Course information

Our BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy will provide you with a sound knowledge of the theory underpinning practice of Humanistic and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and supports the acquisition of the clinical skills necessary for safe and ethical practice. The development of personal growth and self-awareness are fundamental aspects of the training.

Professional Bodies

On successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy degree by Staffordshire University. The course is also professionally accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Placements

As part of training, students are required to secure suitable placements.  SPTI works with many regional and national employers to provide placement opportunities for students. Through our Placement Co-ordinator, SPTI holds and develops a database of placement providers and we’ll actively support you in your search.  Each year, SPTI holds a placement fair where students are able to meet and make valuable contacts with placement providers as well as attending workshops on the day. Placement opportunities are posted on our student VLE, Moodle.

Start date

The course will start in September 2025.

Duration

The duration of the course is 3 years and students will study a total of 360 credits.

  • Year one consists of eight workshops: One 2-day workshop (Friday & Saturday), three 3-day workshops (Friday–Sunday) and four 4-day workshops (Thursday–Sunday).
  • Year two consists of eight workshops: Seven 3-day workshops (Friday–Sunday) and one 4-day workshop (Thursday–Sunday).
  • Year three consists of eight workshops: One 2-day workshop (Friday & Saturday), five 3-day workshops (Friday–Sunday) and two 4-day workshop (Thursday–Sunday).
    • In addition, Year three students will be required to attend three mid-week Study Days (usually Wednesdays).

Location

The workshops are delivered in our training facilities at 2 Castle Quay, Castle Boulevard (NG7 1FW) or 30 Park Row (NG1 6GR).

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Course content

You will develop professional skills through daily skills practice and observation at workshops throughout the training and through 200 hours of supervised clinical practice on placement in years 2 and 3, meaning you will have acquired significant experience in the profession by the end of the course.

The course will bring you in to contact with a range of experienced and currently practising therapists – your Facilitators, your clinical supervisors and your personal therapist – from whom you will learn your profession. You will have the opportunity to observe live work and your own development as a therapist will be supported by regular feedback from Tutors and peers in workshops.

The BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy emphasises the importance of the person of the therapist as a primary tool in counselling and psychotherapy. Your personal development will be supported and taken forward through regular personal therapy, reflection in your personal learning journal and engagement with your peers in daily group process in each workshop.

  • You will have the opportunity to develop your own personal philosophy of counselling throughout the course and to pursue an area of interest through your final dissertation.
  • The course will challenge you personally, professionally and academically, you will develop relationships with peers which will support you as you enter the profession, and you will join SPTI’s community of trainee and practising counsellors and psychotherapists.

Modules

All modules are compulsory to complete the academic qualification of BSc (Hons) and professional accreditation with BACP. All modules are taught in class sizes of 16. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Year One

Module 1 Humanistic and Integrative Philosophy20 credits
Module 2Therapeutic Relationship20 credits
Module 3An Ethical Framework for Counselling20 credits
Module 4Therapeutic Skills (I)20 credits
Module 5Culture and Diversity20 credits
Module 6Clinical Obligations (I)  20 credits

Year Two

Module 1 The Process and Evaluation of Change40 credits
Module 2Human Development20 credits
Module 3Unconscious Processes 20 credits
Module 4Therapeutic Skills (II)20 credits
Module 5Clinical Obligations (II)  20 credits

Year Three

Module 1 Applications of a Humanistic and Integrative
Approach to Counselling & Psychotherapy		60 credits
Module 2The Use of Self 20 credits
Module 3Clinical Obligations (III)40 credits

Clinical Obligations

Year 130 hours of
personal therapy
Year 240 hours of
personal therapy		75 hours (minimum)
of supervised placement		30 hours (minimum)
of supervision
Year 340 hours of
personal therapy		125 hours (minimum)
of supervised placement		50 hours (minimum)
of supervision

Equipment

Training will cover all elements of face-to-face, online and phone therapy to enable students to support clients through placement activities. To facilitate the training, students are required to have:

  • Suitable technology / devices (such as a laptop or phone) with the technical ability to work online i.e. which connects to the internet and has a camera and microphone.
  • A private space to attend online / phone based sessions when completing clinical placement/supervision activity during years 2 and 3.

