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Counselling (Children and Young People) - MSc

Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.

Our MSc Counselling (Children and Young People) course includes a minimum of 100 hours of supervised client practice hours. The placements will take place with our placement partners locally. Placements in areas other than Birmingham may be possible by negotiation....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time
  • Location City Centre
  • School School of Social Sciences
  • Faculty Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences

Overview

Our MSc Counselling (Children and Young People) course includes a minimum of 100 hours of supervised client practice hours.

The placements will take place with our placement partners locally. Placements in areas other than Birmingham may be possible by negotiation.

The course aims to meet the professional accreditation requirements in counselling children and young people that will enable successful graduates (who have also met all required professional practice components) to continue towards accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Upon completion of the course you will have demonstrated sound practical counselling competence that will enable you to complete the BACP proficiency certificate and to apply for BACP registration. Your BCU qualification and BACP registration will enable you seek employment as a counsellor with children and young people as you work towards full BACP accreditation.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

During the first semester, the focus will be on the development of the necessary knowledge and competence to be able to begin practical counselling with child clients. Course and placement structures will ensure that work is performed safely and with appropriate support and guidance in accordance with the BACP ethical framework.

Two skills modules in semester 1 and placement modules in semester 2 and 3 will ensure the on-going integration of theory and practice. A focus on play, the use of creative media and an in-depth exploration of the knowledge base (detailed by the professional standards of education and training for child counselling) will ensure an appropriately level of skill and competence.

Your personal tutor will actively support you through the process of applying, obtaining and settling into placements from our list of approved placement providers in a process designed to provide the experience and practical competence you will need to find employment when you graduate.

Placements are supported and closely monitored by the staff team, who are all professional child counsellors and psychotherapists.

Supervision costs are included in the overall course fee, and supervision is fully integrated into your course in a way that enhances your learning and meets professional body requirements.

During the final semester, an extended practice-based research project will support your understanding of the importance of outcome measure in child therapy and develop your competence in child counselling research.

Why Choose Us?

  • You will receive a quality learning experience that meets professional standards and that will enable you to achieve professional accreditation
  • All supervision costs for the year are included in the course fee. The only additional cost is for personal therapy (at a discounted rate as detailed above)
  • You will be studying within a thriving and research active psychology department with a strong specialism in child psychology
  • You will be taught by professional child counsellors and psychotherapists
  • A strong student focus at the forefront of our approach, with everything designed to give you the skills you need to succeed in the profession
  • You’ll have the opportunity to work in collaboration with our academic researchers in the area of children development and therapeutic interventions
  • The course is strongly practice based, with all assessments focussing on practical skills or the links between theory and practice
  • You will study in our state-of-the-art City Centre Campus, ideally located for you to take advantage of our links to industry in the UK’s second city

OPEN DAY

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person. You'll get the chance to learn about courses in subject talks, chat to tutors and explore our campus. We'll post you a detailed event programme to help plan your day and find your way.

Next Event: Saturday 24 June

Book your place

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements
Typical Offers (UK Students)

Applicants must have a minimum 2:2 degree in a BPS accredited Psychology degree. 

Entry via alternative equivalent qualification and experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

Evidence of personal resilience and resources, maturity and emotional stability to support the intensity of the training process, the profession of child counselling, and of working with people in a responsible role.

Applicants will also be required to undertake an interview.

Additional information for EU/International students
Essential

Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.

In additional to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table.

English language requirements 2020/21
IELTS

6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information.

Other accepted qualifications Visit our English language page

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2023

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 1 Year
  • £13,500 in 2023/24

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2023

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 1 Year
  • £19,665 in 2023/24

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites and available through our library.

Supervision

Supervision of counselling placement costs are included (normally £50 x 25 hours).

Recording equipment (mandatory)

You will require a password protect, non-internet enabled audio recording device.

Therapy sessions (mandatory)

40 hours of personal therapy at discounted rate of £30 per hour with placement partner or between £50 and £70 per hour if therapy is sought privately.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

Modules

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 180 credits):

Initial Counselling Practice: Theory, Ethics and Context 20 credits

Child and Young Person Development 20 credits

Developing Counselling Practice: Theory, Ethics and Context 20 credits

The Mental, Emotional and Psychological Health and Disease of Children and Young People 20 credits

Diversity, Cultural, Familial & Contextual Dynamics 20 credits

Consolidating Counselling Practice: Theory, Ethics and Context 20 credits

Counselling Children and Young People Research Project 40 credits

Download course specification

Download now

St Martin’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Service

One of the placement providers for our MSc Counselling (Children and Young People) course is St. Martin's Counselling and Psychotherapy Service. We asked those who already work with the service what it is like to work for the organisation:

"I have a lot of experience working within this area as a previous primary teacher/Head. I can't recommend St Martin's highly enough. They are so supportive to both clients and counsellors when there are challenges."

Maggie

"I have been volunteering at St. Martin's for approximately two years and have found both the management and admin team very supportive. I have valued their professionalism in keeping me updated in regard to new allocations and cancellation of appointments. During the first lockdown St Martin's were very quick to move to online work and showed great commitment in providing support to their volunteers in this transition period."

Yasmeen

"As a volunteer, beginning my counselling journey at St Martin's, I can admit I was a little nervous - however this soon disappeared. I have found all at St Martin's to be friendly, professional, understanding and kind. It is a place filled with knowledge and experience, and being here has helped my personal development. I can safely say that St Martin's is a place where you can grow, meet other therapists and obtain skills that will enable you to provide a safe place for the client and you to work in."

Melrose

"St. Martin's is well-run and organised, which enables you to focus on the job of being a counsellor / therapist, with their staff being professional, friendly and approachable. As a placement provider, they are accommodating and understanding to the needs of trainees. Additionally, it holds a great opportunity to build up longer term client work, which has been invaluable in my professional development and has seen me continue, post-qualification, as a volunteer. "

Jen

Employability

International

Welcome to the School of Social Sciences, home to students from all around the world!

All of our undergraduate and postgraduate social sciences courses are open to international students, and our courses have been tailored to take a global approach to learning.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Facilities & Staff

Curzon facilities eatery
Curzon facilities staircase
Curzon facilities student hub

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £340 million on new learning facilities.

The Curzon Building

This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other social sciences, law and business students.

The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.

Realistic, simulated environments include two mock court rooms, a Magistrates' and Crown Court, and an interviewing suite. We’re also exploring the use of virtual environments as a way to develop case study analysis.

For those studying on the BA (Hons) Policing or BA (Hons) Criminology, Policing and Investigation degrees, you’ll experience simulations of police interviewing environments for both suspects and witnesses, with access to tape recording and video playback analysis.

Crime investigation files are prepared using computer-based technology, and the crime data analysis requirements of the degree are supported by appropriate statistical and analytical software.

Psychology students can look forward to using state-of-the-art equipment as well, including the latest in eye-tracking software, and our new EEG machine, all geared towards giving you true hands-on experience with tools you’ll be using in your later career. You will also benefit from facilities across the wider campus including the Parkside and Millennium Point buildings.

The Curzon Building also features:

  • An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
  • Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
  • A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
  • Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
  • Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point

Our staff

Dr Fran Renwick

Senior Lecturer, Course Director : MSc Integrative Psychotherapy

Teaching enables Dr Fran Renwick to share some of the knowledge and practical skills she has gained as a psychotherapist with extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision and service management.

More about Fran