Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
3 / 4 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
CX83
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Study key topics and theories in education, psychology and counselling
- Apply your knowledge on real-world placement to enhance your employability
- Develop and practise your counselling skills
- Learn from tutors in our Sheffield Institute of Education who are experts in their field
Few courses combine the related subjects of education, psychology and counselling like this course – plus opportunities to gain valuable placement experience.
The BA (Hons) in Education with Psychology and Counselling course helps you to prepare for a range of careers in education or therapeutic roles.
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
Your lecturer’s view
You will be taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas including psychology, early years, teaching and counselling.
Our teaching approach is grounded in the personal and professional experience of both staff and students – alongside current global research and employer engagement. You’ll collaborate with your tutors to model and create inclusive teaching and learning strategies and environments, and be supported to challenge accepted ideas and practices.
You’ll also join our dynamic community of students, researchers and academics at the Sheffield Institute of Education. We’re one of the UK’s largest providers of teacher training, supporting 1,000 new teachers every year and partnering with more than 600 schools and colleges in the region.
You learn through:
- Diverse learning, teaching and assessment methods
- On-campus lectures
- Guest speakers
- Individual reflection
- Peers engagement
- Class debates
- Group tutorials
- Research-informed practice
- Collaborative projects
- Real-world projects and placements
- Opportunities to study abroad
- Coursework-based assessment
Key themes
During this course, you’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of discourses and practices in education, psychology and counselling. You’ll learn how to critically reflect on and theorise personal experiences and practices – and also how to optimise your employment opportunities by developing your counselling skills and transferable skills.
You’ll evaluate academic research, literature and policy while developing skills of reflection. You’ll also have chances to co-construct learning through dialogic teaching methods to improve the quality of classroom discussion.
Your learning will be supported by the expert teaching team and an approach that is grounded in the personal and professional experience of both staff and students, alongside current global research and employer engagement.
You will collaborate with your tutors to model and create inclusive teaching and learning strategies and environments and be supported to challenge accepted ideas and practices.
As well as understanding the current practice, you’ll have the opportunity to apply research to real-world projects – gaining great experience that stands out to employers.
Course support
You’ll be taught by a close-knit community of qualified and highly experienced teaching staff who take the time to get to know you. Throughout your time, you’ll receive personalised support, such as:
- Specialist Hallam tutors and school-based mentors
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources
- Career support for up to five years after you graduate
Course leaders and tutors
Phil Coombs
Lecturer in Education Studies, Education Psychology and CounsellingLecturer in Education Studies, Education Psychology and Counselling
Sophie Taylor
Senior LecturerI graduated with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University in 2008 and then gained a funded PhD at Sheffield Hallam University. … Read more
Applied learning
Work-integrated learning experiences and placements enable you to explore your career aspirations and develop and extend transferable skills such as confidence, problem-solving, creativity and reflective practice, preparing you for graduate roles. We champion applied learning and have partnered with over 600 schools and colleges so that you can put your learning into practice.
Placements
As part of your course you’ll work with employers in a range of ways. In your first year you’ll engage in applied learning with an employer to support your understanding of an educational context. In your second year you’ll apply for a four-week placement from a broad choice of education-related settings. Previous students have taken on exciting placements in organisations such as museums, galleries, prisons and even inner-city farms.
You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements between your second and final years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. In your final year the Project module involves working in small groups and applying academic learning to an employer-led project.
Travel abroad
You may have the opportunity to spend time abroad as part of your course. After completing their second-year studies, previous students have travelled to Mauritius to work in a range of schools and settings – with funding provided by the Turing Scheme.
Future careers
This course prepares you to progress into a career in:
- Education
- Physical education
- Counselling
- Psychology
- Social work
- Youth work
- Student support
- Mental health work
- Special educational needs
- Public and community services
- Skills development
Some of these careers require further postgraduate training, such as a Hallam Masters in Education, Psychology or Art Psychotherapy Practice, or the postgraduate diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Following successful completion of the MSc in Psychology or Developmental Psychology students will have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership from the British Psychological Society.
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- The NHS
- Mencap
- HMP Wakefield
- Shelter UK
- Compass
- The University of Manchester
- Westfield Academy
- Nottinghamshire City Council
Student's success story
Our students from a range of courses, including English, Education and History, are inspiring young people to write creatively at Grimm & Co.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries, modern cafes and study spaces designed by our students.
Most of our teaching is conducted in person at our City Campus, right in the heart of Sheffield.
You’ll have access to industry-standard teaching facilities and equipment, such as:
- Specialist spaces that reflect the teaching settings
- Virtual learning environments where you’ll access materials and resources
- Technical resources such as tablets and voice recorders
- Books and journals in our learning centres
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112-120
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC-BBB at A Level.
- DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Merit overall from a T level Qualification
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or English Literature at grade C or 4
- Mathematics at grade C or 4
We may accept GCSE equivalents
• Access - at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2 from a relevant Open College Network accredited course
• Grade B from CACHE diploma Level 3 in Child Care and Education.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other skills, or equivalent.
Suitabilty Declaration
You must fully declare the following information on the application form during the admissions process:
- unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
- involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process
- if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
We consider other qualifications from the UCAS tariff. Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered. We welcome applications from people of any age. Please contact us for further advice.
Meeting the qualifications on the entry criteria does not guarantee you a place. You should ensure that you submit a personal statement and reference as these are considered as part of the selection process. Guidelines on personal statements and references can be found on the UCAS website.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Educational Contexts
Introduction To Counselling
Introduction To Psychology
Learning To Learn
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Counselling Skills For Professional Practice
Educational Psychology
Elective modules
Autism
Childhood And Play
Forest Schools
School And The Curriculum
Study Abroad - Sheffield Institute Of Education
Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages
Trauma Informed Practice
Working With Professionals
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Applying Psychology
Global And Contemporary Issues
Mental Health And Therapeutic Approaches Across The Lifespan
Project
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Education (PDF, 255.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