Entry Requirements

Entry is through submission of an application form, evidence of qualifications, two suitable references, a satisfactory criminal records check and a personal interview. The following requirements comply with both QAA and BACP’s standards for training in psychotherapy:

  • Evidence of study at RQF (Recognised Qualifications Framework) level 3 qualification (or equivalent) – e.g. A level, NVQ, BTEC
  • Evidence of successful completion of a basic, (preferably) face-to-face, Counselling Skills course (minimum 30 hours)
  • Evidence of relevant experience of working with people in a responsible or supportive role
  • Attendance at an SPTI Information Day

Applicants who do not meet the academic requirements for entry but satisfy criteria relating to ‘relevant work and/or life experience, may be asked to complete a short essay in order to demonstrate their capacity to study at the relevant academic level in addition to providing evidence of other qualifications.

Where English is not your first language, you must demonstrate a pass in either:

  • IELTS 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element), or
  • TOEFL iBT 87 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking), or
  • CELE pre-course of study

International Students: SPTI is not a UK Home Office Registered Sponsor with approval to admit overseas students. We can only consider applications from applicants who satisfy HOME fee residential status criteria. For more information, visit https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice/Fees-and-Money/England-HE-fee-status

EU students: Following the UK’s exit from the EU in 2021, the UK government made changes to eligibility for Student Finance. EU students are non longer treated as home students and will require student visas. Therefore, we are not able to accept applications from EU resident applicants.

Starting part-way through: SPTI welcomes applications for the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). If you think that past experiences and learning may be used toward gaining formal credit toward study at SPTI, you may be able to apply for APL. For more information, click here.

Interviews

Interviews are conducted with the Programme Leader or an experienced professional counsellor/psychotherapist and is likely to be for a minimum of 30 minutes duration. At interview, you will need to demonstrate that you have, or have the potential to develop, the following attributes:

  • Self-awareness, maturity, and stability
  • Ability to reflect on life experiences and utilise constructive feedback
  • Capacity to cope with the emotional and intellectual demands of the programme
  • Ability to form a helping relationship
  • Awareness of issues of diversity and equality, prejudice, and oppression
  • Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support

Teaching & Assessment

You will be taught by experienced practitioners through a combination of lectures, workshops, small group and practical sessions. Small group sessions enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your Personal Facilitator twice a year.

Fees

For the course starting September 2025, the full-time tuition fees are to be confirmed.

Additional Costs

The following costs are in addition to the tuition fees, and you are expected to pay these yourself. You must continue in personal therapy and clinical supervision throughout the duration of the course.

  • DBS checks including being registered on the update service
  • Personal therapy (weekly, usually around £30.00 – £60.00 per session)
  • Clinical Supervision (years 2 & 3, usually around £40.00 – £65.00 per session)
  • Where students are working with clients, Professional Indemnity Insurance should be taken out
  • Any placement related expenses

Financial support

Tuition fee and maintenance loans are available from Student Finance England. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to SPTI. Maintenance loans are paid directly to the student. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance Students can apply for Disability Support Allowance which can provide equipment, mentoring and other support depending upon the needs of the student. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/how-to-claim Students on low incomes or with a disability can apply for an SPTI Bursary of up to 10% reduction in tuition fees. This is a discretionary bursary which is subject to the availability of funds. For more information and an application form for an SPTI Bursary click here for the Finance and Bursaries page.

Employability

Both BSc and MSc courses offer both an academic qualification and professional accreditation.  Therefore, your earning capacity as a professional with an academic qualification and BACP accreditation or UKCP registration will be greatly enhanced. In addition to setting up in private psychotherapy practice, a high proportion of our graduates’ work in full or part-time employment in psychotherapy or related fields.

The “return on investment” that cannot be measured quite so easily is in terms of quality of life and job satisfaction. Many of our graduates incorporate what they learn into their current jobs, expanding their job specs, or work with clients for part of the week. The increased autonomy, flexibility and job satisfaction associated with this style of working is greatly valued by those who experience it.

How to apply

Applications for the academic year 2025-26 will open soon.

To apply for this course, click here.