MSc Counselling

Develop your theoretical understanding, hone practical skills and achieve a higher level of personal awareness and resilience by studying counselling.

Course detail

Start Date

September

Duration

3 years (part-time)

Award Title

MSc

UCAS Code

Apply Direct

Request Prospectus REGISTER INTEREST APPLY FOR SEPT 2025

Programme Overview

Develop your theoretical understanding, hone your practical skills and achieve a higher level of personal awareness and resilience by studying counselling at a postgraduate level. This MSc equips you with the skills you need to offer emotional support for people experiencing problems in their lives.

Join the only Scottish BACP accredited Master’s programme providing comprehensive training in the pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy integration. This means you’ll absorb a wide range of theories and interventions, learning how best to adapt your approach to the needs of your clients.

As this programme is accredited to teach online and in-person therapy you'll also benefit from specialist training in these areas equipping you to work effectively, ethically and flexibly with clients in a variety of settings.

We enjoy a rich tradition of providing training in counselling and counselling skills. Our teaching staff are highly respected leaders in their field, and you’ll be joining a vibrant community of practitioners and past and current students.

Abertay has a strong research orientation, and the Tayside Centre for Counselling (TCC) is based on campus. There are opportunities for you to be involved in projects that are influencing and developing the role and effectiveness of counselling interventions in modern society.

If you’re a Scottish student, or if you meet the residency requirements, and are planning to study this course, you could be eligible for a postgraduate loan. Find out more here.

This programme is not available to students who require a visa to study in the UK.

Frequently asked questions about our MSc Counselling.

Important Information for prospective MSc Counselling students.

BACP accreditation logo

How the Course Works

The course offers a comprehensive selection of topics on talking therapies, interventions and professional practice, with core areas including:

A range of theoretical approaches to counselling, such as Person Centred and Experiential, Psychodynamic, Transactional Analysis, Existential, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies
Personal development and self-awareness
Evidence-based practice and research methods
Ethical and professional issues in counselling
Working with children and young people

There are three exit points on this programme:

End of the first year: Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies
End of second year: Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Studies
End of third year: Masters (MSc) in Counselling

Learning

From the outset you’re engaged in skills learning, as the first year of this MSc introduces you to counselling and practical training in the application of helping interventions. This foundation year provides counselling skills, and the experience you need to undertake a practice placement. As the course is accredited to teach both in-person and online therapy, Year 1 is blended so that you can develop skills in both these disciplines.

The subsequent two years involve a fascinating combination of teaching in theory, research, practice and professional issues, and self-development, all of which are designed to be directly linked to practice placement. In Year 3 you'll also look at working therapeutically with children and young people, and work on a practice-based project.

Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in workshops to introduce and develop your understanding of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, addictions, and eating disorders, along with specific approaches such as solution-focused therapies and mindfulness.

In combination with the one day a week attendance on campus, in Years 2 and 3 you’ll take a placement as a counsellor – an essential part of your professional training.

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Assessment

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You’ll be assessed by using case-studies, theory essays, literature reviews, practice observations, and reflective accounts, along with reports from supervisors and practice placement. Assessment tasks are integrated into the course and spread through the three years.

Formative assessment is ongoing and the programme team provide feedback on practice skills and activities in class.

Modules

Introduction to Counselling Theory and Skills (CNS007)

Provides students with core counselling skills, theoretical knowledge and opportunities for personal and professional development.

The Process of Counselling (CNS008)

An introduction to the process of using counselling skills in practice and strategies for facilitating therapeutic change within the pluralistic framework. This module will allow students to conceptualise counselling within professional and supervisory contexts.

Foundations Of Counselling Practice (CNS009)

Provides students with essential learning in counselling theory. This module addresses key areas of practice including counselling contracts, ethical issues, personal soundness, supervision and professional skills.

Professional Practice 1 (CNS012)

Provides students with a supportive and critically challenging arena to reflect on and explore theoretical, ethical, professional and personal issues arising from the research and the application in practice of theory and interventions.

Theories and Approaches in Counselling (CNS010)

An in-depth examination of the skills, concepts and professional knowledge required to use a pluralistic framework for counselling practice. It covers the framework and common interventions and approaches which are used in conjunction with it. Teaching also involves practice skills in goal collaboration, case-formulation and client process monitoring.

Advanced Theories and Approaches (CNS011)

Provides students with a deepened and extended understanding of theoretical models of counselling to develop their capacity to use theory to facilitate change in clients.

Professional Practice 2 (CNS507)

This module focuses on practice placement, monitoring and supervision. In addition it provides the student with an opportunity to explore critical issues around the relationship between theory, practice and research in relation to a collaborative pluralistic framework through a collaborative project.

Professional Challenge and Personal Resilience (CNS508)

The module allows the student to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in order to demonstrate their effectiveness as a counsellor and begin preparation for their subsequent career.

