September 2025

Integrative Counselling PgDip/MSc/PGCert

Postgraduate, Master's Degree, September 2025

This course provides a unique opportunity to complete a foundational counselling qualification and obtain a post graduate degree in only one year. It enables students to engage with key theoretical approaches in counselling and related skills, and to learn to integrate them in ways that allow them to be effective practitioners, equipped to work in a range of settings. The course provides professional and academic training and the opportunity to complete a research dissertation; producing reflective and research focussed practitioners who are equipped to meet the future challenges of the counselling profession. This includes the inclusion of BACP online and phone therapy (OPT) competencies (BACP, 2021) as part of the training programme. The course meets the standards set by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and subscribes to the BACP Ethical Framework (2018). (The course is aiming to receive BACP accreditation).

 

  • Become a fully qualified counsellor and achieve a master’s degree in only 1 year.
  • The course combines academic study and personal reflection with a strong focus on counselling skills and practice
  • Birmingham Newman University enjoys a strong regional and national reputation in counselling training and has good relationships with a range of placement providers across the region
  • The course meets the standards set by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
  • It offers a distinctive training in integrative counselling, drawing on contemporary models of counselling to form an integrated framework for practice
  • This programme is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally enlightening
  • On completion, you will have the skills and knowledge to practice independently or within an organisation.

You will be expected to attend on campus every Wednesday and Friday 10am-5pm during semester one and two. Including 7 Saturdays in semester one and 8 Saturdays during semester two.

You will start on your journey to becoming a trained counsellor. You will do this through a balance of theory, skills practice, personal and group reflection. You will learn about two theoretical models in counselling at depth (Gestalt and Psychodynamic theory). You will also begin to practice a range of counselling skills, learn about ethical and contextual issues and dilemmas, and take part in a personal development and case discussion groups.

You will complete a 100-hour counselling placement and this placement will continue throughout the rest of the programme. Alongside this, you will also start your personal therapy. Once on placement, you will also have regular clinical supervision. In terms of taught content, you will also learn about the counselling relationship, and how to begin to integrate different theories into a coherent model. You will take modules in mental health and in working to different time contracts in counselling, including doing brief therapy and you will complete a research dissertation (MSc route only) and a specialist topic review for PgDip students.

There will be a range of essays, presentations, portfolio, clinical recordings, counselling practice, and one VIVA examination at the end of the programme.

This programme is a professional training in integrative counselling, upon completion you will be eligible for independent registration with BACP. You will be able to set up your own private practice business or work in the charity or statutory sector.  Some students do go on to study at doctorate level.

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Entry Requirements

You must have a 1st degree in any subject (minimum 2:2 or equivalent) and level 3 or 4 certificate in counselling skills with experience of having used skills in a workplace or voluntary setting. Successful admission onto the programme is also dependent upon demonstrating your suitability to undertake clinical training at interview. It may be possible in some cases for you to enter the programme without the Level 3 certificate where you can demonstrate in the application that you have acquired the specific competencies outlined in the BACP Counselling Skills Competency Framework either through an equivalent training programme or though practical experience in a voluntary or workplace setting.

Newman’s Record of Prior Learning (RPcL/RPel) policy can be applied to any applicants who consider they have qualifications or experience that may warrant them being granted exemption from elements of a particular course.

Applicants will normally be invited to a selection day for a group task and individual interview.

Applicants will need to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to starting the course.  For more information on your Enhanced DBS application please click here.

Additional entry requirements:

Candidates must also demonstrate

  1. Self-awareness, maturity and stability
  2. Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience
  3. Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course
  4. Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement
  5. Ability to form helping relationships
  6. Ability to be self-critical and use both positive and negative feedback
  7. Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression
  8. Awareness of issues of difference and equality
  9. Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support
  10. Competence in, or the aptitude to develop generic professional skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self- management skills, communication and interpersonal skills

International Students
Newman University is not licenced by the UK Government to sponsor migrant students under the Student route and is therefore unable to accept applications from international students at present.

 

Course Fees

The MSc route for September 2025 is £10,900 per year.

The PgDip route fee for September 2025 is £8,900 per year.

The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).

Additional Costs:

  • Personal Therapy approx. £45-£65 per session
  • Clinical Supervision approx. £45-£65 per session
  • BACP student membership £82 annually

Course fee discount

Birmingham Newman alumni are eligible for a 10% discount when enrolling onto a full Master’s degree programme.

Postgraduate Loans

You can apply for a postgraduate loan when enrolling on a full masters’ degree (180 credits), to use as a contribution to the cost of studying and living expenses. For further information visit the postgraduate loans website.

