Humanistic Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip

Course structure

The course consists of seven modules taught over a period of two years. Study involves one day per week at the university, eight non-residential weekends, two two-day blocks in September of the second year and one further study day.

In addition to academic study, you need to complete 100 hours of supervised counselling practice in an approved clinical practice area. Students are required to find their own clinical practice area and this will be discussed with you are interview. Clinical practice areas often provide clinical supervision as part of the clinical practice experience however you may be required to pay for external supervision and we recommend that you factor this into the cost of the course.

You also need to undertake a course of personal therapy that lasts for the duration of the course, from October of year 1 to June of year 2 or until you finish the course if you have not fulfilled the course requirements, and we recommend that you factor in the cost of this therapy before your application.

Assessment consists of three written essays and two audio-taped assignments; one case study and a research proposal. You will also be asked to keep a reflective journal during the life of the course that focuses on academic and professional studies; clinical practice, training supervision and personal growth and development. 

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

From the start of the academic year 2023–2024 we will be teaching all courses delivered by the School of Humanities and Social Science on our Moulsecoomb, Brighton campus. Students starting this course in September 2022 will be based on the Moulsecoomb, Brighton campus from September 2023. Students starting courses from 2023 onwards will be based in Moulsecoomb throughout their studies.

Moulsecoomb is our largest campus, transformed by a recent development of our estate, the Big Build, which features a new Students’ Union facility and venue, sports and fitness facilities.

Bringing together all our humanities and social science teaching and research creates new opportunities for our students to display their work and for practice-based learning, events, projects and collaborations.