Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma in Counselling
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Enhance your understanding of mental health practices and cultivate the professional skills necessary for a career in counselling with a Graduate Diploma in Counselling.
Course overview
Counsellors help people through difficult times, often when they are most vulnerable. Prepare for a career in counselling by building your personal and professional skills. With a focus on building counselling relationships with your clients, which is essential to effective practice, you’ll gain the skills you need to succeed in a rewarding career.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop professional skills for a career in counselling by critically appraising the counselling literature, learning foundation skills of applied counselling practice and creating a sound understanding of the core principles of counselling and case conceptualisation. Hear how these real-world learning principles have cemented Counselling student Jay's love for the practice.
After graduating from this course, you can apply to study the Master of Counselling and gain exemption from those units that are common to both degrees.
Key facts
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Diploma in Counselling, you must fulfil 24 credit points.
- Case Conceptualisation and Assessment in Counselling
- Introduction to Creative Arts Therapies in Counselling
- Counselling Children and Adolescents
- Experiential Learning in Group Counselling
- Principles of Counselling 1 (6 credit points)
- Counselling Adults
- Applied Health Research Methods: From Research to Practice
Entry requirements
Completing 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
To study at Murdoch, you must meet a minimum standard in English, 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 English proficiency tests, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study or vocational education.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Coached practice in small groups.
- Counselling adults.
- Counselling children and adolescents.
- Experiential learning in group counselling.
- Introduction to creative arts therapies.
Career outcomes
Graduates with corresponding undergraduate degrees may be employed in government and non-government counselling organisations working with adults, children, families and couples. Careers could include:
- Counsellor
- Psychotherapist
- Caseworker
- Support Worker
- Mental Health Professional
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated annual fee in 2025: $24,120 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The estimated fee displayed is based on a standard full-time study load. Fees may increase each year. For courses longer than one year in duration, you'll pay the current fee for the year that you enrol.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- 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.
