Course overview

Demands on practitioners have become more intense over recent years. The presentation of more complex mental health needs, increased professional demands and the expectation that Counselling and Psychotherapy can ‘evidence’ its effectiveness presents fresh challenges as well as opportunities.

This is an exciting BACP accredited programme which we have designed to strengthen our successful and popular Foundation degree in Person-centred Counselling and Psychotherapy.

This four year part-time BA Hons degree course is designed to help you grow your therapeutic capacity to work with a range of client needs. It will give you time to embed your personal and professional development and prepare you thoroughly for a demanding, yet very rewarding counselling career.

Entry requirements

Flexible entry requirements. The application form invites you to provide a reflective statement, if invited to interview you will be assessed in a group discussion, on a written task and on how you respond to a situation. If you have not studied for some time we may require further evidence of your study skills in order to demonstrate your readiness for this B.A. programme.

Career prospects

Our graduates have found roles in education, the NHS, Further and Higher Education, Agencies eventually in the voluntary sector and as independent practitioners.

The degree is designed to be fully supportive to those who are new to university study, whatever your age.

Areas of study

The programme is taught by a team of experienced person-centred therapists. The core model is the Person-centred approach developed by Carl Rogers, compared and contrasted with other approaches to the psychotherapeutic relationship. There are also specific modules on mental health, culture and diversity, research, and creative therapeutic approaches.

Your personal and academic learning will be well supported by peers, tutors and specialists in academic study skills. The programme aims to balance theory, professional practice and personal development. You will develop:

• An in-depth understanding of the underlying philosophy and theories of the person-centred approach to counselling and psychotherapy;
• An understanding of how to apply theory to counselling and psychotherapy practice;
• A clearer understanding and awareness of your own attitudes and behaviour with other people;
• Supervised client work in placements throughout the region and in different settings;
• Insight into counselling and psychotherapy professional developments, as well as the work of other mental health professionals;
• Confidence in how to use research and current evidence-based knowledge about mental health and human development.

Work-based learning and professional practice

Throughout this course, you will develop your ability to work in counselling and psychotherapy. We offer you the opportunity to practise and study at the same time, and to develop your counselling placements with people in all kinds of well supported settings, including the NHS, schools, colleges, universities and community agencies.

The Hours done by students is as follows:

• Years 1 - 30 Hours Work Based Learning
• Years 2- 4 - 100 hours Counselling Placement Hours + Supervision
• Plus 20 Hours Personal Therapy minimum across the whole course

How to apply

Applications are now open. Please follow this link: Apply Now.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for Home/EU Students in 2019-20 are as follows:

£4,620 (90 credits)

See Student fees and funding for more information and view potential additional fees.

You can also download a copy of fee information for 2019-20 here.

Additional Fees specific to this programme

• DBS (enhanced) £53
• Student membership £80
• Residential weekend approx. £285
• Professional indemnity insurance £54-£85
• Placement supervision costs £20 - £50 per month
• Personal therapy £35-£55 per hour

Location and times

10am-5pm (exact days to be confirmed)
Westwood campus, University of Warwick

Further information

If you are offered a place on this degree, it will start with a mandatory residential weekend which offers the chance to get a better understanding of the personal and professional demands of the course and reflect if it is the right course for you. It is also an opportunity for you and the tutors to see if you’re personally and professionally ready for the course. It is rare, but they may recommend further study, perhaps on one of our introductory courses, or more work- based experience before commencing the degree.

Why would I want to use this service?

There is no mandate or requirement to use the service, it is entirely voluntary.

The University is a large complex organisation, and not every idea originator has the time, access or skills necessary to take a raw idea and progress it through the various stakeholder groups. The Innovation Support service can help with that process.

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The Innovation Support service does not guarantee every idea will be implemented – in fact, the majority will not make it through to final implementation.

Most ideas make complete sense when considered in isolation, but often cannot take account of the complexities and practicalities of the full environment. Many ideas cannot overcome the challenges of real-world practicalities.

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