MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy

• Staff expertise: You will be learning from experienced practitioners in forensic, counselling, and clinical psychology, as well as published experts in the fields of cyber, health, occupational, and cognitive psychology.  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 practises.  Find out more about our staff here.   

• Career: Gain a professional focus and applied experience of psychology, ensuring you are equipped to take the further steps in your career.  Our programme makes 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 120 different countries. In an ever-increasing global world, graduates are required to navigate complex information systems and provide creative solutions to issues that affect people internationally.  Our curriculum includes the development of valuable skills to enable graduates to find their place in an increasingly international workplace.   

• Student support and mentoring: Student support is at the heart of our approach.  Receive support from personal tutors who are experts in applied and theoretical psychology and are keen to support your learning. Mentoring throughout your studies with your personal tutor contributes considerably to the success of our students through regular progress reviews and career advice.   

• Research projects: All students are encouraged to explore research projects with real-world applications and unique project designs, presenting the opportunity to make a real-world change.   

• 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 gaining access as a researcher in your final year.  

• Applied & 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.  

• State-of-the-art facilities: Learn in our dedicated research and computer labs with over 50 networked computers, an observation room with a one-way mirror, and video analysis equipment.  Our cyberpsychology research laboratory is stocked with the latest in virtual reality and eye-tracking equipment.   

• Psychological test library: Gain access to the latest psychometric tools for your research with our comprehensive test library.   

• Specialist software: Our software library provides all of the latest data collection and analysis programmes, so you have the tools you need to succeed.  Psychology-specific software such as SPSS, NVIVO, Qualitrics, and Microsoft Office 365 are included as part of the course fees.   

• Books, journal subscriptions, and skills for learning: We have an extensive online journal library with the latest research in each specialist area.  Our library team provides training in how to get the best out of our online journal provision and are on hand to help you navigate your way through the extensive library.  We also have core textbooks available in full text online, supporting you no matter where you study.   

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 ethics dilemmas in practice.  

• a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic interventions and research-based knowledge, at basic and advanced levels, applicable to the field 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 leading to an ability to critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship, appraise methodologies and develop, where appropriate, new hypotheses informed by the latest development 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, 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.  

You will also be able to demonstrate a broad range of transferable skills, such as: 

• Working with others 

• Respect, integrity, accountability and collegiality   

• giving and receiving positive and negative feedback
• Personal and professional development 

• Initiative and personal responsibility 

• Decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations 

• Appropriate levels of written and spoken English  

• Numerical skills, IT literacy 

• Problem management skills 

• Communication skills 

The University of Wolverhampton prides itself on preparing you with several desirable graduate attributes, including specialist knowledge and enterprise, technological literacy, research skills, and effective communication.  

1. Writing: Every piece of work you submit receives feedback and advice to help develop your skills as a writer. Our aim is to support you in expressing your ideas clearly, concisely, and with impact.   

1. Critical Thinking & Reasoning: Analysis of research, assumptions, methods, ethics, and how research is applied is a key part of psychology.  You must consider each source that you use and reference in your work.  Critical thinking skills enable graduates to navigate the increasingly complex modern world and understand what is beneath the surface of any current issue.   

1. Communication: Learning to communicate is key to a successful career.  Throughout your programme, you will develop skills to improve your presentation abilities and articulate an argument to have a meaningful impact.   

1. Problem Solving: The ability to provide solutions based on logical analysis of a problem is a skill many employers desire. This skill requires you to think outside the box and understand the underlying factors at play. These skills are developed purposefully as part of a degree in psychology and help students achieve autonomy throughout their studies.   

1. Research & Analysis: A key part of many careers is the skill with which information can be gathered, organised, understood, and analysed for useful conclusions.  A degree in psychology promotes these skills from the start.   

1. Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others on tasks, building positive relationships in the workplace, and maintaining connections over time are valuable skills for any graduate. Studying with us presents opportunities to build these skills and learn how to productively work with a variety of different people and personalities.   

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 £12,471 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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