Queensland University of Technology
Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
Gain the knowledge, skills and required qualifications to become Guidance Officers or Guidance Counsellors in schools from Prep to Year 12.
Course overview
The Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling) is designed for someone who needs to work full-time and study part-time. The course considers a working teacher's schedule and plans around that. For example, lectures happen after school hours rather than in the middle of the day, which I've really appreciated to help me balance work and study.
Highlights
- Ideal for current teachers seeking a qualification in school guidance and counselling.
- Leads to employment in a school setting from Prep to Year 12.
- Equips graduates to lead a school's comprehensive student support and well-being agenda.
This course introduces core counselling techniques and communication skills for effective helping strategies in various professions. It aims to enhance self-awareness and awareness of others’ needs, enabling clients to problem-solve and achieve their goals. Additionally, you will learn psychoeducational assessment techniques used by Guidance Officers and School Counsellors, including observation, interviewing and formal testing for learners with difficulties.
You will also explore lifelong learning within career contexts, developing skills to lead career development programs. You will learn through theoretical career programs that will prepare you to create innovative, flexible programs. Further, throughout this course, you will get an introduction to social research and how to use findings within professional settings. You will learn about major counselling theories applicable in schools, helping to develop a model based on these theories for future practice and preparing you for professional experience in school guidance and counselling across various educational settings.
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
July, 2026
What you will study
To graduate with a Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling), students must complete 144 credit points. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth 12 credit points.
- Foundations of Educational Counselling
- Psychoeducational Assessment
- Leading Career Development
- Understanding Research for Professionals
- Advanced Educational Counselling
- Educational Guidance and Counselling: Professional Practice
- School Guidance and Counselling Practicum
Entry requirements
You must have the following:
- A recognised bachelor's degree (or higher qualification) in teaching or education.
- Current Australian teacher registration.
Advanced standing
You will be automatically granted 36 credit points of general advanced standing towards the option units if you have one of the following recognised pathways and provide the required documentation as outlined in the online application:
- Bachelor's honours degree in teaching or education; or
- Bachelor's degree in any discipline plus a graduate certificate in teaching or education; or
- Graduate diploma (or higher qualification) in teaching or education; or
- Bachelor's degree in teaching or education, followed by at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in teaching or education.
Your offer letter will confirm this. Please note that you can apply for this advanced standing after accepting your offer if you do not provide the required documentation.
Please note that this advanced standing will not reduce the duration of your studies.
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
Guidance Officers or Guidance Counsellors provide specialised services to school communities. They lead and implement a comprehensive student support and wellbeing agenda within schools by working with students, school personnel, families, child/adolescent support specialists and organisations. Their work can include:
- Counselling for educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family and mental health and wellbeing issues.
- Psychoeducational assessment.
- Leading verification and education adjustment processes to support students with identified impairments.
- Career development and advice for students.
- Student case management.
- Leadership and support in responding to complex and challenging circumstances, including student protection matters, critical incidents, mental health issues and suicide prevention and postvention support.
Professional recognition
The Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling) is approved by the Australian Counselling Association and graduates are eligible to join the Association.
Education Queensland, Catholic Education and Independent Schools also recognise the study area as a qualification for guidance officers in Queensland schools. Please consult other states’ registering authorities if you seek employment outside Queensland.
Fees and CSP
Indicative 2026 fee: $4,700 per year full-time for 96 credit points (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. QUT reviews fees annually. They may be subject to increases.
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
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'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending 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.
