
Louise Spiers
Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychology
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
COVID-19 Updates: For advice and updates for staff, students, and applicants who may have concerns about the coronavirus outbreak please visit our Situation Updates page.
Level:
Postgraduate
Duration:
2 years part time
Starting:
September
Fees UK:
Year 1 £3,735
Year 2 £3,735*
Location:
Waterside
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
This postgraduate degree in Counselling is an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of human thinking, reasoning and their actions and offers the chance to take the first steps into a career in counselling. Our MSc in Counselling course provides you with a level of knowledge and skills that will allow you to develop as counsellors, and once you have gained further experience and client hours you will be able to pursue a range of professional opportunities.
If you have a first degree in Psychology that is Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) accredited, your postgraduate training opportunities will include doctoral training on British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited courses in Counselling Psychology.
Updated 01/12/2020
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This Masters in Counselling course will help you to achieve sufficient communication skills as well as personal development skills which are useful and applicable to a number of organisations and situations. Students will be integrated into the learning process partnered with a supportive and motivational environment.
This course requires you to undertake a supervised placement of a minimum of 100 client hours plus supervision and a minimum 40 hours of personal therapy with an approved and registered or accredited counsellor or therapist. A student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is advised and professional indemnity insurance and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for entry onto this course.
Through the duration of the course, you will explore different counselling theories and examine issues within a variety of contexts.The placement module allows you to take your competencies to organisations to work with clients.
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop a critical, evaluative approach to the knowledge which underpins present-day professional practice as well as building your ability to make evidence-based decisions. Current issues within counselling and therapy will be considered critically with particular emphasis on their relationship to client practice.
In order to apply for this postgraduate Counselling degree, applicants will need either a first or second class bachelors’ degree. Additionally, applicants will be carrying out placements whilst working with clients. Having a critical self-awareness and a willingness to reflect on your own process throughout this course is therefore required. Voluntary or professional experience of support work with adults is desirable, but not essential.
For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
*Fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 22/23
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
*Fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 21/22
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
This course requires you to undertake a supervised placement of a minimum of 100 client hours plus supervision and a minimum 40 hours of personal therapy with an approved and registered or accredited counsellor or therapist. A student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is advised and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for entry onto this course. The course may be used as a basis for personal accreditation with BACP once further experience and an additional 350 client hours have been gained.
If you wish to pursue a counselling career or a related profession, such as a psychotherapist, you will need to complete core practitioner training that is at a minimum level of psychotherapy or counselling diploma. However, completing a Masters in Counselling will best equip you with the necessary practical skills and training, especially courses that include supervised placements.
A Masters degree in Counselling will allow you to pursue a number of career paths. Following completion of a MSc Counselling degree, you will have a deep understanding and appreciation of various therapies and presenting issues that will allow you to pursue a career in a wide variety of sectors. Graduates may secure roles in further and higher education, in charitable agencies and a wide range of businesses.
Other professional counselling opportunities include marriage and family counselling, substance abuse counselling, the NHS and private practice. Please note that many of these specialised roles require further training and additional experience is needed before entering into private practice.
Although the course is not accredited it may be used as a basis for personal accreditation with BACP once further experience and an additional 350 client hours have been gained.
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Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Psychology
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Lecturer in Psychology
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling
Programme Lead; I am happy to answer any questions about the course
Upon completion of this course you may find employment opportunities within NHS settings or schools, as well as further or higher educational counselling settings. Various opportunities are available within organisational settings and police settings, as well as in continuing professional development (CPD) work. The government agenda for Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) offers good opportunity for trained counsellors. Please note, it is not appropriate to go into private practice immediately on qualifying.