BA Counselling course secures prestigious BACP accreditation

The BA (Hons) Counselling and Therapeutic Practice course at the University of South Wales (USW) has been awarded full accreditation by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), following an in-depth review that praised the course for its outstanding teaching, innovation and industry-leading student experience.

BCAP assessors conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the programme, examining teaching materials, assessments, placements, external examiner reports, graduate outcomes, as well as discussions with students, alumni and staff.

Their feedback highlighted:

• Outstanding teaching and learning
• Innovative and inclusive assessment
• High-quality placements and strong professional partnerships
• A commitment to widening participation and inclusivity
• Excellent student experience
• Contemporary, industry-focused curriculum design
• Innovation in practice, including work on inclusion, AI and contemporary therapeutic approaches

Anna Fox, Course Leader, said: “This is a major milestone for us. The accreditation has come with the most glowing response from BACP with no negative comments from the panel. It recognises the incredible hard work of the course team, their expertise, and the integration of industry experience throughout the programme. This achievement lets the world know how exceptional this course is.”

The accreditation means graduates will leave with a professionally recognised qualification that allows them to progress directly to registered BACP membership. This places them in a strong position in a competitive job market and further enhances a programme already known for excellent graduate outcomes.

For current counselling students, at USW’s Newport campus, the impact is clear. Final-year student, Elizabeth Baines, said the accreditation will be transformative for her future career. She said: “For me, graduating with BACP accreditation on my CV means everything, it is going to give me a foot in the door, but it will also allow me to be recognised in two industries that I hope to work in. I have all the support I need to be successful.”

Fellow final-year student, Nikka Claassens’ experience on the course has surpassed her expectations. She said: “I was really attracted to the course because I knew that the BACP accreditation was in progress. Other courses that I looked at didn’t really make sense in terms of what qualifications I would graduate with.

“Coming in as a mature student with years out of education and a very busy mum, I felt so supported. Everything has been so carefully structured. Hands down, I would recommend it to anyone.”