BA (Hons) Counselling Practitioner · LBUBachelor's degree · 3 years
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Lincoln Bishop University · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Counselling Practitioner Bachelor's degree at Lincoln Bishop University

BA (Hons) Counselling Practitioner at LBU received Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. You'll study core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.

BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
80%
continuation

About this course

The programme adopts a humanistic approach to counselling practice; the ‘humanistic’ label is an umbrella term for counselling approaches which are client-centr From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Counselling Practitioner is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at LBU. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

7.6
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong72

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

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

Year 1 5 modules
  • Introduction to Person-Centred Theory and Counselling Past to PresentCore
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the theory of person-centred counselling. You will be introduced to the philosophical underpinnings and influences that inform the theory and practice of person-centred counselling. The module provides an introduction to: person-centred theories of personality, growth, and human development; Rogers' core conditions and the importance of the therapeutic relationship; the therapeutic process and therapeutic change. You will also explore the main exponents in shaping t

  • Core Counselling SkillsCore
    Module details

    The purpose of this module is for you to learn and practice core counselling skills. This is a key aspect of their professional development. Counselling involves the use of skills with clients in the context of the therapeutic relationship. Similarly, counselling skills can be used by helping professionals in many contexts. You will develop counselling skills through practice, peer observation, reflection and tutor feedback. The development of practical skills will include the consideration of i

  • Equality, Counselling and CultureCore
    Module details

    Debates within the field of counselling have centred around the tension between a bio-medical model of psychological distress, and psycho-social models that consider the effects of culture, environment, power structures and associated social inequalities. In order to support your understanding of people and their experiences, this module will consider issues of difference and equality in counselling and the ways the culture and belief systems of both counselling clients and counsellors may influ

  • Online and Phone Therapy (OPT) Counselling SkillsCore
    Module details

    This module is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required for effective remote counselling. This module covers key areas such as the facilitation of OPT sessions, risk, understanding the ethical and legal considerations unique to OPT counselling, and mastering communication techniques that enhance client engagement and therapeutic outcomes. You will engage in practical exercises, role-plays, and case studies to develop your proficiency in using remote communication to

  • Law and Ethics in Counselling PracticeCore
    Module details

    To further your understanding of the professional role and responsibility of the therapist, as well as the social, professional and organisational context for therapy, in this module, you will consider the application of guidance and legislation to counselling practice in preparation for placement. This will include the examination of issues such as safeguarding, record keeping, consent, confidentiality, boundaries, contracting, client assessment (including risk-assessment), and diversity and eq

Year 2 4 modules
  • Developing Connection with Self and OthersCore
    Module details

    A key aspect of the professional role and responsibility of the therapist is to engage in rigorous self-examination, monitoring thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour in the therapeutic relationship. This module also explores the relatively new concept of working at relational depth in counselling. The development of the therapeutic relationship is central to any encounter in counselling. Working at relational depth can significantly intensify this experience, and can have a profo

  • Using Creative Approaches in Counselling PracticeCore
    Module details

    This module will focus on ways in which counsellors enable clients to find their voice by articulating their views, issues and experiences within the therapeutic relationship. You will examine the limitations of talking therapy and will explore potential mitigation of such limitations via a range of techniques and creative therapeutic approaches for example creative artwork, sand tray, clay, expressive writing, empty chair techniques and music therapy. You will engage with both the theoretical a

  • Theories of Human DevelopmentCore
    Module details

    Engagement with a range of theoretical perspectives is key to understanding people and their experiences. To this end, this module will explore a range of theories of human development. You will engage critically with these theories, in the light of an awareness of their philosophical origins. Influential theorists such as Bowlby and Erikson will be considered alongside perspectives on human development within wider frameworks informing humanistic counselling. You will consider how theories of h

  • Research Skills and MethodsCore
    Module details

    This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge of and skills in research in the field of counselling. This will include a critical consideration of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and their associated methods, as well as philosophical positioning in research. You will be supported in the identification of a research topic and the articulation of a research question. Key aspects of design will be considered, and you will be taught how to develop and write a resea

