School of Psychology

Programme summary for BSc (Hons) Counselling

About the programme

This degree is a professional counsellor training programme, which reflects contemporary developments in counselling as the profession prepares for statutory regulation. The programme is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for practice as an integrative counsellor.

2-subject degrees

It is not possible to combine this programme with another subject as part of a 2-subject degree.

Programme structure

Normally a 3 year full time programme which includes supervised counselling placements during level 2 and level 3. Students initially enrol on BSc (Hons). Counselling & Mentoring and may choose to continue with that programme after the common first year or if they do not meet the criteria for transfer to BSc (Hons) Counselling at the end of level 1 study.

Career opportunities

At present there is no statutory regulation of counsellors in the UK, but there are plans to introduce a register in 2011. With this in mind we have designed a programme which is both thorough and contemporary. It prepares you for a career as a professional counsellor, equipping you with the skills, qualities and academic foundations you will need for practice.

Support

• Students joining the programme are offered an induction programme in the week before classes begin. Returning students also receive induction to the next level or year of their programme.
• All students are allocated a personal tutor. Additional help is available from year group tutors, the programme leader and leaders of individual modules.
• First year students are supported by a programme designed to help them develop study skills, covering IT skills, library use, report and essay writing, the ethics of study and research, and working in groups. Research Methodology teaching is supplemented by on-line interactive programme materials & discussion groups.
• In years 2 and 3 of the programme students will have weekly clinical supervision groups to support them in their client work on placement.
• Support and help with career choice, job applications and preparation of CVs is included in the programme.
• Specialist support (for example, for financial advice, careers advice, counselling and learning support) is also available from central University services. The University has a student special needs advisor.

Admission

For admission to the BSc (Hons) Counselling programme candidates will normally need:

• 240 UCAS tariff points, with at least 140 points obtained from A2 qualifications or new GNVQ equivalent;
• We will also accept people with Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate
• We will also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications.
• Students may also be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

Candidates will be interviewed and will be required to demonstrate:

• Self-awareness, maturity and stability;
• Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience;
• Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course;
• Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement;
• Ability to form a helping relationship;
• Ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative feedback;
• Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression,
• Awareness of issues of difference and equality.
• Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support.
• Competence in generic skills including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self-management skills, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to self-development.

Note: Initially all successful applicants will be enrolled onto the BSc (Hons) Counselling & Mentoring Programme. Students who achieve the required profile of assessment results (normally at least 60% in the modules Personal Development and Skills, and Core Skills & Processes, plus passing all other core level 1 modules) will be eligible to transfer to the BSc (Hons) Counselling programme at the end of Level 1 study following a successful interview and at the discretion of the Programme Leader. The interview will give students the opportunity to demonstrate that they have achieved appropriate levels of:

• personal qualities, including empathy, warmth and genuineness
• reflexivity
• the capacity to cope with the emotional and intellectual demands of contracted counselling with clients
• the ability to be self critical and respond constructively to feedback
• awareness of issues of difference and equality
• commitment to self-development

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