Additional Costs:

  • Personal Therapy approx. £45-£65 per session
  • Clinical Supervision approx. £45-£65 per session
  • BACP student membership £82 annually

Course fee discount

Birmingham Newman alumni are eligible for a 10% discount when enrolling onto a full Master’s degree programme.

Postgraduate Loans

You can apply for a postgraduate loan when enrolling on a full masters’ degree (180 credits), to use as a contribution to the cost of studying and living expenses. For further information visit the postgraduate loans website.

Modules

Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes of Module Changes page.

Timetables: find out when information is available to students

  1. This module will begin with focusing on core therapeutic skills and the essential elements of practice. The main emphasis will be on therapeutic frame and the development of specific skills associated with the key theoretical modalities covered on the course. Students will gain understanding of the therapeutic process from the point of referral to the first session, middle stages and ending of the counselling relationship, of the use of the therapeutic relationship in relation to the therapeutic process and of the role and importance of supervision. Supporting students through the development stages of their practice via the on-going support of clinical placement and clinical case discussion groups, seminars and personal and professional development groups. Student’s clinical practice and case discussions are then enhanced and supported by the theoretical and practical integration of the two core component models taught on the program with advanced skills being taught in parallel. The module links efficacious clinical practice with a research ethos and skills to help the student identify an initial focus for their research project. 1) Intermediate skills & clinical case discussion 2) Intersection of research and practice 3) Integration of component models into coherent integrative theory and practice.
  2. This theory module introduces students to the literature and theoretical knowledge base of Gestalt Therapy Theory (GTT) and begins the process of thinking critically about application of GTT in their clinical work. This module will offer students understanding of the core approach in their integration model. In addition to this, students will also look at the importance of the therapeutic relationship and how to adopt a relational stance to practice.
  3. This module will focus on four themes 1. Diversity and Equality, 2. Safeguarding & Safety, 3. Ethics and Professional Issues, 4. Confidentiality, Data Protection & GDPR. Students will acquire an increased awareness of the ethical and professional issues involved in counselling practice. Attention will be given to the practical aspects of the profession, such as contracting, referrals, managing boundaries, as well as an appreciation of wider issues such as culture, belief systems, sexual orientation, risk assessment, collaborative working and the on-going role of supervision.
  4. Only MSc students must submit for this module. This module aims to enable students who already have a foundation in counselling theory and skills to fully appreciate the role and application of research in this area. During the module students will be introduced to a variety of methods and approaches, which will be examined with a highly practical focus. Emphasis will be placed on the kinds of issues and research questions which are commonly addressed in counselling, and which might be addressed using different research approaches. Students will demonstrate their acquisition of the knowledge by presenting a proposal suitable for a final year dissertation (Formative assessments). The students will need to make an application for Newman University ethical approval, which must be achieved prior to carrying out the Systematic Literature Review As the module progresses students will have the opportunity to focus on and explore a particular area of clinical practice, and of theory in relation to practice. Students design, plan and execute an in-depth Literature Review with a systematic search strategy and methodology and a narrative synthesis. Students will consider applications for counselling practice. The Systematic Literature Review should draw upon and critically evaluate a range of both classic and contemporary research findings through a clearly identified systematic search strategy using the following databases: PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences and PsycARTICLES.
  5. This module provides a continuation from the module ‘Therapeutic Perspectives & The Counselling Relationship’, further developing your understanding of key theoretical ideas, as you reach the stage of applying theory to your own clinical practice. Your central focus on this module will be on psychodynamic theory and the concept of integration. You will explore counselling integration and how to assimilate theories into a coherent model of practice. The module will also explore stages of human development and the key issues encountered at these stages.
  6. This module aims to provide an overview of key perspectives on psychological and emotional distress. It includes a consideration of neurobiological contributions to the understanding of developmental challenges and its psychological consequences. The module seeks to encourage students to understand mental ill health rom a clinically informed fashion, in terms of aetiology, classification and treatment. The specific way fields of counselling and psychotherapy assess and manage these issues will be explored, focusing especially on the therapeutic application entailed, and the therapeutic justification for decisions. This module will also promote an appreciation of the multi-cultural issues that can arise in various treatment settings, and the counselling field more broadly. Assignments are designed to develop students’ understanding of the main models of psychopathology and raise awareness of key issues in the field, while at the same time building on their analytical, evaluative and presentation skills.
  7. This module is designed for students who have not completed all their clinical, supervision and personal therapy requirements on the Professional Practice module within the core timeframe of the programme. It is designed to allow an additional year to complete all the module requirements for Professional Practice and offers tutorials/clinical reviews and two seminars during the year. Its overall purpose is to manage all professional and practice components of Counselling students working towards Qualified Counsellor status.   This module will incur a fee equivalent to a 20-credit module.

Additional Information

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