Description

Requirements

Note: Applicants are advised to visit the Counselling and Psychotherapy website in order to download and complete a Stage One application prior to submitting any materials online. See the link to the website on the right, under "Find out more".

As an accelerated professional training programme, entrants are required to be both personally and professionally suitable for counselling training and ready to begin counselling practice within six months of programme commencement.

The entrance requirements therefore combine personal suitability requirements with professional experience and academic requirements.

Applicants are expected to meet one of the following academic requirements:

* an undergraduate degree equivalent to an upper second class honours degree in a subject relevant to counselling and psychotherapy;
* an undergraduate degree equivalent to a good lower second class honours degree in a subject relevant to counselling and psychotherapy and references confirming aptitude for study at postgraduate level;
* cognate professional qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

Exceptionally, where an applicant's undergraduate degree is in an area not considered relevant to counselling and psychotherapy, they may be admitted at the discretion of the programme director so long as they meet the personal and professional suitability requirements stipulated below.

Personal and professional suitability and relevant experience requirements are laid own by the British professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy as follows:

* self awareness, maturity and stability;
* ability to make use of and reflect on life experience;
* capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the programme;
* ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements;
* ability to form and sustain helping relationships;
* ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative feedback;
* awareness of difference, diversity and power;
* aapacity for psychological thinking and engagement;
* understanding of the principles and practices of counselling.

In addition to meeting the suitability requirements, applicants are required to have substantial relevant experience of working in helping roles in counselling or a cognate area, such as education, social work, nursing, mental health practice, applied psychology or equivalent.

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of at least 7.0 is required. This English language requirement is higher than the standard College requirement of 6.5, as language skills are particularly pertinent in counselling and students will be required to communicate verbally and in writing at a high level from the commencement of the programme.

An interview, by telephone, webcam, video-conference or in person, is required to determine personal and professional suitability and relevant experience. Clearance by Disclosure Scotland (a criminal record suitability check) is also required.

International students

* Information by country
* English language requirements

English Language Requirements