Psychology with Counselling Skills, MA

In this section
Psychology with Counselling Skills, MA

Introduction

This page provides information on what you will study on the MA Psychology with Counselling Skills joint Honours degree.

Study Information

At a Glance

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MA
Duration
48 months
Study Mode
Full Time
Start Month
September
UCAS Code
C8B9

This page provides information on what you will study on the MA Psychology with Counselling Skills joint Honours degree. For more detailed information about studying Psychology please visit the relevant single Honours programme pages.

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme.

View the Aberdeen Global Scholarship

What You'll Study

A degree in Psychology with Counselling Skills is taught via a selection of compulsory and optional courses to enhance your learning, preparing you for a future career or further study. In each year you will take courses adding up to 120 credits. Depending on the number of compulsory and optional courses offered by your degree, you can also choose other eligible courses which fit your timetable.

Year 1

Compulsory Courses

  • CO101D Counselling Skills 1: Active Listening and Responding
  • CO 151D Counselling Skills 2: Different Therapeutic Modalities/Approaches
Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)

This course, which is prescribed for level 1 undergraduate students and articulating students who are in their first year at the University, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.

Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.

Introductory Psychology I: Concepts and Theory (PS1009)

15 Credit Points

PS1009 introduces you to major concepts and theories in psychology to provide you with a strong understanding of the human mind and behaviour. You will attend lectures on biological, social and cognitive psychology and participate in tutorials where you will work with peers to discuss topics related to the lecture materials. Studying psychology is beneficial to a wide range of careers including management, education, and counselling, to name a few.

Introductory Psychology I: Methods and Applications (PS1011)

15 Credit Points

This course will help you learn the skills you need as a researcher in Psychology, including how to design a research project, how to treat participants ethically, how to present your data in visual format and how to write it all up in a report. The skills you learn will also be transferable to other domains so this course is a valuable addition to any degree.

Introductory Psychology II: Concepts and Theory (PS1509)

15 Credit Points

PS1509 introduces you to major concepts and theories in psychology to provide you with a strong understanding of human mind and behaviour. You will attend lectures on evolution & emotion, lifespan development, and sensation & perception and participate in tutorials where you will work with peers to discuss topics related to the lecture materials. Studying psychology is beneficial to a wide range of careers including management, education, and counselling, to name a few.

Introductory Psychology II: Methods and Applications (PS1511)

15 Credit Points

This course builds on from PS1511. It will help you hone the skills you need as a researcher in Psychology, including how to design a research project, how to treat participants ethically, how to present your data in visual format and how to write it all up in a report. The skills you learn will also be transferable to other domains so this course is a valuable addition to any degree. In addition, you will learn how to analyse your data with a statistical test – which is where this course builds on from PS1011.

Optional Courses

    Plus further credit points from courses of choice to gain a total of 120 credit points.

    Year 2

    Compulsory Courses

    Advanced Psychology A - Concepts and Theory (PS2017)

    15 Credit Points

    This course builds on the material covered in the 1st-year courses, expanding on psychology’s concepts and theories. The course covers three core areas of psychology: language and cognition, perception, and individual differences.

    Advanced Psychology 1 - Methods and Applications (PS2018)

    15 Credit Points

    This course introduces students to fundamental concepts and methods in psychological research and data analysis. Lectures cover distributions and probability, null hypothesis significance testing, t-tests, chi-square tests, and correlations. Practical classes involve the application of these methods to research examples from different areas of psychology, using the statistical software package SPSS.

    Advanced Psychology B - Concepts and Theory (PS2517)

    15 Credit Points

    This course builds on the material covered in the 1st-year courses, expanding on psychology’s concepts and theories. The course covers four core areas of psychology: social psychology, behavioural neuroscience and developmental psychology.

    Advanced Psychology 2 - Methods and Applications (PS2518)

    15 Credit Points

    This course covers a broad range of data collection and analysis methods used in psychological research. Lectures cover survey and observational methods, regression analysis, ANOVA, and qualitative research methods. Practical classes involve the application of these methods to research examples from different areas of psychology.

