Psychology and Counselling - BSc/MSci

NA On Campus Bachelors Program

Birmingham City University

Program Overview

Birmingham City University’s BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology is a professionally focused degree designed for students who want to understand human behaviour in depth while also developing practical counselling and communication skills for work in mental health and related helping professions. It combines psychology with counselling practice, helping you build a strong foundation in both scientific understanding and therapeutic approaches, making it a strong choice for students aiming for careers in psychology, counselling, or further professional training.

Curriculum structure

Year 1

In your first year, you focus on building the core foundations of psychology and counselling through modules such as Doing Psychological Research 1, Foundations for Counselling 1, Counselling Theories, and Psychology in Practice. You begin by understanding how psychological research is carried out, develop early counselling skills such as self-awareness and listening, and explore major therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural therapy, and humanistic perspectives.

Year 2

In the second year, your learning becomes more applied and reflective through modules like Foundations for Counselling 2 and The Human Brain: Biological and Cognitive Psychology. You deepen your understanding of emotional wellbeing, trauma, and communication in counselling contexts while also studying brain function, cognition, and advanced psychological research methods to strengthen your scientific understanding.

Final Year

In your final year, you move into more advanced practice-focused learning through Counselling Skills 1 along with optional modules such as Counselling Ethics, Counselling Psychology, and Applied Interpersonal Skills. You develop real counselling techniques, explore ethical and professional responsibilities, and apply psychological theories to real-life scenarios, preparing you for professional training or postgraduate study.

Focus areas

Counselling practice and communication skills, psychological theory and research methods, mental health and emotional wellbeing, human development and behaviour, cognitive and biological psychology, ethical practice in counselling, interpersonal relationships, and reflective personal development

Learning outcomes

You will develop professional counselling and communication skills, understand key psychological theories and approaches, apply research methods in psychology, evaluate mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, demonstrate ethical awareness in professional contexts, strengthen self-reflection and personal insight, and build the ability to apply psychology in real-world settings.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which supports eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, an important step toward professional psychology training and postgraduate pathways.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Birmingham City University is known for its strong focus on employability and practical learning. The course is designed with real-world application in mind, including skills development and placement opportunities that help students prepare for careers in psychology, counselling, and related fields.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Birmingham City University, the BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology degree is built around practical, hands-on learning, so you develop real counselling and psychological skills alongside academic knowledge. From the beginning of the course, you take part in interactive teaching sessions, counselling skills workshops, and group-based learning that help you build confidence in communication, listening, and understanding human behaviour. You also learn in specialist psychology teaching spaces and use university resources that connect theory directly to real-life practice in mental health and counselling contexts.

Experiential learning here is designed to reflect real professional environments, helping you gradually develop into a reflective and skilled practitioner:

Counselling skills workshops where you practise real-life scenarios such as client listening, empathy building, questioning techniques, and responding to emotional situations
Group work and reflective sessions that encourage self-awareness, personal development, and understanding of interpersonal dynamics
Access to psychology facilities and specialist teaching spaces at the university, supporting learning in cognition, behaviour, and research methods
Use of statistical and research software to analyse psychological data and complete research-based assignments in modules like Doing Psychological Research
Supervised independent research projects where you design, conduct, and evaluate psychological studies using ethical research methods
Placement opportunities and employability-focused experiences that allow you to gain exposure in psychology-related or mental health settings
Reflective practice activities that help you explore your own communication style, emotional responses, and professional development as a future practitioner
Access to university libraries, digital journals, and online learning tools that support research, assignments, and academic growth throughout the course
Learning within the Curzon Building environment, which provides modern teaching spaces designed for social science and psychology-focused learning.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Counselling Psychology at Birmingham City University are well prepared to move into people-focused and mental health-related roles where communication, empathy, and psychological understanding are essential. Many students go on to work in support-based positions or continue their training to become qualified counsellors or counselling psychologists.

Typical early career routes include counselling support worker, mental health support assistant, wellbeing practitioner, or roles within education, charities, and community mental health services. With further study and training, graduates can progress into more advanced therapeutic and psychology careers.

This degree is designed to support your long-term career development:

Dedicated Careers+ service offering personalised career guidance, CV and application support, and interview preparation tailored to psychology and counselling pathways
Opportunities for placements and work experience that help you build confidence in real professional environments before you graduate
A BPS-accredited degree that supports progression toward Chartered Psychology routes and postgraduate training in psychology or counselling fields
Strong links to real-world practice in mental health, education, and community wellbeing sectors, helping graduates connect with potential employers
Development of highly transferable skills such as communication, emotional intelligence, ethical awareness, research skills, and reflective practice, valued across health and social care professions
Teaching that is closely aligned with professional practice, helping students build a strong understanding of workplace expectations in counselling and psychology-related roles

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, many students choose to continue into postgraduate study. Common routes include master’s degrees in Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Psychotherapy, or related mental health disciplines. With further training and supervised practice, graduates may progress toward becoming qualified counselling professionals or continue along the pathway to Chartered Psychologist status.