Psychology with Counselling with Foundation Year
Psychology with counselling is a combination that trains you both in the scientific study of mind and behaviour and in the practical, relational skills of counselling practice. Psychology provides the theoretical and empirical foundation, examining how people think, feel, develop, learn and behave, using rigorous research methods to test ideas about mental processes and human experience. Counselling introduces you to the therapeutic frameworks, communication skills and person-centred approach that are central to helping people explore and address their difficulties.
Together they prepare you for careers where understanding people at a deep level and working with them sensitively is essential.
At the University of Keele, this four-year BSc includes a foundation year, which gives you time to build the academic and scientific foundations you need before progressing into the full degree. The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society and covers the core areas of psychology alongside the counselling specialism, including insights into the person-centred approach and the skillset of a counselling practitioner. You will develop the ability to think rigorously about psychological questions while also developing the interpersonal and reflective capacities that working therapeutically with clients requires.
Graduates of this programme are well prepared for a range of careers in the helping professions. Mental health support work, counselling assistant roles, welfare and student support, human resources, educational support and work in the charitable sector are all common early career destinations. The BPS-accredited psychology component provides the academic foundation for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, which is the first step towards professional registration as a psychologist.
Many graduates go on to postgraduate training in clinical, counselling, health or educational psychology, where the combination of psychological knowledge and counselling skills they have developed gives them a strong foundation for professional practice.