Western Sydney University
Graduate Diploma in Counselling
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Develop relationship-centred counselling knowledge and practical skills through experiential learning, supervised client work and an accredited program supporting professional membership and registration pathways in Australia.
Course overview
The Graduate Diploma in Counselling is designed for graduates from any discipline who want to build counselling capabilities, particularly people working in a helping profession. It focuses on relationship-centred practice, self-knowledge, sensitivity and ethical conduct when supporting clients experiencing distress.
You will critically examine major counselling and psychotherapy theories, explore common client presentations and develop practical counselling skills. The compulsory sequence covers counselling foundations, applied practice and clinical studies. Supervised casework, group supervision and critical reflection connect classroom learning with professional practice.
The course is delivered on site at Parramatta South over two years part-time. Its two clinical subjects require 300 placement hours: 100 hours in Clinical Studies in Psychotherapy and Counselling and 200 hours in Further Clinical Studies in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Placement clearances and attendance thresholds apply. The course is accredited by PACFA and graduates are eligible for full ACA membership and registration.
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
What you will study
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points. Unless otherwise indicated, each subject is worth 10 credit points.
Core subjects
- Foundations of Psychotherapy and Counselling 1 (20 credit points)
- Foundations of Psychotherapy and Counselling 2
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice
- Clinical Studies in Psychotherapy and Counselling (20 credit points)
- Further Clinical Studies in Psychotherapy and Counselling (20 credit points)
Entry requirements
Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree or higher in any discipline and participate in a group interview to demonstrate their suitability for the program.
Invitations to the interview process will be selected based on CV and Statement of Intent. Interviewees will be ranked, as the number of admissions to the program is limited.
Applicants are required to upload the following with their application:
- A detailed CV that includes relevant life experience, work or volunteer experience.
- An accompanying Statement of Intent (maximum 500 words) explaining why they are seeking entry to the program and how they believe their experience, personal abilities and interests make them suited to becoming a person-centred counsellor.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. If your application is successful, you can reduce the number of subjects you need to study, saving you time and money. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
As a graduate of this degree, you can look forward to many exciting career opportunities in different sectors and industries. Below are some examples of the possible careers you can pursue with this degree:
- Family Support
- Addiction Counselling
- Relationship Counselling
- Women's Health
Fees and CSP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $17,399 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 80 credit points (normally eight units) per year.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- 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.
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 the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent 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.
