Access to HE Diploma (Counselling) Level 3 OCNLR

When & Where

15 September 2025 - 7 July 2026 ( 408 hours, 35 weeks )
Morning, Afternoon, Monday, Wednesday
View course timetable
North Kensington Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Multiple
Course Code K25HSSB01A
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

The Access to HE Diploma in Counselling is intended for students who wish to study for a Psychology and/or Counselling degree at University. Our Diploma courses lead to nationally recognised qualifications that enable successful students to progress onto degree level study at University. The Psychology and Counselling Diploma programme is the most suitable route for you if you are looking to go on to study a degree in subjects such as: Psychology, Psychology with Counselling, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Education with Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Psychology with Professional Development or other similar subjects. This pathway will enable you to gain a solid introduction especially in the field of counselling, study key counselling methods such as CBT and Transactional Analysis and also develop the skills you will need to become a successful counsellor. Achievement on your course will be measured by completion of assignments / portfolio submissions which will be reviewed throughout the course with regular individual tutorials with your tutor to discuss your personal goals and coursework submission to achieve high grades. You will be given help and guidance with the university application process.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Study skills: essay writing, report writing, preparing for higher education, extended project
Counselling theory: comparative approaches to counselling, the core model of person-centred therapy
Counselling practice: core counselling skills, the ethical framework, roles and responsibilities of a counsellor
Psychology: stages of psychological development, psychological abnormality, social influence, conformity and obedience
Develop your study skills and employability skills alongside a range of specialist skills including: practical skills, analytical skills, evaluative skills and it skills

On successful completion of the course, you will achieve the following qualification: Access to HE Diploma (Counselling) [OCNLR]

Class format and activities

On the Counselling Diploma, you will study core modules in Study Skills, which will enable you to develop the essential skills you will need to be a successful student at University. There are three main modules: Psychology, Counselling Theory and Counselling Practice. You will receive extensive support throughout the course, including guidance around all aspects of your University application. This is a fast paced course and you will be expected to have good attendance and complete independent study outside of lessons. At the start of the course you will be given a course calendar with a series of coursework submission dates which you will be asked to meet at regular intervals throughout the year. This course is 100% in-person at our North Kensington centre.

Entry requirements

You must be aged 19 or over. You should have GCSE English Grades A-C / 4-9 or Level 2 equivalent, and GCSE Maths Grades A-C / 4-9 or Level 2 equivalent is desirable. You will need these two qualifications in addition to the Access to HE Diploma to progress to most university undergraduate programmes.

What you need to know before you enrol

Your Access course requires dedication and commitment if you are going to succeed; you will be expected to do regular reading and written work on top of attending classes. Your course is timetabled for two days a week and runs from the beginning of September to the end of June. The Access course is an intensive course and will prepare you for the demands of a University degree course in just nine months. It is therefore essential to think how you are going to balance work, family and social life with your Access studies.

What you need

You should arrive to your lessons prepared to learn with pens, pencils, writing pad and preferably a laptop/tablet/iPad. All other resources and materials you need will be provided. Teaching and learning resources will be made available online through MS Teams and in the event of a lesson moving online, you will need a computer with a reliable internet connection to join your lesson- As a student of Morley College, you have access to Microsoft 365, including Office 365, Outlook and MSTeams throughout your course.

What you can do next

• The course will prepare you for Higher Education and interviews. You can progress onto degree in Psychology, Psychology with Counselling, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Education with Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Psychology with Professional Development or other similar subjects.