Master of Counselling | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Master of Counselling

Your pathway to becoming a registered counsellor.

Our fully accredited Master of Counselling Program is a holistic integrated approach to counselling training that will lead you to the acquisition of skills, theoretical knowledge and clinical experience through both classroom activities, blended learning and internship placements.

CRICOS code
079913F
Commence
Semester 1
Program length (full-time)
2 years (4 Semesters)
Semester tuition fee 2015
A$9,700
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$38,800
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
UniSC program code
AR708
Commence
Semester 1
Duration
2 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
on campus
Fee type 2015
  • Commonwealth supported places
  • Postgraduate coursework places
Total courses
16

Our fully accredited Master of Counselling Program is a holistic integrated approach to counselling training that will lead you to the acquisition of skills, theoretical knowledge and clinical experience through both classroom activities, blended learning and internship placements.

The program specialises in advanced counselling skills and theories, counselling and mental health, counselling and addictions, counselling children and young people, mindfulness based interventions, expressive therapies and solution focussed brief therapy. You will learn the art of assessment and case conceptualization and build a strong ethical framework for practice.

Supervised internships of 250 hours each semester of your final year, take place in a variety of counselling settings. This practical training prepares you for a rewarding professional career as a mental health practitioner in counselling and psychotherapy, and eligibility to join the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) member associations, and listing on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).

Career opportunities

The Master of Counselling opens new possibilities for you to work as a counsellor, including private practice, education, health and human service settings. It will interest you if you want a career change or to fine-tune your existing qualifications by adding a vocational emphasis. If you are already an experienced counsellor, this gives you an academic qualification to formalise years of work and opens pathways to further research.

Admission requirements

A student entering the Master of Counselling will normally be required to hold an approved 3-year degree in Counselling (AQF Level 7) or a Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) in other cognate areas as approved by the University.

Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Head of School, Social Sciences.

Applicants are required to complete an additional personal statement and attend an interview (refer to application form). Interviews for International students on a Student visa will be conducted by Skype.

Applicants must hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), which is issued by the Public Safety Business Agency, prior to commencement. Please see the Blue Card link for further details.

The Master of Counselling offers a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) as well as domestic fee paying places. Offers for both CSP and fee paying places will be made after the application due date for the program. Offers for both CSP and fee paying places will be made after the application due date for the program.

CSP will be allocated on the basis of your Grade Point Average in the degree used to meet admission requirements. Applicants falling below the demand-driven cut-off for a CSP may be offered a domestic fee paying place (with the option to access FEE-HELP) subject to capacity limitations. USC reserves the right to offer a small number of CSP to students from ATSIC or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent visa holders enrolled in a fee paying place will have the option of applying for a CSP in subsequent semesters if one becomes available. In these cases, the student’s current GPA in the Master of Counselling will be used to assess eligibility for a CSP place using the same entry cut-off applied for new CPS entrants during that admission period.

Requirements for placements

You must hold a current Blue Card before starting your first supervised counselling experience. Many agencies also require a Police check in addition to the Blue Card.

Professional recognition

Graduates will be eligible to apply for membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), Associations accredited by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Queensland Counsellor Association.

Accreditation

ACA-Inc-Logo-web.jpg

This program is fully accredited with the Australian Counselling Association and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

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Program structure

Required courses (16)

CMN574 Managing the Small Business
COU700 News and Reporting
COU701 Digital Journalism
COU702 Podcasting and Radio News
COU703 Media Law and Ethics
COU704 Feature Writing
COU705 Video production and television journalism
COU706 Investigative and Data Journalism
COU707 Newsroom
COU708 News and Reporting
COU709 Digital Journalism
COU750 Feature Writing
COU751 Investigative and Data Journalism
COU752 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
COU754 Counselling Interventions: Expressive Therapies
COU781 Advanced Counselling Skills and Theories 1

 

Recommended study sequences

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements
  • Prior to entry into the program applicants will be required to submit their current Suitability Card (Blue Card
  • Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
  • Refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
  • Complete 16 required courses
Requirements for field education

To complete this program you must complete 50 hours of supervision relating to a minimum of 200 hours of client contact for which you are required to obtain a Blue Card (issued by the Public Safety Business Agency).

In the event that you become ineligible for a Blue Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the program, you will not be able to complete the program.

Please note, while all endeavours will be made to place students in a given semester, this is not guaranteed and students may need to enrol at a later time should a position in an agency be unavailable in the preferred semester.

Field education includes professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake these placements away from the campus at their own expense.