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Counselling and Applied Psychology - HND

Summary

The B&FC HND Counselling and Applied Psychology provide exciting opportunities for you to study to enable you to progress to or within a role in counselling and applied psychology. This programme provides you with a platform to begin or enhance your career and incorporate both practical elements and theoretical concepts that are highly desirable in a range of roles in the sector but also gives you a strong range of transferable skills, relevant to many employment opportunities.

You will benefit from the expertise of the curriculum team who have excellent experience in these sectors and are also actively involved in developing the workforce of the future. Class sizes are normally small and again this is very beneficial, affording the opportunity for a tailored personal learning situation and plenty of help and support.

This programme is designed to develop you as a professional, self-reflecting individual able to meet the demands of employers and adapt to a constantly changing world. The structure of the programme includes core units which underpin your professional development. Specialist units also allow you to explore theoretical concepts and develop practical skills related to the pluralistic (integrative) counselling and applied psychology.

The HND is delivered over one day and one evening a week. Monday 9am – 6pm and Thursday 6pm – 9pm.
  • Course code SM1HE140
  • UCAS code B942
  • Duration 2 Years
  • Day/s of week Monday and Thursday
  • Time 09:00 - 17:00

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
07 Sep 2026
University Centre
2 Years

Before applying, please check whether you meet the entry requirements under 'Key Information' for this course. Don't hesitate to call us on 01253 504343 if you need assistance.

  • 86,694 Annual job openings in the North West
  • £25,650 Average annual salary
  • Well-resourced onsite training equipment

What Uni Reviews

Really enjoyed my time at uni, the tutors have unconditional support for all students. *****
- Jessica Halliwell
Amazing course. Learnt so much, tutors are fantastic. *****
- Kelly Broadbent
Tutors and HELMs are fantastic! *****
- Bethany Daniels

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Student case study - Heidi

Why did you decide to study this qualification?
I chose this course because I want to work in substance abuse, supporting adults with addiction. I already work in the sector and this will enable me to progress my career and make the difference I really want to see in people's lives.

Why did you choose B&FC?
I chose B&FC as I had heard lots of good things about studying here and positive feedback.

What have been the benefits of studying here?
Socialising and meeting new people, having some much-needed time to myself and achieving my goals.

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

By successfully completing the Diploma, you will:

  • Meet the training requirements for professional accreditation as a counsellor.
  • Have met the Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) framework requirements for a column A therapist. This will facilitate progression should you wish to study at level 6.
  • Be equipped with the attitudes and behaviours required to succeed in counselling practice.
  • Have the enhanced employability prospects and ‘work readiness’ of graduates.
  • Be ready to take part in CPD and lifelong learning for personal and professional development.

Next steps at B&FC

In the second year of the HND, you will have the choice to study one of two optional units, dependent on your chosen career path. This will either be ‘Counselling Young People’ or ‘Supporting Clients Experiencing Addiction’.

However, there will need to be a minimum of 6 students choosing the option, for either unit to be offered each year.

Key information

Entry Requirements

To study the HND in Counselling and Applied Psychology you must have completed a level 3 qualification in a related subject such as a Level 3 Certificate/Diploma in Counselling Skills, or other related level 3 qualifications in relevant subjects such as psychology, mental health, care or an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Humanities or Social Science.

  • You must have a counselling placement for 4-6 hours per week in place before commencement of the programme
  • You will be required to provide the details for 2 references and also a recent DBS check
  • You will also be required to attend an interview with curriculum to demonstrate your ability to meet the BACP approval requirements. The selection process will include a written component as part of the interview to demonstrate meeting BACP requirements.  If you are not ready to embark on study you will be signposted to suitable opportunities which will enable you to develop to support the achievement of the BACP approval requirements.

Qualification obtained

BTEC Higher National Diploma in Counselling and Applied Psychology

Fees and funding

Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding.