Year 3 4 modules
  • Professional Counselling PracticeCore
    Module details

    With a focus on the professional and organisational context for therapy, this module brings together elements of continuing personal and professional development to prepare you to work as a counsellor in practice after qualification. A deepening understanding of the professional role and responsibility of the therapist will be fostered through reflexive engagement with issues such as boundaries and contracting. You will consider how the use of supervision can enhance both personal and profession

  • Working with Specific Client PopulationsCore
    Module details

    This module examines ways of working with clients who present with a range of issues that affect their everyday living to such an extent that help is sought to address them. You will learn to recognise the signs and symptoms associated with mental distress. You will engage with a range of research-informed therapeutic responses to work with clients who present with challenges such as anxiety; depression; bereavement; loss; and suicidal ideation or intent. Particular consideration will be given t

  • Global and Contemporary Therapeutic ApproachesCore
    Module details

    In this module, you will explore the theory and practice of contemporary and emerging counselling approaches within the therapeutic landscape. This exploration will encompass a variety of innovative methods and perspectives. For instance, you will explore Shinrin-Yoku, also known as forest bathing. The holistic approach will be another focal point, highlighting the importance of addressing the mind, body, and spirit in a unified manner to promote overall well-being. Additionally, the module will

  • Group Processes and Group DynamicsCore

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 course adopts a humanistic approach to counselling practice, grounding client-centred work within broader theoretical and professional frameworks. You'll usually begin with foundational concepts in counselling theory, research methods and academic communication. A course like this typically moves from introductory interdisciplinary study, covering the programme's main strands, through intermediate applied work, such as team-based projects on real counselling scenarios or case studies. In your second and third years, you'll deepen specialist knowledge through optional modules and choose areas to pursue further, whilst developing professional skills including work placement experience. You'll conclude with independent research or a capstone project that draws together your learning in counselling practice.

Who it's for

This course suits those interested in developing counselling expertise and professional practice. Most recent entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with typical UCAS tariffs between 96 and 111 points. You should check the university's admissions pages for specific entry requirements and support available.

University & format

BA (Hons) Counselling Practitioner is a 3-year full-time degree awarded by Lincoln Bishop University, a public university. The course is taught in English. The degree is nationally recognised as awarded by a UK degree-awarding body. Lincoln Bishop University holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
82%
Learning opportunities
65%
Assessment and feedback
69%
Academic Support
79%
Organisation and management
58%
Learning resources
93%
Student voice
60%

Share of students responding positively.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

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

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Published entry96 points (e.g. CCC) typical offer

Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.

Open daysBook your open day

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

Entry & how to get in

Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of 96 points (e.g. CCC). Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent50% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check LBU's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent50%
Other30%
an Access course20%

Entry & your chances

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

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

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 by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeB941quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code B941). 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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 LBU 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 LBU →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years

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 LBU 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.

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

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

80%
continue past their first year
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000 – £30,000
After 3 years LEO
£20,825 – £29,400
After 5 years LEO
£25,075 – £35,400
national rangeaxis £19,500 – £36,500

National figures for General Studies 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.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

80 of 100

continued or completed

continued into the next year or completed their qualification

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Job market & outlook

How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across General Studies courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
65%
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 information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

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

Roles & employers

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

Where they work

  • Employers across sectors
  • Public sector
  • Corporates & charities
  • Startups

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.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.6 out of 10: NSS 72.3% · continued 80%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Lincoln Bishop University

All students2,360
International2.3%
Aged 25+44.1%

Combined and general studies across the UK

Students39,200
Aged 25+62.2%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Lincoln Bishop University

1,277 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 513Anti Social Behaviour 293Shoplifting 124Public Order 84Criminal Damage Arson 67

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

Is General Studies right for you?

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

International students

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

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by LBU; 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 LBU’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 LBU and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by LBU. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
See the career and earnings data for General Studies below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
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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