29 Nov 2021
Key Facts
Qualification Summary
The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to counselling. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on counselling and psychology topics. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the Diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.
Learners will complete mandatory units which support an introduction to counselling and psychology, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering the types of situations when counselling may be used, for example, following trauma or when there has been a bereavement or loss and have the opportunity to investigate specific aspects of psychology.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Why choose this qualification?
This Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to counselling. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on counselling and psychology topics. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.
Learners will complete mandatory units which support an introduction to counselling and psychology, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering the types of situations when counselling may be used, for example, following trauma or when there has been a bereavement or loss and have the opportunity to investigate specific aspects of psychology.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Units
Learners must complete 30 Credits from the mandatory group, a maximum of 6 Credits from the Research optional group and the remaining 9 credits from the Counselling optional group.
Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.
Research Skills for Counselling
Social Research Methods for Counselling
Learners must complete 30 credits from this group.
Applied Psychology
Applying Counselling Skills
Counselling Ethics and Values
Counselling Theory and Approaches
Counselling: Personal and Professional Relationships
Introduction to Counselling
Valuing Diversity: The Formation of Roles and Attitudes
Learners must complete 9 credits from this group.
Atypical Development and Abnormal Behaviour
Mental Health and Counselling
Support individuals through bereavement and loss
Understand the Impact of Trauma
Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.
Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.
Academic Writing Skills
Being a Reflective Learner
Preparation for Higher Education
Safeguarding Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults
Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.
Academic Reading Skills
Communication - Speaking and Listening
Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience
Work Placement
Intended learner groups
a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.
Delivery methods
Face to face
Blended learning
Assessment methods to include: Essays, projects, presentations, self-evaluation, academic posters, SWOT analysis, case studies, reports, role plays, reflective accounts, information booklet, role plays.
Progression routes
BSc (Hons) Counselling
BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy
Foundation Degree in Counselling
Psychology BSC (Hons)
BA (Hons) Social Psychology
BA (Honours) Social Sciences (Psychology)
BA (Hons) Psychosocial Studies
BA (Hons) Sociology with Psychosocial Studies
Progression & entry requirements
There are no specific entry requirements.Provider approval criteria
Facilities for students to receive support and guidance on personal and academic support in relation to the subject area.
Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
Additional funding information for Access to HE
- Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
- Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
- Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.
Information for Access Centres
Assignment briefs
Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.
The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.
To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free: