MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies (Top-Up)

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Key Information

Field of Study

  • MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies (Top-Up)

Duration

  • 1-2 years

Start Dates

  • 14/09/2026

Teaching Institution

  • Metanoia Institute

Awarding Institution

  • Middlesex University

Accrediting Professional Body

  • N/A

Location

  • Hybrid (In-person at Metanoia Institute and Online)

The MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies Top-Up provides a progression route for practitioners who already hold Level 7 postgraduate credits but have not completed a full Master’s qualification. The programme enables experienced counsellors and psychotherapists to build on prior academic achievement and complete an MSc through further advanced study and research. It supports professional development, enhances academic credibility, and provides a pathway toward doctoral study or advanced professional roles.

Who is this programme for?

This MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies (Top-Up) is designed for qualified or trainee counselling and psychotherapy practitioners who have already completed substantial postgraduate study but have not yet obtained a full Master’s degree.

The programme is intended for applicants who have normally achieved 120 Level 7 credits through a postgraduate diploma or equivalent qualification in counselling or psychotherapy and wish to convert this prior academic achievement into an MSc award through advanced research-based study.

This programme may be suitable for:

  • graduates of postgraduate diploma programmes in counselling or psychotherapy who wish to obtain a full Master’s qualification;
  • practitioners who have completed substantial Level 7 study through recognised professional training;
  • counsellors and psychotherapists wishing to strengthen their academic profile for career progression;
  • practitioners intending to progress to doctoral study or other advanced academic or professional opportunities.

This programme is an academic top-up qualification. It does not provide an initial professional qualification in counselling or psychotherapy and is not intended as an entry route into professional practice.

Course Philosophy

The programme recognises the diverse educational routes within counselling and psychotherapy. It values practitioner knowledge, lifelong learning, and the integration of clinical experience with academic research. The course enables practitioners to deepen their understanding of theory, research, and professional practice while developing advanced analytical and reflective skills.

Supporting Information

The programme supports practitioners who have completed postgraduate training through professional diplomas, CPD modules, or partial MSc study.

Training Options

The MSc Top-Up enables practitioners who already hold Level 7 credits to complete a full Master’s qualification through additional research-focused study.

As some learning will take place online, students will also need access to a laptop (or equivalent device), internet, and a quiet, private space in order to participate in the live, online learning components of the programme.

Alumni Path

Graduates may progress into:

  • Senior clinical roles in counselling and psychotherapy services
  • Leadership or supervisory positions
  • Teaching roles within counselling and psychotherapy training
  • Research-informed practice roles
  • Doctoral study (e.g. PhD or Professional Doctorate such as DPsych)

Key Contacts

Dr John Hills

Associate Director of Post Graduate Taught Programmes and Access and Participation Lead

Email: john.hills@metanoia.ac.uk
Phone: 02085792505
Dr John Hills, MA, PhD, MBACP (Accred), SFHEA is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited psychotherapist, a member of the national Pluralistic Practice steering group and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. John trained in integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Leeds where he took his PhD, and went on to become a senior lecturer, course leader and course director at Leeds Beckett University. John's PhD centred upon the meaning and patterns of therapeutic change as modelled between therapist and client.   John has been in practice since 2011 and has worked in a variety of settings including prison counselling, cancer and hospice care, and student counselling. John practises privately from West Yorkshire.  As a practitioner he has a particular interest in pluralistic, systemic, and existential approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. As a researcher he is particularly interested in change in psychotherapy, systemic reframing of psychotherapy change principles, and the social contexts in which psychotherapy takes place, including the social determinants of mental health. John is also a practitioner-researcher of psychological therapies. In addition to training work, John has four PhD students and has organised several research conferences, including serving as local host for the Society for Psychotherapy Research's UK conference in 2022.  John’s membership of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, saw him contribute the SPR’s response to the NICE Guideline on Treatment for Depression which was published in 2022 following changes recommended by the SPR as part of a coalition of organisations including the BACP, UKCP, BPS, Mind and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, expressing scientific concerns about the creation of the guideline. Before joining the Metanoia Institute, John facilitated the launch of an Integrative Counselling professional training program at Leeds Beckett University and an equivalent course delivered at a partner college in Singapore, including facilitation of teaching and student exchanges. John is an advocate for the role of higher education in advancing social mobility, in particular in pathways for students from non-traditional backgrounds, and at Leeds Beckett took a lead role in the creation and maintenance of scholarships for both clinical training and PhD study.   John is now Metanoia’s Institute’s lead for Access and Participation. As defined by the Office for Students (OfS) Access and Participation Plans set out how Higher Education providers will improve equality of opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access, succeed in, and progress from Higher Education.

Entry Requirements

  • Applicants must normally hold Level 7 credits in counselling or psychotherapy (typically between 60 and 120 credits from (for example) a postgraduate diploma or equivalent). Prior professional training or postgraduate modules may also be considered through recognition of prior learning.
  • For students whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of 7.0 (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) is required unless you have a prior higher education qualification taught in English.

Fees and Funding

Course Fees: £7,750 per year

How to Apply

If you have previously trained with us please use your student portal log in details.