Academic requirements Please note that this course provides core counselling and therapeutic training, suitable for those who have relevant experience (as outlined below), but are not yet qualified practitioners already in some form of therapeutic practice or working therapeutically with a caseload of clients. Accepted Qualifications Bachelor's degree with minimum Second Class (2:1) or equivalent in any subject. Applicants must have relevant clinical experience and the ability for self-managed learning and have adequate opportunities to carry out formal client work. Applicants must have appropriate personal qualities, including: Self-awareness, maturity and stability Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the programme Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements Ability to form a helping relationship characterised by empathy, acceptance and genuineness Ability to be self-critical and use both positive and negative feedback Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression Awareness of issues of difference and equality Ability to recognize the need for personal and professional support Commitment to self-development Competence in, or the aptitude to develop generic professional skills, including literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, self-management skills, communication and interpersonal skills Successful applicants must have some previous counselling skills training, relevant experience of working with people and some experience of their own personal therapy. Application forms are reviewed and suitable candidates are invited for interview. No candidates are admitted to the programme without passing at interview. Fulfilling the academic requirements is not enough to secure an interview. Please bear in mind when you are writing your personal statement that we are looking for people who can show self-awareness, maturity and stability and be self-reflective, non-defensive and able to use both positive and negative feedback. We place great emphasis on proof of vocation. We strongly suggest that you include in your application details of any experience and activities which further support your application. Please also ensure your personal statement is written wholly by you, and not generated by Chat GPT or similar AI services. Successful candidates must demonstrate vocation over three main areas as detailed below, although this list is not exhaustive: Undertaking a Level 3 course in counselling and/or psychotherapy (lasting between 3 and 12 months, with at least 50 taught hours, and face-to-face). A Level 3 usually (but not always) involves gaining experience of counselling in small groups (‘triads’). Undertaking paid or voluntary work in a dedicated 1:1 listening role with adults in a UK setting (e.g. volunteering for a charity who provide a listening service). Undertaking personal therapy. We do not need to know the reasons you sought it; we are more interested in your experience of it. International Qualifications We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit our International page for full details.