University of Canberra
Graduate Certificate in Counselling
- Delivery: Online
- Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/week
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 8 months
Build foundational counselling knowledge and practical communication skills across counselling theory, ethical practice and inclusive approaches, with a pathway to further postgraduate counselling study.
Course overview
The University of Canberra’s Graduate Certificate in Counselling introduces the foundational knowledge and skills used in counselling and related human service settings. You will examine major counselling and psychotherapy approaches, consider how counselling theories are applied in practice and develop an understanding of the helping relationship and its role in supporting people across a range of contexts.
Throughout the course, you will develop core counselling and interpersonal communication skills, including reflective practice and approaches informed by established counselling frameworks. You will also examine ethical and professional conduct, including ethical decision-making, professional boundaries, power and privilege and responsibilities relating to client safety.
The course also explores diversity, inclusion and respect in counselling practice. You will consider how culture, identity, gender, sexuality, disability, age and experiences of stigma or discrimination can influence counselling relationships. This study supports the development of respectful communication and an awareness of different social and cultural contexts.
The Graduate Certificate comprises 12 credit points across four compulsory units and is delivered online over eight months, with each unit studied in a seven-week study block. Successful completion provides a pathway into UC’s Graduate Diploma in Counselling or Master of Counselling. The Graduate Certificate itself does not have external professional accreditation and no RPL is offered for its units.
Key facts
15th March, 2027
10th May, 2027
5th July, 2027
30th August, 2027
25th October, 2027
What you will study
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling encompasses four units.
Core units
- Counselling Theory and Approaches
- Core Counselling Skills
- Principles of Ethical Conduct in Counselling
- Diversity Inclusion Respect
Entry requirements
Admission to this course is competitive. Applications are assessed based on academic merit and the number of available places.
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any discipline.
- Hold an AQF Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Counselling or a counselling-related discipline and provide evidence of four years of full-time counselling or counselling-related work experience.
Applicants must also meet the course’s non-standard English language requirements.
Additional admission requirements
Students must complete the four Graduate Certificate units before progressing to either the Graduate Diploma in Counselling (SCG401) or the Master of Counselling (SCM401).
Recognition of Prior Learning
No Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is offered for any units in this course.
English language requirements
Applicants must achieve an IELTS Academic overall score of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0, or an approved equivalent.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
The Graduate Certificate of Counselling is designed to introduce students to the essential knowledge and skills that will prepare them for a helping career or expand on their current understanding and practice to improve their skills for their current work situations. This course will equip students to:
- Provide face to face and online counselling
- Gain practical knowledge of how to apply person-centred approaches to counselling situations
- Work in a culturally responsive and respectful framework with clients and communities - develop reflective practices that lead to self-awareness
- Understand the major counselling theories and their change mechanisms
- React professionally and ethically to challenges in helping professions
- Identify the professional roles and responsibilities of a counsellor and pathways to further qualifications.
Career outcomes
Graduates develop foundational counselling skills that can be applied across a range of organisations, counselling teams and human service settings. Career pathways identified by UC include:
- Counsellor
- Youth worker
- Community support worker
- Case worker
- Family counsellor
- Development officer
- Other human service roles
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative cost per unit in 2027: $3,750 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Indicative total course cost in 2027: $15,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling comprises four units and is completed part-time over approximately eight months. Fees are indicative and may be reviewed annually by the University of Canberra.
Student fees may vary depending on the number of units studied and any changes to tuition fees.
You may also be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee.
Student fees are subject to change. Contact the University of Canberra directly to confirm current fees.
FEE-HELP may be available to eligible full-fee paying domestic students to assist with tuition fees.
