Foundation Course in Psychotherapy & Counselling /
Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling*
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The FAQs below cover our Foundation Course in
Psychotherapy & Counselling/ Certificate in Psychotherapy
& Counselling only.
For general Admissions queries or further information about
SPCP, please visit our main FAQs
page.
Admissions Queries
Background Experience Queries
Course Queries
Progression Queries
International Students
Finance & Funding
Admissions Queries
When is the
application deadline?
We do not have application deadlines for any of our courses at
SPCP. However, as places on each programme are limited and are
offered on a first-come-first serve basis, early application is
advisable to avoid disappointment. It is not uncommon for our
courses to reach capacity two months or more before their start
date, so if you want to check that places are still available
before applying, please email us at spc@regents.ac.uk.
Who should I
ask to be my referee? Is there a form they need to complete?
For applicants to our Foundation course, we accept references
from previous/current employers or previous/current tutors. We also
accept references from therapists, or professionals of your
long-standing acquaintance (e.g. doctors, lawyers, social workers,
nurses, teachers).
There is no form for referees to fill out. However, please see
below for guidelines.
What should I
tell my referee to include in their reference?
Your referee should simply write a brief reference indicating
the nature and duration of their relationship to you, and include a
comment on your academic/professional capabilities. They should
also explain why they think you would make a suitable candidate for
the course you are applying for.
What qualities
are you looking for in an applicant?
Entry on to this Course is based more on your life
experience and emotional maturity rather than any particular
academic background. You will need to show a capacity for
introspection and demonstrate that you have the ability to listen
and respond appropriately to others.
You do not have to have a background in the field or to have
experienced therapy yourself to apply to the programme. These are,
however, desirable features in an applicant.
How many
students do you accept for each class?
For our one-year programme, we accept a maximum of 24 students
per intake. For our Intensive programmes, we accept a maximum of 21
students per intake.
What does the
interview involve? Do I need to prepare anything or bring anything
to the interview?
Interviews for this course are conducted in groups here at the
college. The groups are usually no larger than 6 applicants, and
you will be interviewed by one of the Course Leaders. The
interviews usually last between an hour to an hour and a half, and
you are not asked to bring or prepare anything in advance.
I am currently
based outside the UK. Can my interview be conducted over the
phone?
Yes. If you live abroad or too far out of London to travel in,
just let us know and we will try to set up a telephone interview
for you with the relevant Course Leader. This can sometimes take
some time to set up, so if you know that you may require a
telephone interview, it is best to apply as early as possible.
I work
full-time. Do you hold any interviews on weekends/after hours?
No. Interviews are scheduled according to the interviewers'
availabilities, which are almost always going to be during office
hours on a weekday. Although it can be problematic trying to
arrange time off work, we will endeavour in all cases to give you
as much notice as possible of your interview date so that you can
organise yourself.
You are able to reschedule if the time put to you will
absolutely not work, but interview deferrals are always going to be
at your own risk. There is no guarantee that places will be
available the longer you put off your interview, so if it is at all
possible for you to rearrange your plans, then you should do so. We
will always try to ensure that those who applied first are offered
the earliest interview timeslots, but sometimes deferrals mean that
you can be "pipped to the post" by those who applied later than
you.
If I am made
an offer of a place on the course, how long is this offer valid
for?
One year. For example, if you are made an offer of a place on a
course beginning in January, you can take this up on any available
intake between that point and January of the following year.
After one year has passed, your offer will expire and you will
need to reapply.
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Background Experience Queries
I already
have an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Social Work, Nursing or
a ‘related’ field. Do I still need to take a Foundation course
before I can begin on the MA in Psychotherapy &
Counselling?
Yes. This course is a pre-requisite for entry to the MA
programme. It will not be waived if you have a background in a
‘related’ area. This is because Psychotherapy and Counselling is a
very specific discipline, with theoretical, practical and
experiential elements not usually covered in other programmes.
Although the ‘psy’ disciplines frequently overlap, it is absolutely
essential for you to have a thorough grounding in
Psychotherapy/Counselling ‘proper’ before you could proceed to a
Masters in the subject.
You should not view this course as a "step backwards" or take it
as a sign that your degree "does not count". Your degree will hold
you in good stead for your Masters application, but it is
nonetheless the case that you need a formal academic background in
Psychotherapy and Counselling before you could be considered for
the MA.
I am a
mature-age student and have not been in an academic environment for
a long time. Will I be offered learning support if I need it?
Yes. If you are having trouble adjusting to the academic
environment, you are welcome to contact
Student Services for advice and information. Student Services
can provide tips on academic essay writing, for example.
Do I need to
have had experience of personal therapy before I can join the
course?
No. This is, however, a desirable feature in an applicant.
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Course Queries
What is the general age/gender demographic of students
on the course? Do younger applicants have trouble securing a
place?
Psychotherapy and Counselling seems to be a career that people
turn to most successfully as "second career" or "later life"
options. The average age range for SPCP applicants is 30 and 50,
with a few aged under 30 and over 60. An entry requirement for the
MA/PGDip (and advanced diplomas) is a significant amount of "life
experience" gained after the end of full-time education, along with
a mature attitude and capacity for introspection. Training in
psychotherapy and counselling can be quite emotionally challenging,
as you are encouraged to share aspects of your own life, to hear
the experiences of others, and to assist others with personal
dilemmas. Finding work as a psychotherapist is quite difficult for
younger graduates.
