Enhancing your everyday practice: This highly evaluated Postgraduate Certificate supports professionals in different settings and roles (both child and adult) to understand the core concepts of contemporary systemic practice and utilise systemic skills and techniques to maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationship groups in their everyday work.
Relationships matter! This one year programme is designed for multidisciplinary professionals working with individuals or relationship/family groups in a wide range of contexts – both child/family and adult services, in the statutory and voluntary sectors. Relevant settings include family support and child protection; children in care; fostering and adoption; mental health; substance use; justice; physical health and disability; elderly; and adult safeguarding. Systemic practice helps people in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables people to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build on strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.
Teaching and Accreditation: All courses are taught by highly experienced practitioners. They are accredited by Queen’s, the Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK (AFT) and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC – PiP Specialist Award).
Strategic Alignment: Skills developed in this PG Certificate align with regional strategic developments and priorities including the Mental Health Strategy; ‘Signs of Safety’; ‘Think Family’; NI Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care; and Trauma Informed Practice.
This one-year multidisciplinary Postgraduate Certificate is the entrance programme to all levels of systemic training at Queen’s.
There are three levels of systemic practice and family therapy training: PG Certificate (AFT accredited Foundation - Year 1), PG Diploma (AFT accredited Intermediate - Year 2) and MSc Systemic Psychotherapy (AFT accredited Qualifying level training - Years 3 and 4). Please see relevant webpages for further details.
Systemic practice and family therapy has been found to be effective across the life course in helping children, young people, adults, couples and families struggling with a broad range of difficulties and circumstances.
Systemic practitioners, and family and systemic psychotherapists work in many health and social care contexts across child and adult settings, including child and family support services, looked after children’s services, older people’s services, physical health and disability, substance use, justice and mental health services.
Please note that this course is not eligible for a Student route visa.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 31st July 2025 at 4 pm. Late applications may be considered.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy provides knowledge and skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health, justice and social care.
Systemic Practice and Family Therapy highlights
Professional Accreditations
All levels of Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes at Queen's are accredited by the Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK (AFT), a member organisation of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and recognised by the relevant professions’ continuing professional development frameworks. The PG Certificate programme is aligned with the specialist award of the Professional in Practice (PiP) CPD framework for Social Work of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC). The PG Certificate is accredited at Foundation Level (Year 1) by the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice UK (AFT).
Industry Links
On these pathways there will be restricted access to relevant data by employers, the NISCC, DHSSPS, HSC Boards and any successor bodies.
Students are supported to attend the systemic programmes across a wide range of disciplines employed in the voluntary and statutory sectors, in both child and adult settings.
Over 88% of research submitted by colleagues from Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology and Social Work to the Social Policy and Social Work Unit of Assessment was similarly judged to be World Leading or Internationally Excellent. An endorsement of the quality of our research and its impacts in areas such as the penal system, mental health and trauma; work once again achieved through work undertaken in partnership with the health, social care and criminal justice sectors.
Student Experience
This Postgraduate Certificate is a stand-alone programme but also constitutes year 1 of the four year training to qualify as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist in the UK.
Please refer to the PG Diploma in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy (Year 2) and MSc Systemic Psychotherapy (Years 3 and 4) for further details of qualifying level training. All levels of systemic training at Queen's University are highly evaluated by students.
'The Systemic Practice Foundation course (Postgraduate Certificate) enabled me to engage more meaningfully with the whole family and their network encountering difficulties, rather than solely with the child, young person or adult deemed to have ‘the problem’. This ‘relationship’ focus enables me to provide a more caring and preventative service and gain a more thorough assessment. Using this approach has enabled my social work practice at Gateway to be stimulating, energising and fun."
Gillian Craig, Gateway Social Worker, WHSCT
“When I applied for the Foundation course (Postgraduate Certificate) I had been working as a social worker within the Family Intervention Team. I was put forward by my line manager and agreeing to this has been easily one of the best decisions that I have made. The course helped me gain a better understanding of individuals, families and the organisations in which we all function. It also offered me a broader perspective and understanding of how crucial family dynamics are in the development and maintenance of problems. Throughout the course I was given ample opportunities to enhance my skills through reading, discussions, presentations and role play. The course has equipped me with a range of practice skills that I have been able to transfer with confidence to my direct practice.”
