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Doctoral Research in Psychoanalytic Studies

(Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Matt Ffytche)

Doctoral study

The Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies is involved in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Centre in the Psychoanalytic Studies pathway. Information about ESRC funding can be found under www.essex.ac.uk/dtc

PhD by research: available full- or part-time, assessment by thesis, but may include some taught components, where appropriate and requested by the supervisor.
Taught PhD Programme - Refugee Care: available full-time; involves a first year of taught modules after which students progress to a structure that is similar to the PhD by research programme.
PhD by research for non UK residents: available part-time (distance learning); students are required to attend the University campus once a year.
Professional Doctorates: available part-time; involves one year of taught seminars, as part of a three-year research programme. Next intake October 2011.
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Scholarship information
Graduate profiles

Academic supervisors currently available:

PhD by Research

Students with a good background in Psychoanalytic or Jungian theory or practice, good academic credentials and an ability to pursue independent research may apply to work towards a PhD. The Centre has an active group of PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows who, in addition to the staff of the Centre and of supporting departments, provide a stimulating and congenial environment. Centre staff include Professors of Psychoanalysis and of Jungian Psychology, and staff of supporting departments represent many interests in the connections between psychoanalysis and other fields.

Taught PhD Programme - Refugee Care

This course is available for students who are able to pursue independent research, but who first need preparation through a taught component.

Students take the modules for the MA in Refugee Care with their assessments, followed by a research project and thesis. It is especially useful for students with a postgraduate degree in another field who need a period of study in refugee care before proceeding to research and the award of a PhD.

PhD by research for non UK residents (distance learning)

Students who reside outside the UK and who qualify to pursue a PhD by research may apply for the distance learning option. There are special requirements governing the application, registration period and supervisory arrangements. Please enquire for further details.

Additional procedures for a PhD degree undertaken by candidates not normally resident within the UK

Apply for Doctoral Study (PhD, Doctoral Programme, MPhil)

Students wishing to apply for Doctoral study should read the following information which explains the application and selection procedure:

Once a research proposal has been accepted by the Centre you can complete an application form, either by contacting the Student Administrator (Research) for an application pack to be sent to you by post, by completing a form online (please note that online applications will still require additional information to be mailed to the Centre - see below), or by downloading the application form in PDF format.

N.B. Students for Doctoral Research are initially registered for an MPhil, but are upgraded to PhD status, normally in the second year, as long as their work is of a sufficient standard to continue at Doctoral level.

For tuition fee information, please contact the Student Administrator (Research).

Further Information

For enquiries on the programmes contact:

Student Administrator (Research)
Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies
University of Essex
Colchester, CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1206 874554
Fax: +44 (0)1206 873958
E-mail: cpsasst@essex.ac.uk

Professional Doctorates

Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (D. Psych. Psych.) / Doctorate in Analytical Psychology (D. An. Psych.)

Yearly intake in October

The professional doctorate consists of two parts, a clinical training component followed by a research component. The clinical training component consists of any psychotherapy training that has led to registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) or the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis (CPJA) of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). The research component, normally three years of part-time study, offers a structured method of continuing professional development aimed at enhancing research skills and contributing to the development of the field. It consists of methodology seminars, a research workshop, and writing under supervision a 40,000-word thesis. The combination of the clinical and research components leads to a Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy,* or Analytical Psychology.

*Subject to University approval

Duration of programme

Normally 3 years of part-time study. Candidates who can demonstrate their readiness may apply to submit after 2 years.

Academic supervisors include:

More course information

Application Procedure

Applicants should, in the first instance, submit a CV to cpsasst@essex.ac.uk giving full details of clinical training and experience, and a brief outline (approximately 300 words) of their potential research topic, using the Enquiry Form

The final, full application will require: (1) submission of a 2,000-word research proposal; (2) completion of an application form, together with certificates, references, and evidence of registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council or the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis; and (3) an interview.

Applicants are advised to submit their brief outline proposal as early as possible to allow time to develop their full proposal and application in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies or a prospective supervisor.

For enquiries about the programmes or to arrange an informal discussion please contact Student Administrator (Research) on +44 (0)1206 874554 or e-mail cpsasst@essex.ac.uk.

Eligibility to apply

The research component on each of the three professional doctorate programmes will be the same (the same taught component plus supervision). The different titles reflect the differing starting points and orientations of applicants. The appropriate programme for any applicant will be ascertained during the application process. But as a guide, registrants of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and the Council for Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis (CPJA) of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) will normally be eligible to apply to the professional doctorate programmes as follows:

Professional Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Eligible to apply:

Any registrant of BPC or CPJA (UKCP) who is registered under the titles of psychoanalyst, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, or attachment based psychotherapist, or
Any registrant of CPJA who can demonstrate that their training has been equivalent to the training obtained by persons in (a).

Professional Doctorate in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Eligible to apply:

Any registrant of BPC or CPJA (UKCP)

Professional Doctorate in Analytical Psychology

Eligible to apply:

Any registrant of BPC or CPJA (UKCP) who can demonstrate considerable background in analytical psychology, such as personal analysis and/or supervision either by analyst members of the International Association for Analytical Psychology or by senior psychotherapists who themselves have considerable background in analytical psychology.

If you are not sure which programme to apply under, you can apply for more than one programme and the appropriate one will be ascertained during the application process.

Registrants of BPC and CPJA (UKCP) whose training and qualifications are in the fields of child psychotherapy, group analysis/psychotherapy and couples psychotherapy are welcome to apply. Again, the appropriate programme will be ascertained during the application process.

Please note that whether we can accept any particular person will depend on their academic readiness, including the viability of their proposal, and our supervisory range and capacity.