Adelaide University
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Support clients through emotional, mental and relational difficulties.
Course overview
Help people navigate mental health challenges like anxiety, trauma or depression. Gain competence in trauma recovery, empowering survivors of abuse and interpersonal violence. Develop the skills to not only listen, but bring about transformation in line with client goals.
This degree supports you to become a clinically proficient counsellor with a strong foundation in ethical and evidence-based clinical competencies. You’ll explore contemporary theories and therapeutic approaches, learning to take a holistic approach to emotional, mental and relational challenges. You’ll build practical skills through hands-on experiential learning, including simulated scenarios with actors representing clients.
Develop cultural sensitivity to work safely and effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds. Strengthen your interpersonal and active listening skills, learning to build empathy and establish trust. Find out how to guide conversations and facilitate self-exploration. Across the degree, you’ll also gain unique insights into your own life and a deep understanding of your own personal growth.
Key features
- Learn from experienced professionals with extensive counselling experience.
- Tailor your degree with specialisations in Clinical Practice, Clinical Trauma Practice or Research.
- Build practical skills through hands-on experiences, including simulated scenarios with actors representing clients.
- Gain a deep understanding of how to work with couples, young people, grief, attachment issues, trauma and ethical dilemmas.
- Develop proficiency in diverse therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy and Expressive Therapies.
- Participate in supervised counselling sessions with real clients in the clinical and trauma specialisations.
Key facts
What you will study
Students must complete 96 units comprising:
- 42 units for all core courses
- 36 to 48 units for discipline courses
- Six to 18 units for electives
Unless otherwise indicated, each course is worth six units.
Complete 42 units for all of the following:
- Attachment Processes in the Therapeutic Relationship
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories
- Counselling Skills 2
- Nature of Grief
- Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications
- Counselling Skills 1
- Ethics in the Counselling Workplace
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
- A completed bachelor's (AQF level 7) degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution; AND
- Undertake the Casper Situational Judgement Test (CSJT); AND
- Attend an interview if invited.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Adelaide University is committed to recognising the contribution of students’ prior learning towards their program requirements.
Credit may be granted for formal, informal and non-formal learning, with guidance on eligibility provided to prospective students in a clear, transparent and publicly available credit framework.
Credit determinations will be:
- Evidence-based, equitable and transparent.
- Academically sound.
- Applied consistently, fairly and subject to review.
Credit will be granted for prior learning that is relevant and equivalent to the learning required for the courses for which credit is sought.
Credit will only be granted if it:
- Maintains the credibility and integrity of the program for which credit is sought.
- Does not contravene the conditions of the program’s professional accreditation.
- Does not disadvantage the student’s ability to achieve the expected course or program learning outcomes.
For more information, contact the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
As a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy graduate, you’ll be ready for a variety of fulfilling roles. You might work with young people in school settings, helping them cope with academic pressures or bullying. You could become a relationship counsellor, helping couples to overcome their challenges. Perhaps you'll counsel trauma survivors, or work directly with people experiencing grief and loss.
Other careers you might pursue include:
- Mental health worker
- Clinical counsellor
- Clinical psychotherapist
- AOD counsellor
- School wellbeing team member
- Community services officer
- Mental health advocate
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $35,700 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Fee-paying programs require the full tuition fees for your study, which can be deferred partly or in full to a FEE-HELP loan. Where the duration of the program is less than one year, the total cost of the program is displayed.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
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.
