Counselling Studies is studied by distance learning. Counselling is a way of helping people by enabling choice or change or reducing confusion. The Counselling Studies modules focus on the theoretical approaches to Counselling.

Entry to Level 1 or the Full Programme

You must meet the required UCAS Tariff Points, or equivalent, for the relevant programme. For programmes with Counselling Studies this will be 200 UCAS tariff points, or equivalent, unless otherwise stated.

Entry on a Modular Basis

If you do not hold the required tariff points for Level 1 or Full Programme entry, studies will be permitted on a modular basis, following a guidance interview with a student advisor.

In order to be able to complete any programme, a good level of English is required. The IELTS requirements for all distance-learning programmes are a minimum of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in both reading & writing (and a minimum of 5.0 in listening & speaking). Where English is not your first language, you may be required to provide a written example of your work in order to ensure your suitability for the programme.
Overseas students should be aware that all exams MUST be taken in the UK at one of our approved exam venues. Students should also be aware that they are expected to cover all costs in attending the exams.

Accredited Certificated Learning (ACL)

You may be able to gain admission to the programme with advanced standing. If you think that you could be entitled to ACL, you will be asked to submit the following evidence:

• Programme/ Module Specification or syllabus (including evidence of assessment format)
• Final certificate
• Transcript of grades.

• Pursue a successful, responsible and useful career in a number of areas of employment through relevant knowledge, skills and understanding acquisition
• Progress to further study
• Make informed choices for future work and study through providing a general, broadly-based course
• Learn in a flexible manner; in a timescale and environment in keeping with your preferences and needs

Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of key theoretical perspectives on the topic of self
• Select and apply appropriate research and statistical techniques in a variety of contexts.
• Demonstrate familiarity range of ethical considerations
• The background and structure of the professions

Thinking skills

• Analyse the basic processes underpinning basic counselling skills
• Articulate awareness of the empirical status of Counselling Psychology
• Analyse and illustrate the importance of considering issues such as race, culture, gender, and sexuality in Counselling Psychology
• Begin to acquire sensitivity toward the interplay between society, culture, and experience
• Analyse the basic processes underpinning basic counselling skills

Subject-Based Practical skills

• Organise and integrate acquired knowledge about the notion of inter-personal skills from counselling psychology
• Ability to analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
• Set goals for a proposed process of counselling from within various theoretical frameworks
• Awareness of ethical issues and principles in research on human behaviour
• Structure and articulate discursive arguments in the form of examination and coursework essays.

Skills for life and work (general skills)

• Develop flexible and reflective thinking
• Designing and conducting experiments, interpreting the results and reporting in the appropriate scientific format
• Developing flexible and reflective thinking
• Recognising the value of and demonstrate a degree of self-awareness
• Write critically about the real world applications of theories and findings.
• Integrate sensitivity, openness, and critical appraisals in discussions and debates
• Planning and time-management
• Employability skills

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 4.5 years in part-time mode. Support, however, may be available for longer – up to eight years, if necessary (this is the maximum time from first enrolment that students have to complete the programme).

There are three entry points per year onto the programme: September, February and May. A student, normally registering for 6 modules in one year would do so in a full-time attendance mode of study and a student registering for up to 4 modules in one year would do so in part-time attendance mode of study.

A typical full-time student will take six 20-credit modules per year, but you may choose to take fewer than this. To graduate as an honours degree student, you will need to have completed six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.
This programme is offered as a single pathway; it is not possible to combine modules with those from another programme. All modules are therefore CORE modules; which mean that they must be studied.

• Single - 120 credits at levels one, two and three
• Major - 80 credits at levels one, two and three
• Joint - 60 credits at levels one, two and three
• Minor - 40 credits at levels one, two and three.

Modules are defined as:

• Core - Must be taken
• Option - Select from a range of identified module within the field
• A Prerequisite Module Is a module that must be passed by the student, in order for that student to study on another module.
• A Precursor Module A module is a precursor for another module when the student must register on the precursor module in order to study subsequently on the other module.

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 a University Undergraduate Certificate students will need to obtain 40 credits at level 1 or higher.

In order to gain a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate students will need to obtain 20 credits at level 1 or higher.

Only one final award may be obtained.

In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:

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

(A foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree.)

Knowledge is developed through:

• Guided independent study
• Directed reading
• Formative assessment
• Knowledge-based activities with feedback
• On-line question/ answer forums

Thinking skills are developed through:

• Reflective/ thinking activities with feedback
• Analytical activities with feedback
• Evaluative activities with feedback
• Problem-solving activities with feedback
• On-line question/ answer forums

Practical skills are developed through:

• Practical activities with feedback
• IT activities with feedback
• Research skills-based activities with feedback

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

• The study medium, i.e. distance learning
• Planning activities with feedback
• IT activities with feedback
• Formative assessment with feedback+

Knowledge is assessed by

• coursework
• Examinations

Thinking skills are assessed by

• coursework
• Examinations
• Project Work

Practical skills are assessed by

• Practical Reports
• IT Exercises
• Statistical examinations
• Project Work

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

• Project work
• Tutorial assignments
• IT exercises