The MSc is a well-established route to a professional career in counselling in the addictions field. Accredited by Addiction Professionals (formerly the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals) it meets the training needs for you to become accredited as an addiction counsellor.*
You'll normally have a professional, employment or voluntary work interest in addiction but will not necessarily be a graduate. However, if you have an interest in the psychology of addiction and are seeking a career in counselling, you'll have particular interest in this programme. Some work experience in health, community and social service settings, and/or some background in counselling/psychological helper skills is normally required to join the course. It is also expected that in the first year you'll seek experience in appropriate work settings related to addiction. In the second year, students must have a counselling placement sufficient to provide 100 hours of supervised practice before entering the final year.
*Completion of year 2 of the course results in eligibility for the Addiction Professionals 'Drug and Alcohol Professional Certificate'. Additional practice hours are required to be eligible for the Addiction Professionals National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate.
ModePart-time | Duration36 months | Start dateSeptember | Application code3127 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Addiction professionals
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Typical applicants are working within drug/alcohol or related fields, with the intellectual competence to work at postgraduate level, and demonstrable character strengths for counselling. A CPCAB-Accredited Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (or equivalent) is essential. Level 3 qualifications in counselling skills/studies are highly desirable.
Prospective students will need demonstrable ability to undertake work at a Masters level. For example Honours degree or professional qualifications at 2:2 level/Bachelor degree equivalent to UK Second Class Honours Lower Division/ Plus relevant experience indicative of a motivation to specialise in the addictions area.
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£5000
Tuition fees for home students
£7450
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
UK fee: £5000 | International fee: £7450 |
AOS/LSBU code: 3127 | Session code: 1PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £12500 |
International: £18625 |
UK fee: £5000 | International fee: £7450 |
AOS/LSBU code: 3127 | Session code: 2PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £12500 |
International: £18625 |
UK fee: £2500 | International fee: £3725 |
AOS/LSBU code: 3127 | Session code: 3PS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £12500 |
International: £18625 |
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a home, EU or international student for fee-paying purposes by reading the UKCISA regulations.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
The Society for the Study of Addiction offers financial support to students, including bursaries. Further information can be found on the SSA's bursary page.
Additionally, funded and reduced-rate student places are available at the SSA’s PhD Conference and Annual Conference, on 7 and 8-9 November respectively, at the Crowne Plaza, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode Part-time | Duration 36 months | Start date September | Application code 3127 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
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Enrolment takes place before you start your course. On completing the process, new students formally join the University. Enrolment consists of two stages: online, and your face-to-face enrolment meeting. The online process is an online data gathering exercise that you will complete yourself, then you will be invited to your face-to-face enrolment meeting.
In September, applicants who have accepted an unconditional offer to study at LSBU will be sent details of induction, which is when they are welcomed to the University and their School. Induction helps you get the best out of your university experience, and makes sure you have all the tools to succeed in your studies.
Read more about Enrolment and Induction.
All modules are assessed by coursework including essays, observational assessments and reports, professional logs, a case study and project proposals.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
There is a rapidly increasing demand for addiction counsellors in health and social services and a variety of community settings, and also in private practice. Employers are often prepared to give financial support for training and other incentives to those counsellors, nurses, social and community workers and others whose employment involves working with those who are experiencing problems associated with addiction.
The PgDip Addiction Psychology and Counselling meets the required training component for professional accreditation by the Addiction Professionals.
Several graduates of the MSc Addiction Psychology and Counselling have used this qualification to become registered members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
As an Applied Sciences student, you will be allocated a named academic tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your academic tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.
Your academic tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.
Your academic tutor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.
You will have appointments with your academic tutor a minimum of once per semester for 30 minutes throughout your course. This is often supplemented with additional meetings arranged via email as and when students need support. In addition to this Learning Support hours for all teaching staff will be advertised and available for you to book additional time for support related to a specific teaching session.