Postgraduate Taught

Full-time Introduction

Keele University, along with the University of Reading, was the first Higher Education Institution to offer counsellor training and has been delivering programmes in counselling since the 1970s. The current Masters course is available on a full-time or part-time basis, and provides a professional training in counselling. These details relate to the full-time option. This course is accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) as a route of professional counsellor training. Candidates for accreditation must note that they will also have to meet all other criteria.

This MSc programme in Counselling Psychology is founded on a person-centred view of personhood and person-centred ways of being. In this we view the relationship in counselling as central, and support Rogers’ belief in the ‘selftherapeutic capacity and wisdom of clients’. However, we also take a strong ‘anti-schoolism’ stance which reflects our sincere respect for other, non-person-centred practices and practitioners. Our starting point for the Keele Counselling Model is thus a unifying ethos which enables us to respect and welcome a diversity of professional skills and orientations.

We employ a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, large group work, community meetings, tutorials and small group work. Within this framework students are introduced to a range of practices which are related to relevant philosophical traditions including existentialism, phenomenology and poststructuralism. Throughout the course, students are supported to establish a sense of coherence in their own position.

The centrality of a secure and constantly reviewed ethical position, based on the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, is presented to the programme members as a major personal responsibility. We accept the overwhelming evidence of the theorists that the major factor in helping human beings change in desired, positive directions is a relationship in which they feel safe, valued and challenged.

Part-time Introduction

Keele University, along with the University of Reading, was the first higher education institution to offer counsellor training and has been delivering programmes in counselling since the 1970s. The current Masters course is available on a full-time or part-time basis, and provides a professional training in counselling. These details relate to the part-time option. The course contact hours may, at the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists’ (BACP) discretion, be counted towards meeting part of the criterion 4 of the BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapist.

The programme aims to equip successful students with the knowledge and expertise to support their work as professional humanistic counsellors. It aims to integrate students’ counselling skills practice with academic study at Masters Level and to facilitate student learning in the three areas of psychology practice: counselling skills, counselling related theory and self-development.

The programme offers to students a thorough theoretical grounding in Counselling Psychology and an introduction to research methodology. The principles underpinning the programme are empowerment, holistic development, relationships and community.

The course is open to graduates with a good degree or equivalent, for example, professional qualifications. In some cases, where students have significant relevant experience, this requirement may be waived.

The course is open to graduates with a good degree or equivalent, for example, professional qualifications. In some cases where students have significant relevant experience, this requirement may be waived. In addition, applicants must have successfully completed the Certificate in Counselling (available at Keele) or be able to demonstrate the successful completion of a comparable programme elsewhere.

All successful applicants will demonstrate emotional maturity and a capacity for sustained self-directed study, the ability to present written exposition of information and argument, to work experientially as a member of a small group, an awareness of self and an awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression. Applicants will need to address these points in their personal statements in the application form. Normally applicants will be interviewed.

In addition, applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS score of at least 7.00 with at least 6.5 in each sub-test (or equivalent).

Course Structure and Content (Full Time)

The course is taken full-time over one year. All Masters students are required to take four 30-credit taught
modules (120 credits at Level 4), plus a research training module (15 credits) and a 60-credit dissertation, see below. All modules must be passed for the award to be made (total of 195 credits).Students who successfully complete only the four 30-credit taught modules (120 credits) may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma, and those successfully completing only the two modules indicated *above (60 credits) may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate.

30-credit Taught Modules

• Exploration in counselling (30 credits)*
• Understanding in counselling (30 credits)
• Integration in counselling (30 credits)
• Practicum (30 credits)*
• Research methods (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits) - 15,000-20,000 words. The preparation and submission of a dissertation will give students the opportunity to research, in-depth, a counselling topic or issue of interest to them.

In addition, all students have tutor led training in the practical skills of counselling, as well as access to DVD recording equipment for counselling practice with peers and for the production of case material for critical analysis

Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice and have a minimum of eight hours of personal therapy. Students may have to pay for their own counselling supervision and personal therapy and are required to arrange these for themselves. However, our Placement Officer will be happy to help and advise students with this. Some students find it difficult to complete their 100 hours of counselling within the academic year but are entitled to continue with this requirement until the September after the taught element of the programme is completed. The award is withheld until this requirement is met. If students do take longer to meet this requirement, this may have financial implications, especially for overseas students. They may decide to spend an extra year in the UK to finish their counselling hours. Alternatively, if the completion of a counselling placement is not a requirement for a student’s future plans i.e. they intend to pursue a career in a counselling related field, then they are entitled to transfer to the MSc in Counselling Psychology Studies.

The programme begins with compulsory attendance at a residential w eekend and a two week induction. Attendance at the annual counselling conference is also compulsory.

Course Structure and Content (Part Time)

The course is taken part-time over two years. Students are required to take four 30-credit taught modules (120 credits at Level 4), plus a research training module (15 credits) and a 60-credit dissertation. All modules must be passed for the award to be made (total of 195 credits). Students take all the 30-credit modules described below in Year 1 and the research methods module and the dissertation in Year 2.

Students who successfully complete the four 30-credit taught modules (120 credits) will be awarded an interim award of Postgraduate Diploma. Exit awards are available at Postgraduate Diploma level and, for those successfully completing only the two modules indicated * below (60 credits), the Postgraduate Certificate.

30-credit Taught Modules

• Exploration in counselling (30 credits)*
• Understanding in counselling (30 credits)
• Integration in counselling (30 credits)
• Practicum (30 credits)*
• Research methods (15 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits) -  15,000-20,000 words. The preparation and submission of a dissertation will give students the opportunity to research, in-depth, a counselling topic or issue of interest to them.

In addition, all students have tutor led training in the practical skills of counselling, as well as access to DVD recording equipment for counselling practice with peers and for the production of case material for critical analysis.

Students may apply for exemption from the four taught modules if they have previously been awarded a Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from Keele University, or the equivalent from elsewhere.

Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice and have a minimum of 8 hours of personal therapy. Students may have to pay for their own counselling supervision and personal therapy and are required to arrange these for themselves. However, our Placement Officer will be happy to help and advise students with this. Some students find it difficult to complete their 100 hours of counselling within the first academic year but are entitled to continue with this requirement until the September of Year 2. The award is withheld until this requirement is met. If students do take longer to meet this requirement, this may have financial implications, especially for overseas students. They may decide to spend an extra year in the UK to finish their counselling hours. Alternatively, if the completion of a counselling placement is not a requirement for a student’s future plans i.e. they intend to pursue a career in a counselling related field, then they are entitled to transfer to the MSc in Counselling Psychology Studies.

The programme begins with compulsory attendance at a residential weekend and a two week induction. Attendance at the annual counselling conference is also compulsory.

All modules are assessed on the basis of coursework.

The pass mark for a module is 50%. The dissertation is a piece of independent research written up in 15,000-20,000 words. Masters students attaining exceptional performance (course average of at least 70% including 70%+ for the dissertation) may be awarded a distinction.

• Home/EU = £4,950* (full-time), £2,900* (part-time)
• International: £11,300

Includes £200 residential fee and attendance at annual conference

There are a number of bursaries on offer to both home and overseas postgraduate students. Please see this page for details and eligibility.