A professional counsellor training programme at undergraduate level, 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, and to facilitate the necessary self awareness, personal and professional development.

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

• Graduate as someone who is capable of pursuing a successful, ethical and useful career as a professional counsellor
• Prepare for further postgraduate study/training and Continuing Professional Development
• Have the potential to take an active role as a member of a professional community

Knowledge

• Critical awareness of a variety of theoretical models and counselling approaches.
• In-depth knowledge of an Integrative Process Model
• Critical awareness of the context of counselling in contemporary society including ethical and non-discriminatory practice.
• Knowledge of psychological theory as it can be applied to counselling.
• Understanding of a range of common client presenting issues

Thinking skills

• Reflective and critical thinking
• Research methods
• Problem-solving
• Resolving ethical dilemmas
• Exploring theoretical integration and resolving or reconciling contradictions

Subject-Based Practical skills

• To use a wide range of therapeutic interventions appropriate to the client and context.
• To work effectively with clients.
• To make appropriate use of clinical supervision
• To produce clinical formulations and related therapeutic plans in collaboration with clients.
• To be accountable for own practice and decision-making
• To manage own case load

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• To establish effective working relationships
• To work both independently and as part of a team
• Communication and presentation skills
• Making written and oral reports
• Self appraisal and setting personal learning goals
• Self presentation as secure, self-aware, non-defensive and confidence-inspiring

The expected duration of this programme is three years attended in full-time mode.

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June, divided into 2 semesters (September to January, February to June).

A typical student, in full-time attendance mode of study, will register for 120 credits in an academic year.

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules (or fewer, if any are 40 credit modules) per year . An honours degree student will complete modules totalling 120 credits at level one, modules totalling 120 credits at level 2 and modules totalling 120 credits at level 3.

The BSc (Hons). Counselling will not be available as part of the Combined Honours Programme due to the integrated and professional training nature of the programme. Joint honours students would not be able to accrue the BACP requirements in terms of contact hours and other criteria.

In order to gain an Honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain an Ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

• A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
• A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
• A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

Further information

For the award of the BSc (Hons). Counselling, students will also have to show evidence of completion of a minimum of 150 hours of supervised practice (exclusive of missed sessions), and an additional 50 hours in work-based learning or other duties related to service provision during the programme. (Depending on placement arrangements, students may be required to pay for some additional external individual supervision in order to meet BACP requirements.) It is expected that the majority (ideally all) of these practice and placement hours will be completed during the Counselling Practice and Development modules 1 and 2, but it is recognised that in certain circumstances some students may not manage to complete all of their client hours within the time available. Provided that they have achieved sufficient hours within the modules to complete the assessment tasks and meet the assessment criteria, students can pass these modules. If, at the completion of the taught modules, such students have not accumulated the required number of client hours, the award of BSc (Hons). Counselling will be deferred for up to a year to enable the hours to be completed. Students in this position will also be required to submit evidence of supervision to BACP standards for all of their client work. Staff will support students in developing appropriate arrangements to enable them to manage and continue to develop during this period.

Knowledge is developed through:

• Workshops
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Private reading/study

Thinking skills are developed through:

• Seminar and supervision groups
• Discussion in workshops
• Written assignments
• Reflection on practice/experience

Practical skills are developed through:

• Workshops
• Demonstrations
• Skills training labs
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Supervision
• Clinical placement
• Professional Log recording

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through:

• Workshops
• Skills training
• Clinical placement
• Independent Study
• Peer support
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Self appraisal, self presentation
• Group and experiential exercises

Knowledge is assessed by

• Essays
• Examinations
• Coursework

Thinking skills are assessed by

• Essays
• Examinations
• Coursework
• Project work
• Reflective journals
• Professional Log
• Skills Analyses and Evaluation

Practical skills are assessed by

• Video recordings and transcripts
• Supervisor Report
• Professional Log

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

• Project Work