    Optional Courses

    Year 2

    • CO 201D Counselling Skills 3: Process and Use of Counselling Skills
    • CO 251D Counselling Skills 4: Application of Counselling Skills

    For direct entrants

    • CO 101E Counselling Skills 1 & 2: Listening, Responding & Therapy Models
    • CO 251E Counselling & Listening Skills 3 & 4: Process & Application of Skills

    Further 30 credits from courses of choice.

    Year 3

    Compulsory Courses

    Psychological Assessment (PS3011)

    15 Credit Points

    Psychological assessment is used by chartered psychologists in a number of areas, including clinical, occupational and forensic applications. The aim of this course is to introduce students to psychometric theory, real life applications of psychological assessment and the legal and ethical issues surrounding test administration.

    Topics covered on this lecture based course include: IQ and mood assessment; clinical neuropsychological tests of cognitive dysfunction and memory; assessment of dementia and forensic aspects of assessment (legal malingering).

    An ideal course for students intending to secure a career in applied psychology.

    Perception (PS3012)

    15 Credit Points

    Interaction with the world around us involves perceptual processing using our three main senses : visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and haptic (touch). The aim of this course is to consider a range of approaches to human perception, from historical beginnings to recent innovative research.

    Topics covered include: colour perception; face recognition; perception of pain and age related changes in perception. Students will also engage in guided debate with their peers regarding media portrayal of recent research findings.

    This course is produced by academics that specialise in this field, ensuring the most up-to-date and relevant lecture material.

    Biological Psychology (PS3014)

    15 Credit Points

    This course aims to provide students with a good understanding of the biological basis of behaviour and cognition. The course is split into two sections, each featuring 5 lectures. Section 1 focuses on psychopharmacology, which is the investigation of the effect of medication on normal and abnormal brain function. Section 2 focuses on neuropsychology, examining what can be learnt about psychological processes from studying patients with brain damage.

    Specific topics that will be covered include: neurotransmitters; drug effects; psychedelic drugs; impaired object and face recognition; amnesia; and disorders of motor control.

    Methodology A (PS3015)

    15 Credit Points

    The main aim of this course is to help students prepare, evaluate and run their own Psychological research. As such this is a ‘hands-on’ course, where students will have the opportunity to conduct a small qualitative research project and practice using SPSS for a variety of statistical analyses. The course provides a thorough grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methods through a lecture series. Specific topics covered in this course include: verification and falsification of results; ANOVA and qualitative research strategies.

    Developmental Psychology (PS3518)

    15 Credit Points

    The aim of this course is to consolidate and extend students’ knowledge of a number of core areas of developmental psychology, focusing on the age range of young children (3 years) to adolescence. This course will examine both historical and contemporary issues and findings in (1) cognitive development and (2) social-emotional development. In one half of the course students will evaluate how some main types of memory undergo developmental changes, and how cognitive plasticity develops. In the other half students will evaluate the development of aggression and its risk factors, and gain a deeper understanding of the role of play in typical and atypical development of social interaction with a focus on autism. There will also be opportunity to learn about some intervention programmes aimed at improving cognitive and socio-emotional skills in childhood. The broad range of developmental topics makes this an ideal course for anyone with interest in working with children.

    Memory and Language (PS3519)

    15 Credit Points

    The memory component of this course aims to introduce students to the main theoretical components of memory (working and autobiographical memory). Psychological theories of forgetting and eyewitness memory will also be discussed.

    The second component of the course, language, will introduce students to the key issues in psycholinguistics. This will include assessment of sentence processing, analysis of the processes underlying language production and factors that influence communication in different settings.

    The assessment of multiple approaches within both research areas will provide all students with a good basis for developing critical thinking skills.

    Social Psychology (PS3520)

    15 Credit Points

    Social Psychologists explore the psychological factors that influence individual behaviours within social situations. As such, the aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the range of topics within experimental social psychology, with a defined focus on social cognition.

    Topics covered within this lecture based course include: Stereotypes; social perception and action; self-control; consciousness and mimicry.

