Counselling HND
Course code 548C
What is special about this course?
This HND Counselling is ideal for those wishing to become professional counsellors. Designed to meet the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) requirements for individual entry to the professional register, the course is taught by experienced, practicing counsellors who hold current BACP membership.
With a strong emphasis on personal development, the course integrates theory, skills practice, reflection, and self-development. You will strengthen your reflective skills, self-awareness, and assertiveness, and learn the best approaches for dealing with challenges.
The course will benefit those who wish to progress and qualify as a counsellor, as well as those practicing in a sector that requires the range of skills employed in a helping/supporting relationship, for example: community work; social care; education; criminal justice; health services; and voluntary work.
Special features
- On successful completion of this course, you will graduate with a PDA in Addiction Counselling as well as an HNC and HND in Counselling
- You will undertake 100 hours of placement practice in a counselling setting
- Delivered by experienced, practising counsellors
- Jointly developed by SQA and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Strong emphasis on personal development
- Opportunity to engage with students across the UHI partnership in the online units
- Personal therapy is not a mandatory requirement, but is recommended
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- Entry to this course is only available via year 1, HNC Counselling
- All applicants are required to undertake an interview in order to assess suitability for progression from HNC level (or equivalent) to HND
- This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
Year 1 - HNC
Year 1 of this course is the HNC Counselling.
Year 2 - HND
Core modules may include:
- Psychopathology for counsellors
- Professional standards
- Research skills
- Working with substance abuse
- Contemporary humanistic counselling theory
- Self-evaluation for counsellors
- Supervised practice (placement practice)
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- You will learn through a combination of video-conference lectures and tutorials, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- You will study the course 2 days per week:
- for the HNC year, you will study 1 full day face to face on campus and 1 full day in scheduled online sessions with students and lecturers from across the UHI partnership
- for the HND year, you will study 5 modules face-to face on campus and 1 module in scheduled online sessions, for a combined total of 14 hours per week
- You will also complete 100 hours of placement practice which is likely to extend beyond the end of the course - this will be discussed with, and fully supported, by the course team
How long will my course last?
- Full-time (HNC + HND): 2 years @ 14 hours per week (2 full days) plus 100 hours placement practice
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours spent in lectures, you should also take into account your own time spent on individual study, placement hours and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
- Moray
- Orkney
- Perth
- Shetland - years 1 and 2 run on alternate years, see below for details
For Shetland students, please be aware that years 1 and 2 run on alternate years:
- HNC (year 1)
- September 2026: apply links open September 2025
- HND (year 2)
- September 2025: apply links now available
- September 2027: apply links open September 2026
For Orkney students, 2025/26 applications are open for both HNC and HND in Counselling which usually run on alternate years. Priority for 2025/26 will be given to HND (year 2). However, if there are insufficient numbers to make the HND viable, consideration will be given to running a further HNC in 2025/26 with progression to HND in 2026/27.
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £1,285 | £1,285 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £7,110 | £7,440 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK and EU students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying (see the Funding section opposite).
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £8,775 | £8,925 |
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
- You must be covered by an appropriate Indemnity Insurance Policy and have acquired Student Membership of BACP prior to placement practice
- Personal therapy is recommended, but not a mandatory requirement
- Regular professional, clinical supervision is a professional requirement during your placement practice. You will be responsible for presenting all cases for supervision not less than fortnightly
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed this course, you may wish to pursue a career in Professional counselling.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Apply for Counselling HND
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.