Name: Integrative Psychotherapy, MA/PGDip
Price: £1,050 per 20 credits GBP

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Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

2 - 3 years

Start

September 2025

Delivery

In-person

Are you interested in person centred, psychodynamic and existential theories? Our part time MA/PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy gives you in-depth study of an integrative approach to practice.

Explore ideas, practice skills, and engage in supervised practice and personal development. Support your growth as a competent, compassionate, and creative practitioner.

You'll develop your understanding of psychotherapy models and methods, and apply them to practice. Your curiosity and self-awareness will support your capacity to work with diverse people. This could be in the public sector, voluntary sector, and/or private practice.

If you complete all the professional training associated with the postgraduate diploma (PGDip) you can exit with a PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy. You could also choose to continue on to complete the full master's degree. If you complete the Year 3 modules, you'll exit with an MA Integrative Psychotherapy.

This is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited course. If you complete the postgraduate diploma, you'll be eligible to join the BACP professional register.

The course runs one day per week, usually 9.30am - 5.30pm either Wednesday or Thursday depending on year of entry. There are also some Saturdays (as timetabled) in Year 1 and 2.

Timetabled activities are usually September - July each year. This means you can study whilst also meeting other commitments. You must attend at least 80% of all timetabled activities. You'll also need to complete significant personal study to support course completion.

Why study with us

This is a BACP accredited programme. On successful completion you will be eligible to be become a Registered Member (MBACP).
You will attend campus one day per week plus some Saturdays (Year 1 and 2) which means you can study whilst also meeting other commitments. You can complete Year 3 study online.
You'll become an autonomous practitioner. You will learn to work ethically and professionally with a wide range of clients, in a variety of contexts.

Important information

The application deadline for September 2025 entry for UK students was Friday 10 January 2025.

Interested?

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What you'll do

Explore ideas, practice skills, and engage in supervised practice and personal development. This will support your growth as a competent, compassionate, and creative practitioner.
Work on completing placement hours. This means you’ll gain real work experience working with people in diverse settings.
Develop your abilities as a reflective and reflexive practitioner . Refine your capacity to work in a research informed way.

Pathways

This programme offers flexible study routes, allowing you to work towards a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) or a full master’s degree (MA).

PGDip – awarded after successfully completing 120 credits
MSc – awarded after successfully completing 180 credits

For each qualification, you'll need to complete a set number of compulsory modules. You can choose to complete the full master’s qualification or complete the PGDip, depending on your goals and circumstances.

Modules

You can complete the modules in two or three years part-time. Some students take up to four years to complete the full master's degree.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. We may also make changes to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

The library (Preston Campus)

Academic expertise

Dr Annie Huntington

Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy

Claire Hasting

Deputy Course Leader and Lecturer

Luke McCarry

Lecturer

Niomi Wilkinson

Lecturer

Future careers in integrative psychotherapy

The MA/PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy course provides a wide range of career opportunities. You could work in the statutory or voluntary sectors, and there are many opportunities for self-employment.

In the statutory sector, you could work in health and social services. You could choose to go into the voluntary sector and work for a charity.

As well as this, there are opportunities for self-employment.
You could establish a private practice and many of our graduates have started their own business. You can access support through the Propeller Hub if you want to become self-employed.

Graduates from UCLan have access to a lifetime of careers advice. Even once you have graduated, you can continue to access our support and services.

Entry requirements

Please make sure you include details of all relevant qualifications when you apply. Omitting relevant information may result in you not being offered an interview.

This is a popular programme. We therefore recommend you apply early for the next intake.

Please note if your application is deemed unsuccessful, subsequent applications submitted within the same academic cycle will not be considered.

All those who meet the entry criteria are offered a face-to-face interview and those offered a conditional place must attend the Learning Community Day on 10 March 2025 as part of the admissions process.

Minimum qualifications:

Applicants should hold at least 2:2 degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy OR any undergraduate honours degree plus Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills Practice or equivalent. In terms of equivalence some courses are not certificated but may still include all the required elements. If your course is not certificated, you need to provide evidence that it meets the criteria listed in the next point
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills (or equivalent) must include Theory, Skills (including assessment of these) and Personal Development group. This must be a taught course (not online) and be at least 2 terms (or equivalent) duration. Please upload a transcript or module descriptors with your application to demonstrate you meet the Theory, Skills and Personal Development group requirement
You can apply for the MA/ PGDip Integrative Psychotherapy course whilst completing your undergraduate degree (Counselling and Psychotherapy) or Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Applications must be submitted with a 500 word personal statement included
Where interviewees are offered a place, they must attend and pass (tutor observation) a pre-course Learning Community Day. There may be a separate cost for the pre-course learning day
A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) is required for this course

This course involves working with vulnerable people, including children. To make sure we accept suitable students, you must get a clear enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, previously called a CRB check.

