Home » Courses » Counselling and Applied Psychology Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) Full-time
Counselling and Applied Psychology Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) Full-time
Course Overview
Counselling and Applied Psychology Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) Full-time
The Counselling and Applied Psychology Higher National Diploma (HND), awarded by Pearson BTEC, offers you the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attributes which enable you to make an immediate contribution to employment. It also provides flexibility, knowledge, skills and motivation as a basis for future studies and career progression in the sector.
The Level 5 HND units gives you the opportunity to specialise in a counselling-related occupational area and to progress to degree-level study. They prepare you to move on to specific areas of education and further learning at Level 6 or to enter employment with the qualities and abilities necessary for roles that require professional responsibility and decision-making.
You will be able to develop and apply your own ideas to your studies, to deal with uncertainty and complexity, to explore solutions, demonstrate critical evaluation and use both theory and practice in a wide range of therapeutic situations.
By the end of course, you will have a sound understanding of the principles in your area of specialist study and will know how to apply those principles more widely in counselling and psychology practice. You will be able to perform effectively in their specialist area.
Course content
You will study the following mandatory units:
Core Unit 9: Counselling Skills Development and Practice
Core Unit 10: Working with Diverse Clients in Therapeutic Counselling
Core Unit 11: Risk and Assessment (Pearson-set)
Specialist Unit 17: Pluralistic Approaches to Counselling
Specialist Unit 15: Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to Counselling
Optional Unit 21: Counselling Young People
Please note: You will not be awarded the HND unless you have completed 170 placement hours.
Located at: Barnsley College University Centre
Course Start:
September 2027
Course length:
1 Years
Study Mode: Full-time
Course Code: HHEACOUD
UCAS Course Code: CAPD
Awarding Organisation:
Course Fees and Funding
How much does the course cost?
£6,995
Other funding information
As a Higher Education student living in England you may be eligible for the non-means tested Tuition Fee Loan from the Government and a Maintenance Loan.
Students with children or dependant adults may qualify for a Childcare Grant or Adult Dependants' Grant. Students can apply for these at the same time as applying for a Maintenance Loan.
Remember: Eligible students will not have to pay tuition fees in advance and can apply for the Maintenance Loan before they start the course.
We offer a service to any student who has a diagnosis of anything persistent or long-term which might interfere with how they study and manage their day-to-day academic engagement. The service is flexible and shaped around the needs of each individual; it might be consistent support or intermittent support.
Need to hold a Level 4 Counselling and Applied Psychology HNC
Be required to have a GCSE grade 4/C or above in English Language and it is highly recommended that you have a GCSE grade 4/C or above in Maths
All students will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
The qualification is assessed through a range of methods including:
Internally set and assessed units
Direct observation of learner working in placement
Professional discussion
Reflective accounts
Expert witness testimonies
You will need to provide pens, paper, USB and folders. You will need access to a computer, but these can be accessed in College.
Higher National Diploma
Upon completion, you can:
Work independently
Refer and have clients referred to their service
Work in a healthcare setting
Apply to study at Level 6
Other Resources
For further details, please contact our Information Unit by calling 01226 216 123 or emailing: info@barnsley.ac.uk
Barnsley College has a range of sports opportunities for all students to take part in, gain professional training and compete nationally and internationally. We also have a state-of-the-art fitness village, the Sports Village, where students can make use of our fitness suite, spinning studio and classes for competitive rates.
Barnsley Sports Academy offers state-of-the-art facilities and diverse sports programs, enabling students to achieve academic and athletic excellence. Remember, you don't have to be studying Sport to join Barnsley Sports Academy.
Disclaimer: Please note we reserve the right to change details without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
The course information on this page was last updated
06 March 2026.
Are you applying to study at Barnsley College University Centre only?
If you only wish to apply to Barnsley College University Centre, you can apply directly via our website, using OnTrack.
Simply select the course you wish to apply for and click the “Apply direct” button.
You will then be asked to complete an online application form and create your Barnsley College OnTrack account.
You will need to upload your qualification certificates and a form of ID. Once you have applied, your application will be reviewed by a course lecturer and you may be invited in for an interview.
Are you applying to more than one institution?
If you would like to apply to more than one university, you will be required to apply via the UCAS website.
As a general guide, applications can be made via UCASbetween September and late January.Please check the UCAS website for further information.
We do consider applications throughout the year, although the earlier you submit, the earlier you will receive a decision and can start to plan accordingly.
The UCAS Code for Barnsley College University Centre is: B13.
