Psychoanalytic Studies

What you will learn

This course focuses on the interface between psychoanalysis as an evolving clinical practice, as a form of knowledge, and as a mode of critique. You will explore how psychoanalytic thought has been used to illuminate pressing social and political concerns, and examine the controversies that have surrounded its application outside the clinical setting.

You will be introduced to the key psychoanalytic concepts in detail, starting with Freud and moving through the history of psychoanalysis to contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice. You will then critically assess the use of psychoanalysis to think about contemporary experiences of gender and sexuality, love and care, violence, war, racism and colonialism.

How you will learn

You can study this course full- or part-time and on campus, online or combining both through a flexible learning option. Classes take place in the evening and may include lectures, seminars, small-group work, and group tasks such as presentations. We provide you with creative and accessible learning materials including pre-recorded lectures, films, radio broadcasts, artistic work and online resources. You will also be encouraged to seek out psychoanalytic events beyond Birkbeck to write about them regularly.

You will devise your own independent research project, individually supervised by an expert in your area of interest. You will also choose option modules covering a wide variety of related areas to broaden your knowledge and skills, from race, empire and postcoloniality to mental health, past and present.

This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

Highlights

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MA, you will have gained important transferable skills including:

Graduates have pursued a range of career paths in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, counselling, research, education, journalism and politics. Possible professions include: