Counselling & Psychology

About the course

The course will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of psychology and counselling that will enable you to undertake further professional qualifications in either field.

It is approved by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Registration, the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist for Honours graduates.

Teaching is delivered using a variety of methods including lectures, small group work, discussion groups, case studies, demonstrations and laboratory workshops. You will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning which should be participative and experiential.

A number of sessions will be in the form of workshops which will involve analysis of life events and role playing of various scenarios using pre-prepared case study material.

Close supervision from staff throughout the course provides you with the best possible opportunity to achieve your true potential. Teaching is by highly-qualified staff who have substantial experience in the field.

The BSc (Hons) in Psychology at Bolton is one of the oldest and most established psychology courses in the UK and the BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychology is a relatively new course that reflects the growing requirement in contemporary society for counselling professionals.

What you will learn

You will develop your understanding of the key theories and concepts in psychology and counselling. You will learn about the applications of these disciplines in contemporary society, understand the role of psychology in the context of counselling and learn about research methods and the ethical context of this research.

You will develop independent learning, verbal, communication and life skills and enhance your understanding of the process of learning through experience.

You will also develop self-awareness and learn about the place of personal experience in the counselling process. In addition, you will study broader social issues that will impact on the counsellor’s role, such as assumptions, stereotyping, diversity and prejudice.

The applied nature of counselling psychology is stressed throughout the programme, with an emphasis on learning through experience.

You will be required to secure and complete a work placement in an approved setting in your final year.

Special features

• The University of Bolton’s Counselling & Psychology degree course is one of only a few courses in this subject area accredited by the British Psychological Society. It is accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Registration, the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

• As part of the course, you will have an opportunity to study in relevant work settings.

• While undertaking the degree you will also have the opportunity to complete two vocational/professional qualifications – the Certificate in Counselling Concepts and the Certificate in Counselling Skills.

• After completion of these qualifications, you will be eligible to apply to progress to diploma level which will form the basis of a professional counselling qualification and individual accreditation with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).

• Admission to a postgraduate Diploma in Counselling normally requires a high level of personal development and maturity together with excellent academic achievements and experience of working with people who have received counselling.

Careers and professional development

Psychology graduates with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation will be able to progress onto professional qualifications in applied psychology. We have hosted an annual Careers Week for many years, where specialist and chartered psychologists come to speak to students. In addition, opportunities for volunteering and work placements give you insights into specific careers.

On completing the course, you will be able to demonstrate graduate skills such as problem solving, critical evaluation and independence of thought, as well as a willingness to learn, which we hope to foster by our commitment and enthusiasm.

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in the application of counselling skills in all aspects of everyday life, for example, medical and mental health settings, schools and colleges and the workplace. Previous psychology graduates have been successful in all these areas of work. In 2008 the government earmarked £37 million to the NHS for the ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) programme.

Professional recognition

Successful completion of the degree course is approved as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society provided the minimum standard of qualification of second class honours is achieved.

The British Psychological Society is the professional body of psychologists.

Mode of attendance: Full-time