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.
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 a focus on 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 we aim to facilitate your ability to co-create relationships at depth, developing and understanding the barriers which may prevent or impact such therapeutic relationships.
Concepts such as presence, empathic understanding, resonance, acceptance and challenge will underpin your personal way of being and professional practice.
Knowledge and skills
We place a strong emphasis on the acquisition of the skill of being and becoming a therapist, counselling 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 supervised 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' (1 March 2025). 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.
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.
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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.
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-40059 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.
PSY-40063 Practicum Part 1 (15 credits) and PSY-40065 Practicum Part 2 (15 credits) These modules aim 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 and counselling supervision on the programme, so you should be aware of the additional cost and time implications of this, as well as of completing your placement.
PSY-40023 Understanding in Counselling (30 credits) This module introduces you to the nature of difference, power and culture and how they may present within the therapeutic relationship and aims to support your personal and professional development.
PSY-40061 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.
PSY-40054 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.
PSY-40026 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 Inquiry and Reflective Thematic Analysis.
PSY-40027 Counselling Dissertation(60 credits) You will research and produce a 15,000 word dissertation on a counselling topic of your choice.
"This programme encourages students to think critically, challenge their beliefs, and develop personally in order to make well rounded counsellors."
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Entry requirements
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 reflect and act on developmental 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.
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: 2:2 degree in any subjectAdditional criteria apply
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in any subject or Keele Graduate Certificate in Counselling, with 60% in one assignment and a Progression Report from an academic mentor
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a public university or CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in any subject from a private university
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in any subject or 65% in a degree in any subject from a '211' university
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in any degree of three years or longer
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in any subject or 65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in any subject or Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in any subject
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
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 reflect and act on developmental 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.
As part of the application process, you will be required to do a group interview.
English language requirements
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 D.
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.
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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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 practice and in education.
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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–£50 per hour.
When completing the 100-hour placement requirement, students must 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–£50 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 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 an extensive library at Keele, however they may also wish to purchase textbooks or use the inter-library loans service.
Students are required to obtain an Enhanced DBS that covers Adults and Children and this costs £49.20 and £13 for the update 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.
Throughout the programme you will have access to a robust support system including an academic mentor, tutor groups, personal development/process groups, a dissertation supervisor, an independent supervisor during placement, an independent personal therapist, counselling placement officer, Student Services, disability and inclusion support, counselling and mental health support.
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Your career
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.
To find out more about the specific 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.
Our programme is aligned to person-centred/humanistic principles and provides a wide range of different teaching and learning experiences, including:
Lectures
Experiential workshops, which include the opportunity to learn about counselling issues and practice from the perspective of self and others
Skills groups
Formative recorded practice observation days
One-to-one tutorials with your academic mentor
Presentations
Dissertation supervision groups
Assessment
The wide variety of assessment methods used within Counselling and Psychotherapy at Keele reflects the broad range of knowledge, skills and attributes that are developed as you progress through the full-time or part-time MSc programme.
Assessment methods may include:
An MCQ classroom test
Research presentation
Dissertation
Recordings of counselling sessions carried out with student peers; formative and summative assessment
Evaluation of own counselling practice
Presentations
Completion of 20 hours of personal therapy
Completion of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice on placement
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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