• Designed to qualify competent, confident and creative counsellors, who stand out from the crowd as highly professional graduates, well-equipped for entering the workplace.
• Gives participants the space to gain new understanding, deeper self-awareness, greater confidence, and feel well-resourced personally and professionally.
• Focuses attention on the importance, quality and depth of relationship as the central component of therapeutic work.
• An opportunity to be part of a creative, developing, supportive group, and make lifelong friendships. Iron Mill College offers access to a unique learning community in a beautiful, relaxing, welcoming environment, with enthusiastic, energetic and experienced teaching staff who get to know and support you individually. 
• Recognised as a full-time programme and eligible for Student Finance applications, teaching takes place one day per week at Iron Mill College in Exeter. During the 2 years of the course, participants are also required to undertake approximately 60-100 hours of work based learning, at least 40 hours of personal therapy and, after 6 months and having passed a 'competence to practice' assessment, 100 hours of placement (one-to-one client counselling work) with appropriate levels of supervision. Students will also need to allow time for independent guided study and assessment preparation.

** Please note that the cut off date for new applications for the 2022 Foundation Degree is Friday 13th August and no new applications can be considered after this date **

Eligibility:
To be eligible for this course you must:

• Have completed at least 30 hours of preliminary counselling training. Applicants not meeting this requirement will be recommended to take our Certificate in Counselling course as an entry requirement. 
• Possess 4 GCSEs (Grade C / 4 or above) including English, and one A level (or equivalent) at Grade C or above, or 32 UCAS tariff points. 
•  Be willing to undertake and DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, plus an occupational health check, during the application process. 

If you are interested in this course, you may wish to first book onto one of our Open Days or Open Evenings to find out more.  Alternatively a Course Tutor would be happy to speak with you personally – please contact us if you would like us to put you in touch.

Please contact Amanda Murrell if you are ‘technically economically inactive and over the age of 25’ and interested in taking one of our qualifying courses.

Recognition of Prior Learning (APL):
To ensure that all students meet the criteria for BACP registration, RPL is not permitted. Students need to complete the course in its entirety. If you have any queries relating to this, please contact the Course Lead, Lucia Capaldi, at lucia.capaldi@ironmill.co.uk . 

How to apply:
Applications for this course are made via the UCAS website.

• The Course Code is: B9K0.
• Institution Code: W80
• The Campus Code is: A (Please note: This code is different to the Campus Code needed when applying for Student Finance).
  Please also let us know when you have submitted your application to UCAS, and where you wish to study (either Exeter or Poole) by emailing admissions@ironmill.co.uk.

Please note: The 2 year Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling and the 1 year BA (Hons) Degree in Integrative Counselling ('top up' year) are two separate programmes. Applicants wishing to study for the FdA and then the BA (Hons) year should initially just apply for the FdA course, using the above code.

Applications for Student Finance are made at:

Campus Code: 
Q (Please note: This code is different to the Campus Code needed when applying for the course through UCAS).

Content:

Year 1:
IMIC1001: The art of relationship (15 credits)
IMIC1002: Professional competence (30 credits)
IMIC1003: The neuroscience of relationship (15 credits)
IMIC1004: A sense of self (30 credits)
IMIC1005: Professional development 1 (30 credits)

Year 2:
IMIC2001: The ‘here and now’ encounter (30 credits)
IMIC2002: Creative arts therapies (15 credits) 
IMIC2003: Counselling in context (30 credits)
IMIC2004: The process of change (15 credits)
IMIC2005: Professional development 2 (30 credits)
IMIC2006: Professional practice (0 credits)

The FdA is validated by the University of Worcester and accredited by the BACP. It includes the opportunity to achieve the Iron Mill College (IMC) Introduction to Counselling Young People (CYP) Award at no additional cost, as part of your schedule above. This separate award is a BACP requirement for students on accredited courses, to allow their progression onto placement with young people (11-18 years) once a substantial amount of hours have been completed with adult clients. The IMC Introduction to Counselling Young People Award addresses the Stage 1 Learning Outcomes within the BACP Counselling Young People (11–18 years) Training Curriculum.

Learning and assessment:
The programme is delivered via lectures, debates, presentations, audio-visual materials, group exercises, skills practices, process groups, reflective practice, case presentation, and project work. In addition, your supervised placement practice will allow you to apply your learning and gain valuable experience and confidence. 

As well as attending timetabled teaching days at the college (1 day per week), students will spend time attending placement, supervision and work based learning (typically around 1 day per week in total), undertaking personal therapy (approximately 1 hour per week) as well as independent guided study and preparation for assessment (approximately 2-3 days per week).

Assessment is based on: 

• A group exhibition with individual areas.
• Observed and recorded skills work with peers.
• Presentations.
• A client case study.
• Your professional portfolio.
• Written assignment using selections from your journal.
• A work based project of your choice.
• A piece of recorded client work discussed with your examiner.
• Essays.

Attendance requirements:
The expectation is that students will attend 100% of each module. Students whose attendance falls below 90% of the scheduled module hours must contact the Module Leader to discuss the action necessary to meet the award requirements. Some parts of the programme relating to assessment have a mandatory attendance requirement, and where this applies it will be stated clearly in the relevant Module Specification.

Awards:
BACP Accredited Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling (Levels 4 and 5) with 240 credits (for successful completion of both Years 1 and 2). This award qualifies you to practice as a professional counsellor, and meets the application requirements for full membership of the BACP (MBACP status).

