BA (Honours) Education with Psychology and Counselling with Foundation Year

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Sheffield Hallam University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Education with Psychology & Counselling (with Foundation Year) is a four- to five-year honours programme (depending on route) that combines the study of education, psychology and counselling from the start. It’s ideal if you’re passionate about supporting learning, mental health and wellbeing for children, young people or adults and you appreciate a supported start via a foundation year.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year (Year 0 / Year 1)
In the foundation year you’ll build your academic, professional and study skills to prepare for the full honours degree. You’ll engage with modules such as Contemporary Issues in Inclusive Education and Introduction to Inclusive Education, Childhood and Psychology. This year helps you become confident in higher-education study, start exploring themes around childhood, learning and psychology, and become ready for degree-level work in education and counselling.

Year 1 (Honours Level)
In your first full honours year you’ll begin to focus on the core areas of education and psychology. You’ll study modules like Educational Contexts, Introduction to Counselling and Working with Professionals. You’ll explore how educational systems work, how counselling and psychological concepts apply in learning environments, and you’ll start considering your professional identity in these fields.

Year 2 (Honours Level)
In year two you’ll deepen your specialist knowledge and begin applied work. Modules such as Counselling Skills for Professional Practice and Educational Psychology allow you to develop practical counselling techniques, understand learning behaviour, and start engaging with placements or professional settings. This stage moves you from theory to practice, increasing your confidence to operate in educational/therapeutic contexts.

Year 3 (Honours Level)
In the final year you’ll consolidate your learning, conduct a major independent project, and prepare for professional roles or further study. You’ll engage with advanced modules like Applying Psychology, Mental Health and Therapeutic Approaches Across the Lifespan and a substantial Project. This year enables you to integrate education, psychology and counselling, develop research and applied competence, and position yourself for your next steps.

Focus Areas

Education theory and practice | Psychology of learning, development and behaviour | Counselling and therapeutic support | Mental health and wellbeing | Inclusive and applied professional practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme you will be able to apply psychological and counselling principles in educational contexts, design and support inclusive learning and wellbeing programmes, evaluate and lead interventions for children, young people or adults, and conduct independent research or professional enquiry in education, psychology or counselling settings.

Professional Alignment

Although this degree does not directly lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), it is crafted to prepare you for a broad range of professional roles in education support, counselling, youth and community services, mental-health settings and postgraduate pathways in educational psychology or counselling.

Reputation (Employability)

Sheffield Hallam is recognised for its applied teaching, strong professional placement links and student-centred support, especially in its education and wellbeing courses. This programme’s comprehensive blend of education, psychology and counselling gives graduates multiple career options and the confidence to step into meaningful roles with strong employability prospects.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This four-year programme (including the foundation year) is set up so you build confidence, academic skill and professional readiness from your first term. Starting with a foundation year to develop essential study skills and subject knowledge, you then move into core years where you’ll combine education theory, psychology insight, and counselling practise. Throughout you’ll be placed in real-world settings, use research and digital tools, collaborate on meaningful projects, and reflect on your professional growth.

Here’s how you’ll gain hands-on experience and use key tools:

Foundation year readiness – You’ll begin by strengthening your study skills, exploring introductory psychology and education concepts, and developing confidence before stepping into higher-level modules.
School, community and therapeutic placements – Across the core years you will work in settings such as schools, youth services or community organisations, applying your learning in education, psychology and counselling contexts.
Counselling skills training – You’ll practise counselling techniques like active listening, reflective dialogue and therapeutic approaches, and learn how these skills support learners and individuals in educational or community settings.
Psychology-in-education modules – You’ll engage in work which explores how psychology intersects with learning, behaviour, wellbeing, and inclusion — using observation, data, and reflective tools to understand and support people.
Collaborative research and project work – You’ll work with fellow students and tutors to design interventions, research educational or behavioural issues, and deliver programmes that merge education and counselling insights.
Digital and reflective tools – You’ll use online platforms, digital journals or learning environments to record your reflections, track your progress, and engage with digital counselling or educational tools.
Inclusive and diverse practice – The programme emphasises inclusive support, so you’ll gain experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and needs, and learn how to tailor your counselling or educational approach accordingly.
Professional portfolio and work-based learning – You’ll build a portfolio of your placement experiences, research projects, reflections, and applied work — readying you for employment or further training.

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you choose the Sheffield Hallam University BA (Hons) Education with Psychology and Counselling (with Foundation Year), you will gain grounding in education, psychology and counselling through a supportive foundation year, progressing into the full honours degree — preparing you for careers that make a meaningful difference in learning, wellbeing and support settings.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
With this degree you could move into roles such as:

Learning Support or Inclusion Coordinator in schools or further education
Youth Worker or Community Engagement Practitioner focusing on wellbeing and development
Assistant Counsellor or Mental Health Support Practitioner in education or social-care settings
Research Assistant or Policy Support Officer in children, young people and family services

How Sheffield Hallam helps you get there:

Foundation Year Entry & Support: The foundation year is designed to build your academic confidence, key study skills and subject-knowledge so you’re ready to progress into the honours stage of the degree.
Career & Employability Support: The university offers strong career-services support, helping you shape your professional profile, practice interviewing, build practical experience and connect with relevant employers.
Real-World Placements & Applied Learning: The course features applied learning opportunities and placement experiences in schools, youth services or counselling environments — helping you build practical skills and employer-relevant experience.
Interdisciplinary Learning: You’ll study topics such as inclusive education, childhood & youth psychology, counselling skills and mental-health approaches — giving you a broad skill-set valued across education, health and social sectors.
Graduate Outcomes: Graduates complete the honours degree with both academic and practical skills, making them well-prepared for roles in education, youth work, counselling support, special educational needs and other related sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BA (Hons) Education with Psychology and Counselling (with Foundation Year), you could advance your studies through postgraduate options such as a Master’s in Educational Psychology, MA/MSc in Counselling or Psychotherapy, MA in Youth & Community Work, or specialist qualifications in Special Educational Needs & Inclusion — leading to more senior, specialist or leadership roles in those fields.