BSc (Hons) Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling with foundation year
Course Overview
Psychology is a core component of psychotherapy and counselling, and the University of Bolton offers one of the oldest and most established psychology courses in the UK. Taught at our town-centre campus in Greater Manchester, our BSc (Hons) Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling with foundation year degree gives you the chance to learn about the interaction between these disciplines, appreciate the diversity of perspectives involved, and understand their therapeutic use.The foundation year is the first year of this degree, offering an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of psychology, social sciences and research methods alongside study skills development. It's designed to prepare you for undergraduate study.
At the degree level, our friendly and experienced team will guide you as you develop knowledge of the theories, methods and debates central to the three core elements. We'll support you as you explore psychology, gain specific counselling skills, and consider broader social issues that impact the roles of psychotherapist and counsellor, such as assumptions, stereotyping, diversity and prejudice. We'll also focus on developing your knowledge and skills in using psychological research methods and your appreciation of the ethical issues involved.
Interpersonal and transferable skills are vital, so we'll challenge you to develop sought-after communication, problem-solving, numerical, analytical, self-management, and IT skills. Overall, our dedicated team will focus on helping you gain the skills employers value and a detailed understanding of psychology, counselling and psychotherapy.
Highlights
- Our Psychology courses are ranked top 10 in the UK and first in Greater Manchester for student satisfaction for the fourth year running, according to the Complete University Guide 2022.
- This course is one of only a few Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling degrees in the country accredited by the British Psychological Society. Accredited as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), this degree is the first step toward becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
- Integrated into this degree are opportunities for you to gain accredited qualifications in counselling skills. Through successfully completing this degree, you'll also achieve the Level 2 and Level 3 Certificates in Counselling Skills conferred by ABC Awards.
- We emphasise interpersonal, transferable and employability skills as well as academic success. After graduation, you may have the opportunity to progress onto a professional qualification in applied psychology, such as our MSc in Counselling and Positive Psychology.
- We focus strongly on employability skills and the practical application of your studies as well as academic success. Workshops will involve analysing life events and role-playing scenarios using case study material. You can also benefit from final year applied sessions in counselling skills.
- Throughout your degree, you'll also have support from your personal tutor, part of our team of helpful and approachable psychology staff who possess a diverse range of research interests.
- We've invested in creating a learning environment that offers innovative methods of teaching and assessment using top-class facilities, such as our observation laboratory with video cameras, microphones and video editing equipment.
Key Features
- Throughout the programme, we stress the applied nature of psychology, emphasising learning through experience to help prepare you for further professional qualifications in psychology, counselling or psychotherapy.
- We'll explain the principles and methods of psychological research, including the collection, analysis, reporting and interpretation of data. During your final year, you'll have the opportunity to carry out an individual research study.
- Teaching is dynamic and varied, using lectures, small group work, discussion groups, case studies, demonstrations and laboratory workshops. You'll be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning with opportunities for you to participate and gain practical experience.
- Our highly-qualified staff have substantial experience in the field. Trained and practising counsellors deliver the counselling and psychotherapy elements, bringing real-time and real-world experiences and case studies into their teaching. We also aim to give you the best possible opportunity to achieve your true potential by offering personal supervision throughout the course.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- 48 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you have non-traditional entry qualifications, relevant experience, or a suitable portfolio of work that we deem a reasonable substitute for the qualifications we typically accept for this course.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling with foundation year course offers an ideal combination of subjects if you're looking for a career helping people or want to undertake further training in counselling psychology, psychotherapy, or other applied psychology professions.
Upon completing the course, you'll be able to demonstrate graduate skills such as problem-solving, critical evaluation and independence of thought, deductive reasoning, interpersonal awareness and excellent teamwork and communication skills.
What can I do with this qualification?
Some of the more prominent job roles include clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, teacher, mental health worker, social worker, police officer and counsellor. Relevant experience and postgraduate study are required for some of these roles.
Psychology graduates with British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation will be able to progress onto professional qualifications in applied psychology. If you wish to pursue a career in counselling and psychotherapy, this course serves as an excellent forerunner to our MSc Counselling and Positive Psychology degree and MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies course.
As a graduate, you'll also possess the scientific knowledge and understanding embedded in the psychological elements of this degree. Skills such as problem-solving and data analysis should be helpful for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT and research.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification to step into a range of other careers. Relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required for some of these roles. Some of these careers include:
- Coaching and guidance services
- Mentoring
- Family mediation
- Teaching and education
- Nursing
- Retail management
- Human resources
- Market research
- Social work
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner
- Mental health support worker
Professional Recognition
Successful completion of the University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling with foundation year course is approved as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS), provided the minimum standard of qualification of second class honours is achieved.
The BPS acts as the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. The GBC provides a basis for progression to society-accredited postgraduate professional training in psychology for training to become a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol).
Through the successful completion of the module "Introduction to Counselling Concepts" (PPC4001) you’ll gain the ABC Accredited Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills.
Through the successful completion of the module "Counselling Skills" (PPC5001) you’ll gain the ABC Accredited Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
If you wish to apply for multiple institutions or multiple courses at Bolton for September entry, then apply through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
If you wish to apply for a single course offered by the University of Bolton for any intake, you can apply directly
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply directly to the University using our online application form shown below.
A direct application to Bolton provides the following features:
Free of charge to apply
Secure, simple and streamlined
Contact us directly for any admissions queries
Regular updates on your application directly from the University
Invites to offer holder events and taster sessions where you can meet your future tutors and get a flavour of university life
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Psy Psychotherapy and Counselling FDY - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
Partner Organisation Applicants
University of Bolton Group Partners
Bolton College
University Collegiate School
Alliance Learning
University of Bolton
For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible.
If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply free of charge to the University. By selecting the appropriate link from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.
When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.
NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.
For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.
If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.
Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.
If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.
Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:
Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Psy Psychotherapy and Counselling FDY - 22 September 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Teaching & Assessment
The overall teaching and learning strategy for our BSc (Hons) Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling with foundation year is student-centred. We use a blended approach, meaning you'll have face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and take part in online learning. You can expect a mix of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical classes, laboratory workshops, videos, self-directed study, IT and library sessions, and guided study. The University's e-learning portal Moodle will support your online learning and provide a convenient way for you to communicate with fellow students who are studying the same modules. We'll also encourage you to use the internet for research.
Guest lectures and presentations by various visiting speakers from relevant employment areas will allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
Our assessment strategy is designed to help you organise and develop your learning and evaluate your achievements. You can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, practical reports, statistical assignments, seminar and poster presentations, and portfolios. These contribute to your final marks and allow you to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for the course. Your assessed work is submitted online via Moodle, with feedback also given through this portal.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Academic Language and Skills 1
- Academic Language and Skills 2
- Academic Language and Skills 5
- Self-reflection and Self-presentation
- Research Methods in Social Science
- Perspectives in Psychology
- Key Studies in Psychology
- Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
- Cognitive and Biopsychological Perspectives
- Understanding the Person
- Contemporary Issues in Psychology
- Application of Psychology
- Introduction to Counselling Concepts
- Cognitive Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Social and Critical Psychology
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Personality and Developmental Psychology
- Counselling Skills
- The Honours Project
- The Therapeutic Process
- Psychology of Mental Health
- Applications of Counselling Skills
- Psychology of Loss and Trauma
- Cyber Psychology and New Media
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Psychological Wellbeing in the Workplace
- Young Life and the Mind
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Coursework 83% Written exams 17% |
| Level 1 | Coursework 70% Written exams 30% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 64% Written exams 36% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Guided independent study 64% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 36% |
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 74% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 26% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 75% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 25% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
