About the course

Your starting point for a career as a counsellor

If you don't have the traditional academic qualifications and/or previous experience in a helping role, this course provides you with the opportunity to begin your career path as a counsellor and start your training.

Students returning to education after a long period away from academic work may also choose the Graduate Certificate as a place to start their counselling training. For those who are already in helping roles, and who want to develop their counselling skills and interested in deepening their interpersonal communication and intrapersonal understanding, this course will enable you to progress further.

The programme aims to develop students’ knowledge of the theory of person-centred counselling; to help them gain the skills inherent in forming and maintaining a facilitative counselling relationship, characterised by the ‘core conditions’ of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard, and to help students develop personal and professional awareness. 

In addition, the programme aims to equip students with an understanding of and respect for safe, ethical counselling practice, in line with BACP recommended standards, and an awareness of difference and diversity.

Course structure

How the course is taught

We employ a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies including lectures, large group work, community meetings, tutorials and small group work. Students are encouraged to engage in experiential as well as academic learning methods.

Please note due to the sensitive nature of the course and personal material raised it is not possible to make recordings on the course as a reasonable adjustment for student engagement.

Assessment

Both modules on the programme are assessed on the basis of coursework. The pass mark for all modules at Level 6 is 40%.

Course content

Students are required to complete two 30 credit modules (60 credits at level 6), both of which must be passed.

The modules for the Graduate Certificate are:

• Core Counselling Competencies (30 credits)
• Personal Development and Professional Issues (30 credits)

Residential weekend

Saturday 10 - Sunday 11 September 2022

Attendance to the residential weekend is compulsory.

The attendance requirement for this year is 90%.

Throughout the year, students have tutor-led training in counselling skills and will be engaged in counselling skills practice with peers.

Students must also undertake a minimum of 8 hours of personal therapy, and are required to arrange and, almost certainly, pay for these themselves.

Please note that although the course attendance is a half-day per week there is additional study time required outside of this class contact time, e.g for reading, personal therapy, essay research and essay writing, practice of skills sessions with peers, writing of a reflective diary etc.

Entry Requirements

Traditional academic qualifications are not a necessary requirement to enter the Graduate Certificate in Counselling. The programme is open to applicants that show appropriate commitment and motivation to participate in a programme that combines experiential learning and academic study.

In line with the requirements of BACP, applicants 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-management skills, communication and interpersonal skills.

Applicants will need to address these points in their personal statements in the application form and in response to the criteria questionnaire to be completed as part of the application process.

Applicants will be required to complete an initial online application form including a personal statement. Once the application has been received, if the applicant meets the entry requirements for the programme, they will be sent a set of criteria questions to fill out. Occasionally, the applicant may be asked to attend an interview with two members of the core counselling team who teach on the counselling programmes at Keele University.

We endeavour to turn applications around fairly promptly, so we would hope that your application would be screened for eligibility within a few weeks of receipt and that you would then if deemed eligible, be sent the criteria questionnaire to complete and return.

English language entry requirement for applicants whose first language is not English

In addition, to the above requirements, applicants whose first language is not English must have an overall IELTS score of at least 7.0 with a score of at least 6.5 in each sub-set (or equivalent).

The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

During your degree programme you can study additional English language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

This course is only available part-time and we do not provide Tier 4 sponsorship for part-time courses.

Funding

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Additional costs

• Students are required to attend a minimum of 8 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.
• 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 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 extensive library at Keele, however they may also wish to purchase textbooks or use the inter-library loans service.

Living costs

Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

Scholarships and funding

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

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 are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in this case, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

Our expertise

The course team are all active counselling practitioners, with expertise in a range of fields, including the NHS, university counselling services, hospices, charities, employee assistance programmes and in private practice. Staff each have their own specialist areas of counselling research and practice, such as ecotherapy, trauma, eating distress, attachment, loss and bereavement, supervision, Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity and arts based research.

Academic staff who teach on the programme include:

• Anne Burrows
• Sally Chisholm
• Kerese Collins

Careers

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 careers in counselling visit the BACP careers page.

The University has a Careers and Employability team who can provide you with advice and guidance about your future career. The team offer specialist workshops, for example 'Options with Postgraduate Study' and Moving on with your PhD', and can also meet you individually to give guidance and support to help you develop your career. We also hold regular careers fairs on campus and in formal events where you can meet employers. You will also have access to our database of job opportunities and digital resources such as online psychometric testing.

Further information

Please note, key dates including teaching days and hours, induction and term dates will be uploaded here as soon as they are available.

Frequently asked questions

What qualifications are needed to apply for the Graduate Certificate in Counselling?

Traditional academic qualifications are not a necessary requirement to enter the Graduate Certificate in Counselling. The programme is open to applicants that show appropriate commitment and motivation to participate in a programme that combines experiential learning and academic study.

How do I apply and will I need to attend an interview?

Applications are made online. Once your application is received by Admissions, a criteria questionnaire will be sent to you by email which should be completed and returned within 5 working days of receipt. Occasionally we do invite applicants to attend an interview.

How soon will I know if I will be offered a place?

We endeavour to turn applications round fairly promptly, so we would hope that your application would be screened for eligibility within a few weeks of receipt and that you would then, if deemed eligible, be sent the criteria questionnaire to complete and return. 

If you are offered a place on our programme, please email your acceptance as requested and ensure a non-returnable advance deposit payment of £200.00 is made, as we can only hold your place for a limited time.

Payment can be made online, via the link below http://www.keele.ac.uk/finance/income/paymentmethods/onlinepayments/ or by cheque, made payable to Keele University, post to Bev Davies, Counselling Administrator, School of Psychology, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, within two weeks of receiving the offer by e-mail.

If you accept the offer and make the advance payment in time, then joining information will be sent to you before the course begins.

What qualification will I be awarded, upon successful completion of the programme?

Students who have successfully completed the programme will be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Counselling.

What is the progression route, following completion of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling?

In addition to being a stand-alone programme, successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling, together with tutor recommendation, and the achievement of a minimum mark of 60% on at least one written assignment, will help you meet the criteria for entry onto the MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

What are the teaching hours of the course and approximately how much private study time per week should be allowed for each year?

If the programme continues to be taught in the same way as usual, which cannot be guaranteed, teaching is on a Tuesday afternoon 12.30pm to 5pm and we recommend a minimum of a further half day private study per week.

Applicants should note that they will need to find time, outside of the course hours, in which to carry out practice skills, at Keele, with peers from the course and in which to make recordings of those practice sessions. It is envisaged that, perhaps, one hour per week would be devoted to this.

Students are also required to attend a compulsory non-residential weekend conference, usually held in April or May.

Is there a placement element within the course?

There is no placement element in the Graduate Certificate in Counselling.

Are there any additional costs apart from the fees?

• Students on the Graduate Certificate in Counselling have to attend a minimum of 8 hours of personal therapy and payment for this is the responsibility of the students. As a guide, costs for this on average are £35-£45 per hour.
• 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 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.

Is there any funding available to help with the fees?

Applicants can contact Student Support - Money Advice and Guidance, to enquire about any funding.