Name: Counselling & Psychotherapy (with Foundation Year), BSc (Hons)
Price: £9,535 per year GBP

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Attendance

Campus

Start

Book an autumn Open Day

Duration

4 years

Start

September 2025

UCAS Code

CPY2

Delivery

In-person

Our Counselling and Psychotherapy (with Foundation Year) degree will develop the skills you need to progress with your studies and pursue a career as a counsellor.

Our foundation year will prepare you for a career in counselling where you can support people in a safe space, shaping lives and facilitating change. It will focus on your knowledge and skills related to health and social care. This includes academic writing, critical thinking and communication skills.

If you successfully complete the foundation year, you will have the opportunity to progress onto our BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy. You will need to apply and pass an interview.

This qualification is designed to enhance your personal development. It will focus on a pluralistic approach to clinical practice. This will prepare you for a career where you’ll be listening, empathising and providing support to people. You will also complete a clinical placement of 100 client hours and follow the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) ethical framework. This will allow you to qualify as a practitioner.

This Counselling and Psychotherapy course will give you the unique skills and experience which you need for a career in counselling. It’s ideal for anybody who wants to work in the helping professions.

Why study with us

Our foundation year will support your academic and personal development, providing the skills you need for success.
This course is accredited by the BACP, with a 100 hours counselling placement embedded into the curriculum.
We’ve been ranked third in the UK for the outstanding support we provide to help our students improve their mental health (HUMEN 2022).

Interested?

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What you'll do

Our foundation year provides an overview of health and social care, where you'll develop the academic skills you need to study at university.
You'll develop an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues around counselling.
You'll complete 100 hours of clinical practice, which will allow you to apply for accredited membership with the BACP upon graduation.

Modules

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Future counselling and psychotherapy careers

This course will equip you with the skills you need to become a professional practitioner in the field of counselling. You can read our guide on how to become a therapist.

Entry requirements

We will consider your educational achievements, predicted grades, work experience and personal statement. If you don't meet the grades for your chosen course, we will consider you for other programmes.

We know that many factors can influence the grades you achieve in school or college. If your life experience has affected your academic studies, we can take this into account. Use the UCAS Points Calculator below to check whether you are eligible.

Unsure if you meet our entry requirements? Contact our friendly Course Enquiries team to talk through your options.

UCAS: 64 points at A2
BTEC Extended Diploma: MPP
BTEC Diploma: MM
Pass Access Course: 64 UCAS points
International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 64 points from Higher Level Subjects
T Level: P (D or E)
IELTS: 6.0 with no Component lower than 5.5
GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent
A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) is required for this course

Not got the grades?

Our courses with a foundation year could be exactly what you're looking for. They provide an alternative route to study for this degree.

Find out more about our courses with a foundation year.

Fees and funding

2025/26

First year£9,535 for the first year

Full-time£9,535 per year

International

First year£17,250 for the first year

Full-time£17,325 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Foundation Year Bursary
Our Foundation Year Bursary scheme is for students starting a four or five year undergraduate degree programme.
Find out more about Foundation Year Bursary

Each week there will be a mixture of short lectures, group discussion, debates, presentations and blended learning designed to meet the learning styles of all class members.

You’ll be encouraged to reflect on experiences from the skills sessions in order to maximise learning opportunities and discuss these experiences within a group setting. As you progress you’ll acquire the skills, strategies and behaviours expected of a confident, independent and active learner.

The assessments range from assignments to presentations. You will also be given directed study and reading lists to help focus on specific areas in preparation for class.

All Counselling and Psychotherapy courses have a requirement to become a member of the BACP, pay for personal insurance, and attend clinical supervision when on placement.

Some placement providers charge students for DBS checks and interviews. They may also, in some instances, charge a monthly administration fee in addition to any supervision costs.

There is currently no requirement for students to have personal counselling or psychotherapy. However, it is usually the case that every student recognises this is necessary during their course.

All these costs are additional to your course fees and are met by you as a student.

This course requires you to become a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and attend clinical supervision when on placement.

In the event that your Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check proves to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of this course, your offer of a place may be withdrawn. If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course, even if you have already started. If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice, as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Counselling & Psychotherapy

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 0

Compulsory modules

Future counselling and psychotherapy careers

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Foundation Year Bursary

Counselling & Psychotherapy

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 0

Ask a student

Future counselling and psychotherapy careers

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Foundation Year Bursary

Learning & assessment

Additional costs

Further information