The University Centre at North Lindsey College has successfully delivered a Foundation Degree (FdA) in Counselling for a number of years, in collaborative partnership with the University of Hull. The FdA addresses the sector minimum theory standards, laid down by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), for students wishing to become professional counsellors.
This one year long programme, the BA Counselling Top up, has been developed as a further opportunity for students with the FdA or a similar award and is intended to support the transformation to higher level functioning as a professional, meeting the increasing demands placed on those working with others. Students may explore their counselling career options and are encouraged to plan their own professional development.
As full time students, attending classes one day per week and undertaking a minimum of 50 hours of supervised counselling practice, students will explore the five modules listed below.
The degree is validated and awarded by The University of Hull.
UCAS Course Code: 18B6
If you are looking for a full-time or part-time course in Higher Education to study at UCNL, look no further as we explain the process of how to apply. You'll be on the path to success in no time at all!
All applications for entry to full time programmes must be made through the national Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS)
When: as a general guide, applications can be made to UCAS between September and mid-January. Please check their website (www.ucas.com) for further information. We do consider applications throughout the year, although the earlier you submit, the earlier you will receive a decision and can start to plan accordingly.
How: Once you have found the perfect course on the study at UCNL page and you are ready to apply, you have a couple of options:
(Recommended) Make An Online Enquiry
Click the enquire button next to the course you wish to apply for. You will then be asked to fill out a form to help us speed up the process. Once we have your details, you can sit back and relax whilst you wait for one of our friendly and experienced staff to get in touch and guide you through the process.
Contact Us
You can also contact us directly with any queries you may have. Simply head over to our contact page and choose your preferred method.
UCAS
Alternatively, you can head directly to the UCAS website: http://www.ucas.ac.uk.
Please use the following details to find us on the UCAS website:
The UCAS Code for the DN Colleges Group is: N64 (The University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL)
Campus Code: N (UCNL)
Campus Code: D (University Centre Doncaster)
Please note that UCNL is part of the DN Colleges Group.
Once you have submitted your application, UCAS will send copies to all of your selected institutions.
Each will make a decision based on your application, and may invite you for an interview.
If we can offer you a place on a course, the offer will be communicated via UCAS TRACK.
If you are unable to meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, an institution could also offer you an alternative course, or will provide you with feedback about why they were unable to offer you a place.
If you receive an offer, it will either be:
- Conditional – you must meet certain conditions which are usually based on exam results.
- Unconditional – you have been accepted without any further conditions.
Offers should be accepted or declined. You may accept an offer as Firm or Insurance.
- Firm is your preferred choice.
- Insurance is your back-up choice.
All applications for part-time programmes should be made directly to UCNL, using a Higher Education Part Time Application form. This is available by emailing enquiries@ucnl.ac.uk. Alternatively, click the ‘enquire’ button located next to the course you wish to apply for.
Loans for tuition fees are available to full-time and part-time students (subject to current Government funding criteria), from Student Finance England and are known as 'Tuition Fee Loans'.
You will need to ensure that student finance is in place prior to the start of your course to ensure payments for tuition fees and maintenance grants are made in a timely fashion.
Please visit www.gov.uk/student-finance for more information and guidance. Should you need some assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
UCNL has a range of financial support awards available for students. These include:
- The Student Opportunity Fund
This is also referred to as the Hardship Fund and is an amount of money UCNL holds in order to allocate to students facing financial hardship and difficulty. Applications to the fund can be made from late October throughout the academic year. This is NOT a loan and is not repayable.To qualify you must have applied for a student loan. If following this, you are still in hardship you may apply to the fund for help. Following a standard assessment, you may qualify for a termly payment based upon attendance or if you have an unexpected large expense you may qualify for a non-standard award to help towards the cost.Additionally, students facing unexpected financial difficulties may be eligible for a short term repayable loan. Information can be provided by the UCNL Information and Advice office. - Bursaries Students may also be able to apply for a number of financial bursaries. These include awards available to students who are care leavers and those from low participation neighbourhoods. Please note that there is a limited number of awards available. For further details, please contact the Information and Advice office.
