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Therapeutic Counselling (Top-Up)

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 6 Months
  • Distance learning (full-time)
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
City CampusC

Course summary

If you’re working as a counsellor, this distance learning course will continue your professional development and top-up your qualification to a degree.

Distance learning with live attendance
You'll study this course online via distance learning. Expert tutors will guide you through a range of teaching and learning activities which can be studied at a time that fits around your existing commitments. However, you’ll need to attend live online for the Group Therapies and Theory & Practice of Research modules.

As part of this course, via distance learning you’ll:

  • Explore the key theoretical counselling orientations, including the relational approach and cognitive behavioural therapy, widely used in the NHS today

  • Identify underpinning philosophies, values and cultural assumptions

  • Explore key issues and debates in psychological therapies

  • Experience and facilitate an online group

  • Learn about different models of supervision, and reflect on your own experience

  • Develop an understanding of research methods and apply these to your own piece of research, culminating in your research dissertation

Find out more

Enhance your professional development
If you’re a counsellor looking to top-up your qualification to an honours degree, this course will enrich your professional development and practice. You could also use it as a steppingstone to master’s-level study.

Your learning experience
You’ll shape and invigorate your debates through online discussions with other qualified counsellors as you share knowledge and expertise. Networking with your peers will enable you to potentially develop entrepreneurial ventures and partnerships.

You’ll boost your expertise with your final project module, as you develop and carry out your own research project.

Teaching expertise
Your learning will be facilitated by lecturers from a wide range of backgrounds, including:

  • Psychology

  • Counselling

  • Occupational therapy

  • Social work

Our teaching team has worked with person-centred, integrative, psychodynamic and humanistic approaches. They’ll help inform your course content and bring a vast array of experience and insight via recorded lectures, guided reflective exercises, guided reading and live online sessions. The group sessions in the Group Therapies module and dissertation supervision session require mandatory live online attendance. Additional drop-in sessions and workshops are optional.

You’ll focus on widening your knowledge and experience in theories of:

  • Therapy

  • Supervision

  • Contemporary issues and debates in the field

  • Group approaches

  • Research

Shape your identity
By the end of your course, you’ll have shaped and strengthened your understanding of counselling and developed your identity as a counsellor. You’ll also feel confident in seeking more opportunities to deliver counselling in diverse settings and communities.

Why study Therapeutic Counselling via distance learning at Leeds Beckett University...

  • Study at a time that fits around your other commitments

  • Deepen your understanding of counselling and apply your knowledge to practice

  • Engage with other qualified counsellors

  • Part-time study available

  • Research-led teaching

Modules

<strong> Core Modules: </strong>

  • Theories of Therapy
  • Supervision in Practice
  • Issues & Debates in Psychological Therapies
  • Group Therapies & Group Work
  • Theory & Practice of Research

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B940
Institution code:
L27
Campus name:
City CampusC
Campus Code:
C

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language at Grade 4 or above (Grade C for GCSEs taken before 2017) or equivalent. Key Skills Level 2, Functional Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy are accepted in place of GCSEs.

Applicants should normally have a Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling, HND, Foundation Degree or equivalent award of 120 level 5 credit points in a cognate subject. Applicants should have formal training in counselling and/or psychotherapy, with a minimum of 100 supervised client hours and membership of BACP or equivalent professional association with code of ethics. Applicants who have completed a Level 4 Therapeutic Counselling Diploma may be considered through recognition of prior learning and will be required to submit additional documentary evidence including two references and a written case study. Further details will be provided on receipt of application.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

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