Counselling and mental-health practice after a prior Level 4 year is the angle of BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health. Year-2 joiners normally evidence 120 Level 4 credits, or a relevant HNC/CertHE, before enrolment. Weekday campuses are Birmingham, Leeds, Holborn and Manchester. The next intake is December 2026. Pure Level 3 holders belong on foundation or year-one psychology pages instead. Eligible England-resident UK home students can use AF Education at no charge for the application pack and Student Finance England checks.
Key facts
- Award / level
- BSc (Hons) (Level 5)
- Study mode
- Full time
- Schedule options
- Weekday
- Location
-
- the Birmingham campus
- the Leeds campus
- the Holborn campus in London
- the Stratford campus in London
- the Manchester campus
- Upcoming intake
- December 2026
- Year 2 entry
- Yes — starts at Level 5; applicants normally need completed Level 4 study (120 credits) or equivalent (e.g. relevant HNC or CertHE)
- Foundation year
- Not included in this course title
- Awarding university
- Arden University
- Partner pathway
- ARDEN
Who this course is for
This suits students who have completed relevant Level 4 study and want to join BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health in year 2.
Entry routes for mature students
Standard Level 5 / year 2 entry is completed Level 4 study (120 credits) in a relevant subject, or an equivalent such as a relevant HNC or CertHE, with supporting evidence of prior learning. AF Education confirms what applies to you.
Funding with Student Finance England
AF Education is a free service for England-resident UK home students — not international applicants. For eligible courses, a Tuition Fee Loan is paid directly to the university and a Maintenance Loan is paid to you for living costs. Eligibility depends on residency and previous study; use our free eligibility checker before you apply. If you used student finance for earlier study, that can affect what you can borrow, so we check your position first.
Check your Student Finance eligibility — free, takes about 2 minutes.
How often you study
Full-time weekday study is listed in Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester. Most courses AF Education supports need 1 to 2 campus days a week, usually about 2 to 4 hours a day, so many students keep working. Your exact timetable is confirmed before you enrol.
Career and progression
AF Education does not guarantee jobs or progression. The degree aims to build knowledge and transferable skills valued across related roles.
Year 2 entry or the Level 4 start?
This page is the Level 5 (year 2) entry to the BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health. The Level 4 start of the same degree begins in year 1 and asks for A levels and GCSEs or relevant work experience instead of earlier university-level study. Joining at Level 5 means you study Levels 5 and 6 only, so it typically takes 2 years to the degree rather than 3. You graduate with the same honours award; the difference is where you start, and here the degree gives eligibility for the British Psychological Society's independent route to training as a counselling psychologist, with modules such as Counselling Psychology, Mental Health and Illness, and Approaches to Counselling.
Who can join in year 2
Arden's Level 5 entry requirements ask for completed Level 4 study worth 120 credits in a relevant subject, or an equivalent such as a relevant HNC or CertHE, with supporting evidence of prior learning. Level 4 psychology credit is the usual fit; ask Arden how your earlier modules map before applying. AF Education confirms with Arden whether your previous study is accepted before you apply. This route is for UK home students living in England.
Student Finance when you have studied before
Previous study changes how many years of Tuition Fee Loan you get. GOV.UK says the number of years is normally the length of your current course plus 1 year, minus the number of years of previous study, and even a short time on a course counts as a year; any years left are applied to the final years of the course (source: GOV.UK). For a 2-year year 2 entry after one year of earlier higher education study, that works out as 2 + 1 − 1 = 2 years. The full-time Tuition Fee Loan for 2026/27 is up to £9,790, and a Maintenance Loan is up to £14,135 at the London campuses or up to £10,830 if you live away from home outside London (source: GOV.UK). AF Education can check your previous study before you apply.
Your weekday daytime week
Year 2 entry runs on a weekday daytime timetable at London (Holborn and Stratford), Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The next intake is December 2026. Campus courses like this typically need 1 to 2 campus days a week at about 2 to 4 hours a day, plus independent study, and your exact timetable is confirmed by Arden before you enrol.
Course overview from Arden University
Our BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health has been designed for those who want to study a degree in psychology and wish to work in counselling after graduation. It gives you eligibility to enrol on the British Psychological Society’s independent route to training as a counselling psychologist, and can support applications for a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or other counselling/wellbeing related qualifications.
Counselling and mental health take a person-centred approach, helping individuals explore their experiences and develop strategies to improve wellbeing. Professionals in these fields work across a variety of settings, including the NHS, schools, charities, youth and community services, and private practice.
You’ll cover the full psychology curriculum—social, cognitive, biological, developmental, and research methods—alongside specialist modules such as Counselling Psychology, Mental Health and Illness , Personality and Intelligence, Approaches to Counselling, Health and Psychological Wellbeing, and Managing the Therapeutic Process.
Studying this specialised undergraduate counselling and mental health course with Arden will provide you with multiple future career and study options. You’ll have access to modern, digital learning tools as you study and you’ll also have full support from our dedicated academic team, who are internationally respected industry practitioners, published authors and PhD holders in the field of psychology.
