Counselling and Psychotherapy

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.

Please note this course is no longer accepting applications for September 2023 entry.

Month of entry

September

Mode of study

Full time, Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Counselling

Fees for 2023/24 academic year

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

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.

Please note the 'equal consideration date' (6 January 2023) has now passed. 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.

Core Modules

Exploration in Counselling (15 credits)

Our Exploration in Counselling module aims to equip you with a solid grounding in person-centred theory, philosophy and practice in addition to an introduction to counselling research and an in-depth awareness of the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018) and how this is applied in practice.

Research Methods (15 credits)

You will study a range of research methodologies used in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, such as Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Autoethnography, Heuristic Inquiry, Narrative and Thematic Analysis as well as looking at different methods for gathering data.

Practicum Part 1 (15 credits) and Part 2 (15 credits)

This module aims to help you develop the practical skills, theoretical understanding of practice issues, personal and professional qualities and attributes, self-awareness and the experience on placement necessary to become a qualified counsellor. This will include 20 hours of personal therapy and a 100 hour counselling placement in a counselling agency (or agencies).

You are encouraged to identify and apply for a placement that fits with your career aspirations in counselling, and Keele students undertake placements in a very wide range of settings and with diverse client groups. Whilst it is your responsibility to secure a suitable placement, our dedicated Keele Placement Officer will be able to offer you support and guidance throughout this period.

Please note:

The 100 hours of counselling practice may exceed the duration of the programme. Please take this into consideration when applying for the Master's programme.

You will have to pay for your own personal therapy on the programme and may have to pay for counselling supervision, so you should be aware of the additional cost and time implications of this, as well as of completing your placement.

Understanding in Counselling (30 credits)

Our Understanding in Counselling module aims to help you develop an awareness and understanding of issues of power, culture and inclusivity, difference and social justice and how these impact on the therapeutic relationship and the wider lives of individuals.

Integration in Counselling (15 credits)

This module aims to provide you with a solid understanding of a range of therapeutic and practice related issues. For the assessment, you will have the opportunity to explore an area of counselling that is suited to your interests.

Personal and Professional Development and Reflexivity (15 credits)

This module aims to support your personal and professional development as required by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This includes the opportunity to attend our annual counselling conference where you will experience a broad range of guest speakers.

Counselling Dissertation (60 credits)

You will research and produce a 15,000 word dissertation on a counselling topic or your choice.

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"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

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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Entry requirements

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

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.

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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 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 2023 start date falls in the 2022/23 academic year. Please see the 2022/23 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2023.

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.

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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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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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