FDA Counselling · Darlington CollegeFoundation degree · Duration varies
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Darlington College · Undergraduate

FDA Counselling Foundation degree at Darlington College

FDA Counselling at Darlington College. The award is a nationally recognised UK degree, accredited through the college's degree-awarding body status.

FDA
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
On campus
Location

About this course

Our FdA Counselling course provides professional training and equips you with a sound theoretical framework and the practitioner skills required to work safely and effectively as a counsellor. The programme adopts a personal-centred approach with aspects of psychodynamic and cognitive behaviour therapy explored as comp From the provider’s course page.

FDA Counselling is a Foundation degree (FDA) at Darlington College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.

For Allied health graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £29,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Nursing & Health, see the sections below.

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 6 modules
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapycore
    Module details

    This module is an introduction to the principles and practices of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as applied to practice in counselling settings. The module formulates mental distress and disturbances within the CBT framework and draws on current evidence-based practice through reference to NICE guidelines. You explore psychological formulation and intervention skills of CBT practice. An important feature of the module is the emphasis on collaborative working with clients.

  • Counselling Skills Practicecore
    Module details

    This module develops your counselling skills to prepare and support you for external supervised work experience with a counselling agency, and to continually develop your counselling skills and personal qualities.

  • Developing Skills for Professional Practicecore
    Module details

    This module develops your knowledge and understanding of the BACP Ethical Framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy, which outlines the values, principles and personal moral qualities which underpin ethical practice. You then begin to practice counselling skills working with peers to develop a professional framework for practice.

  • Foundations of Personal and Professional Practicecore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy so you are better informed when you have to make important decisions that can affect the possibility of achieving your career goals. In addition, you are introduced to personal development planning and a range of study and transferable skills that are relevant to your foundation degree programme.

  • Personal and Professional Developmentcore
    Module details

    This module develops your personal understanding of self in relation to the core theoretical model. It provides an unstructured group similar to Rogerian encounter groups, which promote congruent communication, empathic understanding and acceptance of self and others. You learn to manage and cope with situations that vary in complexity and predictability and develop the personal moral qualities inherent in the BACP ethical framework, including: - humility (the ability to assess accurately ones'

  • Person-centred Theory and Practicecore
    Module details

    You develop your knowledge, understanding and application of a core theoretical model – the person-centred approach developed by Carl R Rogers and part of the Humanistic School of Therapy. You focus on the qualities of the therapeutic relationship as the primary vehicle for therapeutic change and the key concepts of Rogers' theory of personality and practice with particular emphasis on the self-concept, organismic self, 'necessary and sufficient' conditions, the therapeutic process, ethical prac

Year 2 6 modules
  • Advanced Counselling Skillscore
    Module details

    This module assists you to develop as ethical, accountable and reflective practitioners. It also assesses your skills competence to practice. This module will support you as practitioners who can apply a coherent theoretical base to respond to clients psychological distress, work within an ethical framework and monitor fitness to practice.

  • Counselling Approaches and Practicecore
    Module details

    You are introduced to the principles and practices of working from an integrative perspective as applied to practice in counselling settings. The module formulates mental distress and disturbances within an Integrative framework and draws on current evidence based practice through reference to NICE guidelines. You will explore psychological formulation and the skills of Integrative practice. An important feature of the module is the emphasis on collaborative working with clients.

  • Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeingcore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the concept of a continuum of mental wellbeing through to severe psychological and emotional distress. You will be made aware of the influence of social and cultural factors on mental health and the interrelatedness of psychological and physical symptoms. You learn about the types of medication commonly used in treatment of various psychological states and their effects and possible side effects, including the potential impact on the therapeutic process. You also de

  • Professional Development in Practicecore
    Module details

    This module prepares you to take an active role as a member of the professional counselling/psychotherapy community. You consider the wider political, social, legal and organisational framework for therapeutic practice to ensure that you are able to work appropriately in different counselling and psychotherapy contexts. The module highlights the importance of making a commitment to on-going personal and professional development after qualification and throughout your career as a qualified practi

  • Psychodynamic Approachescore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to key concepts in Psychodynamic theory. The fundamental principles of psychodynamic theories lie in the concept of unconscious processes and the transferential relationship existing between the counsellor and their client. You gain an understanding of child development and attachment, the nature of the therapeutic relationship, the therapeutic process and human sexuality. A psychodynamic understanding of mental health will be introduced through exploring splitting, pr

  • Understanding Research in Counsellingcore
    Module details

    This module develops your critical awareness of research findings in counselling, psychotherapy and related areas through study of the relevant literature, and through reflection on how these inform evidence-based practice. You gain an awareness and working knowledge of research methodology to enable you to develop basic competences in small scale research projects.

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This FdA Counselling course equips you with professional training grounded in person-centred practice, alongside psychodynamic and cognitive behaviour therapy approaches. You'll typically progress from foundational theory and core counselling skills in your first year, such as communication, active listening and ethical practice, towards specialised areas including adult nursing, mental health, children's nursing, community & primary care, and leadership in subsequent stages. Throughout, you'll develop practical competence through supervised practice and placements, integrating evidence-based methods and learning to work safely and effectively with diverse clients and settings.

Who it's for

This course suits those seeking part-time study in counselling within the nursing and health field. It is designed for students who need flexibility whilst developing professional qualifications in this sector.

University & format

This Foundation degree is delivered by Darlington College, a higher education college founded in 1897 and located in Darlington. The course is studied part-time and taught in English. Darlington College is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised.

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

Open daysBook an open day

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Darlington College's official course page for the current offer.

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeC894quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code C894). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Darlington College whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university

Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.

Check fees at Darlington College →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All Darlington College funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.

National funding for this subject

  • NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance

We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.

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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Nursing & Health graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£29,500£25,000 – £35,500240
3 years after£38,000£32,000 – £43,000105
5 years after£42,000£36,000 – £47,500120

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 240. Cohort 2021-22.

  1. 1Newly Qualified PractitionerPreceptorship / first post · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Registered PractitionerAutonomous practice · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / SpecialistSpecialist or team lead · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Advanced / Consultant PractitionerAdvanced practice or management · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Nursing & Health nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£29,500
£27,000 – £30,500
After 3 years LEO
£38,000
£23,800 – £33,600
After 5 years LEO
£42,000
£27,200 – £38,400
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £22,500 – £43,500

National figures for Nursing & Health graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Nursing & Health courses at the same study level.

This course £42,000Peer median £31,500Middle 50% £28,000–£34,000
98th percentile

Compared with 1,506 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

Job market & outlook

How Nursing & Health graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Nursing & Health courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
87%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine documentation and triage support
  • Scheduling and records admin
  • First-pass risk flags from data
  • Standard reference look-ups

More human than ever

  • Hands-on, compassionate care
  • Clinical judgement and accountability
  • Communicating with patients and families
  • Ethics and safeguarding decisions

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Nursing & Health graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • NHS trusts
  • Private healthcare
  • Care providers
  • Community & mental-health services

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £29,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Subjects allied to medicine across the UK

Students360,360
Aged 25+51.5%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Darlington College

2,063 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 563Anti Social Behaviour 492Shoplifting 280Criminal Damage Arson 191Public Order 140

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Nursing & Health right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to Darlington College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by Darlington College; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Darlington College’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Darlington College and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by Darlington College. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Allied health graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £29,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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