Keele University was one of the first Higher Education Institutions to offer counsellor training in the UK and has been delivering high quality training programmes since the early 1970s.

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 (subject to Validation).

Training Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is humanistic with 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. The personal attitudinal position of students is set into the framework provided by the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

We encourage students to examine and question their own beliefs and assumptions and to develop a personal, integrated theory of human development, based upon humanistic phenomenological philosophy and principles. We do this by encouraging and offering students opportunities to reflect upon the theory that is offered in the light of their own experience and thus to develop their own philosophical and theoretical base.

The core therapeutic intervention of the model is the range of skills required to build and maintain a relationship with the client. We develop skills which enable students to build a strong therapeutic alliance and understand barriers that may prevent this occurring or impact on the relationship. These skills include active, reflective listening, focusing, and immediacy, including appropriate therapeutic challenge. The core of the intervention is the person of the counsellor and their embodiment of the Rogerian core conditions. We help students develop these characteristics through intensive skills and personal development training. 

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.

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.

In addition, 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). 

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 are operating a gathered field for this programme, which means that all applications received by the closing date for the gathered field will be given equal consideration. The gathered field will close on 7th March 2018. Applications received after this date will only be considered if there are places remaining, once the applications received as part of the gathered field have been processed.

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 eligibile, be sent the criteria questionnaire to complete and return. Once the gathered field has closed (7th March 2018), we would endeavour to begin making offers within a month after that, but as applications will be considered in order of ranking, it may be some months before you hear whether or not your application has been successful.

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)

The programme begins with compulsory attendance at a residential weekend, in September 2018, and attendance at the annual counselling conference (likely to be held in April 2019) is also 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.

Teaching

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.

Assessment

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

During the programme, students 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.

One year, part-time Graduate Certificate in Counselling - use this link for tuition fees.

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, 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.

Please be aware that additional costs are accrued for personal therapy hours.

Please note that the following details are based on the programme as it is currently run, so we cannot guarantee that the programme will be run on the same days, with the same timings, as is currently the case, in future years.

Year One

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.

Is there a submission deadline for applications?

We are operating a gathered field for this programme, which means that all applications received by the closing date for the gathered field will be given equal consideration. The gathered field will close on 7th March 2018. Applications received after this date will only be considered if there are places remaining, once the applications received as part of the gathered field have been processed.

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 eligibile, be sent the criteria questionnaire to complete and return. Once the gathered field has closed (7th March 2018), we would endeavour to begin making offers within a month after that, but as applications will be considered in order of ranking, it may be some months before you hear whether or not your application has been successful.
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 belowhttp://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 (subject to Validation).

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, details of which can be found on the following link http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding to enquire about any funding.