comprehensive account of psychoanalytic systems as they have developed from the work of Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion and Donald Winnicott. The course provides a comprehensive conceptual and critical understanding of the theoretical basis of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as a thorough training in the application of psychoanalytic theory to psychoanalytic clinical practice.

Please note that applicants are admitted to the programme as a part of an overall four-year training in either Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy or Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Due to this, an assessment interview process will form a part of the intake process onto the course. Our assessment is designed to work with you around whether this is the right course for you and if it is the right time to engage in it. (The above relates to Adult Strand and Child and Adolescent Strand applicants only).

To apply for the MSc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Trinity College Dublin, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Academic Qualifications: An upper second class honours primary degree or higher is required. Exceptions can be made for those in professions that did not require a primary degree at the time of entry, such as nursing, subject to approval by Trinity’s Graduate Studies Office.

2. Work Experience: For the Adult Strand, work in a related field is desirable. For the Child and Adolescent Strand, applicants typically work in various settings with children and adolescents.

3. Personal Factors: While a strong knowledge of psychoanalysis is not required, some understanding of its basic tenets is desirable. Engagement in personal therapy is also strongly recommended as it demonstrates a recognition of the nature of this field.

4. Readiness: Applicants should consider the timing of their application in relation to their life circumstances. The application process includes an appraisal to determine if the applicant is in a position to embark on this course at this time.

5. Interview: Entry to Strand I and Strand II is contingent upon a successful interview with the respective Training Institutes. Applicants who meet the academic qualifications and references will be invited to attend an interview. Successful completion of the interview is required for final acceptance into the four-year training programme.

Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, you can learn more here.

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.

Graduates of the M.Sc. in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Trinity College Dublin have a wide range of career opportunities available to them. Many graduates go on, contingent upon successful completion of the M.Sc. and yearly joint appraisal with respective training institutes to complete the four-year professional training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This leads a career where graduates may go on to work as psychoanalytic psychotherapists in private practice, hospitals, mental health clinics, and other healthcare settings.