New School of Psychotherapy & Counselling Frequently Asked Questions

General

Which information should I have to refer to if I have questions about the course? How do I get hold of the most up-to-date version?
All the information you will require for your course is available in the relevant handbook. If you are not sure that you have the most up-to-date version, you may contact the Course Co-ordinator to email you the latest version.

How do I get a login and password to use the NSPC website?
If you are a new student, the application form to obtain this will be a part of your welcome pack. You will need to complete a form and return it to the Course Co-ordinator who will process the form and give you your logon details.

What resources are available to me on the website?
You will find all evaluation forms, placement forms, handbooks and syllabi on the website. We are in the process of getting handouts included on the website.

Who do I speak to if I have a query about the course? How do I get hold of them?
You can contact the Course Co-ordinator with any queries that you may have.
This can be done by email, telephone or in person.

Our contact details are:
Tel No.: +44 (0)207 928 4344
Email: admin@nspc.org.uk
Address: Royal Waterloo House
51-55 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8TX

You may also use our Enquiry Form to send any questions or comments you have.

Is there an induction that I can go to?
An induction will be held for new students at the start of the first year modules. This is usually done before the start of the actual module e.g. if the module starts at 10:00, we would arrange an induction to start at 09:00.
If you are unable to make this induction you are welcome to come and meet with the Course Co-ordinator prior to the start date of your course. It is advisable to make an appointment.

How do I get in touch with my student representative if I have an issue that I want raised at the course board?
Each year’s cohort elects their student representatives during the Autumn term. Once they have been appointed a list of their names and contact details will be posted on the information board and website.
If you do have any concerns it is advisable to alert the Course Co-ordinator and your student representative. They would make sure that your concerns were directed to the relevant person.

What’s the difference between the DProf and DPsych programmes? Can I transfer from one to the other?
The DPsych requires that you have a first degree in Psychology that has Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS), soon to be called Graduate Basis for Chartering (GBC).
For the DProf, it is only required that you have a first degree in any relevant subject other than a Psychology degree that has GBR.
If you have a degree in Psychology but do not have GBR yet, you will be registered on the DProf. If you do obtain your GBR it may be possible to transfer to the DPsych.

How do I upgrade from the Masters programme to the Doctorate programme?
You can transfer from the Sheffield MA at any point during the programme. Transfer arrangements are in place with Middlesex University.
Talk to the Course Co-ordinator to find out what your position is in this regard.

How do I make sure I’m doing all the compulsory courses for my programme?
In each handbook, there is a clean outline of the structure of your programme that contains all the courses required for you to complete your course.
A progress sheet is produced for each student and is continually updated. You may request a copy of your progress sheet from the Course Co-ordinator.

How do I stay up to date with what is going on at the New School?
A newsletter is sent out to all students at the end of every term. The newsletter contains a summary of all the important events that have occurred that term as well as events that you may be interested in attending. The newsletter is also posted on the website.
You are encouraged to attend Board of Studies and informal staff/student meetings that happen at various stages throughout the academic year. You can also check the NSPC forums as well as the NSPC group on Facebook for further updates.

What organisations do I need to join as a New School student working towards UKCP/BPS accreditation?
You will need to join the UPCA as a student member. The UPCA will process your UKCP registrations once you have completed the course but only if you have been a student member throughout your training, so do not delay your membership.
DPsych students will also need to be trainee members of the Counselling Psychology division of the BPS together with having GBR. Copies of these will be needed for your student file.
Although not required, it is recommended that students join the Society for Existential Analysis (SEA) and the International Collaborative of Existential Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ICECAP).

I need to get hold of a placement form/assessment form/supervision student evaluation form? Where can I get hold of it?
All forms are available on the website or from the Course Co-ordinator

When can I expect to be sent the details of my next course so I can start reading and preparing the presentation?
We prepare the course list before the start of the next term. Ideally this is emailed to everyone at least a month before the start of the module. However you do not need to wait for this information, as syllabi are part of the DPsych and DProf handbooks.

