Graduate Certificate of Counselling

What you will study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate of Counselling, students must complete 50 credit points, comprising four core units. Each unit is worth 12.5 credit points.

Core units

• Foundations of Counselling
• Ethics and Cultural Diversity for Counsellors
• Lifespan Development and Systemic Thinking
• Advanced Counselling

Entry requirements

Completion of an approved undergraduate or postgraduate degree or approved equivalent. While no specific area of study is required as a prerequisite, it would be advantageous for students to have experience in human services, couples counselling or forensic settings.

Selection is based on an interview and the applicant’s suitability for the program as determined by academic and work experience, referee reports and the stated reasons for wishing to undertake the program. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success. The University may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Other requirements

Working with Children Check

All students studying this course in Australia will be required to submit a current Working with Children Check and Police Check. 

NDIS Worker Screening Check

Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.

English language requirement

All Swinburne students must be able to meet out our English language requirements. You’ll be able to provide evidence of your English language skill if you have:

• completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or another type of secondary qualification taught in English
• completed some types of university or vocational education studies (tertiary studies) taught in English
• completed an English language test, such as TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson or C1
• completed an English language (ELICOS) course
• lived and worked in an English-speaking country for at least four years (domestic applicants only)

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have gained extensive and relevant knowledge through formal training or acquired relevant skills through work or through life experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL).

Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• Exercise independent judgement relevant to counselling theory and practice in the field of human services counselling, couple counselling and forensic counselling.
• Initiate, plan, implement and evaluate basic counselling interventions with a range of client groups and presentations across the lifespan.
• Apply basic and more advanced skills to work therapeutically with a range of clients in human services and couple counselling contexts using counselling methods and techniques that are drawn from different evidence-based approaches, all of which emphasise the important role of assessment, empathy, the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision making and professional supervision
• Reflect on and take responsibility for, their own learning and self-management processes in relation to counselling work with clients that promotes self-reflection and the development as a professional counsellor in a human services, couple counselling or forensic context.

Career outcomes

Potential career opportunities include:

• Private practice counselling
• Mental health counselling
• Youth counselling
• Pastoral care
• Grief counselling

Fees and FEE-HELP

Estimated yearly and total fee in 2026: $18,110 (domestic full-fee paying place)

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change based on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. These fees apply to units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

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.