Dairine Coyle, Family Intervention Social Worker, WHSCT
This course provides multidisciplinary practitioners with a stimulating multi-modal learning experience to enhance their practice skills and maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationships groups in their particular setting. Three modules are interwoven throughout the curriculum, providing a balance of academic theory, skills development, and personal and professional development. The course requires a minimum of 180 study hours, including direct contact with QUB staff and independent study.
The PG Certificate has 15 taught days, organised in two-day blocks, approximately once per month during the academic year. As well as whole group teaching, there are regular small practice application group (PAG) sessions facilitated by experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapists to assist students to consolidate and apply course learning to their agency setting and role.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy is awarded to students who successfully complete the three taught modules amounting to 60 CATS points. Students can exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or seek to progress to Year 2 (Postgraduate Diploma).
9.30am to 4.30pm on teaching days. The PG Certificate in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy is made up of 15 taught days. These are organised in two day blocks, approximately once a month during the academic calendar (October to April/May).
Learning and Teaching
This course provides multidisciplinary practitioners with a stimulating multi-modal learning experience to enhance their practice skills and maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationships groups in their everyday work. Specific skills include: the development of a ‘systemic orientation’ and its relevance to the student’s unique practice context and role; applied practice development via a number of systemic skills and techniques; awareness of the application of systemic practice in a range of clinical contexts; enhanced capacity for reflective and reflexive practice. Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:
Consolidation and Learning
Students have regular small practice application group (PAG) sessions with experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapists to consolidate and apply course learning to their agency setting and role.
Learning Experience
This course provides multidisciplinary practitioners with a stimulating multi-modal learning experience which aims to enhance their practice skills and maximise the therapeutic benefit for individual service users or relationships groups in their everyday work. Specific skills include: the development of a ‘systemic orientation’ and its relevance to the student’s unique practice context and role; applied practice development via a number of systemic skills and techniques; awareness of the application of systemic practice in a range of clinical contexts; enhanced capacity for reflexive practice.
Overview
All inputs are facilitated by experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapists with a wealth of practice experience in different contexts. This course has an experiential component with students invited to consider their own lived experiences and develop reflective practice skills.
VLE
All course materials area available on Canvas.
Assessment
Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
Assessment is by written assignments, including a case study and learning portfolio.
Facilities
The School is situated across a suite of three buildings in Belfast's Queen's Quarter. We provide student and staff common rooms, computer suites and designated study spaces.
"We aim to provide multidisciplinary practitioners with stimulating learning experiences to enhance their skills in both child and adult service settings. We hope students will leave the courses feeling better equipped to work compassionately and effectively with the many struggles individuals and families bring to their encounters with services."
Dr Suzanne Mooney, Programme Director, Senior Lecturer Social Work
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
Personal and Professional Development in Systemic Practice
Overview
- Practice Application Groups on Skills Development, practising the topics covered in the taught sessions with emphasis on developing a systemic disposition; working with complexity, mandated clients, risk and uncertainty; following up on material form the Case Presentations (module 2); finally, the personal impact of the work.\n- Taught sessions: Reflective Processes and Practices, Ethical Aspects of Systemic Practice; Systemic Practice in Cointext; The Therapeutic Relationship\n- Workshop on Diversity and the 'Social Graces'.\n- Personal tutorial(s)
Learning Outcomes
As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)\n- An ability to begin to consider their own personal family and cultural experiences from a systemic perspective.\n- An ability to explore and give an account of their own personal learning process over time.
Skills
In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work, namely: reflect critically, systematically and creatively on complex issues; take personal responsibility and initiative; demonstrate a thorough and systematic grasp of issues; independent thought, self-direction and originality; methodological rigour; act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks: reflect critically on the impact and use of self.\nModule specific: collaborative, team working and problem solving; reflexivity; acquisition of professional confidence & competence.
