Q: What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Counselling is typically designed to be a short-term intervention and to deal with the “here and now”. It is often “integrative” and therefore tends to incorporate a variety of different therapeutic approaches and techniques. Psychotherapy is typically designed to be a longer-term intervention, to deal with issues in depth and psychotherapists often specialise in one particular model of therapy (e.g., CBT, Psychodynamic, Gestalt). There are exceptions to this, but this is historically how the training for the two disciplines has been separated. The UKCP has been better known for Psychotherapy accreditation whilst the BACP has been better known for Counselling, however again, there are some exceptions to this.

Q: Does this course enable me to practice as a Counsellor upon completion?

The MSc at Worcester is not accredited by a UK Professional and Statutory Regulating Body (PSRB). In order to practice as a Counsellor, you need to have completed a training programme/course which is accredited by a UK based governing body (i.e., PSRB). The main two PSRBs within the Counselling discipline are the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Training programmes which are accredited by these two PSRBs must have a placement component which enables trainees to gain a minimum of 100 supervised practice hours. The MSc in Counselling at the University of Worcester does not include a placement element and, therefore, does not enable graduates of the programme to register as Counsellors directly following completion of the course.

Q: If I want to become a Counsellor, is this course for me?

Despite the fact that the course does not provide graduates with a qualification that enables them to practice as a Counsellor after completion, we have had students on the course who want to be Counsellors and who chose the course because some counselling training programmes only cover the basics of theory and research. The course at Worcester provides students with a thorough understanding of and grounding in the theoretical underpinnings of counselling practice and enables students to develop research skills that are vital to future work as an evidence-based practitioner. If you have any interest in developing a deeper theoretical basis for a counselling skills training, and/or if you like the idea of designing and carrying out research or being part of the research community in Psychology then the MSc in Counselling is an appropriate course for you to embark on! Some students have chosen to undertake their level 2/3 Counselling Skills Training alongside the MSc in Counselling and this can work well because the MSc is delivered in a block taught format across a total of 32 contact days (16 Fridays and 16 Saturdays) over the course of the academic year. There are a number of local institutions which offer level 2/3 Counselling Skills Training including Evesham College and Worcester College. Levels 2 and 3 can also be completed online at a number of UK based institutions. Level 2/3 counselling skills courses can help focus on counselling skills themselves, whilst the MSc counselling can help to underpin these skills by grounding students in theory and research.

Q: I am applying because I want to be Counselling Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist

To become a Chartered/Registered Counselling or Clinical Psychologist you need to complete Doctoral level training which is ONLY accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This is because Counselling Psychology and Clinical Psychology sit within a different academic discipline (Psychology) whereas Counselling and Psychotherapy sit within their own discipline (Counselling and Psychotherapy). Counselling and Clinical Psychologists differ from Counsellors and Psychotherapists in that their training has a stronger focus on competencies in conducting research and skills required to take on complex or longer-term clients. Many of our applicants apply for our MSc in Counselling because they want to be accepted onto one of the Counselling or Clinical Psychology doctorates and see our course as a steppingstone to being accepted onto a doctorate programme. All of the Clinical Psychology doctorates and many of the Counselling Psychology doctorates require a BPS-accredited Psychology degree with a minimum of a 2:1 degree classification (and some require a first class degree) and most doctorates require previous clinical experience OR a level 7 qualification (i.e. MSc) or counselling skills training. This is where the MSc at Worcester can fit in and can help students to enhance their profile ready for applying for a doctorate whilst also providing graduates with an excellent grounding in the theoretical perspectives and research evidence that inform counselling practices.

Q: How do I know which course is best for me?

If you are working towards a career as a Counsellor and want to have an excellent theoretical underpinning to your future practice, then the MSc in Counselling is for you. You will need to complete 100 hours of supervised practice in addition to the MSc (either during or after completion of the MSc) in order to be qualified to practice as a Counsellor. If you want to become a Counselling or Clinical Psychologist , then the MSc can be a great steppingstone to helping you achieve this aim, but completion of the MSc in Counselling alone will not qualify you to practice as a counselling or clinical psychologist. If you are interested in becoming a Counselling or Clinical Psychologist , you may wish to look at the BPS website If you are interested in becoming a Counsellor , you may wish to look at the BACP website If you are interested in becoming a Psychotherapist , you may wish to look at the UKCP website If you are interested in becoming a Family Therapist , you may wish to look at the AFT website If you are interested in becoming Cognitive Behavioural Therapist , you may wish to look the BABCP website for relevant training courses

Designed for those interested in the theories and evidence that shape counselling, our MSc provides a deep understanding of therapeutic theory and research – a valuable step toward careers in mental health, education, or further training.

University of the Year finalist

Recognised for our graduate success, we’re shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025.

Overview

Our MSc in Counselling is designed for those interested in the ideas, evidence, and contexts that shape therapeutic work. It offers a rigorous academic exploration of counselling, focusing on the theories, research, and critical perspectives that underpin the profession.