Do I have access to a personal tutor of any kind?
At various stages of the doctoral programme you will be allocated tutors e.g. Review of Learning.
If you need help at any stage during your course you can contact the Course Co-ordinator who will set up an appointment with the Deputy Course Leaders and/or the Course Director. An academic supervisor will also be available for consultation from Programme Planning onwards.

Formal Assessments

How do I find out the hand-in date for my essay?
The latest submission date for all theoretical essays is the end of the term following the term in which you took the module. For example, if you took Psychoanalytic Theory in the Autumn term, the essay will be due the end of the Winter term.
The latest submission date for personal development essays is always the beginning of the term following the term in which you took the module. For example, if you took Psychoanalytic Practice in the Autumn term, the essay will be due the beginning of the Winter term.

Are there any regulations I should be aware of when writing my essay?
All essay guidelines can be found in your handbook as well as in the module syllabus.

How do student presentations work?
The lecturer will ask students to prepare presentations based on the relevant week’s reading material.

How many case studies do we need to do and is there guidance about how to write one?
The Sheffield MA requires you to submit two case studies, one at the end of year two and the second one at the end of year three.
On the DProf and DPsych, you will attend a Case Study module during year three. This is a two-day module and results in you writing a long case study.

What goes into a portfolio/dissertation and what are the regulations for submitting these?
All portfolio/dissertation guidelines can be found in your handbook.

How do I go about submitting my essay? How many copies do I submit? Do I need a cover sheet?
For theoretical essays, you will need to post two copies along with a cover sheet to the Course Co-ordinator.
For personal development or practice essays, you will need to post one copy along with a cover sheet to the Course Co-ordinator.
For supervision essays, you will need to post one copy along with a cover sheet and Supervision Evaluation form to the Course Co-ordinator.

How are the assessments marked?
For theoretical essays, one copy goes to the lecturer who taught the module and another copy will go to an agreed second marker.
For personal development or practice essays, the lecturer who taught the module will mark your essay.
For supervision essays, your supervisor will mark your essay.

How long will it take till I get my assessment back? How do I get hold of it?
For theoretical essays, the markers have eight weeks from receipt of the assessment to mark and return it to the Course Co-ordinator.
For personal development, practice and supervision essays, the markers have six weeks from receipt of the assessment to mark and return it to the Course Co-ordinator.
Once the essays have been received and your markers recorded, you will be sent an email notifying you that your essay is available in the office to be picked up.

What happens if I fail an essay?
There are various things that can happen should you fail an essay. If your grade is between 45% – 49%, you will be allowed to rewrite your essay. If you receive a grade 44% or under, you will be required to retake the module.

What happens if I fail a supervision unit?
You would need to attend an extra supervision module.

Placements

What do I need to check to make sure my placement is an appropriate one?
Once you start a placement your will be required to complete a Placement Agreement form. This will be approved by the Placement Co-ordinator.

How many client hours do I need for the course? How many for UKCP/BPS accreditation?
If you exit with a Post Graduate Diploma you will need 100 supervised placement hours.
If you exit with an MA or MSc you will need 250 supervised placement hours.
UKCP registration requires 450 supervised placement hours, which is also the doctoral requirement.

What forms do I need to complete to let the New School know about my placement and the number of hours that I have done there?
Your placement would need to complete the Placement Agreement form when you start the placement. At least once an academic year you would need to ask your placement to complete the Placement Report form. Once these forms are received they would be used to update your progress sheet.
There will also be practice log forms to fill out.
These forms are all available on the website.

How much supervision do I need at my placement?
It is up to the placement to provide you with adequate line management by a suitably qualified person.
If you are on the DPsych, it is preferable that your placement supervision should be a chartered psychologist, particularly if possible a chartered counselling psychologist.

How much supervision will I get at the New School?You will need to be in supervision at the New School when you start your placement. You will attend a different supervision module each term.

How does online supervision work?
Online supervision will require you to submit written verbatim reports on your X client and this will be discussed with the group on a weekly basis.

Do my placement hours count when I’m not in supervision at the New School?
Your placement hours will not count if you are not in supervision at the New School, unless you have submitted them for RAL.

Does therapy with children count towards placement hours?
We follow the UKCP guideline on working with children, according to these guidelines only 25% of your total hours can be used for working with children.

