We look forward to welcoming you to Plymouth Marjon University for your interview, and hope that you will gain much from the experience. Our aim is to provide you with an interview experience that gives you an insight into what both courses will entail, whilst also offering you the opportunity to ask questions, and for us to find out more about you, your ambitions, and expectations.
Both the MPsy Psychotherapy and Counselling and the BSc Counselling for the Helping Professions are highly professional degrees that will advance your academic understanding, whilst also developing your self-awareness, personal development, and interpersonal skills.
The interview is important for both you and for us. It is important that we see if you are well suited to the demands of the course you have applied for, gauging your readiness to undertake a course of this nature. Equally, it is important that you find out if this is the course for you, and to check if it will meet your expectations.
What to Expect on the Day:
During the day, there will be several opportunities to learn more about Plymouth Marjon University and the course you have applied for, from both the lecturing team and current students. The interview itself will include a 50-minute interactive group task and a 25-minute individual interview.
Welcome Talk (approx. 20-30mins)
After registering, the day begins with an informal information session in which one of the lecturing team will provide further details of our psychotherapy and counselling degrees, the aims, structure, and delivery. This will also be an opportunity to settle in and meet the other candidates (max. 12) for the day.
The Group Interview (approx. 50-60mins)
Candidates will then be put into small groups and given a short task to complete together. After completing the task, we will invite each group to briefly present back to the wider group, and invite others to ask questions, share feedback or suggestions. Lecturers will be observing the groups to assess candidates interpersonal, communication and relational skills.
Break / Q&A with Current Students (approx. 20-30mins)
After the group interview, some of our current students will join candidates for a short break, whilst lecturers leave the room. This gives you the opportunity hear more about life as a Marjon student.
The Individual Interview (approx. 25 mins)
Each candidate will be interviewed individually, held on a one-to-one basis with a member of the lecturing team, to assess your suitability for the course. You will be asked a range of questions about your:
Whilst not being interviewed, you are welcome to wait in the main room with other candidates.
(Optional) Q&A with Lecturing Team (approx. 30mins)
After the individual interviews have finished, candidates are welcome to depart, explore the campus, or join an informal Q&A with members of the lecturing team.
Criteria for Assessment
Both courses are committed to high standards of practice, underpinned by the ethical principles, values, and qualities outlined by the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
We will be assessing candidates, not only for your skills and competence, but also how your own personal values and behaviours align with that of the counselling and psychotherapy helping professions.
As lecturers, we have an ethical responsibility to ensure that you have the psychological capacity and aptitude to train for practice within the counselling and psychotherapy helping professions.
Whilst there is no specific preparation you need to undertake for the interview; you may wish to access the following web resources:
Ultimately, we want candidates to “be themselves”. There are no trick questions designed to catch you out.
Interview Day Schedule
Interviews are predominantly held in-person at the Plymouth Marjon University campus. However, we may occasionally hold interviews online via Microsoft Teams, using the same structure.
If your interview is held online, and you have not Microsoft Teams before, please download the free software here (https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software) and take some time to familiarise yourself with it.
In-Person Interview Schedule
|
Time |
Candidates |
Guests |
|
09:00 – 09:25 |
Candidates (and guests) Arrive / Register at Reception |
|
|
09:30 – 09:55 |
Welcome Talk by a Member of the Lecturing Team |
|
|
10:00 – 10:55 |
Group Interview |
Free Time/Explore Campus |
|
11:00 – 11:25 |
Break / Q&A with Current Students |
|
|
11:30 – 13:30 |
Individual Interviews (approx. 25min each) |
Free Time/Explore Campus |
|
(Candidates are welcome to wait in the Main Room when not being interviewed) |
||
|
13:45 – 14:15 |
(Optional) Q&A Session with Lecturing Team |
|
|
14:15 |
Candidates (and guests) depart |
|
Please see your interview invitation letter for further information about any documents you need to send to us. If you are unable to make your interview date, or if you have any queries, please email interviews@marjon.ac.uk
After the Interview
If you are successful in securing a place on our MPsy or BSc programmes, you will be notified via UCAS and required to obtain the Disclosure and Barring Service record (DBS). If you accept an offer with us, we will be in touch regarding your DBS check.
Unsuccessful candidates will be made an alternative offer, where suitable.