We welcome younger applicants to this course. The knowledge
and skills base that you will gain there will enhance any career
pathway involving "people" skills and/or public contact as well as
giving you a close look at a profession that may be suitable for a
second career. Those younger international applicants who seek
knowledge and skills currently unavailable in their home countries
also may be considered but you will need to demonstrate that you
are mature and experienced enough to be able to handle the
course.
There are usually more women than men on each of our courses,
but we do have a decently sized male student body.
If I
register for a particular intake, can I switch classes mid-way
through the course? I.e., if I register for the Monday morning
intake, can I change to the Monday evening intake mid-term?
Successful applicants may choose from whichever intake has
vacancies, but cannot move from one intake to another once the term
has begun.
What is the
difference between the Psychotherapy & Counselling Foundation,
and the Psychology Foundation programme that is also offered by
SPCP?
Psychotherapy & Counselling is a discipline that focuses
mainly on interaction: it is clinically based (i.e., it involves
working with clients to resolve their personal issues) and involves
– among other things – listening skills, emotional awareness and a
capacity for self-reflection.
Psychology, on the other hand, is more of a ‘science’ in the
traditional sense. It is a broader discipline concerned primarily
with the thoughts, feelings and motivations behind human behaviour.
Psychologists often work with statistics and within controlled lab
environments, and do not always work with clients.
Psychotherapy & Counselling is quite a clear-cut ‘career’;
this programme is the first step along this journey. Psychology,
however, is quite broad, so the Foundation programme prepares you
for any number of career options.
To come to a better understanding of what each of these
programmes involve, you might like to read the module descriptions
for each one. For Psychotherapy & Counselling Foundation
modules, click here. For Psychology
Foundation modules, click here.
What
academic qualification will this course give me?
You will exit with a Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy and
Counselling.
What does
‘Integrative Psychotherapy’ mean?
You can find information about the ‘Integrative’ approach to
Psychotherapy here.
What is the
staff to student ratio on the course?
We usually have 4 tutors per group of 21-24 students. For skills
sessions, one tutor is allocated to a group of 5-6 students.
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Progression Queries
If I
successfully complete this course, am I guaranteed a place on the
MA/PGDiploma programme afterwards?
No. After successfully completing this course, you will meet one
of the core entry requirements for our MA/PGDiploma. However, you
also need to have a minimum amount of professional/voluntary
experience (6 months of experience for those with an undergraduate
degree, 2 years of experience for those without) to qualify, and
admission to the MA/PGDiploma is also partly based on an interview
with the Programme Director. Among other things, the interview will
assess whether you are not only academically ready to undertake
MA/PGDiploma-level training, but also emotionally ready for it.
Generally this means showing that you have a certain amount of life
experience and a mature attitude, so as long as you are confident
in your experience, skills and maturity, you will be welcome to
apply.
Will I be
able to practice as a Psychotherapist/Counsellor after completing
this course?
No. If you wish to become a professional Psychotherapist and
register with the UKCP, this will involve at
least 4 more years of postgraduate-level training after this
course.
I am hoping
to progress to the MA as quickly as possible. Is the Intensive
course the best option for me, rather than the one-year
Course?
Entry to the MA programme is based partly on the Foundation
course, and partly on your professional/voluntary background in a
related area. If you are confident that you have the required
amount of professional/voluntary experience (6 months for those
with an undergraduate degree, 2 years for those without a degree),
the Intensive option would indeed be a good choice for you. If you
do not have the required amount of experience, we generally
recommend taking the one-year programme so that you can ‘kill two
birds with one stone’: that is, study and gather some voluntary
experience at the same time.
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International Students
I am an
international student. Can I apply for the Foundation course? If
so, can you sponsor me for a student visa?
If you are an international student, you can apply for one of
our Intensive courses ONLY. We are unable to accept international
students onto the one-year programme.
At this stage you can apply for a Student Visitor Visa to
undertake the Intensive programme. Please visit the UKBA
website for further information about this type of visa. Tier 4
Student visas are not possible for this course.
Does
Regent’s College have on-campus accommodation for international
students?
Yes, however on-campus accommodation is limited. Please visit
our Accommodation section for further information.
English is
my second language. Is there a particular IELTS/TOEFL score I need
to begin on this course?
You will need an IELTS score of at least 5.5
or a TOEFL score of 74
(internet-based test), 537 (paper-based test) or 203
(computer-based test). We also accept Cambridge Certificates in
Advanced English (minimum Grade C).
If the last three years of your education have been taught
solely in English, we do not ask you for an IELTS/TOEFL.
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Finance & Funding
Can I pay my
tuition fees in instalments?
Yes. However, you will need to request this from our Finance
Department upon receipt of your tuition fee invoice(s).
What funding options exist for this course?
Please visit
Student Finance England for information about funding options
for undergraduate level training.
Do you have
any scholarships or bursaries?
We do not have any scholarships or bursaries at this stage.
However, SPCP may develop scholarship opportunities in the
future.
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*The Foundation Course is due to be re-classified
as a Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling
Page last updated 5/1/2012