Graduates who wish to pursue suitably accredited postgraduate training in psychotherapy and counselling; including those who have completed introductory counselling or psychotherapy courses alongside degrees in allied subject areas. This is assessed on a case by case basis, via application and an in-depth interview process.

The MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling is part-time for 3 years and classes will take place on Tuesdays from 4pm-9pm. There will also be one monthly Saturday session 9am-5pm. The course will begin with a residential weekend, the date is currently tbc.

You will increase your own self-awareness during both your professional and personal development, as you build the skills in an intellectually stimulating, learning experience which will equip you to work with people with a range of needs. There is also an opportunity for research, supported by our high-qualified team of academic staff.

The course provides an in-depth clinical training which integrates theory and practice from a range of psychotherapeutic and counselling approaches, framed distinctively by a holistic view of the self and human experience. The MSc is 3 years long (ending at the end of the third year, rather than the summer). However, in order to achieve practitioner registration, it is essential to complete a post MSc accreditation programme after this MSc which may last 1 or 2 academic years thereafter. There are two routes to the MSc, both of which are accredited by the UKCP: Psychotherapist and Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. Both routes require 450 hours of supervised one-to-one clinical practice in order to reach registration by the UKCP. The key difference between the routes is that the psychotherapist route requires more hours of personal therapy, a mental health familiarisation placement (to be found by the trainee), some extra weekend training, and a summative assessment.

The MSC Psychotherapy and Counselling was approved, through the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA), to provide training that enables its successful students to go on the UPCA and United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) register as psychotherapeutic counsellors or psychotherapists.*

*In order to complete UKCP requirements for registration as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, a total of 450 hours of clinical practice with clients is needed. If you have not completed the 450 hours by the end of the 3 taught Masters years, there is a 1-2 year post-Masters Accreditation Completion Programme. On this programme, you must attend weekly teaching and supervision sessions at the University.

• 450 Clinical hours completion for UKCP accreditation
• A Supervision ratio of 1 hour per 6 hours practice with UKCP approved supervisor
• A clinical placement in a setting with a Placement Partner (varied by exception only, e.g. regarding student location and distance from University)

Although we are developing partnership arrangements with placement providers for the MSc and can offer some guidance and support with possibilities for clinical placement, we do not allocate placements to students. It is the student's responsibility to arrange their clinical placements in order to complete the 450 hours required for UKCP practitioner accreditation. We do however have a list of placement agencies that we have used before. Although in themselves there is no guarantee they will be sufficient, Warwick students have a strong track record of finding placements and completing them successfully.

 In Year 1 of the programme, students undertake a work-based learning placement of 30 hours to gain experience and knowledge about how psychotherapy and counselling agencies operate, which will help them prepare for the full clinical placement which begins in Year 2. As with clinical placements, students find their work-based learning placements themselves, with support from the database of previous providers.

Minimum requirements

2:i (BA/BSc Honours or equivalent) in psychology, social sciences, arts-related subject; basic counselling skills training and evidence of experience, of forming and sustaining helping relationships (either employed or voluntary).

Where appropriate, applicants with significant relevant study and professional and personal development qualifications and experience which does not equate to 2.i level, will be considered on a case by case basis.

Demonstration of personal and practical readiness to train as a practising psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic counsellor.

Duration

3 years part-time (plus up to two years on a post-master's accreditation programme for registration as a psychotherapist or psychotherapeutic counsellor).

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.

Student VISAs

The University of Warwick is not currently sponsoring students on part time courses, including part time courses that are akin to distance learning, with a Student visa.

Therefore, we will not be able to produce a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for a part-time course.

Please click on the following link and read the guidance provided to see if your visa permits study at The University of Warwick: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/othervisas/whatvisa/risks/ 

Our approaches to therapy are geared to the current economic climate, graduates may have the opportunity to work within a range of sectors:

• NHS and community roles
• Work within the third sector/private sector - (GP Surgeries, Hospices, Survivors of Domestics Abuse or Substance)

On completion of the Masters and required hours via the UKCP either during the Masters programme or during the post-Masters Accreditation Programme, graduates can register as a qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or Psychotherapist.

Throughout this degree, you will take 60 credits per year.

You will be assessed by a combination of:

Written academic assignments: Theory essays, case studies, reflective assignments and a 12-15,000 word research dissertation

Fitness to practice assessments: Practice observation, supervision and placement reports, VIVA and completion of practice hours.

Applications are now closed.

Please note that we will contact you in due course if you have been shortlisted for an interview. Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams.

Course fees

*International fee rates include students from the EU in line with UK Government policy. The terms EU and International are here used as a general guide only, please check with the International Office for more detailed advice on fee status. Contact the team by emailing int.recruitment@warwick.ac.uk.

Additional cost

View any additional cost, including costs that are specific to the course (i.e. residential weekend, text books, placement supervision costs, DBS checks ect.) and also in general for your studies.

• Please note 1: some of these costs are approximate as they are set by external organisations/bodies
• Note 2: student Membership of UKCP is free of charge, in year 2 on your placement, you will pay a 'trainee' membership fee, currently £70.

Funding

Please see the University's Scholarship and Financial Support page to explore funding options. Graduates from other Warwick programmes might be eligible for a 10% Alumni Discount.

2023 Start

The course starts with a compulsory induction residential weekend held at the University, Saturday 30th September 2023 and Sunday 1st October 2023.

Hear from course director, Dr Phil Goss, describe the course features, who the course is for, career prospects of students, and learning at CLL. This video is filmed in 2018.