Skip to main content

At a glance

  • Full Time / Part Time

  • One year full-time / Two years part-time

  • Ammanford Campus

Counselling is a professional career where empathy, compassion and active listening combine to empower individuals on their journey of personal growth and healing.

The BA in counselling (top up) is a one year full-time or two years part-time course open to students who have completed the college’s foundation degree or an equivalent qualification.

The course is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as a result is monitored by BACP to meet their training standards. 

You need to either complete the foundation degree full-time as well as the BA or complete the foundation degree part-time over three years in order to be on the BACP accredited programme.

Programme Features

The BA offers continuous professional development for counsellors following their foundation degree as well offering the opportunity for students to obtain a full BA honours degree.

Programme content

The BA consists of five modules: 

  • Foundation in counselling young people 
  • Introduction to Cognitive behavioural therapy
  • Working with trauma 
  •  Developing Integrative Practice
  • Dissertation
Progression and employment

You can progress from the BA to a master’s course at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Swansea campus or elsewhere, if you meet the entrance requirements.

Students from this course have gone on to gain employment in different counselling settings such as school-based counselling services and bereavement services as well as working in private practice.

Method of assessment

Continuous assessment throughout the course which includes: 

  • Reflective journal summaries
  • Essays on theory
  • Case studies 
  • Individual and group presentations 
  • Independent project/Dissertation
Entry requirements
  • Applicants need to be qualified counsellors who have completed 240 credits at level five of a counselling qualification
  • Enhanced disclosure and barring scheme check
  • Two references
  • Students who have experienced recent traumas or bereavements, or who are considered by the tutors to be too vulnerable at present may be advised to postpone their entry onto the course.   Applicants will need to show evidence of self-awareness and the ability to reflect on life experience as well as have the capacity to cope with the emotional and academic demands of the course
Additional costs

Enhanced DBS: £46

BACP student membership - £86 per annum

Books - the library is an excellent resource and carries the majority of books required but some students may wish to own copies of core texts.

Graduate Attributes Framework

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.  The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving.

Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

Inspiring Learners

Link to Coleg Sir Gar Instgram      Link to Coleg Sir Gar Facebook      Link to Coleg Sir Gar Twitter     Link to Coleg Sir Gar Linked In 

Get in Touch

Graig Campus
Sandy Road
Pwll
SA15 4DN
01554 748000
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Coleg Sir Gar is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No. 08539630 and is a registered charity No. 1152522. 
The registered office is at The Graig Campus, Sandy Road, Pwll, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 4DN