Counselling Studies MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Counselling and Psychotherapy Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Part-time MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of Health in Social Science College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Programme website Counselling Studies Study location Central Area Accreditation Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme The programme provides advanced academic study of counselling and psychotherapeutic practices and theories. It introduces you to non-directive, relational approaches, particularly within the psychodynamic and person-centred frameworks.Its aim is to connect theoretical learning with real-world issues and encourage critical reflection on counselling practice and theory in both professional and personal contexts.This programme complements professional training in counselling by introducing key debates and professional issues in the field of counselling and psychotherapy to students from various backgrounds. It is firmly grounded in social science inquiry, addressing psychological conditions, social relations, and counselling practice with a focus on examining context and the complex interactions between the personal and the social.This programme may not be suitable for students seeking solution-focused, diagnostic, or behavioural approaches to psychological health. Fees, costs and funding Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MSc Counselling Studies (1 year) tuition fees Part-time MSc Counselling Studies (2 years) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Deposit You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme. Costs Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Funding opportunities Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, or a UK 2:2 honours degree with a strong personal statement, relevant experience and/or references confirming your aptitude to study at postgraduate level.You should demonstrate a high level of motivation through your personal statement, indicating why you wish to study counselling and demonstrating an understanding of counselling and the capacity to reflect on personal aptitude for work in this field.We may also consider your application if you have professional qualifications equivalent to an honours degree; please contact us to check before you apply.Students who have successfully completed a counselling qualification elsewhere which is equivalent to our Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies can apply for Entry with Advanced Standing to allow them to complete the MSc in Counselling Studies without having to undertake the Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies.Your existing qualification must carry 60 academic credits at Postgraduate level and should have covered similar content in order to be eligible. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details What you will study The programme includes the professionally validated Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies, which offers skill development in active listening skills, three other substantive taught courses, and a dissertation within the field of counselling and psychotherapy.The Postgraduate Certificate component involves experiential group work, practice-skills workshops and individual tutorials, with self and peer assessment and portfolio work, complementing essay-based assessment. Find courses for this programme Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed. The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme. Full-time MSc Counselling Studies (1 year) (2025-2026) Part-time MSc Counselling Studies (2 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Teaching Teaching and learning methods include lectures, theory seminars and independent study. Assessment Assessment is through essays and the dissertation. Learning outcomes The MSc in Counselling Studies provides:in-depth knowledge of the theories informing counselling and psychotherapysocial-science perspectives on debates about counselling and psychotherapycritical appreciation of the key debates, research methods and professional issues in counselling and related fieldstransferable interpersonal, conceptual and analytical skills, including critical thinking, self-evaluation and researcha professionally-validated Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies, opening pathways to further academic and career advancement Support for your studies The programme provides a high level of student-tutor contact and close supervision of both listening practice and research, in line with professional and academic requirements. You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need. How we support you Careers and further study Career opportunities Graduates of the MSc in Counselling Studies apply the degree in diverse ways. For some, it opens up employment opportunities in fields such as education, policy, research and development on health and illness, emotional health and wellbeing, and counselling - often in combination with their first degrees or other professional experiences and training. Examples include careers as:mental health assistantssupport workerssocial care practitionersproject workers in governmental or third-sector settings.The degree also enhances the career prospects of those who are already professionally qualified as counsellors or therapeutic practitioners. This MSc programme provides you with a solid foundation for pursuing further specialist therapeutic training in the field, if you wish to build advanced knowledge and skill sets ideal for your professional aspirations.You may also leverage your newly developed conceptual, analytical, and research skills to enhance your academic pursuits, with some using the MSc as a stepping stone to embark on doctoral research. Further study This MSc programme is not a qualifying training programme and students are encouraged to align their career prospects with the professional legislation system of their home country.We recommend the following programmes if you wish to advance to full professional training in counselling upon the completion of the MSc. You will need to meet specific entry requirements and apply separately:Postgraduate Diploma in CounsellingMaster of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue), a two-year full-time programmeMaster of Counselling, a four-year part-time programmeProfessional Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling, 4 years full-time, 7 years part-time After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service) Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying How to apply You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant. When to apply Due to high demand, this programme operates a gathered field approach to admissions, with two application deadlines as noted below.Each application round has a decision deadline, also listed below, but note that we will make as many offers as possible to the strongest candidates on an ongoing basis, in advance of the published decision deadline.We strongly recommend that you apply as early as possible, especially if you intend to apply for funding or a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand. If you are considering applying for our pre-sessional English Language programme, please make sure you apply in Round 1.Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.Selection deadlinesRoundApply byReceive decision by1Monday 15 December 2025Thursday 19 March 20262Monday 4 May 2026Tuesday 30 June 2026After Round 2, if there are still places available, applications will remain open. As this is not guaranteed, however, you are advised to apply by the application deadlines above. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit one reference with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Counselling Studies (1 year)MSc Counselling Studies (2 years) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Contact our Programme Administrator about your eligibility or how to apply. Contact us Phone:+44 (0)131 650 3890 Academic contact Nini Kerr Programme Director School of Health in Social Science College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences University of Edinburgh Contact details Email: n.kerr@ed.ac.uk