Does group therapy count towards placement hours?
Group therapy can count as a third of your hours.

Does Private Practice count towards placement hours?
We follow the UKCP guideline on working with children and only a third of your total placement hours can be made up of private practice.

Personal Therapy

How much personal therapy do I need to have during my course?
On the DProf and DPsych programmes you need 150 hours of personal therapy.
DPsych students will need to do at least 40 of these hours with a BPS chartered therapist.
On the MA programme you will need 135 hours of personal therapy.
If you are already UKCP registered or BPS chartered when you start the course you will need a leadership project in your final year of the doctoral programmes.

What kind of record do I need that I’ve been in personal therapy?
You will need to complete a Confirmation of Personal Therapy form when you start to see a therapist.
You need to complete the Completion of Personal Therapy form when you are finished with a therapist.
Your personal therapy information can only be entered on your progress sheet on receipt of these documents.

How do I find an appropriately trained therapist?
You can find a list of suitable therapists on the NSPC website or contact the Course Co-Ordinator who will be able to advise you of other options.

Finances

How much do the courses cost each term?

How do I pay my course fees?
You can pay your fees by whatever means you prefer. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, credit or debit card, you will need to contact the bursar on 0207 928 1372.

What happens if I don’t pay my course fees?
If you do not pay the fees by the requested date, you will not be allowed to attend classes.

Library and Resources

I want to use the library at the New School – how do I get a ticket?
Once you have paid your fees in full, you will be issued a student card by the Course Co-ordinator. This card will give you access to the campus library.

When is the library open to me?
The following hours apply during Schiller International University semesters. When you come to the Library bring your NSPC ID card and you can be entered in system as a reader and assigned a user code number. You will then be allowed to borrow six books at a time for two weeks at a time. You can renew at the end of the two weeks (providing no-one else needs the book concerned). You can renew by coming into the Library, by calling 0207 928 1372 and asking for the library. If you bring back books late without having renewed them there is a fine of 25p a day per book.

What kinds of resources are in the New School library?
The resources available in the library include:

• Many books about Philosophy (especially Existentialism); work, life and theories of the founding fathers of Psychotherapy; Psychology in general; Psychology of different classes of people: children, women, the elderly, etc; some aspects of Social Sciences; Psychopathology; aspects of Psychotherapy.
• Some journals including a very good coverage of "Existential Analysis" (under its present and former title).

Are there computers at the New School that I can work on?
There are computers available on campus. You will need to complete the relevant form available on the website in order to gain access to them.

Can I get access to online resources through the New School library? How do I go about this?
We subscribe to the online resource LIRN (Library and Information Resources Network), which offers some coverage of Psychology. You should ask the Course Co-ordinator for the relevant form and logon details will be arranged.

I need to get more journal articles and books than there are in the New School. What other resources are available online and in London which might be useful to me?
As DProf and DPsych students, you will have access to the Middlesex online library as well as the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).

Intensive Block Student Specific Questions

I’d like to see an administrator face to face whilst I’m on my block. When is that possible?
The Course Co-ordinator will be available for the duration of your course.

Can I access the library whilst I’m at the New School?
Once you have paid your fees in full, you will need to get a student card from the Course Co-ordinator. This card will give you access to the campus library.

Are the assessment deadlines different for Intensive Block students? How long after the course is the deadline for my assessment?
The assessment deadlines are the same for Intensive students as for weekly students.
The hand-in date for all theoretical essays is always the end of the term following the term in which you took the module. For example, if you did Psychoanalytic Theory in the Autumn term, the essay will be due the end of the Winter term.
The hand-in date for personal development essays is always the beginning of the term following the term in which you took the module. For example, if you did Psychoanalytic Practice in the Autumn term, the essay will be due the beginning of the Winter term.

It’s a bit isolating being an intensive block student. Is there any way of staying in touch with other students and staff between my blocks?
Intensive students often exchange email addresses with each other as well as the tutor at the end of their course in order to stay in touch.
You can also send an email any queries to the Course Co-ordinator, who can forward them to you tutor and/or peers.