University of Adelaide
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (Clinical Practice)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
A blend of rigorous academic theory with immersive clinical training equips students to become compassionate and evidence-informed mental health professionals.
Course overview
Counsellors work holistically to facilitate change in clients’ emotional, mental and relational difficulties. Counselling is a rewarding career choice for students who want to pursue personal growth and collaboratively transform the lives of others.
What will you do?
The University of Adelaide's Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy supports the development of ethically aware, research-informed and clinically effective counsellors. You will:
- Learn from academics with extensive professional counselling experience.
- Build hands-on skills through experiential learning, including using actors to simulate realistic counselling sessions.
- Collaborate with peers and develop social skills through extensive face-to-face teaching.
- Benefit from case-based learning.
- Gain a core understanding of counselling theories, grief, attachment theory, trauma and ethical practice.
- Develop skills in various therapies, including CBT, Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy and Expressive Therapies.
Where could it take you?
Graduates obtain employment across a wide range of mental health and community services. You could support young people in your community through counselling and programs in schools or youth work. Perhaps you’ll be a relationship or return-to-work counsellor. You may be employed in AOD counselling, a hospital setting or aged care.
The university's clinical pathway and trauma specialisation graduates can register as provisional members with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia or as level 2 members with the Australian Counselling Association. After further clinical experience, graduates are eligible to apply for full registration.
Key facts
What you will study
The first year of the program follows the structure of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
To qualify for the second year, students must have met the requirements for the Graduate Diploma (which requires satisfactory completion of a program of study consisting of seven core courses to the value of 21 units and closed electives to the value of three units).
The Clinical Practice pathway comprises:
- Core courses to the value of 39 units.
- Elective courses to the value of nine units.
Unless otherwise indicated, each course is valued at three units.
Complete the following core courses
- Attachment Processes in the Therapeutic Relationship
- Counselling Skills 1
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories
- Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Ethics in the Workplace
- Counselling Skills 2
- Nature of Grief
- Counselling Placement 1A (0 units)
- Narrative Approaches to Counselling
- Trauma Informed Practice
- Counselling Placement 1B (6 units)
- Overview of Mental Health
Entry requirements
Higher Education Study
A completed bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Entry to this program is competitive and quotas apply. All applicants must:
- Provide a copy of their finalised official results in the form of an official transcript or finalised results that can be officially verified by the University of Adelaide or results showing they are in their final semester of study.
- Provide Casper Situational Judgement Test (CSJT) results by the relevant date for the round they are applying.
- Attend an interview (if invited).
The Counselling & Psychotherapy Admissions Guide details important information regarding the entry requirements for the University of Adelaide. All applicants are advised to read the Guide. Failure to do so will not warrant special consideration.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have completed your studies at another institution, you can apply for credit towards your University of Adelaide program. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy are prepared for various roles in various areas, including youth work, relationship counselling, group therapy, school counselling, return-to-work counselling and private practice.
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
- Mental Health Worker
- Counsellor
- Psychotherapist
- Therapist
- Community Services Officer
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual tuition fee in 2025: $34,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative annual tuition fee is based on a study load of 24 units.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
