This exciting contemporary programme will give you a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy. This course is founded on Relational principles that put the quality of the therapeutic relationship at its heart. You will learn about, and integrate into your practice, a range of therapeutic approaches, as well as developing a holistic way of working that can meet the therapeutic needs of a range of clients, considering mental health needs and cultural influences. The course will also help develop your academic, professional, and research skills, and provide opportunities for personal development.
Work-based learning that allows you to combine theory with practice
Flexible entry requirements
Accredited by the BACP
This is a 4 year part-time degree and a recognised professional counselling qualification in which you will develop the skills and awareness necessary to be an effective and ethical counsellor in a range of settings. The course is accredited by the BACP.
A central feature of this programme is the emphasis on personal development and self-awareness, particularly in issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. Through a range of small and large group work, individual reflection, counselling practice and theoretical learning, you will develop the skills and awareness necessary to be an effective and ethical counsellor in a range of settings.
The course is firmly rooted in professional practice and you will undertake a minimum of 100 hours of practice in an agency of your choosing. This allows for rich learning and means you will already be embedded in the professional field, ready to start your career on graduation. Many of our graduates have found employment within their placement agencies and others have used them as a springboard into new roles.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements are flexible. An academic qualification at level 3 (or equivalent) is preferred.
Complete an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check through Warwick. If during the processing of the DBS check it becomes clear that you have lived for six months or more in a different country in the past five years, then we will also add the condition to provide an original overseas police check from that country.
The application form invites you to provide a reflective statement and, if invited to interview, you will be assessed in a group discussion exercise and a written task. 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 BA (Hons) programme.
The degree allows you to undertake some of your placement hours online or on the telephone. If you intend to do this, you must have a private and confidential space available from which to work. You will also need to arrange a private space from which to attend online training sessions on occasion.
The degree is designed to be fully supportive to those who are new to university study, whatever your age or or background, and we welcome people who may have felt marginalised or excluded from higher education.
Modules
Note that the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry. If optional modules are listed below, these can vary from year to year.
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
You will repay your loan or loans gradually once you are working and earning above a certain amount. For students starting their course after 1 August 2023 (on Student Finance England’s Plan 5), you will repay when your income is over £25,000 a year.
Repayments will be taken directly from your salary if you are an employee. If your income falls below the earnings threshold or you stop working, your repayments will stop until your income goes back up above this figure.
Access thousands of part-time opportunities through our agency UnitempsLink opens in a new window (such as office work, retail jobs or helping at events)
Choose to apply for a job as one of our Student Ambassadors to share your own experience at events like Open Days
There are many different funding routes available, including a number of bursaries and scholarships for full-time undergraduates. If you struggle to meet your essential living costs, our Student Funding team will be on hand to offer advice and support.
Provides additional financial support for qualifying Home students from lower income families of up to £2,500 for eligible students
This bursary is paid directly into your bank account in three equal termly instalments to help with the costs of studying
There is no application for this bursary as your details will be provided directly from the student support awarding bodies (Student Finance England, Student Finance Northern Ireland, and Student Awards Agency Scotland)
A number of scholarship opportunities are open to full-time undergraduate students. These include sporting and musical bursaries, and scholarships offered by commercial organisations.
If you experience financial difficulties during your studies, you may be eligible for Hardship Funding from the University, in the form of an Emergency Loan and/or a non-repayable award
Distance Learning courses and Overseas students
This is a distance learning course.
Currently, the University of Warwick is NOT sponsoring students on part-time or distance learning courses with a Student Visa (formerly known as Tier 4 visa).
If you require a visa to enter the UK, a general visa can be used to attend face-to-face intensive learning (workshops).
Student membership of BACP £92 annually (or £46 reduced fee if eligible)
Residential weekend approx. £325 (held in year 1 only)
Professional indemnity insurance £54-£85 annually
Placement supervision costs vary but are usually within the range of £60-£100 per hour (in years 2-4). Fortnightly supervision is required by BACP. These costs are influenced by market forces and may increase over the period of the course.
Personal therapy £35-£55 per hour (min of 20 hours over the whole course)
Travel costs to and from placements
There is a well stocked library with the core course reading, however you may wish to purchase your own text books.
The course includes elements of blended learning so therefore you will require access to a computer/laptop, headphones and a built in or plug in webcam.
The University of Warwick is NOT currently sponsoring students on part time or distance learning courses with a Student Visa (formerly known as Tier 4 visa) and so if you require a visa to study a part time/distance learning course in the UK which is longer than 6 months, you may wish to consult the 'right to study' page on our Student Immigration & Compliance websiteLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window before you make an application.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered by a team of experienced, practicing therapists and counselling trainers. Teaching and learning is done in small and large group work, self-directed research groups, lectures, counselling practice groups and self-development workshops. Alongside the core curriculum, you will have opportunities to identify your own learning needs and pursue your own interests. The University provides additional support with academic study skills.
There are no examinations as we use a joint, continuous assessment process with tutors and students, using a variety of different processes, including written work, observed practice, supervisor and agency reports, posters and presentations. Any work you do is self-assessed before it is assessed and marked by a tutor. You will have the opportunity to discuss feedback with the tutor.
University of Warwick was recently awarded Gold in all categories of the government's latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rankings.
2026 cohort
The course starts with a compulsory induction residential weekend held at the University, on 3 and 4 October 2026.
Classes will take place on Tuesdays between 10am-5pm at Westwood campus, University of Warwick.
There may also be one or two Saturday workshops each year. Further dates are to be confirmed.
