Introduction
The Master of Arts in Psychotherapy is a Level 9 major award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in Ireland comprising 90 ECTS. This programme provides advanced professional training in humanistic, integrative, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. It is explicitly designed as the final two years of a four-year professional training pathway, enabling graduates to practise safely and ethically while progressing toward professional accreditation.
The programme is primarily aimed at graduates of a Level 8 NFQ accredited programme in a cognate area, such as the Higher Diploma in Arts in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Successful applicants must demonstrate significant life experience, maturity, and a sustained engagement in personal psychotherapy and process group work.
Learners should note that, at this time, the CORU register for counsellors and psychotherapists is not yet open, and that this programme is not approved by CORU for the purposes of registration.
CORU has indicated that, when the register opens, a grandparenting process is envisaged for applicants who are already practicing in the profession. Eligibility for grandparenting will be determined by the Registration Board at that time and will be subject to defined threshold criteria, which may include the nature and scope of practice, number of hours of professional practice completed, supervised practice, and other regulatory requirements.
Completion of this programme does not of itself confer eligibility for statutory registration, nor can eligibility for registration through grandparenting be guaranteed. Any future application for registration will be assessed by the Registration Board on an individual basis, in accordance with the legislation, standards of proficiency, and grandparenting criteria in force at the time of application.
Prospective and enrolled learners are therefore advised to consider this programme as an academic qualification, and not as a programme that confers, or guarantees, professional registration. They should seek up to date information directly from CORU when making decisions about professional registration.
Key Features of the MA in Psychotherapy
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Designed for graduates from disciplines related to counselling and psychotherapy
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Aims to meet the needs of individuals who wish to train as professional Psychotherapists
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Designed with close attention paid to requirements of professional bodies and discussions regarding statutory and European regulation in the field
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Delivered on a modular basis, typically students will attend classes on two evenings per weeks & attend weekend workshops once or twice a month
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Comprises of Theoretical components, Personal Psychotherapy, Weekly Process Groups & Supervised Clinical Counselling/Psychotherapy Practice
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The orientation is primarily humanistic/integrative
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Includes master classes and workshops from experienced practitioners
Delivery
The programme is delivered in a part-time format over two academic years.
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Delivery Mode: On-site Face-to-Face.
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Intensity: Approximately 17.6 contact hours per week.
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Components: Delivery includes lectures, tutorials, workshops, research supervision, process groups, and clinical group supervision.
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Note: The programme is currently in a phased withdrawal (teach-out) phase; the final intake for new learners will be 2027-2028 to ensure all cohorts can graduate by 2028-2029.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements for the Master of Arts in Psychotherapy are:
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A Level 8 undergraduate honours degree with a minimum Second-Class Second Division (2.2) from a recognised third level institution in Counselling and Psychotherapy or an equivalent qualification in a cognate area from a recognised third level institution, or
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A graduate of any non-cognate discipline and hold a qualification in a conversion-style programme such as the DBS Higher Diploma in Arts in Counselling and Psychotherapy (wherein they have passed all requirements at honours level, including oral examination of professional suitability)
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Suitable candidates should be able to demonstrate significant life experience, self-awareness and maturity. Learners on the Master of Arts in Psychotherapy programme are required to have entered their own psychotherapy before commencement of the programme. This will have been a requirement of the required prior learning qualification indicated above.
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Clinical Readiness: Applicants must have completed a minimum of 60 hours of process group work and entered their own personal psychotherapy before commencement.
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Interview: All suitable applicants must pass a mandatory selection interview with two accredited psychotherapy trainers to assess academic readiness and personal suitability.
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Recommendation: A written recommendation from a practitioner familiar with the applicant's study and experience.
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English Proficiency: Minimum CEFR B2+ or equivalent for non-native speakers.
Applicants who do not have a Level 8 qualification at a 2.2 award level and who have at least 3 years’ work experience may also be considered through the college’s normal RPL procedures. Relevant professional experience may be taken into account and individuals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis through DBS RPL procedures.
Accreditation
The MA in Psychotherapy offers a postgraduate qualification which meets requirements for professional training for individuals interested in training as humanistic and psychodynamic psychotherapists in the integrative model.
For instance, the Masters in Psychotherapy combined with our Higher Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy is recognised as a 4 year training by IAHIP (Irish Association for Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapy).
Garda Vetting
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016 make it mandatory for people working unsupervised with children or vulnerable adults to be vetted by the Garda Siochana National Vetting Bureau. Under the Acts, anyone whose work or activity involves unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults must be vetted. Workers include staff, volunteers and those on student placements working for a relevant organisation where they have access to children and/or vulnerable adults.
DBS offers a number of educational Programmes that require students to undertake placements with external agencies, which will bring them into contact with the public and in which they will assume positions of trust. It is for this reason that students on these type of programmes are required to undergo vetting prior to commencing placements (or visits).
New entrants on to these programmes will receive the relevant form and information in their orientation packs and will need to complete the process before their final registration on the course can be completed. At the time of application, students will be required to declare as to any previous convictions. Students can start on the course before their Garda clearance is completed but may be withdrawn if the vetting does not produce a satisfactory finding.
Where a vetting process identifies a previous conviction the case will be referred to an internal College Vetting Committee. This committee will consider all relevant information in relation to a disclosure from the vetting process and make a determination on the case on behalf of the College.
If a student has started on the course and is withdrawn because of a conviction that was not declared at the time of application, any fees paid will not be refunded.
DBS will charge a fee of €25 to each student for the administration and costs of obtaining Garda clearance. This fee is payable at the commencement of the programme and is non refundable.
Students with Disabilities
Dublin Business School welcomes students with disabilities. The College employs a Learner Support Coordinator and Disability and Inclusion Officer to put appropriate reasonable accommodations in place, such as extra time in exams or academic writing support. The DBS Library also offers specialised supports, including extended loans and one-to-one information skills sessions.