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    Counselling and Psychotherapy - MSc

    Make a difference to the lives of others by gaining the knowledge skills and experience to practice as a professional counsellor. Our British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited MSc combines academic study with counselling skills practice, facilitating your personal and professional development as well as offering you a grounding in research methodology.

    Month of entry

    • September

    Mode of study

    • Full time, Part time

    Location

    Subject area

    • Counselling

    Fees for 2024/25 academic year

    • UK - Full time £12,700 per year. Part time £7,000 per year.
      International - £24,100 per year.

    Duration of study

    • Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years
    Apply now

    Why study Counselling and Psychotherapy at Keele University?

    Both our full-time and part-time programmes are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
    Learn from active practitioners in counselling who have a wealth of experience in providing counselling training to both UK and international students
    You will acquire a theoretical grounding in person-centred/humanistic counselling and an introduction to research methodologies
    Keele has a thriving counselling community with students from a range of professional, cultural, social and educational backgrounds

    Course summary

    Our MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy incorporates three strands of counselling training - namely counselling theory, counselling practice and personal development.

    The philosophy of the programme is humanistic with a focus on person-centred practice. The core theoretical model of the course is derived from an acceptance of Carl Rogers’ belief in the self-therapeutic capacity and wisdom of clients (1967). The philosophical traditions of existentialism and phenomenology are used to illuminate understanding of humanistic practice through lectures and small group work.

    You will be encouraged to examine and question your own beliefs and assumptions to develop a personal, integrated theory of human development, based upon humanistic phenomenological philosophy and principles. We do this by offering you opportunities to reflect upon the theory that is offered in light of your own experience - to develop your own philosophical and theoretical base.

    To enable you to build and maintain strong therapeutic alliances with clients we aim to facilitate your ability to co-create relationships at depth, developing and understanding the barriers which may prevent or impact such therapeutic relationships.

    Concepts such as presence, empathic understanding, resonance, acceptance and challenge will underpin your personal way of being and professional practice.

    Knowledge and skills

    We place a strong emphasis on the acquisition of the skill of being and becoming a therapist, counselling and academic learning. You will study a range of underpinning themes including;

    • The power dynamics within and outside of the counselling relationship which may impact on the lives and growth of individuals
    • Research informed knowledge which can be applied to contemporary therapeutic practice
    • A grounding in research methodologies to enable independent research
    • The socially and culturally situated nature of counselling as a form of helping
    • Devising, developing and sustaining arguments, and/or solving problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of the counselling discipline
    • Making informed decisions in complex situations, sometimes with incomplete information
    • Critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in counselling and analysis and critique of methodologies

    *This course involves 100 hours of supervised counselling practice which may exceed the duration of the programme. Please take this into consideration when applying for the Master's programme.

    Please note the 'equal consideration date' (23 February 2024). You can still apply after this date, however we cannot guarantee applications will be given the same level of consideration as those that arrive before this date.

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    Accreditation and professional recognition

    Both the full-time and part-time MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy programmes are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

    This means that students who successfully complete the programme gain automatic entry onto the BACP register. 

    BACP accreditation logo

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    Course structure

    The MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy comprises of eight compulsory modules which must all be passed to achieve the MSc award.

    Modules

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    Next Steps

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    Lauren, MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy

    "This programme encourages students to think critically, challenge their beliefs, and develop personally in order to make well rounded counsellors."

    Lauren, MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy

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    Entry requirements

    In line with the requirements of BACP, you will also need to demonstrate the following attributes:

    • Self-awareness, maturity and stability
    • Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience
    • Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course
    • Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements
    • Ability to form a helping relationship
    • Ability to be self-critical and use both positive and negative feedback
    • Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression
    • Awareness of the nature of difference and equality
    • Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support
    • Competence in or the aptitude to develop generic personal skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self-managements skills, communication and interpersonal skills.

    Please note you will also need to address the requirements outlined above in your personal statement, in the application form and in response to the Criteria Questionnaire for MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2024) to be completed as part of the application process.

    Next Steps

    Entry requirements

    The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.

    Typical offer

    Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.

