- Overview
- Course modules
- Entry requirements
- What makes this course different
- Accreditations
- What we're researching
- Your future career
- How we support your career ambitions
- Careers Guarantee
- What you'll learn
- How you'll learn
- How you'll be assessed
- Campus and facilities
- Who teaches this course
- Testimonial
- FAQs
Overview
This long-established and hugely popular course is fully accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
It is designed to provide training in an integrative approach to counselling and psychotherapy. It will enable you to develop your own synthesis within a framework which is not tied to a particular theoretical school or perspective. We follow current research into what actually works in counselling and psychotherapy, which means we use an integrative approach, employing a variety of techniques to respond to the needs and preferences of individual clients.
Typically, students on this course will have first degrees in other subjects, and they may be employed either part-time or full-time.
You may be working in health, social care or education - but you don't have to be.
This course (two years for the Diploma) is ideally suited to those with a part-time job, although it can also work for those with full-time commitments. The basis of study for the Postgraduate Diploma is one afternoon/evening per week.
The two-year Postgraduate Diploma allows you to practice as a BACP registered counsellor. Completion of the diploma confers automatic entry to the MA Counselling and Psychotherapy final year which is a popular choice for our students. (Only the Masters is eligible for a student loan from SFE.)
The Postgraduate Diploma entails completing 100 hours of supervised work, which will be undertaken on a placement which you have to secure for yourself. However, the School has established links with many agencies and practices where our students have worked over the years.
You may take these skills back into your workplace, use them for a change of career, or develop your own specialist practice.
*Overall positivity using the Times Higher Education methodology, on student samples over 1,000 and out of all Universities UK members.
This course is in Clearing
Intro to Fashion Entrepreneurship
Our 4-week online course, in partnership with Beyond Form Education, offers a glimpse into UEL’s MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship programme. Fee: £120
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
Course modules
The first year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip focuses on building essential skills for future practitioners. The Self, Skills, and Theory module helps you balance theoretical knowledge with practical application, enabling you to develop core competencies. You'll also begin to understand the importance of clinical experience for a deeper understanding. Expect to engage in personal development activities and continuous self-reflection. The Self, Skills, and Theory 2 module deepens your understanding of the integration framework. You'll explore multicultural and social context issues in clinical practice and learn to apply ethical guidelines to complex situations. This module also strengthens your understanding of clinical supervision as a vital tool for ongoing professional growth and self-evaluation.
The second year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip delves into the advanced integration and practical application of various counselling approaches. The Term 1: Integration and Application 1 module teaches you to use the core therapeutic model as a foundation for incorporating concepts from diverse approaches. You'll develop skills to work with a wide range of clients across the mental health spectrum. We'll emphasise building your self-knowledge, maintaining an effective client base, and using supervision for reflective practice. Building on the first term, the Integration and Application 2 module guides you in articulating your unique therapeutic approach. You'll gain experience with diverse client presentations, learn to effectively evaluate client progress, and discover how to incorporate research into your practice. Throughout, you'll continue to grow as a reflective practitioner through ongoing clinical supervision.
The third year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip establishes a strong foundation for research in applied psychology. The Research Methods 1 module develops your understanding of research methodologies and sharpens your critical analysis skills. You'll learn to both critically evaluate existing research literature and design original research projects. We'll cover various research approaches and help you develop practical data analysis skills for both quantitative and qualitative methods. Building on the foundation from the first term, the Research Methods 2 module guides you through making a real research contribution to applied psychology. It helps you navigate real-world research challenges and supports you in completing and writing your dissertation on different subjects. These areas could include positive psychology, coaching psychology, career coaching, or international psychosocial consultation.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Entry requirements
What makes this course different

Accredited by the BACP
Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) since 1990, the longest-running BACP-accredited programme in the UK.
See more details
Focused on therapy
This programme is founded on a secure evidence base for what works in therapy, rather than any particular modality or theoretical school

A different approach
We have a strong emphasis on skills and the development of a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where the client is actively involved in developing the goals of their therapy, the ways their issues are conceptualised, and the approaches used.
Accreditation

BACP accredited course
Accredited by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
See more detailsWhat we're researching
At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.
Your future career
In recent years, around half to two-thirds of students leave after completing their counselling and psychology Diploma (which is the professional qualification), with the remainder staying on for a final year of MA study.
In either case, you will be able to work towards the next level of professional standing by seeking individual accreditation within the BACP, which requires 450 hours of supervised working. Past students have attained this level two or three years after graduating.
Job roles
Even if you do not go on to work as a counsellor or psychotherapist, this course is a strong supplement and support for work you may already be doing in health, social care or education.
Completing the course often leads to career progression. Many past students have returned to previous jobs while establishing and developing their own counselling practice as a second strand to their careers. In several cases, this has proved successful enough to become their main source of employment.
"Many of our counselling graduates become portfolio workers," says Elizabeth Wilson. "They leave the course and carry on doing whatever they have been doing, but they also start doing some sessions as counsellors.
"Two, three, four years down the line they are spending more time on their practice than their other employment."
Graduate employers
Our graduates have gone on to work for mental health charities - for example, as a bereavement worker or wellbeing practitioner.
How you'll learn
Please note: teaching takes place over two academic years on a part-time basis, one day a week, which remains the same for the two years you are with us (plus three Saturday workshops each academic year). The cohort has previously met at the Stratford Campus on either Wednesdays or Thursdays.
There is no facility to complete this course full-time. Because we are BACP accredited, the course must be completed in full and we do not accept any prior qualifications gained in counselling and psychotherapy. However, that experience may well strengthen your application.
Further study
If you decide to stay on for the third-year MA top-up, it is over one calendar year, part-time. You will have your own academic supervisor.
Placement
Once you have passed assessments in the first term you will be eligible to secure a placement and start recording hours of supervised client work.
If you have not reached 100 hours before the end of your second year, you have another year to make up the total in order to qualify for your diploma.
Class sizes
A maximum group total of 25 students in years one and two and 20 in year three will ensure you will benefit from an excellent student/tutor ratio.
Teaching
Our teaching team have extensive clinical experience and have written and published widely. Several have or still do contribute to the work of BACP committees.
You will develop your practical skills in our suite of six on campus interview rooms with video recording and playback equipment. There is an emphasis on working in groups and the programme contains regular interactive structured exercises.
Other modes of learning include workshops, lectures, clinical supervision groups, personal therapy, individual tutorials, self-directed private study and assessed written assignments.
"Current research shows that the theoretical approach is by no means the most important thing in counselling and psychotherapy," says Course Leader Elizabeth Wilson. "It's about responding to the individual needs of the client sitting in front of you."
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, presentations and process reports. You will be assessed on your practical skills, on your personal journal and on your professional log, which is an ongoing record of your client work, supervision, personal development and training.
Campus and facilities
Stratford Campus, London, E15 4LZ
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from London's West End and 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and cinemas. Stratford is fast becoming London's new cultural quarter, with Sadler's Wells East and V&A East moving in.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by the School of Childhood and Social Care
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our staff and students say

I have learnt so much about myself and how to safely practice with clients. One of the highlights was having support in my studies from my cohort and the lecturers."
Fabiola Toso
PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy

Studying online part-time while working full-time was challenging, but UEL’s structure made it manageable. I could learn at my own pace, access high-quality resources remotely, and connect with supportive lecturers and peers. It was a truly empowering experience.”
Caterina Scalesia
Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip









