Counselling Courses
Looking to start a career in counselling psychology? We offer a psychology and counselling honours degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). We also offer a foundation degree and diploma developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB).
Find out more about these and our other counselling courses below.
Counselling
Degrees
- Also known as an undergraduate or bachelors degree.
- Internationally respected, universally understood.
- An essential requirement for many high-level jobs.
- Gain a thorough understanding of your subject – and the tools to investigate, think critically, form reasoned arguments, solve problems and communicate effectively in new contexts.
- Progress to higher level study, such as a postgraduate diploma or masters degree.
Total of 360 credits
- Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
- One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
- You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
- For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long will it take?
Counselling
Diplomas
- Widely recognised qualification.
- Equivalent to the first two thirds of an honours degree.
- Enhance your professional and technical skills or extend your knowledge and understanding of a subject.
- Study for interest or career development.
- Top up to a full honours degree in just two years.
Total of 240 credits
- Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
- One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
- You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
- For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long will it take?
Counselling
Certificates
- Widely recognised qualification.
- Equivalent to the first third of an honours degree.
- Study for interest or career development.
- Shows that you can study successfully at university level.
- Count it towards further qualifications such as a DipHE or honours degree.
Total of 120 credits
- Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
- One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
- You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
- For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long will it take?
Why study Counselling with The Open University?
- Our qualifications are developed in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB).
- Our BSc (Honours) Psychology and Counselling is one of a number of our degrees that’s accredited by the British Psychological Society.
- Develop practical and professional skills in counselling in online and off line learning environments.
- Explore a range of approaches to counselling and apply your knowledge to a variety of client needs, such as bereavement and anxiety
Careers in Counselling
The therapeutic value of counselling is increasingly recognised, with practitioners employed in private practice and in settings such as health and social care services, advisory organisations and helplines.
Our range of courses in counselling can help you start or progress your career as a:
- Counsellor or counselling psychologist.
- Psychotherapist.
- Youth Services and social worker.
Looking for something other than a qualification?
The majority of our modules can be studied by themselves, on a stand-alone basis. If you later choose to work towards a qualification, you may be able to count your study towards it.
All Counselling courses
Browse all the Counselling courses we offer – certificates, diplomas and degrees.
See our full list of Counselling courses
Email us
From exploring the right course for you to helping you register, our advisers can help.
Call us
As part of the OU’s response to Coronavirus, we have temporarily removed this option.
Please use the ‘Email us’ option to contact us.
Write to us at:
Student Recruitment
The Open University
PO Box 197
Milton Keynes
MK7 6BJ