The FdSc will promote your capacity for self-exploration and appraisal, facilitating personal awareness, pertinent to your role as a counsellor.
Awarding body
Course overview
Application codes
Course Code
HC10HF1A005P
Institution Code
025
Date, fees & location
Start date
September 2025
Location
Guildford College
Fees
Home/EU* Fee for September 2025 entry: £8,000 per year
Timetable
Duration
2 Years
Study mode
Full-Time
Delivery
On Campus
Award
Course award
On successful completion, you will be awarded a Foundation Degree (FdSc) Counselling from Middlesex University.
This programme is delivered over two years, with five modules in each year:
Year 1:
- Academic Skills for Counsellors (15 credits)
- Clinical Practice for Counsellors (30 credits)
- Foundations of Integrative Theory and Practice (30 credits)
- Personal Development for Counsellors (15 credits)
- Introduction to Professional Practice for Counsellors (30 credits)
Year 2:
- Enhancing Clinical Practice (30 credits)
- Embedding Integrative Theory into Practice (30 credits)
- The Counselling Relationship and Use of Self (15 credits)
- Working within a Professional Framework (30 credits)
- Introduction to the Research Process (15 credits)
Teaching & Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are employed on the programme to develop students’ academic and vocational knowledge. This includes case discussions, essays, reflective journals, and supervision reports.
Lectures and seminars are offered in each module, you will have regular tutorial contact and progress reviews.
Tutorial support provides students with the opportunity to discuss their progress on a 1:1 basis, as part of small group discussions.
How to apply
If you have a Student visa, please book a call to discuss your options.
Applicants should apply through the Activate Learning Application Portal.
Entry Requirements
Entry criteria for the programme includes:
- English Language and maths GCSE Grade 4 – 9 (C – A)
- A minimum of one full A Level or equivalent, however, consideration will be given to applicants who have already work experience.
- achievement of a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling: Theory and Skills (minimum 120 hours tuition), or
- NCFE: external exam in a related subject, or
- Access to Counselling: at least 12 credits at merit level
- obtain or be in possession of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- evidence of commitment to be in personal therapy for the duration of the two-year programme, which will be an additional cost for the student.
Applicants will be assessed on their potential to meet the expectations of the counselling profession, meeting the professional, ethical, and academic requirements to be a practitioner.
Every FdSc student is required to be in a suitable counselling placement by the start of year two (Level 5), in which they will develop their clinical skills.
Furthermore, you will complete a minimum of 100 hours supervised counselling with suitable clients. A minimum of 50% of these hours must be completed in 1:1 counselling session with adults, in a suitably organised placement.
The protection of the clinical needs of vulnerable adults or minors and our students is central to decision-making processes, which we undertake transparently and collaboratively.
Careers
On successful completion of the FdSc in Counselling you will be able to apply for the BSc (Hons) in Counselling (top-up) which is also awarded by Middlesex University. Alternatively, you may wish to undertake further training in specialist areas of the practices.
Or you could become a practising counsellor in counselling centres, agencies, surgeries, hospitals, schools, businesses and private practices or set up your own private counselling practice.
After you complete
Course award
On successful completion, you will be awarded a Foundation Degree (FdSc) Counselling from Middlesex University.
Ready to start your application?
Apply now
Fees
Fee Breakdown
Home/EU* Fee for September 2025 entry: £8,000 per year
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after the 1st August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
- you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
Additional costs include:
- All equipment/resources you require for this course are provided by Activate Learning at no extra cost.
- You should be aware that accommodation and day-to-day living costs are not included in our fees.
- We strongly recommend purchasing a laptop to support you in your studies on the course.
We recommend that you budget £100 a year for additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists most of these are available from the Learning Resource Centre. If you choose to buy textbooks, they may cost up to £60 each.
Specific additional costs in respect of this course are detailed below.
Please note the following approximate costs over two years:
- BACP student membership £82 x 2 (subject to change)
- supervision at clinical placement may be free for certain agencies but could cost £50 per hour for approximately 30 hours
- personal therapy from, £30 – £60 per hour for 60 hours
- Indemnity Insurance may be free for certain agencies but could cost on average £50 in total
- travel expenses to and from placement, therapy, and supervision venues
Students who do not complete their 100 client hours within two years of starting the Foundation Degree will continue to be provided with coordination supervision at a cost of £250 per term (maximum of £750). For example, if the number of outstanding client hours is approximately 30, this would normally take two terms to complete at a cost of £500.
- The course is accredited by the BACP and prepares you to work with adult clients
- Clinical hours accrued because of clinical placements can be counted toward BACP accreditation hours
- Graduates can apply for individual accreditation with the BACP after additional supervised practice hours, post-programme
- Graduates can enter the BACP Voluntary Register on completion of the programme, subject to their membership of the BACP
BACP offers help with programme fees to anyone who has been accepted onto a BACP-accredited course. The bursary is £500, and they offer 60 each year. The guidelines and application for bursaries can be found on the BACP website/Bursary Guidelines and Application.
Activate Learning recognises that funding is a big part of your decision to embark on a higher education programme. You will be aware of, should budget for, and be able to meet, all of the pre-requisite costs associated with your course, eg course fees, cost of necessary materials or activities (such as personal therapy for counselling students) and regular travel to and from college.
For eligible students, we have arrangements in the form of bursaries and funds to support you with other course-related expenditures during your studies.
