Counselling Studies - Level 4 Certificate
Course Type
Higher Education
Study Mode
Part-time
Duration
1 Year
Start & End Date
15 September 2026
1 June 2027
Days
Tue
Time
17:30-21:30
Location
Magherafelt
Interview Required
Yes
This part-time course, is awarded by Ulster University, and will introduce students to counselling theory and skills which are useful for those who wish to work effectively in a helping role with people, in a range of professional and personal contexts. Over one year of study, students undertake three core modules, each reflecting 20 credits of study at Level 4. Modules are:
Teaching and learning is achieved by a blend of face to face lectures and seminars, group and individual activities as well as digital and online technology. Students will learn basic psychological and communication theory and develop a range of reflective, interpersonal, communication and counselling skills, to support them in a helping role across settings. Activities to promote self-awareness and impact on others are central and personal development is a key aspect of all three modules of the course.
Successful completion of this course does not confer fitness to practice counselling, but graduates who meet the entrance requirements may progress to the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice which does.
All lecturers are qualified and experienced counsellors. This underpins the authenticity of teaching and learning activities as students engage with practitioners who understand the challenges and opportunities of the counselling or helping role. Information about the teaching team who deliver the course at Northern Regional College:
Michelle Laverty (Course Director)
Eimear Lennon (Course Lecturer)
This course will introduce students to the interpersonal and counselling theory and skills that are useful for those who wish to work effectively in a helping role with people in a range of professional and personal contexts.
This part-time course, is delivered 1 evening per week over two terms between September and June. Attendance is mandatory and should not be less than 90% of the course. The course runs on a Monday evening on the Magherafelt campus, and on a Tuesday evening in Ballymena.
Students undertake three core modules, each reflecting 20 credits of study at Level 4.
Upon successful completion of 60 credits of study, students are awarded a Certificate in Counselling Studies by Ulster University.
Northern Regional College terms and conditions.
Once accepted to the course, students are required to:
Teaching and Learning is achieved through a blended approach which combines face to face lectures and seminars, individual and peer group work and seminars, digital and online resources. Students draw on personal and professional experience an there is an emphasis on practical role play and triad skills work with peers.
This course is validated by Ulster University.
Assessment is 100% coursework. Students complete a range of assignments which draw on the authentic experience of students to increase their personal and professional development and reflective ability, self-awareness and practical communication skills for helping. Assignments may include personal learning records, case study and a practical skills evaluations. Students have opportunities for formative feedback throughout the course.
Graduates from the this Certificate course Students, who are interested in practicing counselling as a professional, may progress to the Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice, which is awarded by Ulster University and accredited by the BACP. See course details for full entry requirements.
For those students without the necessary 48 UCAS points achieved through A-Level, which are required for entrance to the Foundation Degree, the L4 Ulster University Certificate in Counselling Studies is accepted as an alternative route for progression, since Ulster University recognise the important personal development, competencies and skills achieved on the Certificate programme. Please note that progression to the Foundation Degree also requires applicants to hold a qualification in maths. Contact the Course Director for information on this option.
Please note that successful completion of the Ulster University Certificate in Counselling studies is a desirable criteria for application to the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice and will be used for selection purposes where courses are over-subscribed.
All applications must satisfy Ulster University general entrance requirements for certificate and Diploma courses. The standard offer for this course is 5 GCSEs (Grade A, B or C) or equivalent. Competence in written and spoken English is required and certificated evidence of GCSE English Language or accepted equivalent is required. Level 2 Essential Skills in Communication is acceptable.
Candidates who do not meet the general entrance requirements may apply for APEL (accreditation of experiential prior learning) to evidence their ability to undertake the course - please contact the course director as soon as possible for advice. Candidates should note that APEL may not be used to evidence the English Language requirement (GCSE or equivalent).
It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide certificated evidence as required and to present this for inspection at interview.
All applicants will be invited to attend an information session in May/June.
| Year | Fee | Reduced Fee* |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £599 | £420 |
| Total |
*For eligibility criteria, visit our fees and funding page.
Payment of fees must be arranged prior to course commencement and at the beginning of each academic year, regardless of whether your programme of study is one, two, or three years in duration. Fees for subsequent years (Year 2 and/or Year 3) may be subject to change due to annual increases in awarding body charges, such as registration or examination fees.
Please contact any Campus Reception to arrange payment of your course fees or to confirm you have uploaded evidence of your funding application or entitlement to the online admissions portal. Confirmation of your funding entitlement should also be forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor/employer, you must upload an approved Employer Consent Form to the online admissions portal.
Payment Options
You can pay your fees in full by cash, cheque, credit/debit card, direct debit payment or via a Student Loan. For further details visit our fees and funding page.
Contact Details
Student Loan Queries
T: 028 9085 5048
E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk
Direct Debit or Payment Queries
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
Funding Options including Scholarships
There are several funds available to help with costs related to your course such as grants and scholarships. For further details visit our student finance page.
Additional Mandatory Costs
Additional mandatory costs are essential expenses which are required in order to complete your course. These costs are separate from, and in addition to, any course tuition fees. Most courses do not have any additional mandatory costs. Examples of additional mandatory costs includes trips which are included as a component of your course, essential textbooks which are not available from our learning resource centres, essential equipment which is not provided by the College, professional memberships which are linked directly to the course.
These costs do not include stationery materials or items which a student may choose to purchase, personal computer equipment or software or additional textbooks or journals, memberships of professional bodies not essential for your course. Many students will choose to purchase their own equipment and materials during their course, these are not mandatory costs. For most courses, equipment and materials will be provided by the College.
