Program Overview
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sustainable-energy-systems-management-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-pgdip systemic-practice-family-therapy-msc systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgcert systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgdip systemic-psychotherapy-msc teaching-english-speakers-other-languages-applied-linguistics-msc translation-ma violence-terrorism-security-ma violence-terrorism-security-pgdip youth-justice-msc youth-justice-pgdip zero-carbon-engineering-pgcert Share Facebook Linkedin Email Undergraduate 2025 MSc | Postgraduate Taught Systemic Psychotherapy Apply now Register Interest Entry year Academic Year 2026/27 Entry requirements 2.2 Attendance 2 years (Part-time) Places available 50 (Part Time) Overview Course content Modules Entry requirements Careers Fees and funding Apply 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.
Key Program Features
Systemic Psychotherapy highlights
Professional Accreditations
This programme is accredited at ‘Qualification’ level by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK (AFT), a member organisation of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). The course is recognised by the core professions’ continuing professional development arrangements.
For social workers completion of the degree meets the full requirements for the N. Ireland Strategic and Leadership Award.
The MSc constitutes years 3 and 4 of the four-year Systemic Family Psychotherapist training leading to full clinical qualification as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist.
Industry Links
On these pathways there will be restricted access to relevant data by employers, the NISCC, DHSSPS, HSC Boards and any successor bodies.
Students are supported to attend these programmes across a wide range of disciplines employed in the voluntary and statutory sectors. A limited number of places are also commissioned by the Health and Social Care Board.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Career Opportunities
Career Prospects
Introduction
This course provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health and social care. 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. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
This degree programme requires a major commitment over two years, involving a minimum of 1,855 study hours, at least 480 of which are indirect contact with staff. A distinctive feature of this training is 300 hours of live supervised practice in a clinical placement. Students must also be able to evidence 200 hours of supervised systemic practice in their own work setting.
People teaching you Dr Jennifer McKinney Programme Director SSESW email: jennifer.mckinney@qub.ac.uk Dr Suzanne Mooney Lecturer in Social Work (Family Therapy) SSESW email: s.mooney@qub.ac.uk
Teaching Times
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:
Supervised Practice
Students spend one day per week in a supervised practice clinic with other students and a supervisor, to achieve a minimum of 150 hours of direct or observed practice per year.
Assessment
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,200/year (international)
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £7,700 |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £7,700 |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £10,400 |
| EU Other 3 | N/A |
| International | N/A |
This is a 2 year course and fees shown are for each year.
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees .
Additional course costs
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Queen's University Belfast. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Queen's University Belfast may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 36 months
- Credits 60–120 ECTS (confirm with the university)