Psychotherapy and Counselling DPsychotherapy

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Counselling and Psychotherapy

Year of entry: 2027

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • DPsychotherapy | 4 years | Start date: September 2027

Key facts

School

School of Health in Social Science

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Central Area

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About the degree programme

The Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling is an advanced qualification enabling graduates to practise as a psychotherapist or counsellor in a wide range of settings.

The Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling combines full professional training, meeting recognised standards for counselling training and education, with the opportunity to develop as a researcher in a lively research community. The programme provides a route both to professional qualification and doctoral-level research achievement.

Programme changes

We are introducing changes to our professional training programmes in Counselling and Psychotherapy from 2028/29.

This will not impact your studies if you join this programme in September 2027.

Study options

This programme is offered full time over 4 years. The programme is not available for part-time entry in 2027/28 due to the introduction of changes to our professional training programmes in Counselling and Psychotherapy from 2028/29.

The programme also allows for alternative exit awards for students who are unable to complete either the academic or the professional components of the programme.

Programme benefits

  • Gain practice experience at a range of counselling agencies, including our own dedicated placement agency, Hope Park Counselling Centre, one of only four such research and practice centres in the UK.
  • We guarantee our full time Doctorate students a first placement in Hope Park Counselling Centre. We also have excellent links with a range of agencies across Scotland, and support students to find their second practice placement within one of these agencies.
  • Benefit from outstanding resources to support your learning on this programme while studying at a world-class institution.
  • You will be facilitated in your professional learning by core tutors who are experienced practitioners of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as by a clinical tutor who will meet with you regularly, and a practice supervisor who will help you reflect on your counselling work.
  • Conduct in-depth independent research on a topic of your choice, thereby making a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Additional programme costs

Students on the DPsychotherapy programme are required to undertake a minimum of 40 hours of professional supervision in relation to their placement practice.

You may need to pay for this supervision of your counselling practice.

Accommodation and living costs

You will need to pay for your accommodation and living costs (such as rent, food and utility bills) for the duration of your programme.

For 2026-2027, we estimate that it will cost an average of £18,504 each year (£1,542 each month) to live in Edinburgh as a postgraduate.

The exact amount you spend will depend on different factors, especially the accommodation you choose.

Living costs: estimates explained 

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a subject relevant to counselling and psychotherapy. You should also have substantial relevant experience of working in helping roles in counselling or a cognate area, such as education, social work, nursing, mental health practice, applied psychology or equivalent.

In exceptional circumstances, we will also consider a UK 2:2 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a subject relevant to counselling and psychotherapy with evidence confirming your aptitude for study at doctoral level. Such evidence may include a strong performance in postgraduate education, academic references or research experience.

If your undergraduate degree is not relevant to counselling and psychotherapy, you may be admitted at the discretion of the programme director as long as you meet the personal and professional suitability and relevant experience requirements laid down by the British professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy.

  • As this is a professional training programme, students are subject to the University's Fitness to Practise regulations
  • As an accelerated professional training programme, this programme requires entrants to be both personally and professionally suitable for counselling training and ready to begin counselling practice within six months of programme commencement. The entrance requirements therefore combine personal suitability requirements with professional experience and academic requirements.
  • For the DPsychotherapy (full-time) programme, entry is subject to passing the professional suitability interview.

International equivalent qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test (restrictions apply)
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) before 21 January 2026: total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The full-time programme is delivered across a total of 4 years. Years 1 and 2 are shared with the Masters of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) programme leading to a professional qualification in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Years 3 and 4 consist of courses that focus on the ongoing development of post-qualifying practice and on the development of a doctoral research through monthly one-to-one and peer research supervision.

Our full-time professional programme students, both Masters and Doctorate, attend the majority of the classes of the first two years of their programmes together. They also join with part-time students on the professional practice courses and with PhD students on the research courses. This makes for a rich, diverse and stimulating experience, with a mixture of closed-cohort small classes and groups, and large lecture classes and learning and community groups.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

We are introducing changes to our professional training programmes in Counselling and Psychotherapy from 2028/29.

This will not impact your studies if you join this programme in September 2027.

