Systemic Practice PGCert

Applications for our November 2021 entry will open in October 2020. To apply for our January 2021 intake please visit last year's course page.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice covers the first two years of family therapy training and combines both Foundation and Intermediate level training in systemic practice. Each level of training is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice.

Develop and connect

The course is multi-disciplinary and covers aspects of working with families in clinical settings, as well as wider applications of systemic thinking and practice. It is suitable for professionals working in nursing, psychiatry, social work, clinical psychology, voluntary organisations and related fields.

The course is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice and successful completion meets the training requirement for application to the qualifying course in Systemic Family Therapy leading to UKCP registration.

The Leeds Family Therapy and Research Centre has been training therapists for over 22 years to help individuals, couples and families find ways of tackling their problems.You’ll develop an array of skills and insight needed to make a positive difference through your work.

Please scroll down and read the essential Application Guidance before applying.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice and as such fulfils the training requirements for Foundation and Intermediate level training in systemic practice. Read more on the Association's website.

The course runs over two years, combining the Foundation and Intermediate level training in systemic practice.

In the first year, at Foundation level, you will be introduced to key theoretical approaches in family therapy and systemic practice and the skills and techniques associated with them.

The second year, at Intermediate level, builds on the theory and concentrates on the development of therapeutic skills with families, couples and individuals, and the application of systemic ideas in your work context. You will be required to undertake 60 hours of systemic therapeutic practice in your own work agency. One session of this practice is to be recorded and transcribed for formative review of your clinical progress. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop a commitment to actively promote ethical, anti-discriminatory practice and to highlight and critique culturally-based assumptions in your practice.

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures and practical teaching followed by theory and application discussions and skills practice in small groups facilitated by qualified family therapists.

The course runs on approximately 18 Wednesday evenings (5pm to 8.30pm) in November – October, plus up to three full days. We aim to deliver the teaching on the University main campus although some elements may be taught online depending on social distancing guidance at the time of teaching.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Systemic Practice PGCert in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Learning and teaching

You will be taught through lectures, practical classes and group tutorials. We make extensive use of IT and a wide range of material to enable students to study at their own pace and in their own time to enhance and extend the material taught formally.

In the second year, you will develop your learning in systemic skills and practice through the required systemic therapeutic practice (of 60 hours including one recorded session) in your own professional agency and through a mixture of experiential exercises (e.g. roleplay) and clinical case discussion.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We monitor your progress through attendance, participation in lectures, and performance within small group tutorials in which formative feedback is provided by your tutor.

Your progress is also monitored in feedback on written assignments and the learning portfolio, as well as on your progress in recording at least 60 hours of systemic practice during the second year of the course.

Entry requirements

This course is specifically designed for graduate level professionals with a first professional qualification in a relevant mental health or social care related discipline such as nursing, psychiatry, social work, clinical psychology or similar professions.

If you are working in a mental health or social care setting without a first professional qualification, you are welcome to apply for admission via our accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL).

Applicants must be working in a setting suitable to undertake the Systemic Practice requirement of 60 hours of systemic practice during the second year. The practice requirement must be supported by the agency and have suitable clinical supervision arrangements and facility to record, with client consent, one session (visual or audio) of clinical practice for assessment purposes.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Please complete and upload the course Supplementary Information Pack as part of your application. Please also read through the Guidance for Applicants for information on all aspects of the course and application process.

Applications for this programme are now open.

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Selection principle

We select candidates on the basis of their professional experience and academic background.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Fees

• UK: £6,000 (total)
• International: £11,834 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

In the second year, students are required to ensure that the required 60 hours of clinical practice are supervised in their own agency. This is usually provided by employers but students may wish to supplement this or make their own arrangements for systemic supervision.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Specialist Skills and Post Registration Development (SSPRD) funding by Health Education England in Yorkshire and the Humber

The Specialist Skills Post Registration Development (SSPRD) General Learning Credit (GLC) provides funding for students on some trainings in eight priority areas including ‘Skills and development for staff working with service users with Mental Health problems (Mental Health including learning disabilities)’ through which students working in NHS in Yorkshire and Humberside can receive training bursaries to cover the fees for the course. Funding may be available for 2020/2021. Please note that funding cannot be guaranteed for subsequent years in light of ongoing changes within Health Education England and local training priorities.

Once you’ve completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice training you’ll be able to describe yourself as a Systemic Practitioner. This is not a formal qualification but is a recognised professional development indicating the knowledge and skills developed in this training. Past students have progressed to training on MSc in Systemic Family Therapy programme. Students who complete the MSc in Systemic Family Therapy are eligible to register with the UKCP as Systemic and Family Psychotherapists and to practise in the public and voluntary sectors, as well as privately.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.