Murdoch University
Graduate Certificate in Counselling
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Engage in experiential education, emphasising the importance of counselling relationships in effective practice.
Course overview
Counsellors help people through difficult times, often when they are most vulnerable. If you are looking to begin your journey to become a professional counsellor or need to develop counselling skills for your current role as a teacher, nurse or human services professional, this course will develop your professional competence and personal readiness for a career in counselling.
After graduating from this course, you may apply for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Counselling, the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies or the Master of Counselling. You will be exempt from the completed units standard for both degrees.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $2,174 (CSP)
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Counselling, you are required to fulfil 12 credit points.
Core unit
- Principles of Counselling 1
Specified Electives
- Counselling Adults
- Case Conceptualisation and Assessment in Counselling
- Experiential Learning in Group Counselling
- Counselling Children and Adolescents
Entry requirements
- Completion of a bachelor's degree (AQF Level 7) or equivalent in any discipline. Applications based on previous study or professional experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
English Requirements
You must meet a minimum standard in English to study at Murdoch, which, for most courses, can be demonstrated by providing evidence that you have completed Year 11 and 12 in Australia at any level if you are a domestic student or through either English proficiency tests, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study or vocational education.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Coached Practice in Small Groups
- Case Studies, Role Plays and Guest Lecturers
- Counselling Adults
- Counselling Children and Adolescents
- Experiential Learning in Group Counselling
Career outcomes
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling introduces you to counselling, enabling you to add counselling skills to existing professional roles in health, education, social services or business.
Fees and CSP
Indicative 2026 full course fee: $8,696 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Indicative 2026 full course fee: $12,360 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates based on a full-time study load of 12 credit points.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- 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.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per courses you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