Through this course, you’ll develop a deep understanding of psychological models, ethical considerations, and the wider social and political influences on mental health care. You’ll strengthen your ability to analyse complex issues, evaluate evidence-based approaches, and reflect on the role of counselling in contemporary society. Practical elements such as role play and case formulation help bring theory to life, while advanced research training and a final dissertation give you the opportunity to explore the topics that interest you.

Whether studied full-time or part-time, the course offers flexibility to suit your schedule. By the time you graduate, you’ll be well-prepared for roles in education, mental health support, research, and policy, as well as for progression to doctoral-level study.

Course details

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers.

We regularly review our courses to reflect the latest research and developments in the subject area, as well as feedback from students, employers and the wider sector. As a result, modules may change to ensure the course remains current and relevant.

Mandatory modules

Advanced Research Analysis 2

Theory for Practice: Towards an Integrative Approach

The Professional, Political and Social Context of Counselling

Psychology of Mental Health

Developments in Evidence Based Counselling Practice

Therapeutic practice and skills integration

Professional Skills Development

Dissertation

Careers

This MSc in Counselling equips you with a strong foundation in psychological theory, research, and critical thinking – skills that are highly valued across a range of professions related to mental health and wellbeing. You'll graduate with the ability to analyse complex issues, evaluate evidence, communicate effectively, and critically reflect on practice.

While some graduates may go on to pursue further therapeutic training, many apply their learning in areas such as mental health support, education, youth work, coaching, advocacy, and service development. The course also prepares you for roles in policy, research, and organisational wellbeing, where a deep understanding of counselling theory and mental health is increasingly important.

Potential career paths include:

Mental health support worker
Wellbeing advisor
Youth and family support roles
Education and pastoral support
Research assistant or policy analyst
Roles in charities, community organisations, or the NHS

After graduating, you will also be well-positioned to pursue further academic study. This MSc provides a strong platform to progress onto our Psychology MPhil/PhD.

Course highlights

Taught by experts

At Worcester, you'll learn from a dedicated team of subject specialists whose extensive experience in a range of psychology, forensic psychology and psychotherapeutic settings, which informs and enriches their teaching.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and workshops. Your assessments will help prepare you for a career as a counsellor and include case studies where you apply counselling techniques and roleplaying with a process report.

The programmes utilise in-person delivery with modules being supported with the use of online reading materials. There is an emphasis on self-directed autonomous learning where you will apply learning outcomes and content to your own areas of interest or practice.

Teaching within the course aims to be engaging with formal approaches such as lectures being interspersed with discussion, debates, analysis of cases, and examples from practice settings. Learning approaches may include the use of Blackboard Collaborate, online discussion forums and flipped classrooms which expect you to complete independent work in preparation for teaching sessions to reinforce learning.

Sessions take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and are focused on developing subject-specific skills and applied individual and group project work. Tutorials are a key aspect of the learning strategy where you are encouraged to share your assessment plans with tutors and peers, allowing structured questions and feedback. Tutorials can be in-person or utilise digital/videoconferencing technologies such as Skype/MS Teams/Zoom etc.

In addition, you will have a minimum of two meetings with your Personal Academic Tutors, timed to coincide with key points such as induction or assessment. When undertaking the dissertation module, a supervisor will be allocated towards the start of the module. Timetabled group support sessions as well as individual tutorials will be used for supervision of the independent research dissertation.

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

Dr. Tanya Carpenter

Tanya is an HCPC registered and BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologist. She is also an Associate Fellow of the BPS with 13 years of clinical and managerial experience at the Priory hospital North London. Tanya has also been in clinical practice within the NHS, private practice and university counselling services.

Tanya also has experience supporting people with Asperger’s, and, as well as having written articles on Mindfulness, she facilitated Mindfulness Groups for 5 years

Samantha Holt

Samantha is currently conducting her thesis research for completion of a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology & Psychotherapy by Professional Studies. She has 18 years of NHS experience, as well as Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice experience, working with and supporting victims, witnesses, and offenders. Samantha also works in an inpatient ward treating patients with acute complex mental health needs.

Dr. Tanya Carpenter

Tanya also has experience supporting people with Asperger’s, and, as well as having written articles on Mindfulness, she facilitated Mindfulness Groups for 5 years

Samantha Holt

Entry requirements

You'll need an honours degree (normally a minimum of lower second class) preferably in an associated subject or equivalent professional qualifications.

Recognition of prior learning

International students

Any questions?

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.

Fees

UK and EU Students

In 2026/27 standard fee for full-time home and EU students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA and MRes degrees is £9,730 per year.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

In 2026/27 standard fee for full-time international students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA and MRes degrees is £18,400 per year.

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase each year for both new and continuing students.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

How to apply

Apply to study

Please make your application via our online application forms.

If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions office on 01905 855111 or admissions@worc.ac.uk

Apply to study full time Apply to study part-time

Contact

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

MSc Counselling Course Leaders

MScCounsellingCourseLeaders@worc.ac.uk

Admissions Office

admissions@worc.ac.uk 01905 855111

FAQs

What is the difference between Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Does this course enable me to practice as a Counsellor upon completion?

If I want to become a Counsellor, is this course for me?

I am applying because I want to be Counselling Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist

How do I know which course is best for me?

Counselling

University of the Year finalist

Overview