Systemic Practice & Family Therapy

Systemic practice and family therapy helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables individuals and family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.



Systemic family therapy has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.



Systemic practitioners and systemic family therapists work in many health and social care settings such as children’s services, older people’s services, physical health and disability, substance misuse, justice and mental health services.



Our multidisciplinary Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes are suitable for professionally qualified staff who wish to enhance their skills of working with families, couples, individuals, other systems and relationship networks.



There are three levels of training: Foundation (PG Certificate), Intermediate (PG Diploma) and Qualifying (MSc Systemic Psychotherapy).



This Postgraduate Diploma is designed for those who have completed Foundation level training and who wish to further enhance their ability to work systemically with families, individuals and organisations. The programme aims to develop reflexive and ethical practitioners who have a solid knowledge of the theories and research underpinning systemic family practice and its application to their specific area of work.



Please note that this course is not eligible for a Student route visa.

Core Modules

Introduction to Systemic Theory, Research and Practice (20 credits)

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting (20 credits)

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice (20 credits)

Theory, Practive and Research in Family and Systemic Practice - intermediate level (20 credits)

Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting - intermediate level (20 credits)

Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice - intermediate level (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

1. This is a multidisciplinary pathway with applications welcome from applicants with prior relevant professional training in a mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent as designated by the Association of Family Therapy (e.g. Social Work, Nursing, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology). Normally one year's post qualification experience is required.



2. Applicants must have already completed AFT accredited Foundation level Systemic Practice training (PG Certificate Systemic Practice and Family Therapy) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.



3. Applicants must have the opportunity to apply systemic ideas to practice totalling 60 hours in a current work setting or placement with satisfactory arrangements for supervision of practice under the AFT Code of Ethics and Practice (10 hours individual or small group supervision). Where systemic supervision is not available in their place of work/placement, students may access independent systemic supervision to meet this requirement. The Programme Director will provide additional guidance and support in these circumstances. Please note that this programme is only open to applicants who are working in suitable contexts within NI/UK/RoI.



4. All Social Work applicants from NI/UK must have a recognised social work qualification and have successfully completed the Assessed Year in Employment. Social work and social care applicants must be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and should include their NISCC Social Care Registration Number in the Additional Information section of the application form.



5. Applicants should normally have a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification. Equivalent qualifications include the Pre-2007 Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Where this is not met, applicants must show their ability to study at postgraduate level through evidence of previous postgraduate training or completion of a reflective practice assignment.



6. At least two references will be sought, one of whom must be the applicant’s current employer. At least one referee should be professionally qualified and be able to comment on the applicant’s current practice.



N.B. Please note there are different entrance requirements at each level of the suite of Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes at Queen’s. Should you be accepted onto the PG Diploma programme (Year 2 Intermediate) this does not automatically guarantee entry to the MSc Systemic Psychotherapy Qualifying level training. Further information may be sought to ensure eligibility.



International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Closing date for applications: Friday 31st July 2026 at 4pm



An interview will form part of the selection process for this course.



Late applications may be considered.



Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

2 years (Part Time).



Teaching Times

9.30am-4.30pm, one day per fortnight.

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects

Introduction

This course provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health and social care.



Systemic practitioners and systemic family therapists work in many health and social care settings such as children's services, older people's services, physical health and disability, substance misuse, justice and mental health services.