Systemic Practice Skills and their application to the work setting
Overview
(i) Practice Application Groups on Skills Development: convening the family, genogram, ecomap and lifeline work\n(ii) Skills Workshops: the first session, hypothesizing, questioning and associated skills\n(iii) Case Presentations - Group Exercise and Discussions on skills acquisition and application in the work place
Learning Outcomes
As set by the professional body for training in family therapy & systemic practice (AFT UK)\n- An ability to describe a range of systemic models and approaches and give examples of their application to practice\n- An ability to demonstrate a range of practice skills
Skills
In addition to the skills generic to Cert/Dip/MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work, namely: reflect critically, systematically and creatively on complex issues; take personal responsibility and initiative; demonstrate a thorough and systematic grasp of issues; independent thought, self-direction and originality; methodological rigour; act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks: reflect critically on the impact and use of self.\nModule specific: collaborative, team working and problem solving; reflexivity.
Introduction to Systemic Theory, Research and Practice
Overview
Introducing an eco-systemic analysis of families in society: family in contemporary society; family systems; critical family policy\nCore systemic concepts: context; feedback; circularity; communication; relational perspectives on problems\nFamilies over time: family life cycle; genograms; life span and cultural perspectives on change & transitions\nFamily Therapy and Systemic Practice Approaches and Models: overview, specific trends and theories of change.\nWhat research tells us: evidence base for systemic practice
Learning Outcomes
As set by the professional body for training in family therapy and systemic practice (AFT UK)\n- Basic understanding of the systemic approach to family and other relationships\n- Ability to describe a range of systemic models and approaches and give examples of their application to practice \n- Ability to describe and critique the concept of the family life cycle perspective and its application to different family forms\n- Familiarity with a range of key literature relating to systemic practice (this includes research informed evidence based practice)\n- Ability to place the development of systemic therapy into a historical context
Skills
In addition to the skills generic to Cert-Dip-MSc in Applied Social Studies the pathway specific skills at this level include the ability to develop knowledge and skills associated with competence 'in depth' in a specific area of work, namely: reflect critically, systematically and creatively on complex issues; take personal responsibility and initiative; demonstrate a thorough and systematic grasp of issues; independent thought, self-direction and originality; methodological rigour; act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks: reflect critically on the impact and use of self.
1.This is a multidisciplinary pathway with applications welcome from applicants with prior relevant professional training in a mental health or social care related discipline or equivalent as designated by the Association of Family Therapy (e.g. Social Work, Nursing, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology). Normally one year's post qualification experience is required. Applicants who do not hold one of the designated relevant professional qualifications, but who would find a Foundation course useful to their work may be accepted in accordance with the AFT training standards. This is at the discretion of the Programme Director and will be decided in consultation with AFT course requirements. Additional information and a full CV will be required to demonstrate equivalence.
2. Applicants must have the opportunity to apply systemic ideas in a current practice context. Please note that this programme is only open to applicants who are working in suitable contexts within NI/UK/RoI.
3. All Social Work applicants from NI/UK must have a recognised social work qualification and have successfully completed the Assessed Year in Employment. Social work and social care applicants must be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and should include their NISCC Social Care Registration Number in the Additional Information section of the application form.
4. Applicants should normally have a 2.2 Honours degree or above or equivalent recognised qualification. Equivalent qualifications include the Pre-2007 Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work. Where this is not met, applicants must show their ability to study at postgraduate level through evidence of previous postgraduate training or completion of a reflective practice assignment.
5. At least two references will be sought, one of whom must be the applicant’s current employer. At least one referee should be professionally qualified and be able to comment on the applicant’s current practice.
N.B. Please note there are different entrance requirements at each level of the suite of Systemic Practice and Family Therapy programmes at Queen’s. Should you be accepted onto the PG Certificate programme (Year 1 Foundation), this does not automatically guarantee entry to the PG Diploma programme (Year 2 Intermediate) or MSc Systemic Psychotherapy Qualifying level training. Further information may be sought to ensure eligibility.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 31 July 2025 at 4pm
Late applications may be considered.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.
*Taken within the last 2 years.
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
This PG Certificate programme is the entrance programme to all levels of systemic training. It provides knowledge and practice skills which are highly valued in both child and adult services across health, justice and social care.
Systemic practitioners, and family and systemic psychotherapists work in many health and social care contexts across child and adult settings including child and family support services, looked after children's services, older people's services, physical health and disability, substance use, justice and mental health services.
The course is taught by highly experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapists who work in different settings, thus bringing a great richness of practice experience to the teaching team.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.
