Counselling MSc

This course has been designed to provide continuing professional development for counsellors or people who use counselling skills as part of their professional role.

The course is also suitable for those who wish to orientate their future work to counselling as a profession, and incorporates the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Counselling.

To complete the programme to Diploma or Masters level, requires 200 hours of supervised counselling in addition to the academic components of the course. Therefore, all students will normally be in a supervised counselling practice environment at the commencement of their studies.

The course will develop your critical understanding of the theory and practice associated with an integrative model of counselling, and of the interrelationship and contested nature of knowledge, theory, and practice within counselling and psychotherapy.

Your practical counselling skills will be enhanced through critical reflection on personal practice as well as engagement with research and evidence-based practice.

The course also provides the opportunity to design and conduct a substantive study using an appropriate research methodology and associated research methods.

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views
News

How to Apply

For all taught postgraduate and PG Cert programmes, please apply directly to University of Worcester. You can download an application form, or can contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 / pg-admissions@worc.ac.uk

Please post your completed application form to:
Admissions Office
University Of Worcester
Henwick Grove
Worcester
WR2 6AJ

Alternatively you can apply online for postgraduate programmes at University of Worcester via the Prospects online directory of postgraduate programmes. There is no fee for using the online application service.

When we receive your application form, your details will be passed to the Masters Programme Leader who will contact you to arrange an informal interview. You may include additional material, such as references, in support of your application or bring them with you to interview.

You can apply for postgraduate taught courses and PG Certs at any time, but preferably as early as possible before the start of the academic year, which begins in September.

Study options

This course of study is currently offered on a part-time basis.

The programme is taught in blocks, with each module being two blocks of two days (Friday and Saturday). The days are organized into blocks of different learning activities, e.g. presentation/facilitation by the tutor, practical exercises (individual and/or group task), discussion and reflection. Importantly, between the blocks the students are supported with additional reading, provided in the form of primary source articles, book chapters and practitioner journal articles.

The programme has an 80% attendance requirement.

Get in touch

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Peter Forster
Course Leader
p.forster@worc.ac.uk

Course participants will have complied with following course entry requirements:

An honours degree (normally 2:2 and above), preferably in an associated subject or equivalent professional qualifications
A recognised Diploma in counselling or psychotherapy following either a humanistic or psychodynamic orientation, or equivalent professional practice
A counselling placement or present work within a counselling context (see below)

International students must hold a qualification equivalent to a UK first or second class hours degree All international students for whom English is not their first language are required to achieve IELTS 6.5 or equivalency

Any student who wishes to use their counselling practice with children or vulnerable adults, for their practice placement will have to have a current enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRB). Many placements will require students to have a current enhanced CRB irrespective of their client group.

The University is committed to widening participation to candidates from diverse backgrounds, abilities and ages. The programme is open to those already in counselling practice and to those with the appropriate background who wish to pursue a career in counselling.

Modules

MCOU 4001 Theory for Practice: Towards an Integrative Approach
MPSY 4010 The Psychology of Mental Health
MCOU 4004 The Professional, Political and Social Context of Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Practice

On completion of the 3 above compulsory modules (total of 60 credits) exit/interim award is Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies

MCOU4002 Advanced Theory for Practice: An Integrative Approach
MCOU4003 Managing the Therapeutic Relationship and Change
M PSY4002 Advanced Research Analysis

On completion of the above compulsory modules ( total of 120 credits) plus 200 hours of supervised counselling practice, exit/interim award is Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling

MPTH 4003 Dissertation

On completion of all 6 mandatory modules, 200 hours of confirmed and passed supervised counselling practice plus the 60 credit dissertation (total of 180 credits) final award is MSc in Counselling

The programme has an 80% attendance requirement.

Assessment

Learning will be structured around a range of teaching methods including group seminars, lead lectures, individual tutorials and online resources. The modules offer different kinds of assessment such as essays, case studies, practical skills work, research analysis, research reports, data analysis, seminar papers and presentations.

A 15-20,000 word Independent Research Project is required for the MSc award.

Intermediate Awards:
Two intermediate awards, the Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies and the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, are available should you be unable to commit the time required to gain the Masters award. The PG Certificate requires successful completion of three modules and the Diploma requires successful completion of six modules.

Academic department

Institute of Health & Society

“The University is a leading innovator in the fields of health and social care. Unique appointments such as the UK’s first professors of perinatal education and tissue viability demonstrate our commitment to research excellence.”
Louise Jones, Head of Institute

Employability

The course prepares individuals to work in a range of counselling occupations and contexts across the statutory, private and voluntary sectors

The incorporation of the NOS in Counselling and practice elements within the programme will provide students with the opportunity to work towards and to apply for professional registration

Regular meetings are held with employers and placement providers

Health & Society News

Nursing Students Receive Vital Training in Working with People Living with Dementia - Wednesday, 25 April 2012

First year nursing students at the University of Worcester are to take part in a one-day conference about working with people living with dementia.
Student Nurses Walk Five Miles Between University and Hospital for Cancer Research UK - Monday, 23 April 2012

Seven student nurses from the University of Worcester under took a five mile charity walk after being inspired by their studies.
NCT and University of Worcester Launch New Courses for Parenting Education - Thursday, 12 April 2012

Applications have opened for a new university-accredited Certificate of Higher Education for people wanting to support parents in the transition to parenthood.