Psychology with Counselling

Psychology with counselling brings together two disciplines that share a deep concern with how people think, feel, and change. Psychology as a science provides rigorous frameworks for understanding the mind and behaviour, drawing on research in cognitive, developmental, social, biological, and clinical psychology. Counselling adds the applied, relational dimension: the theory and skills needed to work therapeutically with people who are experiencing psychological distress, using approaches that are evidence-based and client-centred.

At Aberystwyth University, this four-year full-time degree is accredited by the British Psychological Society, meaning it provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership needed to pursue further professional training as a chartered psychologist. You will be introduced to a range of therapeutic approaches, including person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, and psychodynamic frameworks, alongside the core areas of psychological study. An integrated year in industry is embedded in the degree, giving you sustained professional experience in a relevant setting, from counselling services or mental health organisations to educational or healthcare environments.

This applied dimension is genuinely distinctive and significantly strengthens your professional readiness at graduation. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates of this programme are well prepared for careers in counselling, mental health support, psychological therapy, educational support, health and social care, research, and the charity sector. The BPS accreditation provides the foundation for further training as a counselling psychologist, clinical psychologist, or educational psychologist, and many graduates pursue exactly that route. The year in industry makes Aberystwyth graduates particularly attractive to employers who want newly qualified professionals who already understand what real-world practice involves.