MSc Integrative Counselling and Coaching

Applications for September 2022 are now closed. Admissions for September 2023 will open in October.

The Master of Science in Integrative Counselling and Coaching is a unique and ground-breaking course. It is the only postgraduate course in the UK, and possibly in the world, that offers integration of counselling and coaching practices.

This course provides professional training to those who aim to integrate various counselling approaches and coaching in their one-to-one practice.

Broadly speaking, counselling concerns itself with the resolution of internal conflicts and psychological changes. Coaching deals more with goal achievement and behavioural changes. For example, counselling may address underlining issues and reasons why someone had a drink problem, while coaching would deal with the habit itself. Although there is some overlap between these two approaches, they are not interchangeable. However, they can be complementary.

By covering both counselling and coaching training, this course is answering an ever-increasing need for integrative practitioners.
After completing the first two years of this course you will be able to apply for registered membership of BACP and eventual accreditation (as it is the case with all other training courses, the latter requires additional practice hours).

The MSc is a three-year part-time course. We have a January start  which is only for the students who  have completed the PGDip in Integrative Counselling and Couching.

In your first year you will undertake two counselling modules. These cover core and advanced counselling skills, an overview of the key theoretical approaches including humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, gestalt, CBT and solution focussed therapy. 

There is a strong focus on personal development. In your second year you will study the practice of evidence-based coaching with models and interventions selected most suitable for integration. In the second term this is all brought together within the integrative framework of Personal Consultancy.

In the third year you will have an opportunity to carry out an independent research and write up your dissertation in the form of a professional journal article.

All these modules are core to the course, and worth 30 credits each.

The course combines academic rigour with practical skills to ensure that all graduates are both highly effective and credible professionals.

It will prepare you for practice in the area of integrative counselling and coaching drawing on the distinctive perspective and expertise of the staff.

To obtain a master's you will need 180 credits.  Students also have the option to exit earlier with a PG Diploma (120 credits).

We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up to date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change. 

• Bachelor's degree: GPA of 2.5 / 4 or overall classification of "Good" or higher
• UK Bachelor's degree with Honours: Second Class, Second Division or higher
• US Bachelor's degree: GPA 2.5 / 4

Extended Diploma or Diploma

FROM

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Diploma with 24 points including a minimum of 15 points at Higher Level

With this qualification you will be able to work as an integrative practitioner and personal consultant either independently or within organisations offering such services. The demand for integrative practitioners is steadily increasing in private, public and voluntary sectors. Being  the only postgraduate course of its kind at the moment makes this qualification highly sought-after.

After completing the course you can apply for the membership of BACP as well as the Association of Integrative Coach - Therapist Practitioners (AICTP). Both are relevant for your career in this field. 

During this course you will also develop an understanding of real-life application of skills and theory as well as capabilities to pursue successful, ethical and useful careers.

Previous students have developed successful independent practices across a range of sectors (e.g. health and education sectors, corporate sector, third sector organisations, private practice).  A number of students consider themselves 'portfolio workers' in that they engage in a mix of work (drawn from all of the above) depending on their strengths, experience and particular interests and focus. 

More specifically, the Master's degree and research skills will increase your chances of getting employment particularly in the public sector and the third sector (at the moment, there is a shortage of practitioners who can analyse the data that third sector organisations collect).

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.