Course overview

The Master of Counselling at Monash is a professional qualification that combines theory and professional experience. It provides you with the knowledge and skills to begin a rewarding career as a counsellor.

The course is suitable for people from various professions, such as human resources, health, social welfare and education. It is taught by leading academics with extensive experience as counsellors and psychologists.

You will engage with highly qualified and dedicated teaching staff who will use their extensive experience working as professional counsellors or psychologists to illustrate theoretical material and who will help you apply this to real-world counselling practice in various settings.

You will develop expert knowledge about counselling practice with individuals, couples, families and groups. You will also acquire skills and expertise in contemporary evidence-based counselling approaches to conduct assessments and interventions with diverse populations.

Through 200 hours of professional experience, you will also master a range of professional skills and develop your own counselling style. This includes 100 'contact' hours (e.g., face-to-face, couple, family and group counselling) and 100 'non-contact' hours (e.g., observation, case notes, meetings, administration).

The Counselling Placement Team sources many placements and communicates these opportunities to students. Please note that most placement providers require you to submit an application and/or attend an interview to secure the placement. If you are located interstate, overseas or rurally, you will be required to source your own placements under the guidance of the Counselling Placement Team.

Graduates work in various fields, including careers counselling, education, child and family services, health policy, family counselling, health services management and rehabilitation counselling.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Study level

Postgraduate

Course type

Master's

Duration

12 months (Full time)

Units

Fees

FEE-HELP

Price per unit

From $4,225

What you will study

The course is structured in three parts. Part A. Orientation to counselling, Part B. Expert studies in counselling practice and Part C. Specialist counselling studies.

Part A. Orientation to counselling

Lifespan Development and Counselling
Counselling for Change and Transition
Introduction to Ethics and Professional Issues in Counselling
Foundations in Counselling: Evidence-Based Practice

Part B. Expert studies in counselling practice

Part C. Specialist counselling studies

Entry requirements

Entry level 1: 96 points to complete

Duration: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time

An Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average.

Entry level 2: 72 points to complete

Duration: 1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time

An Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average and a minimum of two years of full-time equivalent relevant professional experience.
An Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline, including social work, psychology or counselling, with at least a high credit (65%) average
A four-year Australian bachelor's honours degree or an Australian graduate certificate or an Australian graduate diploma (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average.
An Australian master's degree (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average.

Entry level 3: 48 points to complete

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

An Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline, including social work, psychology or counselling, with at least a high credit (65%) average and a minimum of two years of full-time equivalent relevant professional experience.
A four-year Australian bachelor's honours degree or an Australian graduate certificate or an Australian graduate diploma (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average and a minimum of two years of full-time equivalent relevant professional experience.
A four-year Australian bachelor's honours degree or an Australian graduate certificate or an Australian graduate diploma (or equivalent) in a related discipline, including social work, psychology or counselling, with at least a high credit (65%) average.
An Australian master's degree (or equivalent) with at least a high credit (65%) average and a minimum of two years of full-time equivalent relevant professional experience.
An Australian master's degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline, including social work, psychology or counselling, with at least a high credit (65%) average.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Apply counselling skills and practices relevant to the lifespan and to life stages.
Analyse relevant counselling theories, principles and strategies to assist individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures that facilitate positive change and mental well-being.
Navigate complex ethical issues and facilitate effective counselling based on sound ethical decision-making that is supported by intentional self-reflection.
Evaluate theoretical and research literature as it pertains to counselling practice.
Synthesise and communicate ideas at an advanced academic level.
Formulate and apply comprehensive assessments and individualised interventions informed by contemporary counselling theories and frameworks.
Evaluate theory and expert insights to develop a preferred counsellor identity through supervised practice.
Apply principles of evidence-based practice in supporting individuals, couples, families and groups with various mental health issues, experiences and presentations.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Average 2025 first-year fee: $33,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 24 credit points (normally four units) per semester or 48 credit points (normally eight units) per year.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with: