Begin a rewarding journey by learning how to improve people's lives with our part-time Graduate Certificate in Counselling. Blending theory and practice, you will focus on the three strands of counselling training, namely counselling theory, counselling practice and personal development. This programme is ideal if you are looking to start training as a Counsellor or Psychotherapist but lack traditional academic qualifications and/or previous experience in a helping role. Successful completion of this course meets the academic criteria to apply for our BACP Accredited - MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Learn from active practitioners in counselling who have a wealth of experience in counselling training
Acquire a theoretical grounding in person-centred/humanistic counselling
Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Counselling, may help you meet the criteria for entry onto our MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Extend your professional network by attending our annual counselling conference with internationally renowned keynote speakers and researchers in counselling
Course summary
The philosophy of our Graduate Certificate in Counselling is humanistic with person-centred practice placed at the heart of the programme. 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).
You will be encouraged to examine and question your own beliefs and assumptions and develop a personal, integrated theory of human development, based upon humanistic phenomenological philosophy and principles.
To enable you to build and maintain strong therapeutic alliances with clients you will develop a suite of skills required to not only build relationships but to understand the barriers that may prevent or impact these relationships. The course is designed to support your development through intensive skills and personal development training.
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;
Active, reflective listening, working in the ‘here and now’ and following the client’s agenda
Development of key professional and personal qualities and attributes in line with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
Analysing and discussing person-centred counselling theory and applying this theory to counselling practice
Self-knowledge and self-awareness
Evaluating counselling skills practice
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, and sometimes with incomplete information
Effective use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the counselling discipline)
Development of person-centred therapeutic skills
Identifying and evaluating person-centred counselling skills
"The experiential learning techniques really get you thinking outside of the box and you subconsciously transfer this thinking to your everyday life."
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Course structure
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling comprises of two compulsory modules and attendance at our Annual non-residential Counselling Conference.
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
PSY-30079 Core Counselling Competencies (30 credits) This module aims to develop your knowledge of the theory of person-centred counselling and how this might be applied in practice as a basis for future development of an integrated humanistic model of practice. You will also be encouraged develop the skills inherent in forming and maintaining a facilitative counselling relationship in addition to personal and professional awareness.
PSY-30080 Personal Development and Professional Issues (30 credits) This module is focused on personal and professional development and is aimed towards helping you to develop both the qualities and necessary therapeutic skills for working in helping relationships. Through this module, you will demonstrate the skills, understanding of and respect for safe, ethical counselling practice - in line with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy's (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. You will develop enhanced listening and interpersonal communication skills, greater self-awareness, and an ability to work with people in distress.
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Typical offer: This course requires no formal qualifications or professional experience except for an English language qualification (see below)Additional criteria apply
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
This course requires no formal qualifications or professional experience except for an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Canada
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
China
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Ghana
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
India
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Kenya
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Nepal
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Nigeria
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Pakistan
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
South Africa
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Sri Lanka
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Uganda
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Zimbabwe
This course is part time and only available for students who do not require a visa. If you are unsure if this applies to you, please contact our admissions team at enquiries@keele.ac.uk
This course is only available part-time and we do not provide Tier 4 sponsorship for part-time courses.
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group B.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
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Fees
Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.
We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.
Students are required to attend a minimum of 8 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-£50 per hour.
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 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 at no additional cost during the weekend. There will be additional costs to keep in mind if you need to book accommodation in the local area.
Students have access to extensive library resources at Keele, however they may also wish to purchase textbooks or use the inter-library loans service.
Funding
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2025 start date falls in the 2024/25 academic year. Please see the January 2025 fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2025
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.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
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.
Many students who complete this course progress on to our MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is a professional training in counselling, accredited by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).
To find out more about 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.
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 practice and in education.
Staff each have their own specialist areas of counselling research and practice, such as ecotherapy, trauma, eating distress, attachment, loss and bereavement, supervision, gender, sexual and relationship diversity and arts based research.
Academic staff who teach on the programme include:
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.
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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