MSc International Counselling and Cross-Cultural Counselling

Our MSc International and Cross-Cultural Counselling programme goes beyond traditional Western perspectives, challenging biases and cultural assumptions inherent in psychotherapeutic practices.

Please check the postgraduate Degree Finder to see the specific entry requirements, start date and application deadlines. 

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In this programme, students will delve into contemporary perspectives in counselling and psychotherapy, decolonial approaches, and social theory to challenge traditional discourses of suffering and healing. This flexible postgraduate degree delivered over one year full-time or two years part-time, is designed to foster critical thinking by encouraging students to question biases and cultural assumptions. This programme is most suitable for people who have existing counselling and psychotherapy qualifications, looking to bring a critical and culturally aware angle to their practice and research.  

It’s important to note this programme is not a full professional practise training in counselling and psychotherapy; however, it provides a robust and critical foundation for undertaking specialized placement-based programs 

Why choose this programme? 

This programme will take you on a transformative academic journey that challenges the dominant understandings of counselling and psychotherapy, mental health, suffering and healing. With many inherent biases and cultural viewpoints present in the field, students will be encouraged to question the colonial, ethnocentric, and heteronormative assumptions that underlie many psychotherapeutic theories and practices.  

The programme is designed to provide a global perspective on counselling and psychotherapy, where you will learn from a diverse team of academics who bring a wealth of lived experience and academic credentials from different parts of the world.

You will enhance your understanding of counselling and psychotherapy in various cultural contexts and interdisciplinary, arts-based, experiential, and embodied learning and research approaches that are integral within the programme. The University of Edinburgh is committed to challenging Western-centric views, encouraging critical examination of cultural biases, and fostering an inclusive approach to mental health.   

Beyond the programme  

Successful completion of the MSc International and Cross-Cultural Counselling programme opens employment opportunities in a broad range of fields, including education, policy, research and development on health and illness, emotional health and well-being, and counselling often in combination with first degrees or other professional training. The programme enhances career prospects of professionally qualified counsellors and practitioners using counselling skills in related fields, such as health care, social work or education.   

Further Study Opportunities    

Students enhance their careers with the addition of highly developed conceptual, analytical and research skills and may also use this MSc to embark on doctoral research.  

For students interested in becoming a counsellor practitioner, the MSc International and Cross-Cultural Counselling programme provides a robust foundation for applying to our professionally accredited programmes in counselling and psychotherapy.

Find out more about our postgraduate Counselling and Psychotherapy options