Psychology with Counselling with Professional Placement Year

Reasons to choose Kingston

• The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).

• Upon graduation, you will be in an excellent position to pursue further training and education in careers such becoming a counsellor or therapist.

• This degree also prepares you to pursue postgraduate training in clinical or counselling psychology or any chartered psychology degree.

• The option of a one-year paid work placement in the application of psychology will boost your employability further.

• You will have a personal tutor and a small tutor group of peers that you meet with regularly to support your transition to university and your academic success.

About this course
This dynamic degree explores the complexities of the human psyche, arming students with the tools to make a positive impact on emotional wellbeing. You will study key counselling approaches such as person-centred, cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic therapies.

While developing an understanding of common and complex mental health disorders, you will also develop key counselling competences such as communication and listening skills, empathy, self-awareness, establishing boundaries and working ethically within a therapeutic setting.

Taught by specialised academics and qualified counsellors, you will also develop a core understanding of the fields of cognitive, biological, developmental and social psychology, as well as transferable skills in experimental design and statistical analysis.

A combination of Psychology with Counselling can be recognised as a real asset by employers because these subjects develop knowledge and people skills that are invaluable when working with individuals and teams. Upon graduation you will be eligible to apply for postgraduate training or studies. For example, a Doctorate in Counselling or Clinical Psychology which will lead to Chartered Psychology Status.

Professional Placement Year
This course has a professional placement year which takes place between Year 2 and your Final Year. During this year, you will take a placement within a relevant setting, ensuring you gain essential experience to add to your CV and help you secure a graduate job.

Future Skills
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

Career opportunities
Mental health problems are a significant and growing issue, with an estimated one in four people experiencing mental health problems at some point in their lives.

The importance of counselling to the wellbeing of individuals and society is increasingly recognised. This has led to an increased demand for mental health services, and a corresponding increase in the number of job opportunities available for graduates in this field.

Graduates may work in the charity and care sector, advocacy and victim support services, National Health Service or as mental health support workers.

In addition, graduates are well placed to pursue postgraduate education such as the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or Counselling psychology to become a Chartered Psychologist. Further training and education can lead to Chartered Psychology status in other areas (e.g. Health, Forensic, Educational), or becoming a counsellor, a psychological wellbeing practitioner, a teacher or an HR Professional.

Example modules:

• Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy in Practice
• Personal Development and Therapeutic Process
• Mental Health in Counselling and Psychotherapy

For a full list of modules please visit the Kingston University course webpage.

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation).