Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology
University of Malta
Information last verified July 2026
Program Overview
The will equip you with the necessary psychology knowledge, values, attitudes and skills required to practise as a counselling psychologist. This is done firstly through taught units on the theories and research on the promotion of health and wellbeing, development and learning of all children, young people, adults and older adults, and on relevant prevention, assessment and intervention strategies. Secondly, you have 9 hours of supervised field placement per week throughout the course for you to develop professional values, ethics, attitudes and skills to address the various needs of persons through individual, group, system, and society level strategies. Thirdly you are also provided with training in research including the submission of a dissertation. The Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology programme is the only route in Malta through which, when followed by two years of supervised practice, individuals can obtain a warrant to practice as Counselling Psychologists. The will equip you with the necessary psychology knowledge, values, attitudes and skills required to practise as a counselling psychologist. This is done firstly through taught units on the theories and research on the promotion of health and wellbeing, development and learning of all children, young people, adults and older adults, and on relevant prevention, assessment and intervention strategies. Secondly, you have 9 hours of supervised field placement per week throughout the course for you to develop professional values, ethics, attitudes and skills to address the various needs of persons through individual, group, system, and society level strategies. Thirdly you are also provided with training in research including the submission of a dissertation. The Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology programme is the only route in Malta through which, when followed by two years of supervised practice, individuals can obtain a warrant to practice as Counselling Psychologists.
Career Opportunities
You will be able to work as a warranted Counselling Psychologist in a variety of community and mental health settings after acquiring the Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology degree, followed by two years' supervised practice. Counselling Psychologists work with clients across all stages of development such as with children and their families facing behaviour problems, adolescents and adults dealing with substance abuse problems, adults facing marital difficulties, or older adults facing retirement and illness. Counselling Psychologists also work with groups helping people to overcome these same psychological challenges. The Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology also provides access to doctoral programmes in psychology both locally and overseas.
Program Curriculum
Year 1 Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) FSD5572 Family Therapy and Systemic Practice 5 ECTS PSY5608 Research Methods 10 ECTS PSY5612 Psychological Assessment of Children - Clinical Focus 5 ECTS PSY5616 Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents 5 ECTS PSY5622 Core Placement 1 Counselling Psychology - Children and Adolescents 10 ECTS PSY5623 Lifespan Development and Psychopathology 5 ECTS Semester 1 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) PSY5613 Psychotherapeutic Approaches: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Humanistic-Existential Therapy and Couples Therapy 5 ECTS PSY5659 Development Psychopathology 5 ECTS Semester 2 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) PSY5614 Leading Groups in Professional Settings 5 ECTS PSY5615 Psychological Trauma: Working with PTSD, Complex Trauma and Related Issues 5 ECTS Year 2 Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) PSY5593 Dissertation 30 ECTS PSY5624 Core Placement 2 Counselling Psychology - Adults 10 ECTS Semester 1 Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) PSY5618 Psychotherapeutic Approaches: CBT, Ethics and Psychopharmacology 5 ECTS PSY5620 Adult Assessment - Theory and Placement 5 ECTS PSY5621 Psychology of Ageing 5 ECTS PSY5625 Physical, Emotional, Sexual and Substance Abuse 5 ECTS This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2021 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of the degree of Master of Psychology in Counselling Psychology under the auspices of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be in possession of: Refer to the list of country-specific qualifications Applicants must be proficient in the Maltese language and be in possession of either: a Bachelor degree in Psychology with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division), or an equivalent qualification from this or another university or a Bachelor degree in Psychology with at least Second Class Honours (Lower Division), together with a Master's degree in Psychology-related areas from this or another University or a Bachelor degree in Psychology or a Bachelor degree with Psychology as a main area of study, in both cases obtained with at least Category IIA or another degree in a related area deemed relevant by the Board of Studies obtained with at least Second Class (Honours)(Upper Division), provided that all applicants applying in terms of this paragraph would either have obtained 60 ECTS credits in Psychology, as approved by the Board, following the award of their degree, or have obtained the Higher Diploma in Psychology with at least Pass with Merit, which together with their degree are deemed to be comparable to the qualification indicated in paragraph (a). In addition to the qualifications listed above, applicants are also required to have either: a minimum of 2400 hours of experience in a clinical or counselling or educational or forensic or health or neuropsychology setting, or a minimum of 1200 hours of experience in a clinical or counselling or educational or forensic or health or neuropsychology setting, under the supervision of a warranted psychologist. This experience should normally be obtained after applicants have been awarded the qualification indicated in the above paragraphs. Professional aptitude and disposition shall be measured by means of exercises involving role play with a client, group discussion, and personal interview. Applicants who obtain less than 60% for the professional aptitude and disposition criterion shall automatically not be admitted into th
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
€26,800 (Non-EU)
About University of Malta
University of Malta
Msida, Malta
TheUniversity of Malta(Maltese:L-Università ta' Malta;UM; formerlyUOM) is apublic research universityin the towns ofMsidaandValletta, Malta. It serves as theflagshipandnational universityof...
University Profile- Start Date October
- Language English
- Duration 2 years
- Credits 120
