School of Health in Social Science
MASTER OF COUNSELLING (INTERPERSONAL DIALOGUE)
FIRST STAGE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
This first stage application pack should be read in conjunction with the Programme
Information Booklet for the Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) and the
Counselling and Psychotherapy Statement of Core Orientation, available on our
website: www.health.ed.ac.uk/counsellingstudies
Your application should contain two typed copies (if returned by post), or one
typed copy (if returned by email) of each of the following:


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A completed application form.
A personal statement.
Three references, which should be typed on headed paper and signed by the
sender.
All documents should be submitted together, with your name clearly marked on
each page. Early application is advised, as spaces are limited and will be offered on
a first-come, first-served basis. If you are posting your application form, please send
an email confirming that you have sent this, to: craig.hutchison@ed.ac.uk, so we
know to expect your application.
Instructions for Application Form
Please complete each section of the enclosed Application Form.
Instructions for Personal Statement
Please write a personal statement addressing each of the themes and questions on
the enclosed sheet Guidelines for the Personal Statement. Your personal
statement should be attached to your application form. Please ensure you respond
to all the stated criteria as failure to do so may lead to a rejection for the programme
or a substantial delay in processing your application.
Instructions for References
Please supply three references. A sheet entitled Details for Referees is enclosed.
A copy of this should be given to each of your referees; one of whom should know
you well personally, and the other two should be familiar with your professional or
voluntary work.
Instructions for Submission
Your three references and your Personal Statement must be enclosed with your
application form. An interview date will be offered to applicants who have completed
all the required elements of the written Stage 1 application and have adequately
evidenced their suitability for training. Interviews will be conducted by telephone or
webcam by two tutors. If the applicant is successful at this stage a full (Stage 2)
University Application for Postgraduate Study should then be completed.
Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. No closing
date has yet been set for applications. Incomplete applications will result in
interview arrangements being delayed or postponed.
Applications which arrive with insufficient time to be processed prior to
Programme start may not be considered for the September 2010 entry of the
Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue). In these circumstances,
applicants will be asked to apply again for the next delivery of the Programme,
which is likely to be in September 2012.
Applications should be returned to:
Craig Hutchison
Counselling and Psychotherapy
School of Health in Social Science
The University of Edinburgh
Doorway 6
Medical School
Teviot Place
Edinburgh EH8 9AG
craig.hutchison@ed.ac.uk (if by email)
Further information about Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of
Edinburgh may be obtained at: www.health.ed.ac.uk/counsellingstudies/
School of Health in Social Science
MASTER OF COUNSELLING (INTERPERSONAL DIALOGUE)
APPLICATION FORM
Confidential
1. PERSONAL DETAILS
Name:
Address:
Telephone Nos:
(home)
(work)
(mobile)
Email:
2. PRESENT OCCUPATION
Please give details of your present occupation/work/voluntary work.
3. REFERENCES
Please state the names and addresses of your referees and the capacity in which
they know you.
Referee 1
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Capacity in which referee knows applicant:
Referee 2
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Capacity in which referee knows applicant:
Referee 3
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Capacity in which referee knows applicant:
4. DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Students on the Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) undertake one or
more practice placements as a trainee counsellor. In order to ensure that students
are suitable to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, they are
required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Clearance. As an applicant
for this programme, you need to be aware that if you are or have been subject to
criminal or disciplinary proceedings which have a bearing on your suitability to work
with children, young people or vulnerable adults, you may be disqualified from
undertaking the practice placement and therefore the programme. This process
applies to all students, irrespective of their country of origin, and will be explained to
you if your application is successful.
More information about Disclosure Scotland is available via the web link:
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/ or from: Disclosure Scotland, PO Box 250,
Glasgow, G51 1YU. Tel: 0870 609 6006, email: info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
5. Signature
I wish to apply for entry to the Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) at the
University of Edinburgh. I verify that the information given on this form and in the
rest of my submission for this application is true and complete.
Signed:
Date:
School of Health in Social Science
MASTER OF COUNSELLING (INTERPERSONAL DIALOGUE)
GUIDELINES FOR THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
Below are a list of themes and questions relating to your application. Please
write about yourself in relation to each one.
1
The following criteria will be used in selecting applicants for entry to the
Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue). Please respond to each of
these with regard to yourself:
 self awareness, maturity and stability
 ability to make use of and reflect on life experience
 capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the training
 ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements
 ability to form and sustain helping relationships
 ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative
feedback
 awareness of difference, diversity and equality
 Capacity for psychological thinking and engagement
 Understanding of the principles and practices of counselling
2
Please comment on your past and present opportunities for:
 practising as a counsellor
 practising in a helping relationship
3
Please give details of any plans, thoughts, or opportunities you may have for
counselling practice in the future.
4
Please reflect upon how you see yourself as a practitioner, either in
counselling or in another helping relationship. You may wish to refer to
qualities and competencies as well as limitations and difficulties
5
Please say something about where you are in your life now, and the reasons
for wanting to embark on this programme at this time
6
Please read the enclosed statement of the core orientation of this
programme. Please write your response to the core orientation, and give
some account of your own present perspective
7
The demands of a full-time training in counselling can be considerable: in
addition to the time commitment, we expect that this will be an intensive
emotional experience for participants requiring considerable self-reflection.
Please give your thoughts on the commitments involved (e.g. capacity for
personal reflection) and how these might interact with other aspects of your
life
8
Is there anything else you want us to know about yourself?
School of Health in Social Science
MASTER OF COUNSELLING (INTERPERSONAL DIALOGUE)
DETAILS FOR REFEREES
The applicant for entry to the Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) at the
University of Edinburgh has asked you to supply a confidential reference supporting
her/his application.
We would be grateful if you could give us your assessment of the following areas:
1
the applicant’s previous counselling or other relevant helping experience
2
the applicant’s ability to cope with the emotional pressure of a personally
demanding training in counselling
3
the applicant’s ability to cope with the academic aspects of a postgraduate
Masters level programme
4
the applicant’s readiness at this time in her/his life to undertake a programme
of this nature
5
the applicant’s reasons and motivation for coming on this particular
programme
6
below is the list of other criteria we use to help us select participants for this
programme. Please comment on these in relation to your knowledge of the
applicant:
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




self awareness, maturity and stability
ability to make use of and reflect on life experience
capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the training
ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements
ability to form and sustain helping relationships
ability to be self critical and use positive and negative feedback
awareness of issues of difference, diversity and equality
capacity for psychological thinking and engagement
understanding of the principles and practices of counselling
Your reference should be given directly to the applicant who is required to submit
it along with her/his completed application form. Please do not return your
reference separately to the University of Edinburgh.
Further information about Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of
Edinburgh may be obtained at: www.health.ed.ac.uk/counsellingstudies/