Introduction

Available to all graduates with a primary degree in any area of study, the Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies is designed to offer a rigorous theoretical introduction to psychoanalysis. With its fundamental premise of the existence of unconscious mental life psychoanalysis differs, radically, from the traditions of psychotherapy and psychology. In recognition of the fact that psychoanalysis is a field where the basis of clinical practice is the practitioner’s own undergoing of analysis the Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies grounds students in the theory of psychoanalysis and thereby serves as a very strong foundation for successful graduates to pursue a qualification at Master’s level in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Students are introduced to the authors who have contributed most significantly to the development of psychoanalysis, in particular Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan.

This course is also of interest to graduates who wish to explore how psychoanalytic insights can be applied to such diverse fields as psychology, literary criticism, philosophy, gender studies, film theory, and business. Students are made aware of the wide range of applications of psychoanalysis in individual, family, social life and modern culture.

Programme Structure

The programme contains 11 modules including a dissertation/research project. During each semester, students are typically required to attend lectures/tutorials on 3 evenings per week. In addition to a weekly thesis tutorial related to the research project each student works with an individual thesis supervisor as an essential component of the research work. The teaching and learning strategy is based mainly on interactive lectures, group and individual study.

Assessment Methods

The Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies is an academic programme directed by the clinical experiences of the practitioners who deliver the lectures. Assessment is approached creatively with a range of assessment strategies including essay writing, in-class presentation, graded group discussion, and examination. Instructions and guidelines for all assessment are clearly communicated to students.

Careers

Psychoanalysis is one of the leading orientations of professional psychotherapists worldwide. For example, fifty percent of psychotherapists in the UK are psychoanalytic psychotherapists. The Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies allows graduates with non-psychoanalytic primary degrees to initiate the pursuance of this career and, as such, it is a particularly useful bridging programme for psychology graduates.

The Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies also provides an attractive set of transferable skills that can serve to enhance many careers, for example, in the business and organisational world, in all of the caring professions and in academia.

Entry Requirements  

To be considered for admission, applicants must hold:

• A primary honours degree award of at least pass level in a non-cognate discipline from a recognised third level institution or equivalent qualification 
• An IELTS score of a minimum 6.0 or equivalent, where full-time study has been conducted in a language other than English or applicants whose first language is not English.

Programme Content

Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.