Counselling Children and Young People (CNS510)

This module focuses on the skills, concepts and professional knowledge required to work with children and young people (CYP) in counselling practice (aged 11 -18 years). It examines contextual and ethical issues and introduces the core competencies required to work with this client group using the pluralistic framework. 

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have:

An undergraduate degree (2:2 or better in any subject) which may be supplemented with professional experience and evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level
Interest in counselling as a profession or career/personal enhancement
Some experience in helping professionally or voluntarily. Suitable experience here would include paid or voluntary work that involves working closely with others in a helping capacity and undertaking activities such as interpersonal/relational support, pastoral care, mentoring, or assisting with improvement of health and wellbeing.
One relevant reference that highlights your suitability for the course.

All new entrants are required to undertake a criminal records check (PVG) at the point of entry to the programme. All applicants who meet the entry requirements are invited to interview as part of the two-step selection process. The interview looks to examine suitability to enter the programme in line with BACP criteria.

Overseas and EU

All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language. The university's minimum requirements are:

Overseas and EU: IELTS at 7.0 (with no band less than 6.5).

Counselling FAQs

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Can I apply if I have a Certificate in Counselling, but no degree?

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If you have a counselling certificate, without a degree, your application may still be considered. We would be looking for you to have extensive experience (over five years) within a counselling setting. Interview would be at the discretion of the Programme Leader. We’d also require evidence of the ability to study at level 11 (postgraduate).

There are a number of ways that this might be demonstrated. It could be evidence of studying at level 10 (degree level), an OU course or similar, or a part-time Counselling skills course at level 9/10. We may also consider those who are employed in a graduate role, for example, a nurse who has not obtained a degree.

In some cases we may ask you to provide an essay to demonstrate evidence of critical argument and literacy skills. Often it may be a combination of achievements and experience that demonstrate this ability.

When do the placements take place?

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During Year 2 and Year 3. You are required to organise your own placement.

Do I have to pay for the placements?

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No, but you are required to have monthly private supervision. This can cost between £20-£60 per fortnight.

Are students required to undertake self-therapy?

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No, we do not require you to undertake self-therapy, but it may be helpful, and we offer a free, confidential counselling service.

Is the programme accredited?

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As it is a professional counselling qualification, the programme is accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This accreditation enables those who complete all 3 years to enter the BACP Register as a qualified online or in-person counsellor. The course is not accredited by the BPS as it is a counselling programme.

Is the programme full-time or part-time?

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The programme is part-time and runs over three years.

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. Visit the links below and scroll down to find the Postgraduate section.

More information

Find out about grants, bursaries, maintenance loans and living costs in our postgraduate taught fees and funding section.

Scholarships

The scholarship below is open to those applying from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a 2.1 or above for a postgraduate course. It's paid in two instalments, in December and March.

Abertay Postgraduate Taught rUK Scholarship

This £1,000 award is open to all prospective new postgraduate students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Career Opportunities

By providing both foundational and professional training in a single programme, this course gives you the opportunity to undergo a three year part-time postgraduate qualification that provides direct entry into a counselling career.

Our graduates have moved on to work within the field of counselling, psychotherapy, social care, research and education. Some graduates choose to enter private practice, while others go on to work in the NHS, in schools or in the voluntary sector. In addition, it’s possible to go on to train in counselling supervision.

An MSc in Counselling also provides transferable skills and can considerably enhance career prospects for people working in health, education, the church, criminal justice, human resource management, and the voluntary sector.

Industry Links

Our counselling programme has strong links with a number of counselling and social care agencies within Scotland. These relationships ensure the smooth management of student placements and professional development.

All staff are qualified practitioners and registered or accredited members of the BACP, with one currently representative at BACP governance level.

Get inspired

Meet some of our Counselling graduates and find out what they've gone on to do.

Paul Matthew

Paul founded counselling hub 'Harmony' and also works as a counsellor within Abertay's Student Services Team.

Find out more

Maheen Saeed

Maheen studied MSc Counselling and one day hopes to open up her own counselling practice in Pakistan.

Find out more

Roxanne Kerr

Roxanne is the Co-Founder of Cyber First Aid and Founder | CEO of the charity Trauma Healing Together.

Find out more

Ashleigh Cormack

Ashleigh is Head of Counselling and Supervision at Rowan Consultancy. She is also a Private Practice Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor and Coach.

Find out more

Graduate School

Our Graduate School is a dedicated facility providing support, training and professional development opportunities to our vibrant postgraduate community. Specially designed to promote integration and inculcation of interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers, postgraduates study and learn together at Abertay – from Environmental Management to Law, Psychology, Bioscience, Economics and Business, Cybersecurity and Computer Games Development.

Learn more about our Graduate School

When joining as a post-graduate, you will

When you join us as a postgraduate student or researcher, you’ll be joining a community of creative likeminded scholars and will automatically be provided with access to our dedicated study and social spaces – a forum in which you can meet, work and learn with other researchers and postgraduates from across the University.

You’ll benefit from training and professional development opportunities, as well as support with funding applications, placement opportunities, teaching support, public engagement and outreach activity.