Master of Counselling

What you will study

To qualify for the award, a candidate must pass units worth 72 credit points, including a minimum of 36 credit points at the 500-level.

Entry requirements

This course is offered under eight admission rules:

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A.

Rule B: You have completed the UNE Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling Major) from 2023 onwards.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B.

Rule C: You have completed the UNE Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice or the UNE Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule C.

Rule D: You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Counselling from 2015 to 2018.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule D.

Rule E: You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Counselling from 2019-2020.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule E.

Rule F: You have completed the UNE Graduate Diploma in Counselling from 2021 onwards.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule F.

Rule G: You have completed a Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8), Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8), Master's (AQF Level 9) or Doctorate qualification (AQF Level 10) (or overseas equivalents).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule G.

Rule H: You have completed a minimum of three years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant professional experience and training within the past ten years.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule H.

Recognition of prior learning

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Course Entry Advanced Standing

Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.

Rule B: You will be granted 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

Rule C: You will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

Rule D: You will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

• If you are completing the Counselling Placement pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you are completing the Generalist Counselling Pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

Rule E: You will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

• If you have previously completed the Generalist Counselling pathway and want to complete the Counselling Placement pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Generalist Counselling pathway and do not want to complete the Counselling Placement pathway or the Mental Health Practice pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Counselling Placement pathway and want to complete the Generalist Counselling pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Counselling Placement Pathway and do not want to complete the Generalist Counselling pathway or the Mental Health Practice pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Advanced Standing.

Rule F: You will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

• If you have previously completed the Generalist Counselling pathways and want to complete the Counselling Placement pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Generalist Counselling pathway and do not want to complete the Counselling Placement pathway or the Mental Health Practice pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Mental Health Practice pathway and want to complete the Counselling Placement pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you previously completed the Mental Health Practice pathway and do not wish to complete the Generalist Counselling Pathway or the Counselling Placement pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you previously completed the Counselling Placement pathway and want to complete the Generalist Counselling pathway, you will be granted a further 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
• If you have previously completed the Counselling Placement pathway and do not want to complete the Generalist Counselling pathway or the Mental Health Practice pathway, you will be granted a further 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing

If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your study within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing. Unless specified, you cannot apply for Advanced Standing for units that are part of the qualification you used for admission.

• Rules A, G and H: You can apply for up to 36 credit points of Advanced Standing.
• Rule B: You can apply for up to a further 24 credit points based on units which are not part of your Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling major).
• Rules C, D, E and F: You can apply for up to a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.

Please note: Unless you receive 48 credit points of Course Entry Advanced Standing, you will be limited to a total of 36 credit points of Advanced Standing.

Please note: Advanced Standing cannot be granted for the unit HLTH554A Capstone Project.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

The world of mental health and wellbeing in Australia is rapidly changing and the future growth of the sector is very strong. With UNE’s Master of Counselling, your advanced knowledge, adaptability, practical experience and research experience open a diverse range of opportunities in counselling, health care, education and human services.  

Accredited counselling professionals are in demand across many specialty fields in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including:

• Relationship and Family Counselling
• Child and Adolescent Counselling
• Trauma and Grief Counselling
• Mental Health Counselling
• Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
• Career and Student Counselling
• Health Education and Research

Fees and FEE-HELP

Average first year fee in 2025: $28,952 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 72 credit points (normally twelve units) per semester per year.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

• The number of units studied per semester.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Elective units.

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.

Fees and CSP

Estimated first-year and full fee in 2026: $9,504 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Estimated first-year and full fee in 2026: $28,320 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time: $373

The costs will depend on the units you choose to study, as the cost of individual units varies. “Estimated fees” are provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking a study load of 48 credit points in the first year of this course. For courses that require fewer than 48 credit points, the fees indicated are based on the total credit points needed for the completion of that course.

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.

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.

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.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.