MSc Systemic Family Therapy
The MSc Systemic Family Therapy is an academic qualification and an accredited professional training in systemic family psychotherapy, also known as systemic psychotherapy or family therapy. The accreditation of the training by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice enables you to apply for professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy as a systemic family psychotherapist upon successful completion of this programme. As a professionally qualified systemic family psychotherapist, you may be employed in the NHS, social care services or the voluntary sector or work in independent practice.
In this programme, you will join a student group from diverse personal and professional disciplinary contexts who bring a wealth of experience and difference in perspective to the course. As contemporary systemic theory and practice requires questioning of taken-for-granted social discourses and related power structures that impact people’s lives, the diversity of the student group forms a rich context for training providing a range of experience and perspective. Challenging oppressive and discriminatory positions and decolonising theory and practice are themes on the programme that are evident in all areas of teaching and learning.
Programme structure and content
MSc Systemic Family Therapy is a part-time programme (0.5wte) with two full-day teaching sessions per month at the University of Leeds campus and a weekly five-hour NHS supervised clinic placement, where you will work in clinical practice with other students in groups of 2 – 4 students under the live supervision of a trained systemic family psychotherapy supervisor.
In clinical placement, you will have the opportunity to develop your systemic family psychotherapeutic practice by applying theoretical knowledge and developing your skills in systemic family psychotherapy under the guidance of your supervisor. You will also participate in the clinical practice of your student peers through the Reflecting Team model of therapy, giving you a rich and varied experience of systemic family psychotherapy. Clinical placements are located across the region, and we aim to place you in a geographically convenient location for this weekly clinic. Supervision clinics are currently arranged across the north midlands, north of England and north Wales.
In University face-to-face teaching days you will engage in a varied programme of whole class and small group teaching covering theory, practice and research in contemporary systemic family psychotherapy. All teaching staff are practising systemic family psychotherapists who bring a wealth of experience to the programme. The programme teaching is enhanced by guest speakers from highly specialist areas and leading systemic practice theorists. The research modules provide an opportunity for you to learn about the contribution of research to systemic family psychotherapy and methods of conducting and evaluating research. In the second year, you will carry out an original research project directly relevant to your area of professional practice.
Personal Professional Development
Your personal professional development (PPD) is a significant part of the programme and training to qualify as a systemic family psychotherapist. PPD is a core part of your clinical placement and a specific focus in University based PPD tutorial groups. In each context, you will have named a supervisor or tutor to work with and who will guide your development. Your PPD tutor is also your academic tutor, and they will offer individual tutorials to support your academic progress. The course team is supported by Disability Services who co-ordinated specialist guidance and support for students with disabilities or health needs to support equity of access to the course teaching and learning.
Private Study
Throughout the programme, your private study will follow the modules with guided
reading lists and additional resources developed by the programme team.
Feedback
Tutor and supervisor feedback is given regularly and is detailed and individual to you, highlighting areas of attainment and development needed to support learning towards successful completion of summative assessment.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAMT5661M | Systemic Psychotherapy Research | 15 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| FAMT5771M | Systemic Psychotherapy Theory (One) | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| FAMT5881M | Systemic Psychotherapy Practice (One) | 45 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAMT5662M | Systemic Research Project | 45 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| FAMT5772M | Systemic Psychotherapy Theory (Two) | 15 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| FAMT5882M | Systemic Psychotherapy Practice (Two) | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Last updated: 30/04/2026 16:01:01
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