Counselling

Entry requirements

Please see our website for further information on entry requirements for this course.

Months of entry

September

Course content

No prior qualifications needed - just a passion for helping others. Are you considering a career in counselling or psychotherapy? Our part-time Graduate Certificate in Counselling offers a unique opportunity to begin your training - even if you’ve never studied counselling or attended university before. This programme is ideal for anyone with lived experience and a desire to support others and to decide if counselling might be a career for you or enhance a job that you already do. This course blends counselling theory, practical skills, personal development, and a strong emphasis on difference and diversity — helping you understand and work effectively with people from all walks of life.

Why study Counselling at Keele University?
- No previous qualifications required, just a genuine interest in helping others
- Progression to professional training. Successful completion meets the academic criteria for our BACP-accredited MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Keele alumni discount. Students progressing to the MSc may be eligible for a tuition fee reduction
- Supportive learning environment with small cohorts, experienced tutors, and a reflective, inclusive approach to training

Course summary
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling at Keele is grounded in humanistic philosophy, with person-centred practice at the heart of the programme. Inspired by Carl Rogers’ belief in the self-therapeutic capacity and wisdom of clients, the course encourages a deep respect for everyone’s potential for growth and healing.

You’ll be supported to examine and question your own beliefs and assumptions and develop a personal, integrated theory of human development rooted in humanistic and phenomenological principles. To help you build strong therapeutic relationships, you’ll develop core counselling relational skills - not only to foster connection, but also to understand and navigate the barriers that can impact these relationships.

The course includes intensive skills training and personal development work, creating a reflective and supportive environment where you can grow both professionally and personally.

Information for international students

Please see our website for further information for international applicants for this course.

Fees and funding

Please see our website for further information on fees and funding for this course.