Best UK Universities for Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy 2027 — Complete University Guide Rankings

A refreshed 2027 table (published 2 June 2026) ranking 47 universities; we present the top 20. The subject groups counselling, psychotherapy, occupational therapy and health & social care. Cardiff University leads with 100 overall.

Top 20 — Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy

Rank	University	Overall	Entry	Satisfaction	Research	Grad Prospects
1	Cardiff University	100	86	81	87	96
2	University of East Anglia	97	82	82	84	98
3	University of Liverpool	97	84	81	87	96
4	University of Southampton	96	83	78	89	90
5	University of Plymouth	95	86	76	75	96
6	Ulster University	95	84	79	82	88
7	University of Sunderland	94	80	86	72	90
8	Glasgow Caledonian University	94	98	85	85	88
9	University of Bradford	93	82	78	75	88
10	Robert Gordon University	93	100	81	63	92
11	Oxford Brookes University	92	73	79	77	94
12	Northumbria University	92	74	82	83	82
13	University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)	92	74	79	78	94
14	University of Northampton	90	74	83	52	94
15	University of Salford	89	78	81	75	86
16	Queen Margaret University	89	82	77	58	94
17	Wrexham University	89	82	80	n/a	100
18	University of South Wales	88	79	86	69	80
19	University of Cumbria	88	71	80	65	88
20	University of Huddersfield	87	70	82	67	82

Analysis

This allied-health table is outcomes-driven: graduate-prospects scores cluster between 80 and 100 because occupational therapy and counselling lead to regulated, in-demand professions (OT is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council). Cardiff’s 100 overall rests on an unusually even profile — strong across entry (86), satisfaction (81), research (87) and prospects (96).

Scottish universities dominate entry standards — Robert Gordon (100) and Glasgow Caledonian (98) — while Wrexham records the table’s only perfect graduate-prospects score (100). The ranking is overwhelmingly post-92 and modern in character: only a handful of Russell Group names (Cardiff, Liverpool, Southampton) appear, and applied specialists such as Sunderland, Bradford, Robert Gordon and Oxford Brookes feature prominently.

The page also lists a long roster of HCPC-accredited OT providers, a useful signal for applicants who need a recognised professional qualification. For international students, the key message is that this is a vocational field where placement quality, accreditation and employability outweigh institutional prestige; entry standards are accessible (70–100). Research quality varies most widely (52–89), so research-minded postgraduate aspirants should look toward Cardiff, Liverpool, Southampton and Glasgow Caledonian.

Agent Scholarship Options

The following table highlights the top UK universities for Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy based on the Complete University Guide 2027 rankings, matched with their corresponding “Agent Scholarship” opportunities. Eligible international students can apply through these pathway links to secure exclusive corporate scholarships.

Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy Rank (2027)	University Name	Agent Scholarship Page Link
1	Cardiff University	Cardiff University Pathway Agent Scholarship
2	University of East Anglia	University of East Anglia Pathway Agent Scholarship
4	University of Southampton	ONCAMPUS Southampton Agent Scholarship
7	University of Sunderland	ONCAMPUS Sunderland Agent Scholarship
20	University of Huddersfield	University of Huddersfield London Agent Scholarship

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