The core model is Humanistic and Relational with a foundation in the Person-centred approach to establish the practical, philosophical and theoretical basis of therapeutic work. From this foundation, you will be introduced to other perspectives that will enable you to integrate a range of ways of working therapeutically, including humanistic, experiential, psychodynamic and creative therapeutic approaches.
Your personal and academic learning will be well supported by peers, tutors, and specialists in academic study skills. You will develop:
An in-depth understanding of the underlying philosophy and theories of a relational approach to counselling
An understanding of how to apply theory to counselling
An understanding and awareness of your own attitudes and behaviour with other people, intra and inter-personal and group processes.
An understanding of the importance of working equitably and consciously with difference and diversity in counselling and psychotherapy, including race, culture, gender, sexuality, age, social class, and neurodiversity.
An ethical and reflective approach to practice with supervised client work in placements
Insight into recent counselling and psychotherapy professional developments, mental health and the work of other mental health professionals
Confidence in how to use research, building towards doing your own empirical research project in Year 4 based on a theme relevant to Counselling and Psychotherapy that you are interested in.
Throughout this programme, you will develop your ability to work in counselling and psychotherapy, by developing your knowledge and skills in counselling practice, counselling theory and self-awareness, and becoming an independent, ethical and reflective practitioner.
As part of the course, you will learn about counselling agencies and how they run, and will start to build a professional network. Alongside your studies, in years 2 to 4 you will find a counselling placement of your choosing and gain a minimum of 100 hours of counselling practice in an agency of your choosing. This will also involve regular supervision with a qualified clinical supervisor, either within your agency or independently.
You will also undertake a minimum of 20 hours your own counselling as part of your personal development over the 4 years, and will have many opportunities to develop your self awareness.
This is a professional course and so is an opportunity to practise and study at the same time.
In your first year, as you develop your counselling skills, you will do a case study of counselling agencies to understand policies, procedures and the issues facing agencies and their clients. This helps you prepare for your counselling placement, which you are required to take on from year 2 until completion of the course, completing a minimum of 100 hours. You will have the opportunity to work in a number of different placements giving you a rich variety of experience. Students have found placements in a variety of well supported settings, including the NHS, schools, colleges, universities and community agencies. Although it is your responsibility to find your placements, we have a strong relationship with many placement providers in the region.
The hours required to be completed by students are as follows (students must ensure they can commit to these additional time commitments):
Course attendance is face-to-face 1 day per week from 10am to 5pm, and additional study time of at least 4 hours per week is required.
Plus 20 hours minimum personal therapy across the whole course.
The programme is delivered by a team of experienced, practicing therapists and counselling trainers. Teaching and learning is done in small and large group work, self-directed research groups, lectures, counselling practice groups and self-development workshops. Alongside the core curriculum, you will have opportunities to identify your own learning needs and pursue your own interests. The University provides additional support with academic study skills.
There are no examinations as we use a joint, continuous assessment process with tutors and students, using a variety of different processes, including written work, observed practice, supervisor and agency reports, posters and presentations. Any work you do is self-assessed before it is assessed and marked by a tutor. You will have the opportunity to discuss feedback with the tutor.
University of Warwick was recently awarded Gold in all categories of the government's latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rankings.
Careers
This programme is a professional qualification and will qualify you for work in the counselling field.
The clinical placements on the course are good preparation for this. Students have gained experience from placements in specialist agencies including domestic violence and sexual assault organisations, hospices, community-based charities (e.g. MIND), the criminal justice system, and student counselling services.
Developments in counselling and mental health services mean they require practitioners with a varied and deep understanding of an increasing amount of mental health issues and awareness of techniques to support clients. This course enables you to develop those skills, and is designed to prepare you thoroughly for the opportunities and challenges emerging in counselling and allied professions.
Career Pathways
Some of our graduates go on to find employment at their placement agency, others have gained roles in school settings, the NHS, further and higher education, agencies, the voluntary sector and as independent practitioners.
In the UK, many graduates enter professions where any degree would be acceptable and so alternative career pathways could include:
Careers in Social Care - Social work, family support worker
Advice work - Housing support worker, welfare advice worker
Youth & Community work - Youth project worker, youth development lead, young person’s mentor
Charity - Community case worker, women’s refugee worker, charity graduate trainee
Health - Sexual health adviser, wellbeing practitioner
Community & Criminal Justice - Criminal justice support worker, probation officer
Some of these roles may be accessed directly after completing your degree, as part of an employed graduate scheme, or may require further study and professional qualification.
Helping you find the right career
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant who offers one-to-one impartial advice and guidance. Students also have access to a range of workshops and career events. Previous events have included
"It's such an experiential course which I've not come across before, with its practice side. It really puts you in that frame of mind of what it's going to be like when you do have your own clients."
Sara, current part-time Counselling and the Psychotherapeutic Relationship student
Life at Warwick
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live in a campus residence or in partnership accommodation off campus, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
74th
Warwick is ranked 74th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
(We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships)
85%
1st and 2nd class degrees
(From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree)
Accessible, flexible, world-class Warwick education for lifelong learners
For more than 30 years the Centre for Lifelong Learning has been a centre of expertise in the education of lifelong learners in different contexts, with a focus on enabling adult learners to achieve their personal and professional goals by accessing a Warwick education, irrespective of background.
Who we are
A global network - There are 42 nationalities among our current students
A local community - 74% of our students are based in West Midlands
Accessible Higher-Education - In 2022, 32% of our students joining the courses do not have A-levels or level-3 qualifications
A nurturing place - From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree
A learning hub for many - We are home to over 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students
A collaborative institution - We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Experience campus at an Open Day. Can't visit? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
