How will I be taught?

The programme is structured to meet University of Surrey requirements and the educational aims of the award. These are all outlined in the Programme Specification document found under our Quality Assurance page, including further details such as the programme learning outcomes.

What modules are covered?

Students on this BSc top-up year will study 7 modules (6 at 15 credit points and 1 at 30 credit points)

• Module 1 – Introduction to research
• Module 2 – Academic Writing for Professional Practice
• Module 3 – Counselling Theory
• Module 4 – Working Professionally with Mental Health
• Module 5 – Reflective Practice
• Module 6 – Clinical Placement
• Module 7 – Research Project

How will I be assessed?

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of written and oral assignments and the submission of a completed research project.

In addition, in order to achieve the award: BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Counselling (Top-up), students must achieve 120 credits at Level 6. Level 6 credits provide the overall classification for the Honours degree.

Some counselling placements may not provide internal supervision; therefore, the student will need to arrange this. There may be a further cost implication for external supervision.

Supervision must be at least 1-hour fortnightly; to a client counselling ratio of 1-hour supervision to every 4 client hours. Students must attend supervision regardless of client flow.

Students must secure a counselling placement, approved by the tutor/s which provides the opportunity to obtain 60 clinical and supervised counselling hours.

Students must gain satisfactory reports from their Supervisor specifically agreeing their competence in working with clients, to gain the award.

What Next?

This programme has been designed to ensure that graduates have the appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding required in the sector to allow progression on to further counselling qualifications such as an MSc or MA in Counselling or a specialised Post Graduate counselling qualification.

Careers progression therefore includes:

• MSc or MA in Counselling
• Level 7 qualification (Masters) in a related field

What is the entry process?

You can apply for this higher education course in the following ways:

• Via the UCAS website. Visit www.ucas.com and browse the courses available under 'University Centre Farnborough'. 
• Directly to University Centre Farnborough via the button on this webpage. Applications take around 15 minutes and are free of charge. You can apply to us direct at any time in the year (including after the UCAS deadline). Applications of this type are separate to the UCAS system, which means you could also apply for more than the five universities that UCAS allows.

What previous qualifications and experience will I need?

Internal Applicants

• A recognised Level Four or Five Counselling Qualification which includes at least 420 guided learning hours and a supervised clinical placement of at least 100 hours. (Clinical experience must be with individuals, experience of group or couples counselling is not accepted)
• Evidence of 60 hours of personal therapy – if less than 60 hours, the difference will need to be made up over the BSc (Hons) Counselling period of study.
• A reference from your Level Four or Five counselling course tutor (No more than 4 months old at the time of submission)
• Submission of your Level Four or Five portfolio for assessment by a BSc (Hons) Counselling tutor to include their final supervisor report (Not more than 4 months old) Private practitioners – a supervisor report, not more than 4 months old.
• BACP member.
• Enhanced DBS check.
• Appropriate professional indemnity insurance if not covered by agency.
• Be active in a clinical placement which provides a client flow of a minimum of 4 individual clients per week - clients must be over the age of 18 (Placements with a majority client group aged between 16 and 18 must be agreed by the tutor on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed). Qualified counsellors in private practice – this is acceptable, please discuss with a BSc (Hons) Counselling tutor.

External Applicants

• A recognised Level Four or Five Counselling Qualification which includes at least 420 guided learning hours and a supervised clinical placement of at least 100 hours. (Clinical experience must be with individuals, experience of group counselling is not accepted)
• Evidence of 40 hours of personal therapy, course requirement to have achieved 60 hours by the end of the course.
• A reference from your Level Four or Five counselling course tutor (No more than four months old at the time of submission)
• Submission of your Level Four or Five portfolio for assessment by a BSc (Hons) Counselling tutor – if not included on your course, other examples of work is acceptable – please discuss with a tutor. You must submit a final supervisor report (Not more than 4 months old) Private practitioners – a supervisor report, not more than 4 months old.
• BACP member.
• Enhanced DBS check.
• Appropriate professional indemnity insurance if not covered by agency.
• Be active in a clinical placement which provides a client flow minimum of 4 individual clients per week - clients must be over the age of 18 (Placements with a majority client group aged between 16 and 18 must be agreed by the tutor on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed). Qualified counsellors in private practice – this is acceptable, please discuss with a BSc (Hons) Counselling tutor.

PLUS

1500 word reflective essay

The reflective essay must be submitted two weeks prior to the course start date, later submissions may not be accepted or may result in a deferred place on the course.

Excluded courses – Any MAJORITY on-line (If your teaching was temporarily online due to the Covid-19 pandemic this is fine), home study or distance learning level 4 or 5 counselling course is excluded from entry onto the programme. Courses that are modulated in nature with counselling not being the sole focus of study, for example, hypnotherapy and counselling, is excluded for entry. Courses that are not delivered by recognised institutions and/or not nationally recognised awarding bodies, are also excluded.