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This three-year, part-time master’s course is taught fully online. This means you can study from anywhere and fit learning around your work and daily life.

The course helps you build both practical experience and academic knowledge in contemplative psychology. You will learn how mindfulness and compassion connect with mental health, wellbeing, and everyday life.

You will explore mindfulness through:

• psychological theory
• scientific research
• your own personal meditation experience 

This course is ideal if you are interested in areas like wellbeing, education, mental health, coaching, or research.

By the end of the course, you will have strong skills in:

• mindfulness practice
• critical thinking
• reflection
• independent research
• using evidence to support your ideas 

You will also complete a research project (your MA thesis) on a contemplative psychology-related topic that matters to you.
 

What will you study on this course?

The course is fully online and combines live teaching with self-paced learning. You will learn through:

• live online sessions
• recorded lectures
• workshops
• group discussions
• personal meditation practice
• one-to-one tutorials 

What you will study:

Year 1

• Foundations of Practice 

Year 2

• Research Skills 

Year 1 or 2

• Choose one optional module: Buddhism and Contemplative Neuroscience or Essentials of Teaching 

Year 3:

• MA Thesis (research project) 

Each year, you can also choose to join a meditation retreat of several days at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ, either in person or online- a powerful way to deepen your practice.

There are no traditional exams on this course as the focus of the course is on building real skills you can use. You will be assessed through a combination of academic and reflective essays, presentations, and a final MA thesis.
 

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Contemplative Psychology: Mindfulness and Compassion Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree is normally required. We welcome applications from those with relevant professional, practical, or life experience, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Applications form those who have completed a teacher-led contemplative mindfulness-based course, in which meditation practices are taught over a period of 6-8 weeks. Intensive courses (e.g. over a period of several days) are also accepted.
• A regular contemplative meditation practice for at least six months before starting the programme.
   

IT requirements: students must have a computer in good working order and access to strong internet connection and the IT skills required to use these systems.

We welcome applications from international students, and require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent).

This MA in Contemplative Psychology: Mindfulness and Compassion gives you a university-level qualification in a fast-growing area.

It can support careers in:

• mental health
• education
• counselling
• coaching
• wellbeing services
• research 

You will gain the confidence to use contemplative mindfulness and psychological skills in real-world settings. The course also prepares you for further study, such as a PhD.

As one of only a small number of programmes of its kind in the UK, it combines academic rigour, reflective depth, and research expertise to prepare you for meaningful work in a rapidly expanding field.

³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ is proud to be an affiliated teacher training organisation with the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA). The course follows BAMBA’s national standards 
 

International applicants: Please note that this course is delivered online and part-time and does not enable students to obtain a student visa to the UK. International students who apply will have to independently arrange visas to allow them to attend the optional meditation retreat in the summer. 

 

If we fill the course for a particular year we will then close applications for that year and make that clear on our website.