Graduate Certificate
Humanistic & Psychodynamic Counselling
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Why choose the graduate certificate in counselling at Goldsmiths?
An intensive foundation in counselling for those who meet elements of counselling in their day-to-day work and who wish to enter this field professionally.
- This programme teaches the fundamentals of psychodynamic counselling - ideal if you don't yet have sufficient experience and qualifications to study at a postgraduate diploma level.
- You’ll study key theoretical concepts that inform the practice of humanistic and psychodynamic counselling, and will identify the specific responsibilities and processes of the counselling alliance.
- The programme is taught by means of theoretical lectures, seminars, experiential workshops, and group tutorials.
- The programme is particularly suitable for those who wish to apply to our MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Please note: Entry requirements for further qualification vary considerably between institutions. Students are expected to conduct their own research before applying.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact George Taxidis.
Length
1 year part-time (26 weeks, Tuesdays 6-9pm)
Entry requirements
You must be able to demonstrate: a commitment to counselling as a profession; an ability to sustain academic study; and the potential to develop those qualities essential to counselling, for example empathy and sense of self.
Department
The programme covers
- Humanistic approaches to counselling, with special emphasis on the philosophy and influence of Carl Rogers
- Psychodynamic principles of counselling, with reference to growth and development, unconscious processes and intra-psychic conflicts
- The ethics of counselling: boundaries and responsibility
- Good practice and care for the counsellor: self-awareness, supervision and meeting your own needs
- Transcultural Counselling, looking into issues of diversity and dominance in the counselling relationship
What you'll study
Teaching will cover the following compulsory modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Theory 1 | 15 credits |
| Theory 2 | 15 credits |
| Reflective Practitioner | 15 credits |
| Basic Counselling Skills | 15 credits |
Please see the programme specification for information about what you'll study on each module.
How you'll be assessed
Assessment is continual and is carried out by means of two essays of 2,500 words; a reflective journal and a practical skills assessment.
Students must pass all four essays pieces of work to be awarded the Certificate.
The pass mark is 40%.
Fees and funding
These are the fees for this programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home: £3100
- International: £7400
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your programme, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
Entry requirements
You are usually expected to have completed an undergraduate degree or hold an equivalent qualification. You might also be considered for this programme if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience.
You must be able to demonstrate:
- A commitment to counselling as a profession
- An ability to sustain academic study
- The potential to develop those qualities essential to counselling, for example, empathy and sense of self
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
- If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
Selection process
Admission is by group interview.
Find out more about applying.
Careers
Where this course can take you
Suitable careers for graduates of this programme include:
- Support and welfare work
- Residential social work
- Teaching
- Advocacy
- Mentoring
Skills
You'll develop critical, communication and interpersonal skills, and listening skills.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
