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Essential preparation for your interview: BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy

This page gives you all the essential preparation information you need for your interview for BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy. It is essential that you read all of the sections carefully.

Important information

  • As part of the selection process you will be required to attend the University and your interview will take the form of three activities: (1) a group exercise in which you discuss an ethical dilemma with other applicants, (2) a 15-minute interview with one of the course tutors, (3) a piece of writing in which you reflect on your experience of the group exercise.
  • You should now be able to view the date and time of your interview and group exercise on UCAS Hub.  If you do not think you have this information, please contact [email protected] 
  • You need to confirm that you will attend your interview via UCAS Hub.
  • You should allow approximately three hours for your interview and group exercise.
Students attending a counselling seminar, with a textbook open on the table in front of them.

Things to do before your interview

It is essential that you:

  1. Read about the programme to develop your understanding of the course and its modules.
  2. Read through the A-Z of therapeutic approaches outlined by BACP
  3. Reflect on the questions below as these are the questions you will be asked during your interview
  4. Consider the amount of studying needed and the commitment required to undertake a degree programme.
  5. Read all the information on these preparation pages and made a note of the items you need to have with you and any questions that you want to ask.

Getting here

Journey planning

On arrival you’ll need to report to the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine (building number 9 on this map) reception desk Centre 15 minutes before your interview time. Please use our Campus Map for guidance.

To help you prepare, please read through the list of questions you will be asked below:

  1. What are your reasons for applying for BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy?
  2. What do you know about the theory of humanistic counselling and psychotherapy and how does it fit with your own approach to helping?
  3. What do you understand by the term ‘empathy’ and its importance to this degree?
  4. What do you think the emotional demands of the course might be? How will you respond to those demands?
  5. Can you please share an example of when you were in touch with your own feelings? What did you learn about yourself in this process?
  6. Learning on this programme is often experiential. What would it be like for you to share your thoughts and feelings with others in a group?
  7. A commitment to ethical practice is an important part of the course. How are your personal values similar to or different from the values outlined in the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions?
  8. What career plans do you have?
Psychotherapy students sat around a table in the catalyst.

What to have with you on the day

Photographic ID

Please have to hand your original photographic ID (i.e. current valid passport or photo-card driving licence). Your ID will be checked by the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine staff interviewer prior to the start of the process. If you do not have suitable ID on the day, you may not be able to take part in the interview and will have to reschedule for an alternative date. If you have any questions about your ID please contact our Admissions Team via email to [email protected] prior to your interview.

Additional supporting evidence

If you have any additional supporting evidence (i.e. additional references, evidence of work experience, etc) that you would like to show, please email this to the Admissions Team prior to the interview day: [email protected]

Any questions?

We look forward to meeting you for your interview.

If you have any questions or special requirements that you would like to discuss with us prior to your interview you can contact us.