All tutors are qualified and experienced counsellors. This underpins the authenticity of teaching and learning activities as students engage with practitioners who understand the challenges and opportunities of the counselling role. The following teaching team deliver this course at Northern Regional College:
Staff Team
This part-time course, is awarded by Ulster University, and will introduce students to counselling theory and skills which are useful for those who wish to work effectively in a helping role with people, in a range of professional and personal contexts. Over one year of study, students undertake three core modules, each reflecting 20 credits of study at Level 4. Modules are:
Teaching and learning is achieved by a blend of face to face lectures and seminars, group and individual activities as well as digital and online technology. Students will learn basic psychological and communication theory and develop a range of reflective, interpersonal, communication and counselling skills, to support them in a helping role across settings. Activities to promote self-awareness and impact on others are central and personal development is a key aspect of all three modules of the course.
Successful completion of this course does not confer fitness to practice counselling, but graduates who meet the entrance requirements may progress to the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice which does.
All lecturers are qualified and experienced counsellors. This underpins the authenticity of teaching and learning activities as students engage with practitioners who understand the challenges and opportunities of the counselling or helping role. Information about the teaching team who deliver the course at Northern Regional College:
Michelle Laverty (Course Director)
Eimear Lennon (Course Lecturer)
This course will introduce students to the interpersonal and counselling theory and skills that are useful for those who wish to work effectively in a helping role with people in a range of professional and personal contexts.
Teaching and Learning is achieved through a blended approach which combines face to face lectures and seminars, individual and peer group work and seminars, digital and online resources. Students draw on personal and professional experience an there is an emphasis on practical role play and triad skills work with peers.
This course is validated by Ulster University.
Assessment is 100% coursework. Students complete a range of assignments which draw on the authentic experience of students to increase their personal and professional development and reflective ability, self-awareness and practical communication skills for helping. Assignments may include personal learning records, case study and a practical skills evaluations. Students have opportunities for formative feedback throughout the course.
This part-time course, is delivered 1 evening per week over two terms between September and June. Attendance is mandatory and should not be less than 90% of the course. The course runs on a Monday evening on the Magherafelt campus, and on a Tuesday evening in Ballymena.
Students undertake three core modules, each reflecting 20 credits of study at Level 4.
Upon successful completion of 60 credits of study, students are awarded a Certificate in Counselling Studies by Ulster University.
Northern Regional College terms and conditions.
Once accepted to the course, students are required to:
Graduates from the this Certificate course Students, who are interested in practicing counselling as a professional, may progress to the Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice, which is awarded by Ulster University and accredited by the BACP. See course details for full entry requirements.
For those students without the necessary 48 UCAS points achieved through A-Level, which are required for entrance to the Foundation Degree, the L4 Ulster University Certificate in Counselling Studies is accepted as an alternative route for progression, since Ulster University recognise the important personal development, competencies and skills achieved on the Certificate programme. Please note that progression to the Foundation Degree also requires applicants to hold a qualification in maths. Contact the Course Director for information on this option.
Please note that successful completion of the Ulster University Certificate in Counselling studies is a desirable criteria for application to the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling Practice and will be used for selection purposes where courses are over-subscribed.
All applications must satisfy Ulster University general entrance requirements for certificate and Diploma courses. The standard offer for this course is 5 GCSEs (Grade A, B or C) or equivalent. Competence in written and spoken English is required and certificated evidence of GCSE English Language or accepted equivalent is required. Level 2 Essential Skills in Communication is acceptable.
Candidates who do not meet the general entrance requirements may apply for APEL (accreditation of experiential prior learning) to evidence their ability to undertake the course - please contact the course director as soon as possible for advice. Candidates should note that APEL may not be used to evidence the English Language requirement (GCSE or equivalent).
It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide certificated evidence as required and to present this for inspection at interview.
All applicants will be invited to attend an information session in May/June.
Course Fees
| Year | Fee | Reduced Fee* |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £599 | £420 |
| Total |
*For eligibility criteria, visit our fees and funding page.
Payment of fees must be arranged prior to course commencement and at the beginning of each academic year, regardless of whether your programme of study is one, two, or three years in duration. Fees for subsequent years (Year 2 and/or Year 3) may be subject to change due to annual increases in awarding body charges, such as registration or examination fees.
Please contact any Campus Reception to arrange payment of your course fees or to confirm you have uploaded evidence of your funding application or entitlement to the online admissions portal. Confirmation of your funding entitlement should also be forwarded to studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk.
If your fees are being paid by a sponsor/employer, you must upload an approved Employer Consent Form to the online admissions portal.
Payment Options
You can pay your fees in full by cash, cheque, credit/debit card, direct debit payment or via a Student Loan. For further details visit our fees and funding page.
Contact Details
Student Loan Queries
T: 028 9085 5048
E: studentfinance@nrc.ac.uk
Direct Debit or Payment Queries
E: finance@nrc.ac.uk
Funding Options including Scholarships
There are several funds available to help with costs related to your course such as grants and scholarships. For further details visit our student finance page.
Additional Mandatory Costs
Additional mandatory costs are essential expenses which are required in order to complete your course. These costs are separate from, and in addition to, any course tuition fees. Most courses do not have any additional mandatory costs. Examples of additional mandatory costs includes trips which are included as a component of your course, essential textbooks which are not available from our learning resource centres, essential equipment which is not provided by the College, professional memberships which are linked directly to the course.
These costs do not include stationery materials or items which a student may choose to purchase, personal computer equipment or software or additional textbooks or journals, memberships of professional bodies not essential for your course. Many students will choose to purchase their own equipment and materials during their course, these are not mandatory costs. For most courses, equipment and materials will be provided by the College.