Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy Integrated Foundation Year

As one of the very few undergraduate Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy joint honours degrees in the UK that offers the opportunity to qualify as a professional counsellor, this Integrated Foundation Year course prepares you to help people in distress explore their difficulties, express their feelings and work towards a deeper self-awareness.
On this British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course, you will explore human experience across a range of contexts and lifespans, from understanding the biological basis of behaviour to questioning the impact of social media on child development. Our expert lecturing team are active in research and practice, and will ensure you feel supported throughout your degree.
Your journey begins with an introductory foundation year, designed to develop your skills, confidence, and core knowledge in a supportive environment. This year helps you build strong academic foundations, ensuring you’re fully prepared to progress smoothly into the undergraduate degree.
You will have the opportunity to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities, including sessions led by experts in the fields of psychology and counselling. Beyond the classroom, you will complete 100 hours of work experience in the community as a practising counsellor, which is a qualificatory part of the course. Our excellent links with regional and national charities, not-for-profit organisations and penal institutions will open doors to practical experiences that refine your skills and elevate your job prospects.
There will also be opportunities for you to focus on particular areas, tailoring your learning to your personal goals and career aspirations.

Module Examples

• Essential University Skills

• Contemporary Issues and the Media

• Introduction to Data Analysis

• Foundational Counselling and Coaching Skills

• Counselling Skills: Preparation for Practice

• Development, Brain and Cognition

• Intermediate Counselling Skills

• Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities, and Measuring Differences

• Advanced Counselling Skills

https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-hons-psychology-counselling-and-psychotherapy/integrated-foundation-year/

The assessment throughout the programme will include a blend of assessment activities such as written assignments, unseen in-class tests, presentations and reports, alongside innovative and employability focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities and reflective logs.

These methods are chosen to encourage knowledge development, practitioner skill development, and a range of transferable and professional capabilities such as communication skills, presentation skills, problem-solving, teamwork, numeracy and IT skills.