Mindfulness Degree – MSc Mindfulness and Compassion

PG Cert. Psychology and Mindfulness

Year 1 includes a first module on Mindfulness Practice and Psychological Wellbeing and a second module on Teaching Mindfulness and Research. At the end of this students exit with a Post Graduate Certificate and be qualified to integrate short mindfulness sessions into their existing work with clients

Module 1 – Mindfulness practice and psychological wellbeing 

In this module students will review the concepts of mindfulness from both practice and academic perspectives. The module combines an introduction to the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) that the participants, on graduating, will be able to teach the themselves. There is also an introduction to psychology and research enquiry. Aspects of Health Psychology will be central to this including topics such as stress and wellbeing. Students will also be required to engage critically with the relevant research literature.

Module 2 – Mindfulness teaching and Research

The module covers two key domains of mindfulness teaching – guiding Mindfulness practice and conveying course themes through interactive enquiry. Students are introduced to generic mindfulness teaching skills by guiding short core practices and leading interactive enquiry after the practices. The module includes an introduction to research methodology (quantitative and qualitative methods) to allow students to engage critically with literature including research on teaching Mindfulness. The relationship between behaviour and biological processes (Biological Psychology ) is explored and will enhance students understand of approaches to research and data collecting. This will be integrated with the development of research methods.

A mid year retreat will be held over the summer – between a first semester starting January and a second semester starting September.

PG Dip. Mindfulness and Compassion

Year 2 includes a third module on Mindfulness Teaching, Cognition and Consciousness and a fourth module on Teaching Compassion and the Research Process. At the end of this students exit with a Post Graduate Diploma and be qualified to teach the eight week Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) and the eight week Compassion Based Living Course (CBLC) to groups.

Module 3 – Mindfulness teaching, cognition and consciousness

Students are introduced to a range of aspects of Cognitive Psychology (e.g. attention, memory, meta cognition) and review aspects of mindfulness within this framework. The module will allow students to explore aspects of cognition and consciousness and ground this within psychology theory.

This module introduces students to skills required to teach the MBLC curriculum and gives the participants the opportunity to lead sessions and observe the delivery of the MBLC curriculum. Training involves reflective practice based on feedback from self, peers and tutors. Students will learn to give feedback within the framework of the six domains of the Mindfulness Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC).

Module 4 – Teaching Compassion and the research process

This module introduces the students to the skills required to deliver the Compassion Based Life Course (CBLC). Training involves reflective practice based on feedback from peers and tutors. Students will learn to give feedback within the framework of the six domains of the Mindfulness Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC).

The module will provide students with the opportunity to develop their research and critical evaluation skills. A key activity will be the completion of a research project. The project will allow students to develop their understanding of research methods within a psychological framework. This will underpin student’s development toward their final master’s dissertation.

A mid year week long retreat provides the opportunity to consolidate practice and academic learning. Completion of a residential week is a pre-requisite for students wishing to be registered on the BAMBA UK Listing of Mindfulness teachers.

Between modules 3 and 4 students will teach a first MBLC course (with journalling and supervision) to clients and this course will be the focus of their research activity in year 2.

M.Sc. Mindfulness and Compassion

Year 3 includes a fifth module on Assessed Practice and Research Project. At the end of this students exit with a Masters degree in Mindfulness and Compassion, including an assessment of their competency in teaching the MBLC and will have completed all the prerequisites to join the UK Listing of Mindfulness Teachers.

Module 5 – Assessed Practice and Research Project/Dissertation

This final module brings together the practice and academic learning from the previous modules by integrating the development of training and critical evaluation skills. Students will be required to identify a research project and will be supported by their supervisor in data gathering/analysis, ethical clearance and the production of a final report.

During T1 and T2 students will be required to demonstrate the development of their practice in accordance with the Mindfulness Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI-TAC) (Crane et al, 2012). Students will deliver a second MBLC course to their client group during this course, keeping a Mindfulness teaching journal, engaging in weekly group supervision with an approved supervisor and videoing designated sessions of the course for assessment. Student will be required to critically reflect on group dynamics, relational skills and maintaining the group learning environment.

A mid year retreat will be held over the summer.

Key Benefits

• Develop a stable mindfulness and practice with a natural progression into teacher training.
• Deepen your knowledge of mindfulness and compassion – its evidence base and areas of application and critiques
• Lean how to critically reflect and evaluate the concepts of mindfulness and its implications for society.
• Learn to teach the MBLC and CBLC courses to groups and to meet the requirements listed on the UK Listing of Mindfulness Teachers

Other Benefits

• We have a strong collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland and benefit from their LONDON campus.
• The programme with the University of West Scotland is affordable.
• The Mindfulness Association has over 10 years of experience of delivering courses in the UK and Europe.
• All our tutors are very experienced and knowledgeable compassion-based mindfulness and practitioners.
• We have a membership providing our practitioners with ongoing support.
• Our tutors and courses comply with guidelines set by the British Association for Mindfulness-based Approaches (BAMBA) who oversee the quality of mindfulness-based training in the UK.

If you have recently received or are currently receiving treatment from a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or counsellor for an ongoing mental health problem, we strongly advise that you obtain advice from your mental health professional before proceeding further with mindfulness training at this time.  

Also, if you have recently or are currently going through a traumatic life event such as a separation from a long-term partner, the death of a close family member or friend or redundancy this may not be the best time for you to start a mindfulness course.   

You can join this MSc programme if you have the following:

• An Honours degree or a bachelor’s degree with significant and relevant experience.
• Completion of an eight-week mindfulness course, or equivalent, which is listed on the British Association for Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers within the five years preceding admission. Join this 8 week Mindfulness Based Living Course starting mid-October. Email info@mindfulnessassociation.net for more information and the booking link.
• English language proficiency is also a requirement

How Do I Find Out More?

For more information on the MSc Mindfulness and Compassion please write to info@mindfulnessassociation.net 

The MBLC and CBLC courses are designed for the general public and so are not specific to a particular setting, such as health care. Therefore, the course is appropriate for graduates or those with equivalent professional experience from all backgrounds and who are interested in developing their own personal mindfulness and compassion practice and training to teach according to best practice in the UK as set out in the British Association for Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.

The programme is part time over three years and so suitable for those who are in employment as well as those who are not. The course will be located in the London campus making it easily accessible for overseas students and residents in the South of England.  The MBLC and CBLC courses are designed for the general public and so are not specific to a particular setting, therefore, the course is appropriate for graduates or those with equivalent professional experience from all backgrounds and who are interested in developing their own personal mindfulness and compassion practice and training to teach according to best practice in the UK as set out in the UK Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.