- Council Tax Certificates Exemption certificates can be arranged for full-time Students only. Please contact the UCNL Information and Advice Office for further details.
We encourage all students to become members of The Student Society which is proactively involved in UCNL and creates the opportunity for students to provide feedback and share ideas and suggestions with regards to their student experience. The Student Society allows students the chance to develop their interests, to network and engage with other students and staff, to work in partnership with UCNL to achieve goals and to discuss their student experience.
We are always trying to find creative and innovate ways of inspiring our students to enhance their experience. In previous years the Student Society has been engaged in UCNL's first student-led conference, 'UCNL's Got Talent', has helped develop UNCL’s LGBTQ+ Group and has been responsible for providing a forum to discuss student suggestions, leading to changes such as the introduction of microwaves in the Bistro for HE students.
If you think that you could make a real difference and would like to join, please come to one of our advertised meetings or ask your Programme Leader about who you go to for more information.
This Student Charter has been developed in partnership between staff, students and members of the Student Society, setting out ways in which everyone will work together to make your time at UCNL enjoyable, successful and rewarding.
If you are interested in viewing our Student Charter follow this link.
Course Details
5 Modules: The areas of study will build directly onto modules undertaken on the UCNL FdA Counselling:
Advanced Theoretical Concepts in Practice – Developing conceptual understanding of counselling theories and approaches, this module builds on the Level 4 and Level 5 Theoretical Concepts in Counselling modules, exploring the current thinking on best practice.
Working with Groups, Therapeutic and Supervision Group Facilitation – This module will focus on the specific skills that students need to develop to offer group counselling and facilitation of supervision groups. This interactive module will explore rationales for groupwork, facilitator competencies, client selection and groupwork dynamics and interventions.
Mental Health and Wellbeing, Mental Wellbeing and Illness across the age spectrum – this module will explore mental health and mental illness, covering wellness, recovery and prevention strategies so as to best respond to the complexities of mental health across the spectrum of age and diversity
Professional Practice, Preparing for professional accreditation and practice – this module will draw together and develop the key aspects of professionalism extending knowledge gained whilst studying for the FdA Counselling. Consideration will be given to reflective, critical and ethical practice. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Standards will be explored in relation to personal competencies in practice alongside service delivery and business models that students may wish to develop as practitioners.
Dissertation Module Individual research, building on the FDA Counselling Research Methods module and acting as a culmination of studies, this module provides the opportunity to carry out a small-scale research project in the form of a dissertation. Students will build on the work of earlier levels and choose a topic pertinent to them and their setting. They will review the range of research designs, methodological approaches, carry out field work and collect data through appropriate methods. Ethical issues will be addressed, including the key principles of anonymity, confidentiality and informed consent
Entry Requirements
This programme leads on from the UCNL FdA Counselling. Candidates are expected to have undertaken this or a similar programme elsewhere. If this is not your background then perhaps the FdA Counselling award would be more suitable. Please get in touch to discuss this.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate relevant and recent experience of working with client based practice.
In the first instance we encourage you to make contact via the HE Information and Advice Office to discuss the programme informally.
Student loans and maintenance grants/loans may be applied for through Student Finance England.
Course Progression
In terms of further study students may decide to apply and progress to Masters Level Counselling or Psychotherapy Studies at selected universities. You may wish to undertake further training in specialised therapeutic interventions. You will also become able to practice as a counsellor, either within an organisation or working independently, once you have completed the full BACP practice requirements. The programme has been designed to support individuals with these transitions.
Assessment Methods
This programme is continuously assessed using a range of methods including case studies, presentations, observations of practice, reports, essays and reflective journals. There are no examinations included as part of this programme
Course Fees
It is a professional requirement that students receive clinical supervision when on a counselling placement and there will be an additional cost incurred for this by the student. Your Tuition fees cover the majority of costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition and assessment).
There may be some extra costs that you might need to make or choose to pay.
Books (you will have access to books from your module reading lists in the HE library, but you may want to buy your own copies).
Printing and photocopying.
If your programme includes a work placement, you may be required to pay for a Basic or Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
