BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology with Foundation Year

Why study this subject?

This degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is a recognised qualification by employers throughout the country.

Our BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology course will be of interest to you if you’re considering a career in counselling but also wish to keep your options open. The range of modules to choose from, together with support from our specialist teaching staff, will help give you the flexibility you need to choose the right career path.

You’ll build a strong foundation if you wish to practice Clinical Psychology, pursue counselling as a career or in any area of psychology – you’ll be set up for great success in the future in any number of counselling environments.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

At BNU, we explore every aspect of psychology on our wide range of courses. Our teaching department is home to an incredible community of Psychology and Social Science students who can collaborate with you on projects, providing a rich supply of volunteers when you run your own experiments.

Your learning won’t just take place in a lecture theatre – you’ll have the chance to learn in labs and seminar rooms, gaining the skills that you’ll need when you start your exciting career.

BNU prides itself on teaching practical skills wherever and whenever we can, meaning you'll leave us feeling confident and prepared for your future. Our hands-on approach will give you a sense of what it’s really like to work in the world of counselling psychology, in whatever career you choose.

The Psychology department at BNU also provides you with the opportunity to hear from and connect with experts in the field, including HM Prison & Probation staff, Counselling Psychologists, Senior Police Officers, Neuropsychologists and Occupational Psychologists to name just a few.

We also arrange regular visits to museums, prisons, courts and sports venues to see psychology applied in lots of different contexts.

As a Counselling Psychology student, you’ll also be given these same opportunities but in the context of our Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Applied Positive Psychology programmes meaning your learning experience will be even richer.

Our BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is a recognised qualification by employers throughout the country.

What facilities can I use?

On our BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology programme, you’ll take part in laboratory and computing workshops where you’ll have the practical use of software used by social scientists in the presentation of research data.

You’ll also have the opportunity to use our state-of-the-art observation laboratory to engage in the measurement of psycho-physiological responses using Biopac©. You’ll be able to measure the activity of the cardiovascular system, brain, autonomic nervous system and more. You’ll also have access to Tobii eye tracking equipment and HTC Vive, a virtual reality software, meaning you can push the boundaries and get creative with your research ideas!

Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments – you’ll have access to hundreds of specialist books, articles and online journals. Not to mention there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study time.

We’ll also sign you up to our Virtual Learning Environment which means you’ll have access to lots of online resources wherever you are!

What will I study?

Our BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology degree will help you develop a solid foundation of understanding in core areas of psychology in addition to our uniquely developed counselling psychology modules.

You’ll learn about Biopsychology, Personality, Social, Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. In addition, you’ll study modules like Foundations of Counselling Psychology, Approaches to Therapeutic Traditions and look at ethical issues and diversity.

At BNU, we are always thinking about how we can best prepare our students for their future careers so, to give your learning on important practical elements, we also teach active listening and motivational interviewing – both important qualities in any career.

The taught module options available to you in your final year will be focused on the counselling environment you may be considering for your future career (e.g. Prison, Police, Business or Education).

In your final year, you’ll also have the opportunity to deep dive into a specialist area you’re really passionate about by completing an empirical dissertation. With the support and guidance of your personal tutor along with the facilities available to you here at Bucks, the possibilities for this project are endless.