We will help you with this process after you receive a conditional offer to study at the University of Central Lancashire.

If your Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is not suitable for the course you applied for, your offer may be taken back. If you have already started the course and your DBS check later shows a criminal conviction, you may have to leave the course. If you know that your DBS check will show a past conviction, please speak to the Course Leader. Some convictions may not stop you from doing the course.

Slide 1 of 2

I feel better equipped, with a deeper understanding of how I present myself in the therapy environment and, crucially, how to manage my personal biases and issues within that context.

Jack Garner

MA Integrative Psychotherapy Graduate

Fees and funding

2025/26

Part-time£1,050 per 20 credits

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer many scholarships, bursaries and funds to support you during your studies. Select your country or region to see if you are eligible and how to apply.

Select your country/region

Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Carers Bursary
If you need extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies.
Find out more about Carers Bursary
Sports scholarships
We offer student athletes support and opportunities for their playing careers whilst they study a high-quality degree.
Find out more about Sports scholarships
Alumni Loyalty Discount
UK students with a previous award from us will receive 20% tuition fee discount.
Find out more about Alumni Loyalty Discount

Student centred learning and teaching is central to the course.

You will develop as an independent learner. You'll be capable of critical thinking, reflective and reflexive practice. The course includes a diverse range of learning opportunities. This includes:

Student-led seminars
Group discussion
Observed skills practice
Case studies and discussion
Experiential exercises
Lectures
Guest speakers

All students must complete 100 hours of supervised practice in an approved placement setting.

Assessments (Year 1 and 2) include:

Critique of a research paper
DVD and audio recordings with transcripts and evaluations
Ethics essay
Client presentation and reflective review
Essay
Poster
Case study
Portfolio

There is also an end of year viva, or oral exam, with a tutor. This is based on a personal development statement. Year 3 assessments include a dissertation.

All staff are qualified and registered with external bodies including BACP, UKCP, NCPS or HCPC. They are all currently in practice and meet all regulatory requirements (eg significant CPD activity). Skills development, personal development and group supervision are integral to the course. The professional experience of staff significantly contributes to these learning opportunities.

You can complete the Integrative Psychotherapy course over two years studying three 20 credit modules per year. This leads to a postgraduate diploma (PGDip). If you wish to study for a third year, you can complete a masters degree (MA). You'll study a further 20 credit taught module and a 40 credit dissertation module.

Both awards qualify graduates to become Registered Members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Working within the BACP’s Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018) is central to all aspects of the course.

We aim to develop you into a practitioner who:

Can work effectively with a wide range of clients, in a variety of contexts
Is capable or working autonomously with ethical and professional integrity
Can critically engage with research. You'll develop your own evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence.

If you study a Counselling and Psychotherapy course, you have to:

Become a member of the BACP (annual fee payable)
Pay for professional insurance (annual fee payable)
Attend clinical supervision when on placement. The frequency and duration must meet external regulatory requirements.

Some placement providers charge students for DBS checks and interviews. They may, in some instances, charge a monthly administration fee as well as any supervision costs.

It is not required for you to have personal counselling or psychotherapy to study this course. Having said this, our students usually recognise this is necessary during their course. Supervisors and counsellors or psychotherapists charge variable fees, so they don’t list specific costs. We do recommend you check with individuals before agreeing and signing a contract with them.

You might also consider travel costs, books, stationery, printing (eg poster assessment). All these costs are on top of your course fees and paid for by you as a student.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Health, Social Work and Sport

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Lancashire on our student contract page

Your saved courses

Integrative Psychotherapy

Why study with us

Important information

What you'll do

Pathways

Modules

Modules studied

Compulsory modules

Accreditations

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Future careers in integrative psychotherapy

Entry requirements

Minimum qualifications:

What our students say...

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Alumni Loyalty Discount

Integrative Psychotherapy

Why study with us

Important information

What you'll do

Pathways

Modules

Modules studied

Visit us on campus

Accreditations

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Future careers in integrative psychotherapy

Entry requirements

Minimum qualifications:

What our students say...

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Alumni Loyalty Discount

Learning and assessment

Additional costs

Further information