Queensland University of Technology - TEQSA Provider ID PRV12079 Australian University | CRICOS No. 00213J
Master of Counselling
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Adopt capacity-focused and culturally sensitive therapeutic practices to enhance your expertise in collaborative counselling, supervision and group work.
Course overview
This course is ideal for those who recognise the value of developing advanced knowledge and skills in counselling and effective professional supervision. It takes an applied, transformational and experiential approach to learning, with a focus on solution-focused and narrative therapies, family therapy, group work and supervision. You will gain practical experience in QUT’s Psychology and Counselling Clinic and engage in externships with partner organisations in real-world industry settings. The course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association.
This course offers the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in counselling. Course learning can be applied to a number of professional settings. Students in this program come from diverse professional backgrounds, including nursing, education, community arts, justice, human services and other allied health backgrounds.
During this program, you will learn a range of approaches and techniques underpinned by a collaborative constructionist philosophy that can be applied in partnership with individuals, couples, families and groups. Throughout the course, participants will articulate and reflect upon their evolving framework of counselling practice and apply counselling processes intentionally to support the well-being of clients in diverse contexts.
This is a practice-based program that includes supervised clinical practice in both the Psychology and Counselling Clinic and industry contexts.
Flexible delivery
This course is available full-time over two years or part-time over three to four years, offering flexibility to suit your lifestyle and commitments. It combines the convenience of online learning with the richness of in-person experiences. You’ll attend up to two intensive, in-person sessions each year (for full-time students), complemented by regular online evening classes.
This blended approach allows you to study from a distance while benefiting from essential face-to-face training. These in-person intensives are designed to support the development of core counselling skills and foster a strong, connected learning community.
Key facts
What you will study
To graduate with a Master of Counselling, students must complete 144 credit points (12 units). Each unit is worth 12 credit points.
Core units
- Ethics and Reflective Practice
- Collaborative Practice 1 - Solution-Focused Therapy
- Approaches to Systemic and Family Therapy
- Group Studies
- Counselling in the Sociocultural Context
- Collaborative Practice 2 - Narrative Therapy
- Collaborative Practice 3 - Advanced skills
- Research for Counselling Practice
- Practicum and Research Project 1
- Approaches to Clinical Supervision
- Practicum and Research Project 2
- Practicum and Research Project 3
Entry requirements
You must have one of the following:
- A recognised bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum grade point average (GPA) score of 4.00 (on QUT's 7-point scale).
- A recognised bachelor's honours, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's or doctorate degree in any discipline area with a minimum grade point average (GPA) score of 4.00 (on QUT's 7-point scale).
- A recognised bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum grade point average (GPA) score of 4.00 (on QUT's 7-point scale) followed by at least three years of full-time (or equivalent) work in a relevant field.
- Behavioural science, psychology
- Biomedicine, biomedical, medical science
- Counselling
- Education
- Human services
- Human resources management
- Health (eg nursing, medicine, public health, etc.)
- Leisure management
- Social science, sociology
- Social, youth, etc, work
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to have your past studies or work experience count as credit towards your QUT course. QUT call this ‘advanced standing’. That means you might not have to complete all the units in your course structure. You may be able to graduate sooner. Exemptions are assessed individually. Talk to QUT's Course Consultant for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Counselling are prepared for specialised positions in the counselling field. They are also equipped to contribute to developing and practising counselling professionally.
Possible careers:
- Child and Family Counsellor
- Counselor
- Health Researcher
- Human Services Practitioner
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative per year full-time fee in 2026: $20,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 72 credit points (six units) per year.
Student fees 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.
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 with the cost of a university course.
