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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 2023 entry

    • UK - Full time £11,500 per year. Part time £6,400 per year.
      International - £21,900 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 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 you will develop a suite of skills required to not only establish relationships but to understand the barriers that may prevent or impact these relationships. The skills you will acquire include active, reflective listening, focusing, and immediacy, including appropriate therapeutic challenge.

    Knowledge and skills

    We place a strong emphasis on the acquisition of counselling specific skills 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 counselling practice which may exceed the duration of the programme. Please take this into consideration when applying for the Master's programme.

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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.

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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

    Please note, this course operates a 'gathered field' approach for admission. All applications received by the application deadline (midnight on 6 January 2023) will be given equal consideration. Therefore, you will not receive a decision on your application until after this date.

    • A 2:1 degree in any discipline or MSc with merit in any discipline
      OR
    • Successful completion of the Keele Graduate Certificate in Counselling, with a mark of at least 60% in one assignment and recommendation from an academic mentor in the form of a Progression Report, which will include an assessment of your ability to work with clients

    If you have not completed the Level 6 graduate certificate or the Keele BSc Psychology with Counselling, we also require you to have some experience of working with people in a helping capacity, whether voluntary or paid.

    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 to be completed as part of the application process.

    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-test (or equivalent).

    Please note: If English is not your first language, you will be required to undertake a diagnostic English language assessment on arrival at Keele, to determine whether English language support may help you succeed with your studies. An English language module may be compulsory for some students during their studies for this programme.

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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  ractice and in education.

    counselling and psychotherapy students in workshop at Keele ‌

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    Fees

    • Applicants for 2022 entry and beyond will be required to pay a £300 deposit. For 2022 entry, deposits must be paid by 30 June 2022.
    • 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

    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.

    Scholarships

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

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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 development/encounter groups, an independent supervisor during placement, an independent personal therapist, counselling placement officer, Student Services, disability and dyslexia support and 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:

    • Essays
    • 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

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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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