Counselling Foundation Degree

This course is for people aged 18 and over who wish to develop a career as a professional counsellor or aim to enhance their current employment/professional role. This course is also suitable for those wishing to develop academic and research skills in counselling or who want to work towards a professional counsellor individual accreditation.

During this course, you will complete a number of different modules. These could include:

• study skills
• counselling skills
• theoretical approaches
• solution-focused therapy
• professional practice
• human development
• counselling relationship
• research methodologies
• mental health in counselling.

To join this course, you will need:

• 56 UCAS points, access to a Higher Education Diploma
• to have completed a DBS check
• three A Levels or equivalent or a minimum of Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
• to be eligible to become a student member of BACP or the NCS
• five GCSEs at grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent including English and Maths.

We may accept students who do not meet the typical entry requirements if you have relevant experience. Applications are considered on an individual basis.

During this course, you will be asked to complete a minimum of 30 hours in a vocation placement, some of which can be undertaken prior to starting the course, where you will develop your counselling skills and knowledge.

In stage 2, you will start your counselling placement and practice as a trainee counsellor in an approved counselling setting to achieve 100 counselling hours under supervision. We use a wide variety of assessment techniques which are all coursework based including written assignments, presentations, practical skills assessments, critical reviews, creative pieces and a portfolio of counselling and supervision logs and reports.

After successfully completing this course, you may move on to work as a qualified counsellor with an agency, employer or in private practice or use your qualified counsellor status in another profession. You may also apply for the Level 6 top-up programme at the City of Bristol College leading to the BA (Hons) Counselling Degree awarded by the University of Plymouth.

You will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service application which costs £55. Students must receive a satisfactory DBS disclosure to continue on the course.

You will be required to pay yearly tuition fees at £4,000 a year for part-time or £6,000 for full-time. You may be eligible for a student loan, contact Student Finance on 0300 100 0607 or visit www.gov.uk/student-finance to find out more.

You will be expected to pay to join the BACP or National Counselling Society.

You may also need to pay for:

• supervision costs
• your own counselling
• travel expenses
• insurance related to your placement.