Program Overview

Overview of the Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons) Degree

The Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons) degree combines the theory of psychology with practical counselling approaches, helping students build the skills required to help people in need. This includes people who have lost someone, gone through a distressing unpleasant experience, or battled an illness.

Why Study Psychology with Counselling BSc(Hons)

• The University of Huddersfield is 24th in the UK (2nd in Yorkshire) for Psychology, in the Guardian League Tables 2025.
• The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, allowing graduates to apply for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership if they graduate with a Lower Second Class Honours or higher and complete the empirical psychology project.
• Students are taught by psychology and counselling lecturers who are experts in several fields and have a wide range of specialisms.
• The course aims to broaden students' skills and experiences to ensure they are attractive to potential employers.

Course Details

Year 1

• Core modules:
  • Child Development: Students study the major perspectives and methodologies in child development, focusing on applied settings such as education, the mental health system, the criminal justice system, and the wider social world.
  • Introduction to Cognitive and Biological Psychology: Students are introduced to theoretical approaches and debates in cognitive and biological psychology, as well as analytical research skills using quantitative methods.
  • Introducing Counselling Skills and Process: Students are introduced to a range of helping skills and qualities and to a structured model of helping.
  • Introducing Counselling Theory: Students are introduced to the main counselling theories (psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, and person-centred) and explore how they relate to helping skills within the Egan model of helping.
  • Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods: This module introduces students to research methods and data analysis in psychology, providing the opportunity to develop both a theoretical understanding and practical skills.
  • Introduction to Social Psychology and Personality: Students study Personality and Social Psychology, addressing three important questions: How do psychologists study personality? How do psychologists study individual and group behaviours, such as attitudes and language? Is Personality best understood as originating in constitutional or social factors?

Year 2

• Core modules:
  • Advancing Counselling Skills: Students study advanced counselling skills, working in small groups to explore the use of an integrative model of counselling.
  • Advanced Theories of Counselling: Students build on their knowledge of broad counselling perspectives developed in Year 1, exploring in greater detail different approaches to counselling.
  • Cognition; Brain and Behaviour: Students develop a critical understanding of cognitive and biological explanations of human behaviour, exploring a diverse range of topics including psychopharmacology, behavioural genetics, memory, and human perception.
  • Developmental Psychology and Professional Development: Students build on their knowledge of human development across the lifespan in a variety of contexts, learning about different methodological approaches to studying human development and how to critique them.
  • Psychological Research and Data Analysis: Students further develop their knowledge of research design and analysis, exploring analysis of variance, multiple regression, factor analysis, discursive analyses, phenomenological analyses, and ethics.
  • Social Psychology and Personality: Students build on their knowledge of social psychology and personality psychology through lectures and seminars, considering some of the key issues faced in the world today, including crowds and social conflict, group processes, and identity and close relationships.

Year 3

• Core modules:
  • Integrating Counselling Skills: Students develop the ability to use and apply counselling theory, working in small groups with a group facilitator who demonstrates and supports the use of counselling approaches and new techniques.
  • Integrating Counselling Theory: Students analyse counselling approaches for therapeutic effectiveness, with inclusion of human development research, and explore a combination of counselling models.
  • Psychology Final Year Project: Students conduct research into their chosen area of psychology, collecting original data to produce a report, and communicate their research findings and work in progress through a short assessed presentation.
• Option modules: Students choose two from a list, which may include:
  • Forensic Psychology: This module studies the key approaches, concepts, and issues within the field of forensic psychology.
  • Investigative Psychology: Students explore the field of Investigative Psychology, covering a wide range of areas, including the work of Professor David Canter, Offender Profiling, Geographic Profiling, Investigative Interviewing, and the Detection of Deception.
  • Personal Relationships: Students study contemporary psychological research and theories of personal and intimate relationships.
  • Serious Crime Investigation: Students explore modern police investigation practice in relation to serious crime, including the contribution of forensic science, offender profiling, surveillance data, and new technologies.
  • Psychology of Education: The complex factors that interact to construct learning are explored, using a mix of psychological theories and their influence on educational policy in schools and on further and higher education.
  • Psychology of Health and Wellbeing: Students are introduced to the critical issues related to health, illness, and disability in clinical and health psychology, challenging some of the preconceptions of ill-health from mainstream perspectives.
  • The Neuroscience of Cognition: Students cover key concepts within neuroscience and link neuroscientific evidence that underpin core cognitive theory.

Teaching and Assessment

• On average, 19.4% of study time on this course is spent with tutors (either face-to-face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials.
• Assessment includes coursework and examination.
• Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term-time weeks unless the submission was made towards the end of the session, in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results.

Fees and Finance

• The maximum fees for UK-based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval).
• Tuition fees will cover the cost of study at the University, as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations.

Career Support

• The University provides professional help, support, and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs, and one-to-one guidance sessions.
• Previous Huddersfield Psychology graduates have gone on to work in education, healthcare, research, business, and public services in organisations including the NHS, The Kirklees Dementia Hub, UK Home Office, Reed in Partnership, Practice Plus Group, BBT Group Ltd, and Holmfirth High School.

Accreditations and Professional Links

• This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and provides eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership.
• The University has connections with various professional bodies and organisations, providing students with opportunities for networking and career development.

Student Support

• The University offers a range of support services to help students thrive, including academic support, careers advice, and personal support.
• Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories, libraries, and counselling rooms.

Research Excellence

• The University of Huddersfield is in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power.
• Three-quarters of all research is world-leading and internationally excellent.
• The University has a strong research focus, with many staff members involved in cutting-edge research projects.

Further Study

• Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of undergraduate studies, with minimum qualification requirements such as a first-class or higher second (2.1) degree.
• The University offers a range of postgraduate courses, including Master's and PhD programs.