    Typical offer: 2:2 degree in any subject Additional criteria apply

    Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information

    UK

    2:2 degree in any subject
    or
    Keele Graduate Certificate in Counselling, with 60% in one assignment and a Progression Report from an academic mentor


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Bangladesh

    60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a public university
    or
    CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a private university

    We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information

    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Canada

    70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    China

    70% in a degree in any subject or 65% in a degree in any subject from a '211' university


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Ghana

    Second class degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    India

    55% or CGPA 6/10 in any degree of three years or longer


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Kenya

    Second class degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Nepal

    60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any subject
    or
    65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Nigeria

    Second class degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Pakistan

    We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information


    You will also need an English language qualification (see below)

    South Africa

    Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any subject
    or
    Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Sri Lanka

    55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Uganda

    Second class degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    Zimbabwe

    Second class degree in any subject


    You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)

    In line with the requirements of BACP, you will also need to demonstrate the following attributes:

    • Self-awareness, maturity and stability
    • Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience
    • Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course
    • Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements
    • Ability to form a helping relationship
    • Ability to be self-critical and use both positive and negative feedback
    • Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression
    • Awareness of the nature of difference and equality
    • Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support
    • Competence in or the aptitude to develop generic personal skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self-managements skills, communication and interpersonal skills.

    Please note you will also need to address the requirements outlined above in your personal statement, in the application form and in response to the Criteria Questionnaire for MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2024) to be completed as part of the application process.

    English language requirements

    All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group D.

    References

    Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.

    Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose

    Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.

    Recognition of Prior Learning

    The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.

    RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.

    General information

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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    Our expertise

    There is a wealth of therapeutic experience and knowledge amongst our core team. You will be taught by qualified counsellors who have undertaken training in person-centred/humanistic counselling and have experience of working in a variety of therapeutic settings including the NHS, the voluntary sector, private  practice and in education.

    counselling and psychotherapy students in workshop at Keele ‌

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    Fees

    • Applicants will be required to pay a £200 deposit.
    • Students are required to attend a minimum of 20 hours of personal therapy to complete the course and payment for this is the responsibility of the students. An average cost for personal therapy is approximately £35–£45 per hour.
    • When completing the 100 hour placement requirement, students also have to undertake clinical supervision, for which (depending on their choice of placement) there may also be a charge. Again, an average cost for supervision is approximately £35–£45 per hour. This may result in costs up to £200 per month depending on caseload of clients.
    • Parking is also an additional cost for students who wish to use their cars on campus. Details of student parking permits are sent out with the pre-enrolment information.
    • Students are also expected to pay travel costs to and from their placements.
    • Students should also be aware that possible additional costs may be incurred when attending the compulsory non-residential Conference weekend. Refreshments and lunches are provided for the students free of charge during the weekend but there will be an additional cost should students wish to attend the Saturday evening Conference dinner and also if wishing to book local accommodation.
    • Students have access to an extensive library at Keele, however they may also wish to purchase textbooks or use the inter-library loans service.
    • A basic DBS check will currently cost approximately £37.

    Funding

    Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2024 start date falls in the 2023/24 academic year. Please see the 2023/24 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2024.

    Planning your funding

    It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

    Scholarships

    We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our scholarships and bursaries webpage for more information. 

    For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.

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    Supporting you throughout your studies

    Throughout the programme you will have access to a robust support system including an academic mentor, tutor groups, personal/process  development groups, a dissertation supervisor, an independent supervisor during placement, an independent personal therapist, counselling placement officer, Student Services, disability and inclusion support, counselling and mental health support.

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    Your career

    Keele counselling students go on to work in a wide range of counselling and mental health fields in the UK and internationally as well as progressing on to further study, research or specialist training.

    To find out more about the specific careers in counselling visit the BACP careers page.

    Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offer a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

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    Teaching, learning and assessment

    Teaching

    Our programme is aligned to person-centred/humanistic principles and provides a wide range of different teaching and learning experiences, including:

    • Lectures
    • Experiential workshops, which include the opportunity to learn about counselling issues and practice from the perspective of self and others
    • Skills groups
    • Formative recorded practice observation days
    • One-to-one tutorials with your personal tutor
    • Presentations
    • Dissertation supervision groups

    Assessment

    The wide variety of assessment methods used within Counselling and Psychotherapy at Keele reflects the broad range of knowledge, skills and attributes that are developed as you progress through the full-time or part-time MSc programme.

    Assessment methods may include:

    • An MCQ classroom test
    • Research presentation
    • Dissertation
    • Recordings of counselling sessions carried out with student peers; formative and summative assessment
    • Evaluation of own counselling practice
    • Presentations
    • Completion of 20 hours of personal therapy
    • Completion of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice on placement
    • Three satisfactory supervisor’s reports
    • Critically reflective essays
    • Podcasts
    • Writing an article

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    Keele Postgraduate Association

    Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

    KPA interior

    Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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