Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Please note: First year of entry for this course is September 2027. Register your interest to be informed when applications open. For September 2026 entry, please visit BA (Hons) Guidance and Counselling.
Career Guidance and Coaching BA (Hons) at Northumbria gives you the knowledge and skills to help people navigate some of life’s biggest decisions using person-centred, counselling-informed approaches. Taught by research-active academics with backgrounds in counselling, coaching, career guidance, education, and social care, this course combines academic depth with hands-on practice.
Explore theories underpinning career development, coaching and counselling, and how social context and inequality shape people’s lives. Work directly with clients through placements, and build the reflective person-centred skills of effective, socially aware practitioners. CDI recognition and AC accreditation (subject to approval) mean your qualification carries genuine professional weight.
Graduates can pursue roles across education, public services, and private organisations, or move into self-employment. An optional placement or study abroad year lets you develop your skills in a professional setting before your final year.
BA (Hons) Career Guidance & Coaching is subject to accreditation by the Association for Coaching, which would give graduates access to the Accredited Certificate in Coach Training (ACCT) accelerated route to become an accredited coach.
The programme has also applied for recognition as an approved qualification by the Career Development Institute, which would allow graduates to join the UK Register of Career Development Professionals and work in roles such as careers adviser, career coach, or careers co-ordinator across education (including schools) and private, voluntary and community settings.
Standard Offer 112 UCAS Tariff Points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Contextual Admissions 96 UCAS Tariff points
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach and assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application.
To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths, Statistics, or Physics and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or equivalents.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: TBC
The UK tuition fee for 26/27 is £9,790 and is set in line with the UG Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase this fee in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. The remaining fees relate to the International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements. Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap. *if your course is longer than one year
* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
International Fee in Year 1: TBC
This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.
This is the programme fee for your first year of study. The programme fee includes the international tuition fee, International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
Year One:
From the start, you’ll explore the principles of career guidance, coaching, and counselling, and how practitioners support people through significant life decisions. By the end of this year, you'll be ready to engage critically with theory and build on person-centred, reflective practice.
Year Two:
Next, the focus shifts to applying theory in practice through coaching, mentoring and groupwork, grounded in person-centred skills. By the end of this year, you'll be equipped to plan and evaluate individual and group interventions with confidence.
Year Three: Optional Placement or Study Abroad
Your optional placement or study abroad year gives you the chance to apply your skills in a real professional setting, building experience and networks that strengthen your final year and your career beyond graduation.
Year Three / Year Four (Final Year):
In your final year, advanced models of career guidance, ethical coaching, narrative and brief approaches to counselling and independent research converge. You'll be equipped to practise at professional-level, supporting others with skill, insight and integrity.
Top-Rated teaching: Over 92% of Health Studies students surveyed in the 2026 National Student Survey positively rated the teaching on their course.
Research Powerhouse: Social Policy at Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the UK for research power, out of 76 submissions (REF, 2021).
Highly rated by Students:95% of Health Studies students surveyed in the 2026 National Student Survey positively rated the academic support on their course.
Graduates could pursue roles across a wide range of settings, including schools, colleges, universities, local authorities, mental health and well-being services, voluntary or private organisations, with self-employment in coaching or career consultancy another option.
The course also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in fields such as psychological therapies, counselling, psychology, social work, mental health nursing and teaching. Where accreditation is in place, graduates may be eligible for CDI and AC membership, supporting ongoing professional development. Newcastle's strong public sector and education landscape offers meaningful opportunities to build professional connections throughout your studies.
Learn through lectures, seminars, group work, and experiential practice. Case studies, visiting practitioners, and recorded coaching sessions build reflective skills. Assessment ranges from written analysis to practice portfolios and presentations.
Potential student projects could span a wide range of topics, from exploring career development in underrepresented communities to researching coaching approaches with neurodiverse clients. During first year, you'll undertake observational visits to guidance and counselling agencies, giving early insight into professional practice. Ahead of your final year, a placement opportunity allows you to apply your skills in a live context.
Learn from a team of research-active academics with professional backgrounds spanning counselling, coaching, career guidance, social work, education, and health and social care. Staff bring active research interests and professional experience directly into teaching, ensuring your learning reflects contemporary practice and emerging developments in the field.
Northumbria's facilities enable you to develop both your academic and practical skills throughout your studies. Coaching and guidance sessions can be recorded, observed, and reflected upon using specialist university resources, building the confidence and reflective ability central to professional practice.
The e-learning platform provides access to a wide range of digital and multimedia resources, while online discussion tools extend your learning beyond taught sessions and support peer collaboration. Reflective tools help you track and articulate your development over time. Personal tutors guide your progress at every stage, and module leaders are on hand to support you with content and assessment throughout your studies.
Accuracy of information
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
How your course is delivered
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning.
Changes to your course
Most courses run as described on our website and in our marketing materials. Occasionally we may need to make changes, for example due to a change in the law or regulatory requirements, requirements of a Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body, or our quality assurance processes. Where a change is significant (in line with the Competition and Markets Authority's guidance on "substantial changes"), we will consult with affected students in advance where the change is being decided, and will explain the reason for the change and inform you at the earliest opportunity.
If we make a significant variation to your programme, you are entitled to: request a transfer to an alternative, appropriate programme; withdraw and have your tuition fees adjusted; or raise a complaint through the Student Complaints Procedure.
Optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year. Where a module you selected is withdrawn, the options above apply.
Contact time
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Images and video
The photography and video on this page are used for illustration. They may have been taken at different times and in different parts of the University, and may show facilities, equipment, staff, students or activities that are not part of this course. They are not a guarantee of the specific facilities or equipment you will use.
The course content, entry requirements and fees sections of this page, together with the Programme Specification, set out what this course includes. Our facilities are updated over time and may change during your studies.
Useful Links
Find out about our distinctive approach at
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms
Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees
Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy
Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints
Page last reviewed: 3 October 2026
