Counselling & Psychotherapy - Upgrade Programme
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | Middlesex University |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 | Middlesex University |
Duration
2 years, part-time.
VENUES THAT RUN THIS COURSE: Dublin West (Tuesdays & Thursdays) & Limerick (Saturdays).
Entry Requirements
Eligibility:
Entry is by application form and interview.
Applicants must have completed:
• A Certificate course in counselling skills or equivalent e.g. in-service training with a substantial counselling element and
• A diploma with counselling and psychotherapy at its core.
Upgrade students enter the degree programme in year three and receive an exemption from year one and year two modules. Any year one or year two module that was not exempted must be taken as a catch-up module. Please note: All applicants must have successfully completed an accredited Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy to be eligible for the Upgrade Programme.
Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application.
In years 3 & 4 as degree students become more independent learners, tutorials, seminar, and career development sessions will be provided. Students will meet with a Core Tutor, who will be a core lecturer on their programme, twice a year to discuss progression and engagement in a supportive capacity.
Application Process:
Send in Complete Application Form and Deposit (Online / Hard Copy)
Applicants will be requested to provide the following additional items with the application:
1. Copy of Core Course Prospectus / Core Course Outline
2. Transcript of Results of all assessments/examinations
3. Copy of all relevant qualifications
4. Completed Course Comparison Form
5. Letter from counsellor to verify 50 hours of personal therapy
6. Letter from supervisor to verify 100 hours of client work
Language Requirements
All candidates are required to satisfy the English language requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English and who are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate may satisfy the requirement through the completion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) on the basis that they obtain a minimum band score of 6 at the undergraduate level and 6.5 at postgraduate level or an equivalent score of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or Cambridge, which denotes a very good skill level of English. It should be noted that these are the minimum requirements in English and PCI College may set higher requirements in each case.
Garda Vetting
Students will be requested to participate in Garda Vetting procedures in relation to programme and accreditation requirements.
IT Skills: Students require sufficient IT skills to complete the course.
Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application.
Careers / Further progression
Counselling is a fulfilling career and can change your life as well as others. People who become counsellors are genuinely interested in human behaviour and have a strong desire to help others improve their mental well-being. They are also skilled at interacting with people on a personal level while maintaining a professional relationship.
Students who graduate from the BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy Upgrade programme should be qualified from the previous course prior to entry. Graduates pursue a wide variety of career options including private practice and the provision of counselling services to voluntary, community and statutory organisations. Many graduates continue their professional development with courses of study in specialist areas, including CPD certificates, workshops and postgraduate programmes. The majority of graduates work towards full professional accreditation with an organisation, such as the IACP
Further information
START DATE: Sept 2023
Please note that Inductions will be held the week before the start date. You will receive full details with your timetable following your acceptance.
VENUES THAT RUN THIS COURSE: Dublin West (Clondalkin), Limerick
Year 3: €5,490* (Includes all academic and administration costs and charges)
Year 4: €3,360
*Please note that there is an additional charge of €20 for the Garda vetting process which is required prior to course entry and it is not included in the above fees.
Payment plan available.
For qualified counsellors who want to gain an honours degree in just two years
- Outstanding individual support; unique classroom setting (experiential and theoretical)
- Enhance existing qualifications
- Achieve an honours Bachelor of Science degree validated by Middlesex University
If you are a practicing counsellor and want to increase your qualification to degree level, this is the course for you. Our BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy Upgrade Course offers qualified practicing professionals the opportunity to receive a Level 8 honours degree in just two years, part-time. Many Diploma qualified counsellors are choosing to upgrade their qualifications to an honours degree to enhance their career options in a variety of areas and in anticipation of changes to the professional accreditation standards by the IACP and other bodies.
The BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy course is Integrative in approach. There are no formal written examinations. Each course module (30 hours) is assessed separately, by a written assignment. Upgrade students enter the degree programme in year three and receive exemptions from year one and year two modules. Any year one or year two module that was not exempted must be taken as a catch-up
Upgrade students enter the degree programme in year three and receive an exemption from year one and year two modules. Please note: All applicants must have successfully completed an accredited Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy to be eligible for the Upgrade Programme.
YEAR 3: 90 credits (equivalent to 45 ECTS credits)
Early Psychodynamic Perspectives: The Unconscious Mind
Professional Competence: Research Methodologies in Counselling & Psychotherapy
Professional Development: The Integrative Therapist
YEAR 4: 90 credits (equivalent to 45 ECTS credits)
One elective theories module to be chosen:
Advanced Humanistic
Advanced CBT
Advanced Psychodynamics
Professional Competence: Thesis
Professional Development: Clinical Placement Case Study
Assessment: Assignments. There are no formal examinations, giving students more opportunities to concentrate on their assignments and their own self-exploration throughout their journey.
AWARD: Middlesex University BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy
This programme is quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion.
Level: Level 6 FHEQ (Comparable to Level 8 NFQ).
FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) is the UK National Framework of Qualifications.
ACCREDITATION
The IACP provides standards of practice, professional identification, education/training and regulation for the counselling and psychotherapy profession in Ireland. The Upgrade course is for people who are already qualified. This course does not give accreditation.
Professional accreditation is an important requirement for those wishing to practice as professional therapists in Ireland. In the absence of Government regulation of the profession, accreditation bodies such as the IACP provide standards of practice which give reassurance on training quality and ethical conduct to individuals and organisations seeking professional counselling services. While government regulation is planned and the process to structure regulation has begun, it may yet take some time before this is completed and implemented. In the meantime, the IACP and other recognised accreditation bodies will continue to set and monitor the standards of best practice and professional training for therapists in Ireland. Full details on IACP Accreditation can be found on their website https://iacp.ie/register-of-accredited-courses.
VALIDATION
PCI College has been providing its BSc (Honours) Counselling & Psychotherapy since 1997. Our university validated programmes are developed, delivered and assessed by PCI College and awarded by and quality assured by Middlesex University. A qualification from Middlesex University London is internationally recognised both within the EU and outside the EU. (Brexit negotiations will have no impact on these facts.)
***Please note that BSc Upgrade course is not designed for professional accreditation. Students who wish to gain professional accreditation with the IACP or another professional body will need to enter the BSc degree course at Year 1 or Year 2 in order to complete the requirements for accreditation.
PCI College
Head Office, Corrig House,
Old Naas Road,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22
t: +353 (0) 1 464 2268
e: info@pcicollege.ie