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Learn how we interact with each other and about the decisions we make. Study the brain and a wide range of phenomena. Acquire knowledge and skills in counselling that can be embedded in a range of situations.
This course allows you to consider 'big issues' in contemporary psychology as well as studying pioneering approaches and major thinkers. The specialist counselling modules allow you an added perspective and teaches you how to apply basic skills from the counselling room in real-world settings.
Choose modules in your second and final year that suit your particular interests, including mental health and illness, addiction and clinical neuropsychology.
Teaching methods include a mixture of large and small lectures, seminars and workshops, one-to-one and group tutorials. Students will have personal development sessions with academic staff to help with your studies and developing your employability skills.
As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are also on-going assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning. Assessment methods include essays, scientific reports, presentations, multimedia web pages, expert witness reports, writing formulations, case studies, exams, portfolios, online quizzes, academic posters, patchwork text, an exhibition, an academic poster conference, post occupancy evaluation and designing behaviour change interventions.
This course shares a common first year with BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Clinical Psychology, which allows you to change routes at the end of the first year should one of these specialisms appeal to you.
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement | GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+) |
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you to study with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.
If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
According to Prospects, typical starting salaries for Counselling psychologists in the NHS will typically be £32,306 to £39,027, in line with band 6 of the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates.
Once qualified, salaries can increase to band 7, ranging from £40,057 to £45,839. Salaries for senior psychologist roles can rise to between £47,126 and £53,219 (band 8a). With further experience, principal or consultant psychologist can earn salaries of £65,664 to £90,387 (Bands 8c to 8d).
Graduates from this course have gone onto further training and study in areas such as Occupational Therapy, Teacher Training, Social Work and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). Counselling psychology graduates can also be employed in hospitals, health care centres, prisons and community services. The role involves using psychological theory and therapeutic techniques to help clients with a range of mental health conditions and life issues such as bereavement, domestic violence, abuse, depression and psychosis.
Due to the transferable skills learned, graduates from this course can move into a broad range of careers spanning management, HR, social work, public services, counselling and advertising, or alternatively, pursue postgraduate qualifications in specific fields of psychological practice such as clinical or forensic psychology.
Going to the University of Sunderland is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.
It’s been life changing
