Psychology with Counselling Studies is an ideal combination if you’d like to move into a career in the helping professions, or to undertake postgraduate training in applied psychology professions. Knowledge and understanding of human behaviour, counselling and people skills are key asserts for working with individuals or teams.

Throughout this degree you’ll gain understanding of all the core domains of psychology such as Research Methods, Social Psychology, Individual Differences, Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Historical and conceptual Issues of Psychology,  where you will explore how the core domains help us to understand mind and behaviour in everyday settings.

Alongside this, you’ll complete carefully curated counselling modules which link theory, research and skills to the therapeutic context and reflective practice.

This programme will enable you to explore professional and ethical issues in psychology and counselling context – which are applicable to many professional contexts where listening, and understanding are important, such as teaching, nursing and social work. And while this psychology with counselling studies  programme  does qualify  you to practise as a counsellor, psychotherapist or counselling or clinical psychologist. The Psychology with counselling studies programme places you in an excellent position to pursue further training as psychologist, counsellor, or psychotherapist upon graduation. Thus, the programme offers excellent preparation for advancing your knowledge and skills in these fields.

GBC

This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), thus students gaining at least a Lower Second Class Honours Degree are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS, which means you will have taken your first step towards becoming a professional psychologist.

**This course is subject to revalidation for September 2024**

• This programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Students on the Psychology and Counselling Studies programme gain knowledge, understanding and skills in all the core domains of psychology, whilst also studying key areas of counselling theory, ethics, and their applications.
• Due to the wide range of generic skills, and the rigour with which they are taught, training in psychology and  counselling is an excellent foundation that supports entry into a broad range of careers.

During the first year of study (level 4), you are introduced to psychology and counselling studies as related yet distinct disciplines. During this year of the study, you are introduced to the core domains and applications of psychology and learn a range of study skills and research methods that will form the building blocks for your  studies at levels 5 (second year) and 6 (final year ). Alongside this, you are introduced to core counselling theories and the associated skills taking under consideration the professional and ethical issues within psychology and counselling context.

In the second year of this programme (level 5), quantitative and qualitative approaches of scientific inquiry are further explored, providing deeper understanding of research methods to enhance you awareness further  to engage ethically and effectively.  During this year of the study, you will also deepen your knowledge and understanding further of the core domains within psychology, such as, cognition, biological, social, individual differences, and development, and enhance your understanding of counselling theories and application through a specific counselling studies modules.

In the final year (level 6)  of study, you will undertake an empirical dissertation in Psychology and Counselling Studies, an opportunity to conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a psychology tutor on your chosen field within Psychology and Counselling Studies. An important feature of level 6 modules is the availability of optional modules focusing on areas of applied psychology and topics embedded within counselling studies where you can choose to specialise in areas of particular interest to you.

One – 20 credit module equates to 36 hours of scheduled contact time and 164 hours of independent learning. Each year you will study 120 credits.

We pride ourselves on giving academic and individual support to each of our students. Teaching is varied and we use a wide variety of assessment strategies designed to help you develop a range of skills which will be useful in the modern workplace. Assessment methods vary from research reports, interventions proposals, portfolios, presentations, and posters, critiques, case studies. There are no examinations on this programme.

Upon completion of this programme, students will be furnished with an invaluable toolkit of transferable skills that will enable them to pursue a range of career opportunities.

Many graduates aim to enter the various psychological and therapeutic professions through specific postgraduate training, including counselling psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, health, clinical, forensic, occupational, and educational psychology. You may also choose to go on to further professional training in counselling at postgraduate level leading to professional accreditation. You might progress into a variety of other careers, typically in people orientated and helping roles – for example, social work, personnel, marketing, health or rehabilitation. The course is useful preparation for further training in any career in which psychology and counselling skills may be useful, including teaching, nursing, and voluntary sector work.

Birmingham Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.

Studying at Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Dining out

Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).

Entertainment

Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!

Location

Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!

Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?

Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.