School of Health in Social Science

MASTER OF COUNSELLING/PG DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING

ENTRY WITH ADVANCED STANDING

INTRODUCTION

Entry with Advanced Standing may be granted to applicants to the Master of Counselling (MCouns) who already hold professionally validated, postgraduate qualifications in counselling awarded by either the University of Edinburgh or another institution of higher education. Applicants awarded Entry with Advanced Standing may be granted exemption from

a)either the Foundation Year of the programme, enabling direct entry to year 2,

b)or the first three years of the programme, enabling direct entry to year 4 (only available to applicants who already hold a Postgraduate Diploma awarded by the University of Edinburgh)

WHO CAN APPLY FOR ENTRY WITH ADVANCED STANDING?

  1. Applicants who have completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies or the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling at the University of Edinburgh, and who have not obtained credit on the basis of these awards towards any other qualifications at the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.
  1. Applicants who have completed professionally validated counselling qualifications recognised by the University of Edinburgh to be equivalent to the Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies or the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling at the University of Edinburgh, and who have not obtained credit on the basis of these awards towards any other qualifications at the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere. Applicants in this category are eligible to an exemption for the Foundation Year only.

In both cases applicants must complete an application for Entry with Advanced Standing and must provide all the evidence required, including copies of the existing degree certificates.

CRITERIA FOR ENTRY WITH ADVANCED STANDING

Applications for Entry with Advanced Standing can be considered only if all of the criteria set out below have been met.

1) Correspondence in terms of:

a)Level: the qualification already awarded must be at postgraduate level (SCQF level 11 with no more than 20 credits at level 10)

N.B. credit cannot be transferred to a Masters level programme from any part of a programme at undergraduate level.

b)Learning Outcomes: the Learning Outcomes achieved through the qualification already awarded must correspond to those for the equivalent elements of the Master of Counselling.

c)Programme Length: the amount of student-tutor contact hours completed for the qualification already awarded must correspond to the amount delivered in equivalent elements of the Master of Counselling.

d)Assessment: the extent of assessed written work completed for the qualification already awarded must correspond to those for the equivalent elements of the Master of Counselling.

2) Recency: the qualification already awarded must normally have been undertaken within the last five years. If it is less recent, additional evidence of recent written work at the equivalent of postgraduate level must be provided.

3) Grade: the grade secured must meet the requirements for progression within the Master of Counselling.

4) History: the qualification already awarded must not have previously been used to secure entry with advanced standing or accreditation of prior learning.

5) Authorship: the applicant must be the sole author of the assignment(s) completed for the qualification already awarded.

COST

There is no charge for applying for Entry with Advanced Standing.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR ENTRY WITH ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants wishing to apply for Entry with Advanced Standing, should do so at the same time as applying, online, for entry to the Master of Counselling (MCouns)/Pg Diploma in Counselling.

Applications should include evidence relevant to all the criteria set out above. For example:

  • Level: Copies of relevant degree certificates should be provided.
  • Recency: Diploma/degree certificates or transcripts are normally dated. If not, additional proof of the date of completion must be provided.
  • Correspondence of Learning Outcomes: Written evidence must be provided to demonstrate that the Learning Outcomes of the applicant’s existing postgraduate qualification correspond to those for the component(s) of the Master of Counselling for which applicant is seeking exemption.
  • Grade: Grades and/or grading sheets should also be submitted where possible.
  • History: Previous transcript should contain this information.

N.B. It is up to applicants to provide full supporting evidence with their applications. If no evidence is provided, applications will automatically be unsuccessful. If applicants have attempted to provide evidence, but the School requires further evidence before it can make a decision, applicants will be contacted.

HOW ARE APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY WITH ADVANCED STANDING ASSESSED?

Applications are scrutinised by an academic panel appointed by the School of Health in Social Science, which makes a recommendation to the College Postgraduate Studies Committee. The recommendation is then confirmed or rejected by the College Postgraduate Studies Committee and is finally endorsed by Senatus Postgraduate Studies Committee. Applications may be sent to the External Examiner for the Master of Counselling to ensure benchmarking of standards. This whole process may take some time; however, we will endeavour to process applications as quickly as possible.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND ADVICE

If you require further advice please contact

Siobhan Canavan, Counselling and Psychotherapy, The University of Edinburgh, School of Health in Social Science, MedicalSchool, Teviot Place, EdinburghEH8 9AG

Email:

School of Health in Social Science

MASTER OF COUNSELLING

Entry with Advanced Standing

Application Form

Forename / Surname
Address
Post Code / Telephone No (day)
Telephone No (eve)

Please indicate () on what basis you are applying for Entry with Advanced Standing

Entry with Advanced Standing based on a degree certificate from the
University of Edinburgh (certificate/transcript not required)
Entry with Advanced Standing based on a degree certificate from another institution of higher education (copy of certificate/transcript required)

Please indicate () for which component of the Master of Counselling you are seeking exemption:

Foundation Year
Years 1 to 3 (only available to applicants who hold the Pg Diploma in Counselling from the University of Edinburgh)

If you are applying for advanced standing on the basis of a qualification from the University of Edinburgh, please state the name of your qualification and the date it was awarded:

Qualification:

Date of Award:

Signature Date


School of Health in Social Science

MASTER OF COUNSELLING

Entry with Advanced Standing

Evidence Cover Sheet

I submit the following evidence in support of my application for Entry with Advanced Standing

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide evidence in the form of

certification, transcript or portfolio