Throughout the course you’ll have one-to-one support from your lecturers and academic skills tutors, as well as frequent invitations to online coffee mornings with your fellow students and staff and personal academic tutor support sessions. You’ll also be able to start developing industry links and networks by attending sessions with guest speakers from a wealth of areas, including the fire service, policing and the NHS. Above all, our academic team, who come from a range of professional and cultural backgrounds, will help you learn through real-world context, helping you understand how your new skills are best applied in practice.
With such a wide choice of topics to learn about and different skills to master, you’ll graduate with in-depth knowledge of modern counselling theory and practice, including:
- Communicate effectively in challenging situations
- Retrieving, comprehending, and using data
- Handling primary source material appropriately
- Problem solving and abstract and scientific reasoning
- Making critical judgements and evaluations
- Applying sensitivity to interpersonal factors
- Talking and listening approaches in counselling
- Responding to feedback
Specific Requirement:
- Passes at grade C or above in three subjects including mathematics at GCSE level or academic equivalent
How this course differs
This page is BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health at Arden University: Level 5, no foundation year, Full Time (Weekday), at Birmingham, Holborn (London), Leeds, Manchester, Stratford (London). Other versions with the same title are listed below so you can pick the right one.
| Course | University | Level | Foundation year | Mode | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health this page | Arden University (Partner: ARDEN) | Level 5 | No | Full Time · Weekday | Birmingham, Holborn (London), Leeds, Manchester, Stratford (London) |
| BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health | Arden University (Partner: ARDEN) | Bachelors | No | Full Time · Weekday | Birmingham, Holborn (London), Leeds, Manchester, Stratford (London) |
| BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health | Arden University (Partner: ARDEN) | Bachelors | No | Full Time · Evening | Holborn (London) |
| BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health | Arden University (Partner: ARDEN) | Bachelors | No | Part Time · Online | Online |
| BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health with Foundation | Arden University (Partner: ARDEN) | Bachelors | Yes | Full Time · Weekday | Birmingham, Holborn (London), Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Stratford (London) |
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health is available at Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester. Campus details and map links are below.
Available Campuses for BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health
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Birmingham
Lock 14, 39 Summer Row, Birmingham, B3 1JJ
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Leeds
7 Park Square, Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2LW
View on Google mapsNext intake Ask an adviser -
Holborn
Buchanan House, 4th floor, 30 Holborn, London, EC1N 2LX
View on Google mapsNext intake Ask an adviser -
Stratford
3 Westfield Ave, Stratford Cross, London, E20 1HZ
View on Google mapsNext intake Ask an adviser -
Manchester
2 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3HF
View on Google mapsNext intake Ask an adviser
Campus locations on the map
Entry Requirements for Arden University (Level 5 / Year 2 entry)
These entry requirements apply to Arden University degrees that start at Level 5 (year 2 of the undergraduate programme). All applicants must provide supporting evidence to enrol. Standard Level 5 / year…
English Language Requirements for Arden University
Arden University needs evidence that your English is at the right level for the course. You can meet this through recent study in English or an accepted English test. Qualifications studied in…
Interview Process
Arden University interviews are held online on Microsoft Teams. They are a short conversation about your course choice and how you meet the entry route — not a formal exam. Before the…
See the full entry, English language and interview requirements for Arden University →
How AF Education helps
AF Education support is 100% free for students. We help you check eligibility, choose a suitable course and campus, prepare documents, and submit your application — with clear next steps for Student Finance England where relevant.
FAQs about this course
Which year do I join?
Year 2. This course starts at Level 5, so you need relevant Level 4 study first.
How is the course delivered?
The schedule is Weekday (Full time).
Can mature students apply?
Yes. Mature applicants are often considered through work-experience routes with a CV, references and an interview where required.
Can I get Student Finance England for this course?
AF Education gives England-resident UK home students (not international applicants) free help applying for Student Finance England on eligible courses. Check your eligibility free before you apply.
Does AF Education guarantee a job after the course?
No. AF Education helps with applications and funding checks but does not guarantee jobs or places.
Can I join year 2 of Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health with an HNC or CertHE?
Often, yes, if it is relevant. Arden asks for 120 Level 4 credits in a relevant subject or an equivalent such as a relevant HNC or CertHE, with evidence of prior learning. AF Education checks with Arden before you apply.
How long does year 2 entry to Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health take?
Typically 2 years full-time, because you start at Level 5 and complete Levels 5 and 6. The Level 4 start of the same degree typically takes 3 years.
How many years of Tuition Fee Loan will I get after previous study?
GOV.UK's normal rule is course length plus 1 year, minus years of previous study, with part years counting as a full year. For example, one earlier year of study on a 2-year course leaves 2 years of Tuition Fee Loan.
Register your interest
Register your interest in under 2 minutes. 100% free — we never charge you anything. A dedicated advisor will contact you to check eligibility and guide you through enrolment for BSc (Hons) Psychology with Counselling and Mental Health.
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