Course Overview

Taught by a wide range of leading academics and psychoanalytic practitioners, the program explores how psychoanalytic thought has been used to illuminate pressing social and political concerns and examines the controversies that have always surrounded it. It focuses on the interface between psychoanalysis as an evolving clinical practice, as a form of knowledge, and as a mode of critique. The program examines key psychoanalytic concepts in detail and places those concepts in context. It will enable you to closely study the numerous modern developments within psychoanalysis, from Freud through to contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice. You will also explore the methodological, epistemological, and ethical issues that have resulted from diverse elaboration and extension of psychoanalytic ideas, not only in a clinical setting, but also in social and cultural inquiries, and in the interpretation of the historical past. The program asks how far modern thought on war and other forms of violent conflict, fascism, terrorism, racism, and xenophobia has had an influence on the way we think about the unconscious mind and vice versa. It also investigates how psychoanalytic accounts of inter-personal and intra-psychic relationships have shaped - or been shaped by - wider cultural attitudes to love, intimacy and destructiveness, and about the place of these accounts in discussions of gender and sexuality, racism, and postcolonialism.

General Eligibility

At least a second-class honors degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any discipline relevant to the program, including most humanities and social science disciplines, such as psychology, history, English, languages, sociology, politics, philosophy, and cultural studies. In exceptional circumstances, you will be considered if you do not meet this criterion but have substantial relevant professional experience (for example, in teaching, journalism, social work, counseling and psychotherapy, mediation, development work) and can demonstrate through interview and a written assignment that you have the required academic abilities to complete a Master's-level course.

Part Time Work Details

Language Requirement

• If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.