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
Fees for 2026/27 academic year
- UK - Full time £13,100 per year. Part time £7,200 per year.
International - £23,400 per year.
Duration of study
- Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years
This course is no longer accepting applications from international students for the 2025/26 academic year.
Why study Counselling and Psychotherapy at Keele University?
Course summary
Our MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy incorporates incorporates four interwoven strands of counselling training: counselling theory, counselling practice, personal development, and positionality.
The philosophy of the programme is humanistic, with a focus on person-centred practice. The core theoretical model is grounded in Carl Rogers’ belief in the self-therapeutic capacity and wisdom of clients (1967). The philosophical traditions of existentialism and phenomenology illuminate our understanding of humanistic practice, explored through lectures and small group work.
You will be encouraged to examine and question your own beliefs, assumptions, and lived experiences to develop a personal, integrated theory of human development. This process is rooted in humanistic and phenomenological principles and supports a deepening awareness of how identity, power, and privilege shape therapeutic presence and practice.
Positionality is a major strand of the programme, threaded throughout all aspects of training. You will be invited to reflect on your social location, including dimensions such as race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and culture, and consider how these intersect with power and privilege in therapeutic relationships. This includes engaging with difference, marginalisation, and the ethical implications of working across diverse contexts. We view this reflective work as essential to developing relational depth, cultural humility, and ethical integrity.
To enable you to build and maintain strong therapeutic alliances, we aim to facilitate your ability to co-create relationships at depth, including an understanding of the barriers that may prevent or impact such relationships. Concepts such as presence, empathic understanding, resonance, acceptance, and challenge will underpin your personal way of being and professional practice, supporting your capacity to meet clients with authenticity and depth.
Knowledge and skills
This programme supports the development of a therapeutic way of being, grounded in person-centred values such as presence, empathic understanding, acceptance, and congruence. Rather than learning techniques, students are invited to engage deeply with their own processes in order to meet clients in what Carl Rogers described as a real relationship — one that is authentic, mutual, and emotionally resonant.
- Through experiential, academic, and reflective learning, you will:
- Apply contemporary theory and research to therapeutic practice in ways that are responsive to the lived realities of clients.
- Develop the capacity to make thoughtful, ethically grounded decisions in complex and uncertain situations.
- Engage critically with current scholarship in counselling, including the evaluation of research methodologies and their relevance to practice.
- Undertake independent research that reflects your interests and contributes meaningfully to the field.
- Expand your relationality — your capacity to engage with clients across diverse experiences, identities, and emotional landscapes, with authenticity and depth.
This course includes 100 hours of supervised counselling practice, which may extend beyond the formal duration of the programme. Please take this into consideration when applying.
Please note the equal consideration date is 1st March 2026.
We encourage you to apply by this date to ensure your application receives full consideration. While we may still review applications submitted after this point, priority will be given to those received by the deadline — unless places remain available or further review is needed.
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.
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.
Core Modules
PSY-40197 – Peer Practice and Reflective Learning Part 1 (15 credits)
PSY-40199 – Peer Practice and Reflective Learning Part 2 (15 credits)
These modules focus on developing your therapeutic way of being through peer practice, reflective inquiry, and supervision. Each module includes 10 hours of personal therapy, supporting your self-awareness and emotional resilience as a practitioner.
You will engage in structured opportunities to deepen your self-awareness, explore practice issues, and integrate theory with lived experience.
PSY-40201 – Supervised Counselling Placement (Full-time, 0 credits)
PSY-40205 – Supervised Counselling Placement (Part-time, 0 credits)
These modules hold the core requirements for qualification, including 100 hours of supervised counselling practice. You are encouraged to identify and apply for a placement that aligns with your career aspirations. Keele students undertake placements in a wide range of settings and with diverse client groups.
While securing a suitable placement is your responsibility, our dedicated Placement Officer will offer support and guidance throughout the process.
Please note: The 100 hours of counselling practice may extend beyond the formal duration of the programme. You will also need to fund your own personal therapy and counselling supervision, so please consider the time and financial commitments involved when applying.
PSY-40059 Exploration in Counselling (15 credits)
This module offers a grounding in person-centred theory, philosophy, and practice, alongside a relational approach to writing that weaves together personal experience, practical insight, and academic engagement. The BACP Ethical Framework (2018) is not only explored but actively integrated into reflective thinking and assessed work, supporting your development as an ethical and reflective practitioner.
PSY-40023 – Understanding in Counselling (30 credits)
This module explores how identity, difference, power, and culture shape the counselling process. You will reflect on your own positionality — including how your social location, values, and lived experience shape your understanding of others and your approach to counselling. The module situates counselling within broader social and cultural contexts, examining how marginalisation, privilege, and intersectionality influence both client experience and therapeutic practice.
