INTEGRATIVE COUNSELLING Level 5 Foundation Degree

Level 5
Higher Education
Newry Campus
Ulster University
The National Counselling Society

Overview

This practice-based professional programme in counselling, responds to evidenced public need in NI and has been designed in consultation with industry partners, professional and academic bodies. The course is offered part-time over 3 years of study. It is awarded and validated by Ulster University and is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling Society (NCS). Successful completion of the full award confers fitness to practice counselling.

The course aims to develop students with the required attributes, skills and competencies to work effectively and ethically with adults who wish to avail of professional counselling.

Exit Award

Students not wishing to become a professional counsellor may exit at the mid-point of the course. The exit award of Certificate in Higher Education (CERTHE) in Counselling Studies, is awarded on successful completion of 120 credits at Level 4. This non-practice option, acknowledges counselling knowledge and skill development, but not to the level required for professional practice.

Course Team

All tutors are qualified and experienced counsellors. This underpins the authenticity of teaching and learning activities as students engage with practitioners who understand the challenges and opportunities of the counselling role. The following teaching team deliver the FdSc course at SRC:

Course Director - Claire Rogan
Course Lecturer - Anne O'Neill
Course Lecturer- Phillipa Markey-Smith

Clinical supervisors are appointed by students from an approved list of appropriately qualified and experienced counselling practitioners – the Ulster University Register of Counselling-Training Supervision Providers – which is renewed annually.

Placement mentors are appointed by placement agencies and work closely with the College and supervisory teams.

The over-riding consideration in admitting applicants to this course, is evidence that the learner is likely to be able to complete the course satisfactorily.

Attendance at Individual or Group Pre-Entry Advice Sessions (IPEAS and GPEAS) may be required. These interviews may take place either on campus, via telephone or video call (Microsoft teams) and will play an important role in place allocation.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before 1st July 2024.

Applicants must have attained five subjects, two of which must be at A-level (grades A-E) and three at GCSE level (grades A-C/4-9) OR four subjects, three of which must be at A-level (grades A-E) and one at GCSE level (grades A- C/4-9) OR BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or an Access to Higher Education qualification.
Applicants must have attained at least 15 points at Level 2 or above (e.g. GCSE) or have alternative approved qualifications. In addition, applicants must provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English Language. For entry to this programme, applicants should have attained a C grade in GCSE English language and a C grade in GCSE Maths (or accepted equivalent such as Level 2 Essential Skills Communication and Level 2 Essential Skills Application of Number).
Applicants who do not meet the criteria outlined above but have evidence of substantial knowledge or relevant industrial experience and skills, which has not been formally assessed, should refer to the College’s Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) Policy.
An interview will play an integral role in offers being made to this course.

Please note that applicants progressing to higher education courses at Level 4 and above in the College or UK Universities may require a specific GCSE/ A-Level profile. In some cases, the Essential Skills in Literacy and Numeracy may not be a suitable alternative to a GCSE. It is the responsibility of the applicant to check each University’s progression requirements before enrolling on a course at the College.

Admissions Process

Completion of the Level 4 Ulster University Certificate in Counselling Studies course, or an equivalent substantial counselling qualification is recommended and is a desirable selection criteria, which will be applied where the course is over-subscribed.
The application process involves submission of an application and completion of interview to establish suitability. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide certificated evidence of entry qualifications with their College application in order to be considered for interview. Successful completion of all components of the admission procedures contribute to the overall admission decision. Applications will be sifted in May and June.
Where the number of places is oversubscribed, additional criteria will be used and candidates will be called for interview by date order of application. Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee an interview, as places may fill before all applications are reviewed. Early application is therefore advisable.
Your application will require two character references and as this course may require work with vulnerable adults, ACCESS NI checks are required for all successful applicants.

The course is structured around 11 compulsory taught modules. These are delivered via a blended approach to teaching and learning, which involves opportunities for face-to-face lectures, student-led seminars, group work, counselling practice with peers and online teaching.

Modules

Year	Module and course code	Level	Credit point
1	Integrative Skills 1	4	20
	Integrating the Self	4	20
	Integrating Humanistic Theory	4	20
	Ethics and professional practice (Pre-requisite module)	4	20
2	Integrating Cognitive Behavioural Theory	4	20
	Integrative Skills 2	4	20
	Supervised Practice 1 (Pre-requisite Module)	5	20
	Psychosocial Lifespan Development	5	20
3	Supervised Practice 2	5	40
	Integrating Psychodynamic Theory	5	20
	Personal Integrative Approach	5	20

All modules are assessed via course work in keeping with Ulster University regulations. These include case study preparation, essays, audio-recorded skills work with peers or clients, reflective journaling, presentations, viva and the development of a portfolio of work. In addition to academic work, reports from clinical supervisors and placement mentors are intrinsic to the successful completion of the course. Formative feedback is offered to support student development. A minimum of 40% is required for successful completion of all modules.

In addition to the taught academic modules, students are required to complete the following:

100 hours supervised clinical placement working within a counselling organisation of their choice.
30 hours personal therapy, completed with an accredited therapist.
50 hours work-based learning, completed in placement.

Successful completion of 240 credits of study, including the successful completion of the clinical practice components above, result in the award of Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice. All components of the course must be completed in order that students graduate from a BACP Accredited Course.

Where the exam/awarding body fee is listed as TBC in the full fee breakdown, the information has not yet been released by our partner awarding bodies for 24/25. This fee will be updated as soon as it becomes available.

Fees displayed for each course represent fees to be charged for year 1 of each programme. Please note that fees may increase in year 2 or 3 of the course. Read more in our Fees Policy at https://www.src.ac.uk/about-us...

In addition to course and registration fees, all counselling courses incur an additional cost in relation to practice and personal therapy requirements. The following are examples of the associated costs for this course.

Personal therapy (approximately £40 per hour) for a minimum of thirty (30) sessions.
Clinical supervision (typically £35 - £40 per hour - student rates may be available). Students are required to have supervision every fortnight for a minimum of 45 mins.
Student membership of a professional body BACP (normally £82 per year).
Professional Indemnity Insurance £60-80 (approx.).

Overall, it would be expected that additional costs may reach a minimum of £2400.

Graduates of the Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Integrative Counselling Practice (Level 5) may progress to Level 6 BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Counselling at Ulster University and in turn further study at Masters and PhD level.

Since the FdSc programme is widely applicable to a range of occupations, others graduates have used the course to progress to study in allied healthcare professions, human resources, law etc. at Ulster University and elsewhere.

Graduates may also begin working as counsellors upon qualification and many have progressed to part-time employment in voluntary, charitable and private sector agencies.