Course details may be subject to change.
This programme will top-up your foundation degree in counselling to a degree and will enable you to develop into a reflective practitioner. It will also develop your expertise in helping people to improve their wellbeing and quality of life.
You will study modules that focus on areas such as therapeutic relationships, cognitive behavioural therapy, developing a personal integrative approach to counselling, plus the opportunity to carry out research in an area of counselling of your own choice.
Entry Criteria
You should hold a counselling qualification with a value of 240 credits (120 at Level 4 and 120 at Level 5). This will normally be satisfied if applicants hold a Foundation Degree or Counselling Diploma.
Additional Costs
You will not be required to make any further mandatory payments.
What are the next steps?
You will attend an interview with a member of the course team, where you will be given an overview of the course and the opportunity to ask questions. You will participate in a group discussion, an individual piece of written work, and an interview.
Please report to the NCD University Centre reception where you will be greeted by one of the team.
Study Aims
This programme allows you to top-up a foundation degree in counselling to an honours degree. It will enable you to develop into a more reflective and informed counsellor. You will develop your professionalism by focussing on both theoretical and practical aspects of counselling.
The programme also provides an opportunity for you to develop your skills as a researcher, as you will carry out an in depth study of an area of your own counselling interest in the form of a research project. You will benefit from discussions with your peers who will have a variety of counselling experiences to share and you can enjoy working collaboratively in a supportive environment.
Modules Studied
You will study the following core modules:
- Developing Professional Practice
- Planning and Designing the Primary Project
- Cognitive Behavioual Therapy & Mental Health
- Research Dissertation.
Times of Delivery
- Thursday -10am-5pm
Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.
Teaching and Assessment
The teaching methods used will include:
- Lectures
- Individual tutorials
- Group tutorials
- Reflection on professional practice
- E-learning
- Peer learning
- Constructive oral feedback
- Written feedback.
- Case studies
- Referenced theory assignments
- Triad work
- Presentations
- A dissertation of 10,000 words.
Industry Links
Links with counselling agencies are often strengthened by student working collaboratively to carry out an area of research.
Maths and English
Ideally, you will hold a GCSE grade 4 or above (or Level 2 equivalent) in maths and English. You may find that employers will expect you to hold maths and English at this level.
Placement
There is no formal requirement for you to undertake a work placement, however, current or recent counselling practice is required. You will be encouraged to actively engage in work experience opportunities.
What else?
This programme is specifically designed to allow you to continue in counselling practice whilst studying for your degree one day a week at college.
You will be qualified to pursue a career as a Counsellor, however, it is possible to further embed your understanding of the industry by studying a Masters qualification.