Upcoming Exeter intakes:
5th September 2022, Tuesday intake. Please visit the 'Downloads Tab' to view the full course schedule. 

Upcoming Poole intakes:
5th September 2022, Wednesday intake. Please visit the 'Downloads Tab' to view the full course schedule. 

For the latest fees, please see the University of Worcester's course fees page here.

Further information on fees:
Course fees are set annually by the University of Worcester and all matters related to finances and fees for this course are dealt with by Student Finance. You can also contact the university for information and advice on funding, finances and fees, see their Money Advice web page or contact their Money Advisers at 01905 542551 / firstpoint@worc.ac.uk.

This course is eligible for Student Finance applications for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans as well as help with costs associated with dependent children. For further information see the Student Finance web page. 

As an enrolled University of Worcester student, you will be entitled to access a wide range of university information and library resources. This will include 'Summon', the library’s search engine, several million books, journal and newspaper articles, conference papers, dissertations and more are accessible to you for your studies. There are additionally facilities to borrow books and to buy used textbooks.

You will also be entitled to purchase an NUS Extra card, which entitles you to discounts in selected stores and on travel. See the NUS Extra web page for more information. 

Additional expenses:
This will vary depending on your own circumstances, but all applicants must make sure they fully understand the additional expense requirements they will need to undertake during this course. Iron Mill College is unable to contribute to any of these additional costs; they are met by the student. These costs may include:

• Travel and boarding costs
• Purchase of books
• Personal therapy: approximately £30-£50 per hour
• Supervision: many placements provide supervision, or contribute towards the costs, but not all. If not paid for or supplied by your placement, supervision will cost approximately £30-£60 per 1.5 hours for monthly individual supervision and approximately £20 per hour for group supervision
• Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Certificate (previously known as the Enhanced CRB): £53.20
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: approximately £35-£90 per year. Discounts are available from some insurers for BACP members and monthly payment options are usually available
• Professional membership of the BACP: £80 per year for Student Members, or £40 at reduced rate for people who are in receipt of a state benefit or unwaged, with no personal income
• An electronic audio recording device. The cost of these ranges from £15-£20 upwards
• The Counselling Directory website and the It's Good to Talk website can also help provide you with information on the average costs of supervision and therapy

The Counselling Directory website and the It's Good to Talk website can also help provide you with information on the average costs of supervision and therapy. 

Please contact Amanda Murrell if you are ‘technically economically inactive and over the age of 25’ and interested in taking one of our qualifying courses.

How to apply:
Applications for this course are made via the UCAS website.

The Course Code is:
B9K0.

The Campus Code is:
A (Please note: This code is different to the Campus Code needed when applying for Student Finance).
Please also let us know when you have submitted your application to UCAS, and where you wish to study (either Exeter or Poole) by emailing admissions@ironmill.co.uk.

The Student Finance Code is:
Q.

Please note:
The 2 year Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling and the 1 year BA (Hons) Degree in Integrative Counselling ('top up' year) are two separate programmes. Applicants wishing to study for the FdA and then the BA (Hons) year should initially just apply for the FdA course, using the above code.

Applications for Student Finance are made here.

Please also let us know when you have submitted an application to UCAS, by emailing admissions@ironmill.co.uk.

Further study with Iron Mill College:
Graduates of our Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling will be eligible to apply for the following courses at Iron Mill College:

• BA (Hons) Degree in Integrative Counselling (Validated by University of Worcester) ('top up' to a full honours degree in just one further year of study).
• Diploma in Supervision (Advanced Specialist Training Status with NCS).
• Post Qualifying Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies (Advanced Specialist Training Status with NCS).
• Post Qualifying Diploma in Eating Disorders: Brain, Body and Mind (Advanced Specialist Training Status with NCS).
• Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Young People 
• With appropriate levels of further, relevant experience, Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling graduates may also be eligible to apply for our Postgraduate Certificate in Supervision (Validated by University of Worcester) or our Postgraduate Certificate in Positive Psychology Coaching (Validated by University of Worcester).

In addition, our range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshops may also be useful to graduates of this course.

Employment opportunities:
Our Foundation Degree (FdA) in Integrative Counselling programme provides the opportunity for advancement in a variety of counselling-related careers, and for counselling practitioners to advance beyond their current role. Possible career opportunities include: 

• NHS initiatives e.g. Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
• Educational institutions: schools, colleges and universities.
• Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPS).
• Local Authority employee services programmes
• Charitable agencies.
• Private practice. 

The programme provides valuable links with employers through both the placement and work based learning components, as well as networking opportunities within the community

What are the attendance requirements?:
The expectation is that students will attend 100% of each module. Students whose attendance falls below 90% of the scheduled module hours must contact the Module Leader to discuss the action necessary to meet the award requirements. Some parts of the programme relating to assessment have a mandatory attendance requirement, and where this applies it will be stated clearly in the relevant Module Specification.

Additional frequently asked questions: 
Our comprehensive general FAQs pages include answers to many other common questions, grouped into the following areas:

• Counselling and Psychotherapy.
• Choosing the Right Course
• Applying for a Course
• Fees, Funding and Finance
• Venues and Facilities
• Placements, Personal Therapy and Supervision
• Iron Mill Counselling Service

However, if you can't find the answer your looking for, or need further help or information, do not hesitate to contact us.