Overview
Start a transformative journey towards a rewarding career in mental health with our BSc Counselling course. Accredited by the BACP, our inclusive programme blends theory, practical skills, self-awareness, and placements to nurture skilled and reflective practitioners. Gain transferable skills while working alongside clients on their profound journeys of self-discovery.
Master three major psychotherapeutic approaches - Person-centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Psychodynamic therapy - to become a versatile and effective mental health practitioner in your counselling career.
You will gain a deep understanding of the therapeutic relationship. You will examine personal therapy experiences, observe video-recorded peer counselling sessions, and get supervised clinical experience. You'll meet clients from different backgrounds. You'll address topics such as loss, violence, abuse, depression, and anxiety.
95% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “Learning Opportunities” in the 2024 National Student Survey.
This course is in Clearing
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.
What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students
93% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2024 National Student Survey.
(National Student Survey 2024, Results published 10 July 2024)

100 hours of placement
By graduation, you'll have at least 100 hours of client work. You'll be on your way to the 450 hours you need for full British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accreditation.
What BACP accreditation means
3rd in London
This counselling course is ranked 3rd in London by the Complete University guide 2024
Accreditation

Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
This is one of the very few undergraduate counselling training degrees in the UK awarded professional accreditation from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which is essential for your counselling career.
Course modules
The Year 1 modules of the counselling BSc focus on building foundational counselling skills and professional development. Core modules like Core Counselling Skills and Processes and Person-Centred Counselling introduce students to key counselling theories and ethical practices, while other modules like enhance research and reflective skills. These modules prepare students for a career in counselling degree by developing both their theoretical knowledge and practical counselling abilities.
In Year 2 of the counselling BSc, students deepen their understanding of counselling theories and techniques, including psychodynamic thinking and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The course also focuses on reflective practice and developing research skills, preparing students for clinical placements and enhancing their ability to work with clients across different life stages. This year strengthens both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for a successful career in a counselling degree.
In the final year of the counselling BSc, students develop into competent practitioners through work-based learning, gaining essential skills in case presentation, professional decision-making, and clinical supervision. They also complete an independent research dissertation, deepening their understanding of counselling practices. The year focuses on refining personal practice and integrating multiple therapeutic approaches, while offering optional modules such as Existential Counselling for further specialisation in the counselling degree.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
A BSc Counselling degree opens up career opportunities in public and private practice, the allied psychology sector, and non-psychology fields. It also provides a foundation for postgraduate studies in counselling and psychotherapy or psychology. We encourage you to bring your unique lived experiences and personal identities to the forefront. Whether you identify as LGBTQAI+ and want to become a therapist supporting that community, or you are a survivor of domestic violence looking to make a difference in the sector, our course will empower you.
Industry links
We have links with Place2Be, a children and young people's mental health charity.
Graduate employers
Our counselling graduates have gone into roles in schools, the NHS, charities and private practice.
Job roles
Counselling graduates can pursue roles within the allied psychology sector, such as employment specialist, social prescribing link worker, and support positions in healthcare. Other options include non-counselling fields like human resources, civil service, teaching, and entrepreneurship.
We offer postgraduate courses for further specialisation and you can explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
You could pursue further training to become a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist. You could go on to do a PgDip or master's in Counselling and Psychotherapy here at UEL.

Studying for a BSc Counselling degree at UEL was a valuable stepping-stone towards the career that I wanted to pursue. I was able to bring together theory and practice not only in the classroom but also through clinical placements."Majda Rogers
Counselling, BSc (Hons)
How you'll learn
You will be taught through lectures, seminars, process groups, skills practice sessions (which start from your first week on the course), academic supervision, and, in your final year, group-based clinical supervision with a course tutor.
Guided independent study
Our innovative Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) approach enhances face-to-face learning by providing students with scheduled on-campus contact hours and additional learning opportunities. Through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students can access course materials and resources beyond their scheduled hours. We offer access to industry-standard technology and specialised spaces to prepare students for their future careers. Dedicated time for activities and development, along with a holistic approach to learning, fosters academic, personal, and professional growth. Students benefit from career support through on-campus and virtual Career Zones, personalised support services, and a dedicated online portal, Track My Future (TMF).
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This is a key part of university-level work. It will typically involve reading journal articles and books, preparing for seminars, preparing coursework assignments, and arranging independent skills practice sessions with your peers. In your final year, much of your independent study will be focused on your research project.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library, and Moodle.
Academic support
Students are supported with academic or subject-related queries by a programme director, module leaders, academic advisors (you’ll have an academic advisor from the teaching team as soon as you arrive with us), and university central support services.
Dedicated personal tutor
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, academic tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help you achieve your potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs feature centralised helpdesks.
UEL provides support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars, and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate hours for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible.
Class sizes
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts around 50 students a year. Lectures will be attended by everyone, and then we have smaller groups for seminars. You will also engage in skills practice in groups of around four to six peers, plus a staff observer.
How you'll be assessed
Your academic work will be assessed through 100 per cent coursework. It will include academic essays, reflective essays, skills analysis of recorded practice counselling sessions, oral presentations, and video-recorded personal statements. In your final year, you will complete a research project.
You'll always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
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, and just 15 minutes from London's West End.
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 and restaurants. There are two multiscreen cinemas, a theatre, an arts centre and much more.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by 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.
- Course leader
Dr Lucia Berdondini
Department of Social Work Counselling & Social Care, School of Childhood and Social Care - Course leader
Dr Sonja Falck
Department of Social Work Counselling & Social Care, School of Childhood and Social Care - Course leader
Dr Paul Galbally
Department of Professional Psychology, School of Childhood and Social Care - Course leader
Monique Maroney
Department of Social Work Counselling & Social Care, School of Childhood and Social Care - Course leader
Dr Luis Jimenez
Department of Social Work Counselling & Social Care, School of Childhood and Social Care - Course leader
Avantika Bhatia
Department of Professional Psychology, School of Childhood and Social Care
What our students and staff say

Taking up a counselling degree has helped me in my self-discovery and personal growth. Over the last year, I have become more certain that helping others through therapy is the right path for me. This is a practical and academic course that gives me a good starting point for my career as a counsellor. I chose UEL because it gave me the right support and it felt right to be here - it felt like home."
Carina Faria
Counselling, BSc (Hons)

I chose this particular course as the first stage in my path to becoming a therapist because it was one of the few BACP accredited courses which would allow me to qualify as a counsellor once completing my client hours. If you'd like to become a therapist but unsure of where to start or which therapeutic approach is the one for you, then I could not recommend this course enough.
Christina Kapartis
Counselling, BSc (Hons)