    This course provides a scientific explanation for social phenomena, making it ideal for students with an interest in individual and group behaviour.

    Methodology B (PS3522)

    15 Credit Points

    This course builds on the skills already developed through participation in Methodology A. Similar to that course the aim is to help students prepare, evaluate and run their own Psychological research. As such this is a ‘hands-on’ course, where students will have a second opportunity to conduct a small research project and practice using SPSS for a variety of statistical analyses. The course also builds on the thorough grounding in qualitative and quantitative research methods provided in Methodology A through a second lecture course. This course also features workshops on employability, providing students with information on career planning, networking etc.

    Year 4

    Compulsory Courses

    Psychology Thesis (PS4019)

    30 Credit Points

    This course constitutes the final-year thesis for the single honours Psychology degree. The thesis is an empirical research project, where the student collects and analyses data in answer to a research question. The thesis itself begins in September and the final draft of the thesis is handed in for assessment at the end of the second term. The School has an international-level research culture and the final-year projects offer the students an opportunity to be involved in that culture. A number of student projects have contributed towards research publications.

    Optional Courses

    Select ONE of the following:

    • CO4001 Project: Exploring Theory from the World of Counselling
    • CO4501 Project: Exploring Theory from the World of Counselling

    Plus 60 credit points from Level 4 Psychology courses.

    Project: Exploring Theory from the World of Counselling (CO4001)

    30 Credit Points

    An undergraduate project requiring a critical analysis on a chosen concept from the world of counselling/counselling skills theory, using primary and a secondary material.

    Project: Exploring Theory from the World of Counselling (CO4501)

    30 Credit Points

    An undergraduate project requiring a critical analysis on a chosen concept from the world of counselling/counselling skills theory, using primary and a secondary material.

    We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page. In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips.

    How You'll Study

    Teaching is by means of lectures, laboratory practicals, workshops and tutorials, with more extensive experimental projects at years 3 and 4. Assessment is by means of examination and continuous assessment. Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

    Learning Methods

    • Individual Projects
    • Lab Work
    • Lectures
    • Seminars
    • Tutorials
    • Workshops

    Assessment Methods

    Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

    • coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
    • practical assessments of the skills and competencies learnt on the course; and
    • written examinations at the end of each course.

    The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, year of study and individual courses.

    Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

    Why Study Psychology with Counselling Skills?

    Why Psychology

    • You will be introduced to state-of-the-art concepts and theories taught by award-winning teachers and world-class researchers, exposing you to the latest thinking in the field.
    • You will benefit from the key strengths within the School of social psychology, neuroscience, language, perception and industrial psychology.
    • We have a wide range of course options available in 4th Year to allow you to specialise in areas such as clinical, forensic, language and developmental psychology.
    • You will have the opportunity to gain experience using specialised laboratories and equipment including those for brain imaging analysis, eye movement recording, movement analysis and visual neuroscience.
    • To help you get a job we have an employability programme for our students which includes: internship opportunities, online resources, career talks and networking events.
    • Psychology graduates are eligible for membership of the British Psychological Society, this is a first step towards becoming a professional Psychologist.
    • In the final year students have the opportunity to do a unique research project to a professional level. A number of final year projects have gone on to be published in internationally renowned journals.

    Why Counselling Skills

    • An introduction to the theoretical concepts of a counselling approach and to the use of counselling skills.
    • To develop effective active listening skills
    • An introduction to the concept and experience of self-awareness and personal growth in the context of counselling skills training.
    • To be able to understand and apply the model of a counselling approach
    • To have a foundation understanding of the range of counselling approaches, CBT, Person Centred, Psychodynamic, Gestalt etc.
    • To provide an essential foundation for possible further training in the areas of counselling and psychotherapy
    • To gain a validated certificate in Counselling Skills

    Entry Requirements

    Qualifications

    The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.


    General Entry Requirements

    2024 Entry

    SQA Highers

    Standard: AABB

    Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

    Minimum: BBB

    Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.

