School of Psychology

MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy

MSc Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years

Study MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy with us and gain the skills you need to practise as a therapist. 

Study MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy with us and gain the skills you need to practise as a therapist. 

Award
MSc
Start date(s)
September 2025
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (1 year),Part-time (2 years)
Campus location
University: City Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Study MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy with us and gain the skills you need to practise as a therapist. The University of Wolverhampton’s proven programme incorporates best practice from psychology, psychotherapy and healthcare fields, preparing you for professional positions within the thriving area of counselling.

The programme has a foundation in humanist values, with an emphasis on an empathic therapist-client relationship being central to mental health work. You will develop your understanding of the subject alongside qualified experts from the School of Psychology, learning to positively engage with patients in a supportive environment. The advantages of our Centre for Psychological Research, opportunities for applied placements, and partnerships with NHS supervisors will help facilitate your development into a self-directed, adaptable modern practitioner.

What happens on the course?

Your year will begin with an intensive week of teaching and group-based activities, developing your group contract and preparing you for university life at postgraduate level. Semester 1 will prepare you for a work placement and build the foundations of your therapeutic approach. You will go through a range of theoretical and experiential activities in therapeutic relationships, relational dynamics, assessment, ethics, risk management, professional conduct, engaging in supervision, and much more.

In January/February you will enter a placement with an approved provider, applying your skills to a live clinical setting. Your supervisor will provide you with detailed supervision, ensuring you have the reflective space in which to grow as a practitioner. You will also engage in a research project, studying an issue relevant to your course.

The course is part of the School of Psychology in the Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing which is the professional home to over 50 teaching and research staff, bringing a broad range of interests and experience to benefit students learning on our portfolio of courses.  We are recognised as one of the leading providers of psychology education and use innovative teaching methods that focus on the application of scientific and theoretical principles to the study of people’s lives. Psychology staff are grouped into a variety of highly active research clusters through our Centre for Psychological Research, publishing in the latest academic journals and working to make a real-world impact on people’s lives.

If this course interests you, start planning your journey by joining us at a PG open evening where we can share with you the current timetable and calendar. We can talk you through the programme journey and help you choose a course that’s right for you.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

  • Staff expertise: School of Psychology staff boast extensive experience in both broad and specialised forensic, counselling and psychology fields. We work in partnership with Advance HE, the nationally recognised body in teaching quality, to continually develop the quality of our courses with modern learning practices. Find out more about our staff here.
  • Career: Gain a professional focus and applied experience of psychology, ensuring you are equipped to take further steps in your career. Our programme has a significant positive impact on your career trajectory.
  • Placements: You will have the opportunity to work with the University’s Workplace and receive support in finding a career-relevant placement to help enhance your employability.
  • International focus: The University of Wolverhampton is a diverse community of people with staff and students from 130 different countries. In an increasingly global world, graduates are required to navigate complex information systems and provide creative solutions to issues that affect people internationally.
  • Student support and mentoring: Receive support from personal tutors who are experts in applied and theoretical psychology. Mentoring throughout your studies with your personal tutor contributes considerably to your success through regular progress reviews and careers advice.
  • Psychology Community Research Clinic: Our school operates a research-based mental health clinic. Our clinical staff and postgraduate trainees on our MSc and Professional Doctorate programmes provide confidential support, a range of psychological therapies, and workshop training to students who need additional support to succeed. Our aim is to provide the best recipe for success, and we support your achievement through helping you reach the next step on your academic journey.
  • Research projects: All students are encouraged to explore research projects with real-world applications and unique project design.
  • Research community: You become part of an active and supportive research community. Opportunities for participant recruitment are fostered through our participant system, enabling you to take part in studies as a participant in your first year and gain access as a researcher in your final year.
  • Applied and authentic assessment: All of our assessments focus on the practical elements of the course, providing a flavour of the real-world work of a practising psychologist.

Upon completion of this course you will have developed:

  • A systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and new insights in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.
  • In-depth knowledge of the BACP Ethical Framework, as well as a critical understanding of its applications in resolving associated ethical dilemmas in practice.
  • A comprehensive understanding of therapeutic interventions and research-based knowledge, at basic and advanced levels, applicable to the fields of counselling and psychotherapy.
  • Originality in the application of theoretical knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established interventions are applied in an ethically viable way within professional contexts.
  • A solid conceptual and theoretical understanding of key research methods. This will lead to an ability to critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship; appraise methodologies; and the ability to develop new hypotheses informed by the latest developments in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.

Graduates from our training course will be equipped to practise as competent counselling and psychotherapy practitioners in various sectors within mental health care, who are able to:

  • Assess, evaluate and address complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements, implement formulated therapeutic plans, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in the provision of counselling and psychotherapy services in the mental health sector while acting autonomously in advancing their knowledge, insight and skills basis at personal and professional levels.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £11000 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £11550 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £11836 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £5500 per year 2022-23
Home Part-time £5775 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time £5918 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £14450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15950 per year 2024-25

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

  • An upper second-class honours degree (2:1). Graduates of a BSc Psychology & Counselling degree are ideally placed for entry. Applicants who have not completed any counselling component, as part of their previous qualification, will need to demonstrate an understanding to the nature of the counselling profession (or some experience in a helping role) and an increased self-reflective attitude upon life experience and the emotional stability required for counselling practise.
  • You should also have a good standard of written and spoken English (IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each element) or an acceptable equivalent.
  • Successful Interview Selection: Beyond the academic/critical analytic skills (demonstrate the 2:1 degree) the interview process will assess potential participants though a holistic approach taking into the following attributes: - Self-awareness, maturity and stability - Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience - Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course - Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement - Ability to form a helping relationship - Ability to be self-critical and use both positive and negative feedback - Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression - Awareness of issues of difference and equality - Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support - Competence in, or the aptitude to develop generic professional skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self- management skills, communication and interpersonal skills.
  • We will ask for appropriate references

Other Requirements

Entry to this course is subject to satisfactory DBS Police Check and two satisfactory references (one being an academic and one profession).

Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check:

Due to the professional nature of some of our courses you will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this and you receive an offer from us.

There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer and have chosen to study at the University of Wolverhampton.

“I have found my counselling training really rewarding, challenging, and fun. I have learned a lot about myself and how to work with people in distress. The team is really supportive and down to earth, and available just as I need them. I cannot thank everyone enough for all their support this year.”

Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,167 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

* Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts; please see the following websites Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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