Placements

The programme includes supervised practice placements in addition to taught courses and a research thesis. The supervised practice placements take place in the pre-qualifying years of the programme (Years 1 to 2 for full-time students) and meet the accrediting body requirement for supervised client hours. In the post-qualifying years there is the opportunity to undertake additional client hours alongside your taught courses and thesis.

We guarantee our full-time Doctorate students a first placement in Hope Park Counselling Centre, our own dedicated placement agency.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Studying at a world-class institution, you will benefit from outstanding resources to support your learning on this established and recognised programme.

You will be facilitated in your professional learning by core tutors who are experienced practitioners of counselling and psychotherapy, and a practice supervisor who will help you reflect on your counselling work.

As you take up your research project you will have opportunities to attend research seminars, workshops, conferences and events within an active and supportive research environment.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling will:

  • be reflective, self-aware, safe, accountable, competent and experienced counsellors and psychotherapists
  • have a sound knowledge base of theories and research on the development of the person, group process, therapeutic relationships and processes, and the role of counselling and psychotherapy in society
  • possess highly developed and transferable interpersonal, conceptual and analytical skills, including critical thinking, self-evaluation and research skills
  • have specialist knowledge and expertise within a selected area of practice-based research and scholarship
  • be well-placed to take up positions in the professional practice field and the field of professional education in counselling and psychotherapy

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Accreditation

The Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling is professionally validated by Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA). In addition to their University award, students graduating with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma receive the corresponding COSCA Certificate or COSCA Diploma.

The Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling is a professionally validated postgraduate qualification in counselling. The programme consists of a set amount of clinical placement hours that can be used towards Professional Accreditation. 

Please check the accreditation requirements of the Professional body you are interested in being accredited with for the total amount of hours you need to build post-qualification in order to be eligible for accreditation.

Career opportunities

The Professional Doctorate of Psychotherapy and Counselling is the highest level of qualification available in this area.

It enables graduates to practise as counsellors or therapists in the UK, and in other countries with equivalent professional and academic standards.

Graduates will be in a position to gain positions such as:

  • practitioners
  • counselling educators
  • managers
  • academics working in a range of settings - including private, statutory and voluntary or non-government sectors

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

For entry into the Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling programme, we require an indication of your interest and background experience with research.

Find out more about our department's ongoing research

There are two stages to the application process. Stage One assesses academic ability whereas Stage Two aims to assess personal and professional suitability to become a practitioner in the field.

Stage One requires you to submit an online application.

The full-time programme expects students to begin placement in Year 1. Applications are assessed against the following criteria in relation to fitness to practice:

  • academic suitability
  • understanding of counselling and psychotherapy both in practice and in theory
  • personal suitability for counselling and psychotherapy training and practice
  • relevant professional experience

Following Stage One, applicants with a successful outcome will be asked to proceed to Stage Two. You will be sent a Stage Two application pack which asks you to provide a further Personal Statement (criteria will be provided) and also a Professional Reference. Detailed guidelines on completion of both of these is given in the pack and both documents should be submitted at the same time.

The Stage 2 application focuses on applicants’ suitability as a person and as a practitioner to undertake therapeutic work with people experiencing distress and their readiness to begin therapeutic practice with their own clients soon after commencing the programme, including:

  • evidence of stability and demonstrable capacity to learn from experience and to enter a reflective process
  • ability to cope with the emotional demands of the training
  • ability to form and sustain helping relationships
  • commitment to ongoing personal development
  • awareness and respect of difference, diversity and principles of equality
  • good interpersonal skills

Outcomes following written submissions will be communicated to applicants and successful applicants will be asked to attend an online interview with two members of the academic teaching team.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
13 September 2027 7 January 2027

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have sufficient time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. 

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. 

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete. 

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You must submit one reference with your application.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Protecting Vulnerable Groups

If we give you an offer, you will need to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme before you start this degree programme.

We will send you information on how to join the PVG scheme.

PVG scheme information on the Scottish Government website

If you live outside the UK

If you live outside the UK, or have spent more than one year living outside the UK, then you will need to provide proof from the relevant national authority.

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

Contact us
Phone:+44 (0)131 651 3969

Academic contact

Sharan Collins

Academic Selector

  • School of Health in Social Science
  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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