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Develop your career by combining this part-time counselling course with practical placements or paid work. Earn an academic qualification that also delivers practical skills and the option to top-up to a full honours degree.
This Foundation Degree is taught at East Durham College. You can then 'top-up' to a BA (Hons) Counselling at the University of Sunderland.
The course has a strong practical focus and our teaching will help you reflect on your workplace experiences.
When you successfully complete this course you will be awarded a Foundation Degree in Counselling that is accredited by the University of Sunderland.
Please contact East Durham College to apply for this course.
During your first year, you will be required to undertake some form of voluntary work so that you can practise the skills that you are learning on the course.
In the second year, you will undertake a placement with a counselling agency, and we will support you as you arrange it.
This is a highly practical course, which combines academic study and work-based learning. The elements of the course which are taught in the college include lectures, discussions, case studies and workshops.
Your progress will be assessed with evaluations of work experience, reports and presentations. Throughout the course you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff.
We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.
The typical entry requirement is a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling.
Students would normally be in voluntary or paid work as a Counsellor or undertaking (or about to undertake) paid or voluntary work in a setting which will allow you to practice counselling skills.
You may be required to attend an interview. Please contact East Durham College for more information at 0191 518 2000 or email:
Dr Joanna Naxton: joanna.naxton@eastdurham.ac.uk
Sarah Anderson: sarah.anderson@eastdurham.ac.uk
If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.
The tuition fees for this course are £5,665 per 120 credits if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.
There is a course requirement stipulating that all students need to acquire student membership of the BACP at own cost prior to beginning counselling practice in a placement.
Prospective students are advised to consult the BACP for the latest information on student membership which currently stands at £82.
Possible additional costs:
In the second year of the course, students must undertake a placement with a counselling agency. If the counselling placement provider cannot supply an appropriate supervisor, it is the responsibility of the student to identify a suitable supervisor and also pay for any fees charged for this service.
Please note that this course is not available to international students.
Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
A Foundation Degree equips you to move into a broad range of careers or to pursue an honours degree with one more year of study.
There is a natural progression from this Foundation Degree to the Counselling (Top-Up) course at the University of Sunderland for a full BA (Hons) Counselling.
There is a growing demand for counsellors to work in the health sector, voluntary and community sector and in private practice. This is because of better awareness of the benefits of talking therapies by policymakers, health professionals and the general public.
Counselling careers include educational counselling (where you help deal with difficulties in learning and social adjustment), forensic counselling (where you become an expert in psychological issues associated with criminal behaviours), and clinical counselling (where you deal with mental and physical health problems).
In addition, skills in counselling are useful in many different careers including personnel, social work, public services, marketing and advertising.