About the course
Whatever your background and however complicated and busy your life may be, there is always a way back into education.
Access to Higher Education courses are a great starting point to retrain for a new and exciting career or get the degree that you promised yourself. Access to Higher Education makes it possible.
Designed for students aged 19 and over, these courses lead to a 60 credit Level 3 Diploma and are a flexible alternative to A Levels. The qualifications are widely recognised by UK universities and earn up to 144 UCAS points.
If you are not sure that you a ready to take the step to apply for an Access to Higher Education full year programme, why not join our fully funded 12 week Pre-Access course, to brush up on your study skills and get ready to get back into education.
This integrative Counselling Course focuses on both theoretical and experiential learning. The main theories studied are Person Centred, Freudian, Jungian and Developmental approaches. This compliments the experiential learning aspect of the course, which consists of practical counselling skills work and an experiential group to develop self-awareness.
Students are required to adhere to the BACP ethical framework.
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Entry requirements
Applicants must be aged 19 or over as at 31 August to be eligible for this course, and / or a reasonable level of maturity.
Applicants will be required to supply a current basic disclosure form within the first six weeks of the course and 2 references, one from an employer and one character reference should be supplied to the Course Director at the time of interview. The character reference must be someone who has known you for at least 2 years, who is a professional-qualified person (i.e. doctor, MP, Police officer, lawyer, sponsor etc.) and is not a family member or under 18 years of age.
All applicants will be sent an assignment, which they will need to bring to the interview. A reasonable level of maturity and life experience is required.
Applicants should have English GCSE at grade 4 or higher or an equivalent qualification. Please be aware that a Level 2 maths qualification will also be required for university entrance. Candidates will also need to be able to organise written information clearly and coherently. Find out more about Maths and English qualifications offered at the college.
Qualifications
Counselling Access to HE Diploma Level 3
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What you'll learn (core modules)
There are eight units to be completed on the course which are assessed in a variety of ways as detailed below:
- Unit one: Study skills which is a generic un-graded unit. This will contain a research paper, essay plan and a short presentation.
- Unit two: Foundational Counselling skills: This unit is graded. This is a year-long unit and contains two practical assessments, one formative and one summative.
- Unit three: Emotional Intelligence. This unit is graded. This unit contains participation in an enquiry group and a written reflection. Keeping a personal learning journal, with a numbered word selection, and also an essay.
- Unit four: On becoming a counsellor. This is a graded unit and contains a report style piece with an additional paragraph. An essay on motives. Taking part in course participation groups with an essay and time-line targets.
- Unit five: Theories and Concepts. This is a graded unit which contains a pictorial/poster with an additional evaluation. The end of year exam.
- Unit six: This is a graded unit which contains a group presentation and evaluation. An essay, and a taped role-play. This unit also contains a signed witness statement by the CD at the completion of study.
- Unit seven: This is a graded unit which contains an essay.
- Unit eight: This is a graded unit which contains two essays, a pictorial representation and reflection.
How will I be assessed?
A number of different assessments are used on the Access course. These include essay writing; presentations; time-controlled assessments; an e-portfolio of Higher Education Study Skills. These assessments will develop your academic skills in line with university expectations ensuring a smooth transition into degree level study programmes.
Where is the course delivered? (facilities/classrooms)
The course is delivered at:
University Studies Campus
73 Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 3SP
Where will this course take me?
This course can take you to our UEA validated BA (Hons) Integrative Counselling degree here as USWSC (or to other universities across the country subject to entry requirements) or move on to other courses through the Credit Accumulation Scheme. All students who wish to go on to practise as professional counsellors are strongly advised to work towards individual accreditation with the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) or another recognised accrediting organisation.
If you need help with funding
We offer flexible payment plans to help spread the cost of fees.
If you are aged between 19 and 23 and studying for your first full Level 3 qualification, your course will be fully funded through our Adult Education Budget and you will not incur any fees.
If you are 19-23 and already have a full level 3 qualification or are over 24, you can apply for Advanced Learner Loan to fund your course.
For students studying Access to HE diplomas, Student Finance England will â€