Mindfulness Based Interventions
This course will be taught, part-time, over two years, and is organised in two residential training events and teaching blocks throughout the two years of the programme. It will involve a community of adult learners, where students will be supported and nurtured so as to meet the highest standards as teachers of Mindfulness Based Interventions.
- Delivered by UCD School of Psychology and St Vincent's University Hospital
- Residential training retreat in Year 1 and Year 2
- Students deliver an 8-week course to a group in professional setting
Vision and Values Statement
The purpose of the MSc in Mindfulness Based Interventions in UCD is to train mindfulness teachers to deliver Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to the highest standards. Students are supported to do this through experiential learning where the development of the student's personal mindfulness practice is central. This is combined with small group didactic learning where emphasis is placed on acquisition of critical, reflective thinking skills and integration of theory and practice. Knowledge is developed through studying core areas considered essential to teaching mindfulness based interventions; beginning with the core foundations of mindfulness based interventions and progressing through philosophical, psychological, theoretical, ethical and experiential aspects of becoming a mindfulness teacher. Assessments are based on a diversity of methods and learning culminates through demonstrating an ability to deliver a standard MBCT/MBSR 8 week course in year 2.
Subjects taught
Year 1
The first year of the course is designed to develop student's knowledge of theory, research, and clinical applications of MBI. This will be blended with the development of the student's personal mindfulness meditation practice. The primary academic focus of Year I will centre on:
Developing a personal mindfulness meditation practice via direct experience of the 8-week MBCT programme. This includes opportunities for reflection, and a requirement for regular meditation practice between teaching blocks
The Buddhist background to clinical mindfulness based interventions
The history & evolution of psychological interventions for emotional & psychiatric disorders
The emerging field of third wave psychological interventions and positive psychology
The research underpinning MBIs – understanding and critically evaluation of the research
The neuroscience and physiology of mindfulness
Residential Training Retreat
This 5-day intensive residential training will provide students with the opportunity to deepen personal mindfulness meditation practice and to blend this with the practice teaching elements of MBCT/MBSR using in vivo feedback from other participants and from instructors.
Year 2
The second year of the course is designed to further develop the student's knowledge of theory, research, and clinical applications of MBIs. Blending this with the development of the student's personal mindfulness meditation practice continues to be a core tenet of the programme. The primary academic focus of Year II will be:
- How to guide MBCT/MBSR mindfulness meditations
- How to conduct mindfulness inquiry
- Integrating personal mindfulness practice with teaching a class
Understanding the centrality of self-compassion in teaching mindfulness
- Self-care and the mindfulness teacher
- Assessing participant suitability for MBCT/MBSR
- How to plan for and accommodate particular populations
- Understanding the theory & practice of group process
- Mindfulness in organizational settings: The challenges and opportunities
- Mindfulness & Leadership
Residential Training Retreat
This intensive residential training will provide the opportunity for students to blend and deepen teaching skills, personal mindfulness meditation, attitudes and competencies learned over Year 1 and 2.
Students will be required to complete an MBCT/MBSR Practice Project towards the end of Year 2. This will require the delivery and evaluation an 8 week MBCT/MBSR course to an appropriate client group in their own place of work, with supervision from course tutors. A written report along with audiovisual recordings will be required.
Entry requirements
Up to 15 students are admitted to the Masters in Mindfulness Based Interventions each year. Applicants in the first instance may contact Mary Boyle to indicate their interest in applying. Applicants may apply for the programme online at www.ucd.ie/apply
Candidates may apply for admission to the Masters in Mindfulness Based Interventions if they have the following:
- At least an upper second class honours bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Have completed at least one 8 week MBCT / MBSR training programme, a commitment towards engaging in daily personal mindfulness practice, prior participation in a silent residential retreat is desirable
- Have access and support from their work setting, to a clinical/educational population with whom they can deliver an 8 week MBCT/MBSR course in Year II
Application dates
How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:
MSc Mindfulness Based Interventions PT (W323)
Duration
2 Years
Attend
Part Time
Deadline
Rolling*
* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.
Credits
90
Duration
2 years part time.
Fees
MSc Mindfulness Based Interventions (W323) Part Time
EU Year 1 - € 9135
EU Year 2 - € 8785 aa
nonEU Year 1 - € 9950
nonEU Year 2 - € 9950 aa
aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2020 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2019/20
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
Enrolment dates
Next Intake: 2020/2021 September