BA (Hons) Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations
Overview
What is BA Therapeutic Communication?
This BA Top-Up Year builds on your Foundation Degree, helping you consolidate your knowledge and progress into more advanced therapeutic and organisational roles.
It is designed for students who want to deepen their psychodynamic and therapeutic practice while taking on greater responsibility within care, education, or support settings.
Why this course
This course is designed to help you support the people who need your service most effectively by developing a deeper understanding of person-centred practice, active listening, and how to adapt your approach to individual needs. You will explore how to work more collaboratively with your colleagues by strengthening your communication skills, learning how to share information appropriately, and valuing different perspectives to improve overall care. You will also gain clarity on what counts as therapeutic support for children, young people, and older adults, including how to build trusting relationships and use empathetic communication to promote wellbeing, safety, and positive development. Through this course, you’ll get the chance to build advanced skills in therapeutic communication and reflective practice, consolidate your prior learning, and develop greater confidence in applying therapeutic approaches within professional settings.
Who should apply
- Students who have completed a Foundation Degree in a related therapeutic or social care field
- Practitioners working in education, health, or social care roles
- Those looking to progress into more senior or specialist roles within their organisation
- Learners interested in advanced therapeutic communication and reflective practice
What you’ll learn
- Advanced therapeutic techniques: Develop skills in working individually with children and adults
- Organisational dynamics: Study in-depth how organisations function and influence therapeutic work
- Counselling and support skills: Enhance your ability to provide effective therapeutic interventions
- Supervision and mentoring: Learn how to support the development of others in professional settings
- Specialist study: Explore a topic of personal and professional interest with expert academic guidance
Your learning experience
- Blended learning: Combination of seminars, workshops, and workplace-based learning
- Applied practice: Develop skills directly within your professional environment
- Two core study areas: Focus on therapeutic work with individuals and the dynamics of organisations
- Specialist modules: Choose between supervision/mentoring or advanced counselling skills in the summer term
- Independent study: Pursue a personal area of interest under expert academic supervision
Careers and outcomes
This top-up degree supports progression into more advanced roles in therapeutic and support settings:
- Therapeutic practice: More senior roles in counselling and support services
- Education and care leadership: Positions involving mentoring and supervision of staff
- Health and social care: Enhanced responsibility in frontline and support roles
- Organisational roles: Work involving service development and team support
Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates typically progress within organisations such as:
- Health and social care providers
- Schools and educational institutions
- Mental health and therapeutic services
- Community and voluntary sector organisations
- Family support and safeguarding services
- Our course tutors are experienced practitioners, who have worked with children and adults facing challenging circumstances, over many years.
- The course gives you the concepts, tools and support to develop your therapeutic work, and at the same time, you can continue progressing with your career.
- Build your reputation and profile in existing roles in social work, healthcare, mental health, community work and education.
Course content
Course structure
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
| Status | What this means |
| Core |
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Core with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted. |
| Compulsory |
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Compulsory with Options |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
| Optional |
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail. |
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
| HR | 100 | 4 | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History. |
The module number. |
The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification. |
The term the module will be taught in.
|
COMPONENT 01: CORE
This module will help you put psychodynamic theory into practice. You will learn skills and techniques used in counselling and how to apply these to working therapeutically with an individual child, adolescent, or adult. You will study written material relating to counselling skills and take part in workshop based learning to support your theoretical understanding.
View Counselling Skills and Therapeutic Work on our Module Directory
COMPONENT 02: CORE
This module aims to develop your understanding of both psychodynamic and systemic thinking about organisations. Alongside theoretical reading you will set up and conduct a weekly observation of an organisation which will be written up and presented in seminars for analysis using the concepts you have learned. You also participate in a 7 week group dynamics workshop.
COMPONENT 03: CORE
This module requires you to write a long essay on a topic of your choice related to the core conceptual focus of the TCTO programme i.e. the application of psychodynamic theory and practice to work and social life. The modules main aim is for you to use the psychodynamic knowledge and skills gained on this programme and apply this either to a new area of study, or more deeply and intellectually to a familiar area. You will learn research skills and approaches appropriate to the Long Essay in seminars, learn to evaluate and present your ideas and you will receive individual supervision from a tutor to develop your essay to its highest standard prior to submission.
COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY
Want to enhance your effectiveness at work? Keen to take up a more senior role? Able to undertake practice in your own workplace? Continue with your normal work responsibilities, including supervision of others, with guidance from a mentor. Develop professionally by reviewing aspects of your work experience with your mentor.
Teaching
- Undergraduate students in the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies typically attend a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar for each module per week. There are some variations in place depending on the module.
- Teaching takes place in relatively small seminars and fora, with a focus on group discussion
- Discussion in seminars includes both discussing other peoples' work and discussing your own experiences in the workplace
- You also undertake supervised clinical practice, participate in skills based workshops, and teach others through presentation of theoretical readings and clinical cases
Assessment
- Your grade is made up entirely of coursework marks, including essays and reflective reports
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
You should have passed the Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations.
We accept a wide range of other qualifications from applicants studying in the UK, EU and other countries. For further details about the qualifications that we accept, please e-mail us with information about the high school qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
We welcome applications from mature students, students interested in direct entry to the second year and students wishing to defer entry.
Additional requirements
You must also have a satisfactory Occupational Health Check and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check (including child and adult barred list check) - both of these are organised by the University. Please contact our DBS team if you have any questions relating to this.
A satisfactory Overseas Criminal Record Check/Local Police Certificate is also required, in addition to a DBS Check, where you have lived outside of the UK in the last 5 years for 6 months or more.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in an equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,790
As part of your course, you’re required to undertake work-based observations and attend a conference. You may incur associated travel costs.International fee
£21,500
As part of your course, you’re required to undertake work-based observations and attend a conference. You may incur associated travel costs.If your course has the option to include a placement year or study abroad, and you choose to do so, you will pay the following:
Placement year
20% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Study abroad
Full year abroad
15% of your standard tuition fee for that year
Single term abroad
Standard tuition fee
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
2026 Open Days (Colchester Campus)
Applying
If you are interested in applying for this course you will need to complete our online application form. If you have any questions please contact ppsug@essex.ac.uk for further information on how to apply.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
Want to quiz us about your course? Got a question that just needs answering? Get in touch with us on live chat!