Extra costs and equipment

You will need to ensure that you have the following in place, prior to starting the programme. These costs may be supported through B&FC Access Fund, depending on your personal circumstances.

Further details are included in the Placement Handbook. Approximate costs identified for guidance.

  • Student membership of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy £86
  • Personal Indemnity Insurance £30
  • DBS check £46

You will need to have a supervisor in place when you are on placement £30-£60 per session. This should be a further 9 hours for year 2 of the HND (having completed 12 hours on year 1 of the HND).

Approximate total additional costs for the programme (assuming supervision at £40 per hour) would therefore be approximately £1,002.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: None

Awarding Body: Pearson

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

You will be required to complete 170 placement practice is order to achieve the assessment requirements of the HND. In year one of the HND a minimum of 40 hours of placement practice is required and a further 130 hours on year two of the HND. These hours are closely managed and regulated, with full details being described within the Placement Handbook which you must read before enrolling to the programme as it contains important information about the placement requirements.

  • Modules at level 4

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Placement Hours Hnc SM4MD0001 1 Yes
    Personal and Professional Development Through Inclusive Practice SM4MD191 15 Yes
    Developing Empathic Communication for Effective Therapeutic Relationships SM4MD192 15 Yes
    Preparing for Research Person Set SM4MD193 15 Yes
    Ethical Frameworks in Counselling SM4MD194 15 Yes
    Individual Differences SM4MD195 15 Yes
    Self Awareness and Reflective Practice in Counselling SM4MD196 15 Yes
    Theoretical Perspectives in Counselling SM4MD197 15 Yes
    Digital Approaches in Caring Professions SM4MD198 15 Yes

  • Modules at level 5

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Placement Hours Hnd SM5MD0001 1 Yes
    Pluralistic Approaches to Counselling SM5MD254 15 Yes
    Counselling Skills Development and Practice SM5MD255 30 Yes
    Working with Diverse Clients in Therapeutic Counselling SM5MD256 15 No
    Risk and Assessment Pearson Set SM5MD257 30 No
    Psychodynamic Approaches to Counselling SM5MD258 15 No
    Counselling Young People SM5MD259 15 Yes
    Supporting Clients Experiencing Addiction SM5MD260 15 Yes

Learning Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group learning support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Discover available Learning Support

Programme Specification

Download our Programme Specification for this course.

How will I learn?

You will benefit from the expertise of the curriculum team who have excellent experience in these sectors and are also actively involved in developing the workforce of the future. Class sizes are normally small and again this is very beneficial, affording the opportunity for a tailored personal learning situation and plenty of help and support.

Learning Methods

Learning Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Scheduled 50 50 0
Independent 100 100 0
Placement 0 0 0
Total 150 150 0
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How will I be assessed?

The Higher National Diploma is assessed using a combination of internally assessed centre-devised internal assignments (which are set and marked by centres) and internally assessed Pearson-set assignments (which are set by Pearson and marked by centres).

BTEC Higher Nationals recommend a variety of forms of assessment evidence to be used, provided they are suited to the type of learning outcomes being assessed. For many units, the practical demonstration of skills is necessary and, for others, you will need to carry out their own research and analysis, working independently or as part of a team.

Summative assessment will be used to ensure all outcomes have been met for each unit, in line with Pearson regulations. The forms of summative assessment across the programme consist of essays, reports, case studies, presentations, posters and are used to support the development of cognitive skills and abilities.

The principal rationale for selecting these methods of assessment and feedback are that they are supporting your development to progress within and to their career with a range of skills. Case studies will be used to enable you to critically appraise and examine real life situations and link these to theory. The application of conceptual and theoretical knowledge and perspectives to real life situations will allow you to critically analyse and evaluate material, produce findings and make further recommendations.

You must also successfully complete the 170 hours placement requirements to pass this programme.

Assessment Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Coursework 100% 100% 0%
Exam 0% 0% 0%
Practical 0% 0% 0%