    Adjusted: BB

    Applicants who achieve BB over S4 and S5 and who meet one of the widening access criteria are guaranteed a conditional offer. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    A LEVELS

    Standard: BBB

    Minimum: BBC

    Adjusted: CCC

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    International Baccalaureate

    32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

    Irish Leaving Certificate

    5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

    Entry from College

    Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

    2025 Entry

    SQA Highers

    Standard: BBBB

    Applicants who have achieved BBBB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.

    Minimum: BBC

    Applicants who have achieved BBC at Higher and meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an unconditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees. 

    Adjusted: BB

    Applicants who have achieved BB at Higher, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria above are encouraged to apply and are guaranteed an adjusted conditional offer for MA, BSc and BEng degrees.

    We would expect to issue a conditional offer asking for one additional C grade at Higher. 

    Foundation Apprenticeship: One FA is equivalent to a Higher at A. It cannot replace any required subjects.

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    A LEVELS

    Standard: BBC

    Minimum: BCC

    Adjusted: CCC

    More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.

    International Baccalaureate

    32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.

    Irish Leaving Certificate

    5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

    Entry from College

    Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.

    The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Arts and Social Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.


    English Language Requirements

    To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

    IELTS Academic:

    OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

    TOEFL iBT:

    OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

    PTE Academic:

    OVERALL - 59 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

    Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

    OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

    Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

    Fees and Funding

    You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.

    Fee information
    Fee category Cost
    EU / International students
    Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year £20,800
    Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year (Self-funded Students *) £14,800

    The above fee includes the £6,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship provided to self-funded international students. Full terms and conditions apply.

    Home Students
    Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year £1,820
    England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland
    Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year £9,535

    Scholarships and Funding

    UK Scholarship

    Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who pay tuition fees may be eligible for specific scholarships allowing them to receive additional funding. These are designed to provide assistance to help students support themselves during their time at Aberdeen.

    Aberdeen Global Scholarship

    The University of Aberdeen is delighted to offer eligible self-funded international on-campus undergraduate students a £6,000 scholarship for every year of their programme. More about this funding opportunity.

    Funding Database

    View all funding options in our Funding Database.

    Careers

    At the University of Aberdeen, we give you every opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop the professional and personal skills and attributes you will need to build a successful career. The high quality of our degrees combined with our strong focus on employability opens up a wide range of career options, which is demonstrated by our consistently high rate of graduate employment.

    Accreditation

    This degree holds accreditation from

    Founded Over 100 Years Ago

    The School of Psychology at Aberdeen is one of the oldest in the UK.

    What our Alumni Say

    Lyn Walker

    Lyn Walker

    Lyn Walker

    Graduated 2024

    Without a doubt, my highlight has been the qualitative research. I have loved exploring research from a lived experience perspective. I have also loved exploring developmental research and specifically neurodivergence. I am coming out of the university feeling equipped with skills and qualifications that allow me to be competitive in the job market. For anyone considering studying at the School of Psychology, DO IT!!! You are never too old, too busy, too different.

    Beatrix Duff

    Beatrix Duff

    Beatrix Duff

    Graduated 2024

    The University ticked all the requirements for my needs as a mature student. It is close to home which allowed me to balance family, work and studying, supporting me to be able to enter higher education for the first time in my 30's. The School of Psychology provides a broad range of subjects across psychology which not only gave me a breadth of learning but helped me to find where my own interests lie. Staff have a real passion for teaching and building quality relationships with students.

    Our Experts

    Director of Undergraduate Teaching
    Dr Helen Knight

    Information About Staff Changes

    You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

    Facilities

    Image for Eye Tracking Facilities
    Eye Tracking Facilities

    Eye Tracking Facilities

    The School of Psychology has four in-house eye trackers. The Eyelink 1000 system allows the recording of eye gaze at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz.

    Image for Sir Duncan Rice Library
    Sir Duncan Rice Library

    Sir Duncan Rice Library

    The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.

    Find out more
    Image for Psychophysiology Centre
    Psychophysiology Centre

    Psychophysiology Centre

    This facility consists of several spacious rooms that house electroencephalographic (EEG) equipment and sound-attenuated, shielded testing booths.

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