PSY-40061 – Integration in Counselling (15 credits)
This module provides a foundation for exploring a range of therapeutic and practice-related issues alongside person-centred counselling. You will have the opportunity to investigate an area of counselling that aligns with your interests, integrating your learning across theory, practice, and personal development.
PSY-40026 – Research Methods (15 credits)
This module introduces you to a range of qualitative research methodologies that are particularly suited to exploring lived experience in counselling and psychotherapy. You will engage with approaches such as Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Autoethnography, Heuristic Inquiry, Narrative Inquiry, and Reflective Thematic Analysis — each offering unique ways to investigate meaning, identity, and relational depth within therapeutic contexts. The module encourages you to consider how research can be both rigorous and personally resonant, and how it can inform and enrich your practice.
PSY-40054 Personal and Professional Development and Reflexivity (15 credits)
This module fosters personal and professional growth in line with BACP standards through experiential learning, reflective practice, and peer engagement. You’ll explore your therapeutic identity via interactive workshops, creative exercises, and group dialogue. A key feature is attendance at our annual counselling conference, offering exposure to diverse perspectives and current issues in the field. Reflexivity is developed throughout via structured reflection and activities that deepen self-awareness and ethical understanding.
PSY-40027 – Counselling Dissertation (60 credits)
This module offers you the opportunity to undertake an independent research project on a counselling topic of personal and professional significance. Grounded in person-centred practice, the dissertation invites you to explore questions that matter to you — whether through self-study, qualitative inquiry, or reflective engagement with lived experience. Many students find this process not only academically enriching but personally transformative, deepening their understanding of themselves and their approach to therapeutic work. The final dissertation (15,000 words) represents a meaningful contribution to the field of counselling and psychotherapy.
"This programme encourages students to think critically, challenge their beliefs, and develop personally in order to make well rounded counsellors."
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.
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)
Applicants will not be invited to interview until after the equal consideration deadline of the 1 March 2025 has passed. Interviews will take place after this date.
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 reflect and act on developmental 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.
You will also need to address the requirements outlined above in your personal statement, in the application form and in response to the Interview Questionnaire for MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy 2026 to be completed as part of the application process.
Additional entry requirements
As part of the application process, you will be required to do a group interview.
Recognition of prior learning
Due to the requirements of BACP accredited courses, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is not permitted for entry onto or credit within the accredited MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy programme. All students must complete the full programme as validated to meet professional training standards.
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. For international students, find out how we work with approved agents as part of our admissions process.
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.
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Postgraduate funding and scholarships
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–£50 per hour.
- When completing the 100-hour placement requirement, students must 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–£50 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 at no additional cost during the weekend. There will be additional costs to keep in mind if you need to book accommodation in the local area.
- Students have access to an extensive library at Keele, however they may also wish to purchase textbooks or use the inter-library loans service.
- Students are required to obtain an Enhanced DBS that covers Adults and Children and this costs £49.20 and £13 for the
update service.
Funding
Whether you're continuing from undergraduate study or returning to education, our dedicated financial support team is here to help.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2026 start date falls in the 2025/26 academic year. Please see the tuition fees archive for the 2025/26 fees.
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.
Additional costs
Supporting you throughout your studies
Throughout the programme you will have access to a robust support system including an academic mentor, tutor groups, personal development/process 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.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching
The MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy programme is grounded in person-centred and humanistic principles. It offers a rich and varied learning experience designed to support both personal and professional development. Teaching methods include:
- Lectures – providing theoretical foundations and critical perspectives
- Experiential workshops – exploring counselling issues and practice through the lens of self and others
- Skills groups – focused on developing core counselling competencies
- Formative recorded practice observation days – offering structured feedback and reflective learning
- One-to-one tutorials – personalised support from your academic mentor
- Presentations – opportunities to share and develop ideas collaboratively
- Dissertation supervision groups – supporting your research journey and academic writing
Assessment
Assessment methods within the programme are designed to reflect the diverse range of knowledge, skills and attributes developed throughout your training. These methods support both formative and summative evaluation and may include:
- Multiple-choice classroom tests – assessing theoretical understanding
- Research presentations – communicating research findings and critical analysis
- Dissertation – an extended piece of independent research
- Recorded counselling sessions with peers – assessed both formatively and summatively
- Evaluation of own counselling practice – fostering self-awareness and professional growth
- Individual and group presentations – developing confidence and communication skills
- Completion of 20 hours of personal therapy – integrated across modules to support personal development
