Psychology with Counselling BSc (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling at Nottingham Trent University combines core psychological theory with practical counselling skills, helping you understand behaviour while preparing for careers in mental health and support services. It’s well suited for students who want to study scientific psychology alongside hands-on counselling approaches and develop strong interpersonal and research abilities.

Curriculum structure

Year One
You’ll begin by building a foundation in psychology and counselling skills. Modules such as Introduction to Psychology, Approaches to Counselling, and Counselling Toolbox introduce key psychological perspectives and basic counselling techniques, while Research Design and Practice (1) develops your understanding of how psychological studies are conducted. This year focuses on core concepts, ethical awareness, and developing communication skills essential for counselling.

Year Two
In your second year, you deepen your knowledge of psychological theory and strengthen counselling practice. You’ll study modules including Brain, Behaviour and Cognition: Understanding the Mind, Social Evolution and Individual Development, and Analytical Thinking in Counselling, alongside Research Design and Practice (2) and Analysing Data: Methods and Tools (2). This stage builds stronger analytical skills and prepares you to apply counselling knowledge to more complex situations.

Final Year
Your final year focuses on applying psychology and counselling skills to real-world settings. You’ll complete modules such as Client Issues in Counselling, Psychological Applications to Work Settings, and the Psychology Research Project, allowing you to explore professional practice and conduct independent research. Optional modules like Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychology and Trauma, or Addictive Behaviours allow you to tailor your studies to your career interests.

Focus areas (in a string): counselling techniques, mental health and wellbeing, cognitive and biological psychology, social and developmental psychology, research methods and statistics, client issues in counselling, psychological applications in workplaces, independent psychological research

Learning outcomes (in a string): develop practical counselling skills, understand human behaviour across contexts, apply psychological theory to real clients, conduct independent research, analyse quantitative and qualitative data, evaluate mental health issues, communicate professionally, build ethical practice awareness, enhance interpersonal and reflective skills

Professional alignment (accreditation): British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and a first step toward professional psychology careers

Reputation (employability rankings): Nottingham Trent University is ranked highly for psychology student demand and offers strong employability support through placements, employer-led projects, and career-focused learning integrated into the course

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students on the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling at Nottingham Trent University develop practical skills through hands-on counselling training, psychological experiments, and applied research activities. You’ll work in dedicated psychology labs, practise counselling techniques in supervised settings, and gain experience using specialist research technology while building professional communication and analytical skills. The course also includes real-world experience through placements, employer projects, and independent research, helping you graduate with both academic knowledge and practical counselling experience:

Dedicated psychology laboratories for behavioural experiments and counselling-related research
Specialist equipment such as eye-tracking technology, virtual reality suites, and simulated environments for studying behaviour
Practical counselling skills training using experiential exercises in triads (counsellor, client, observer)
Use of statistical and research software including R for psychological data analysis
Independent Psychology Research Project supervised by research-active academic staff
Employer challenge projects with organisations to apply psychology to real-world problems
At least 60 hours of assessed real-world work experience built into the course
Optional placement opportunities including work with NTU SHIELD mental health support service
Volunteering opportunities through Nottingham Trent University community projects
Guest lectures from practitioners working in counselling, mental health, and psychology fields
Small group workshops focused on counselling practice and reflective learning
Access to NTU’s virtual learning environment for collaboration, digital resources, and assessments
Opportunities to support guided self-help services through NTU SHIELD under supervision
Active research groups focusing on trauma, mental health, social isolation, cyberpsychology, and memory.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling at Nottingham Trent University develop a strong combination of psychological knowledge, counselling skills, and practical experience, preparing them for roles in mental health, support services, and people-focused industries. Many students move into careers such as counselling support worker, assistant psychologist, mental health practitioner, or human resources officer, while others continue training to become professional psychologists. The degree also builds transferable skills in communication, research, and data analysis that are valued across multiple sectors:

Dedicated careers and employability support from NTU Employability, including CV workshops, interview preparation, and one-to-one career guidance
Employer challenge projects where students work with organisations and present solutions to real psychological and workplace issues
At least 60 hours of structured real-world work experience embedded within the course
Placement opportunities including year-long sandwich placements and short-term roles with NTU SHIELD mental health and wellbeing service
Networking opportunities through psychology events, guest speakers, and professional engagement activities
Volunteering opportunities through Nottingham Trent University community and student-led initiatives
British Psychological Society accreditation providing Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, supporting progression into professional psychology training
Opportunities to gain experience in sectors such as education, health, social care, business, and public services
Development of research and statistical skills using industry-relevant data analysis tools
Study abroad and placement year options designed to strengthen graduate employability
Work-like learning embedded across all years including projects, placements, and applied coursework

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you can progress to postgraduate study in areas such as counselling psychology, forensic psychology, clinical psychology, occupational psychology, or mental health and wellbeing. The British Psychological Society accreditation also allows you to move on to specialist professional training, Master’s degrees, or doctoral research, supporting long-term careers in psychology, counselling, and related fields.