Counselling HNC

Course code 448C

What is special about this course?

This HNC Counselling is designed to appeal not only to those who wish to progress and eventually qualify as a counsellor, but also to those practicing in any sector that would benefit from the range of skills employed in a helping/supporting relationship, for example: community work; social care; education; criminal justice; health services; and voluntary work. The course integrates theory, skills practice, reflection, and self-development. There is a strong emphasis on personal development and there will be work relating to reflective skills, self-awareness, assertiveness, and dealing with challenges. The HNC doesn't qualify you to practice counselling but is the ideal stepping stone if you wish to proceed onto this career path.

Special features

  • Delivered by experienced, practising counsellors
  • Jointly developed by SQA and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
  • Strong emphasis on personal development
  • Opportunity to engage with students across the UHI partnership in the online units

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • Counselling award at SCQF 6 or above OR
  • Participation in relevant voluntary/paid work
  • Other relevant/related qualifications may be considered, such as: HNC Social Care; HNC Health Care; Diploma in Social Work; Degree/Diploma in Nursing etc; experience of working with people who have experienced substance misuse, eating disorders, relationship problems
  • Completion of the Work placement module is required for anyone wishing to progress to HND. PVG scheme membership is required to undertake this module, therefore this course is determined to be a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/units, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional modules/units, but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Year 1 - HNC

Core modules include:

  • Cognitive and behavioural counselling theory 
  • Humanistic counselling theory
  • Loss, grief and bereavement 
  • Psychodynamic counselling theory
  • Relationship-centred counselling
  • Understanding addictive behaviours
  • Work placement (this is a taster placement, you will not deliver counselling at this stage)*

*completion of this module is required for anyone wishing to progress to HND - PVG scheme membership is required to undertake this module

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • You will learn through a combination of video-conference lectures, face to face classes and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
  • Full-time students will study 2 days per week:
    • 1 full day face to face on campus PLUS
    • 1 full day in scheduled online sessions with students and lecturers from across the UHI partnership
  • Part-time students will study 1 day per week:
    • in year 1, this will be 1 full day face to face on campus;
    • in year 2, this will be 1 full day in scheduled online sessions with students and lecturers from across the UHI partnership

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year @ 14 hours per week (2 full days)
  • Part-time (structured): 2 years @ 7 hours per week (1 full day)

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours spent in lectures, you should also take into account your own time spent on individual study and research.

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • Orkney - running on alternate years, see below for details
  • Perth
  • Shetland - running on alternate years, see below for details

For Orkney and Shetland students, this course runs on alternate years, with HND Counselling (year 2) being delivered every second year:

  • September 2024: HNC Counselling (year 1) 
  • September 2025: HND Counselling (year 2) - apply links open September 2024
  • September 2026: HNC Counselling (year 1) - apply links open September 2025

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in agencies where counselling skills are required, such as:

  • Voluntary sector
  • Community work
  • Social care
  • Education
  • Criminal justice
  • Health services

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to progress from HNC Counselling to HND Counselling.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Counselling HNC

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.