Psychology

Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

  • Domestic
  • International
  • Duration

    2 years full-time or part-time equiv.
  • Start Dates

    February
  • Location

    North Terrace Campus

About Degree

Strengthening mental health

Counsellors work holistically to facilitate change in clients’ emotional, mental, and relational difficulties. Counselling is a rewarding career choice for students who want to pursue personal growth and collaboratively transform the lives of others.

What will you do?

Our Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy supports the development of ethically aware, research-informed and clinically effective counsellors. You will:

  • learn from academics with extensive professional counselling experience
  • build hands-on skills through experiential learning
  • benefit from case-based learning
  • gain a core understanding of counselling theories, grief, attachment theory, trauma, and ethical practice
  • develop skills in a range of therapies including CBT, Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Expressive Therapies

From second year you’ll begin tailoring your studies to your personal interests, eventually choosing between a clinical or research pathway.

Where could it take you?

Graduates obtain employment across a wide range of mental health and community services. You could support young people in your community through counselling and programs in schools or youth work. Perhaps you’ll be a relationship or return-to-work counsellor. You may be employed in AOD counselling, a hospital setting, or aged care.

Our clinical pathway graduates can register as a provisional member with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia or as a level 2 member with the Australian Counselling Association. After further clinical experience, graduates are eligible to apply for full registration.

Note: 
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required.  If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.


Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    SATAC Code3CM146
    DefermentYes - 2 year
    IntakeFebruary
    Additional Entry Requirements
    Quotas apply. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be ranked according to a standardised interview assessment process and the University will offer places in order of rank. All applicants must provide the following additional information: - a resume that includes academic transcripts (this must be uploaded as part of the SATAC application). - attend an interview.
    Selection Criteria
    Graduate entry


    Higher Education StudyA completed Bachelors degree or equivalent.


    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    International students915.8%
    All students57100.0%


    International applicants

    CRICOS091225G
    IntakeFebruary
    Additional Entry RequirementsQuotas apply. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be ranked according to a standardised interview assessment process and the University will offer places in order of rank.

    All applicants must provide the following additional information:
    - a resume that includes academic transcripts (this must be uploaded as part of the SATAC application).
    - attend an interview (by phone or skype)
    Selection Criteria
    English Language Requirements

    Australian Year 12Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject
    English Tests accepted by the University of APSB
    IELTSOverall 7Reading 7Listening 7Speaking 7Writing 7





    TOEFLOverall 94Reading 24Listening 24Speaking 23Writing 27





    PearsonOverall 65Reading 65Listening 65Speaking 65Writing 65





    C1 AdvancedOverall 185Reading 185Listening 185Speaking 185Writing 185





    Additional English Tests acceptedOccupational English Test (OET) - A minimum result of B/score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking)
    Qualifications that meet minimum English requirementsA range of alternative qualifications may meet the University’s minimum English requirements
    Academic Entry Requirements

    Detailed information on international qualifications assessment

    Tertiary QualificationsBachelor degree or equivalent
    How to Apply
    Application information for international students
    Important application deadlines for international students

    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    International students915.8%
    All students57100.0%


Fees and Scholarships

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees
    Australian Full-fee place: $30,500

    Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

    Scholarships

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


    International applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees (24 units)International student place: $40,000

    Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

    More information on International Student tuition fees.

    Scholarships

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


Careers

Career Readiness

Graduates of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy are prepared for a wide variety of roles in broad range of areas including youth work, relationship counselling, group therapy, school counselling, return-to-work counselling and private practice.

The University of APSB Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of APSB Graduate Attributes.

  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Industry Placement

Students undertaking the clinical practice pathway are required to allow up to two days each week for counselling placements. Placements provide students with supervised practical experience in counselling and psychotherapy.

Professional Accreditation

The clinical pathway of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy has been designed to meet the training requirements for counselling practitioners as outlined by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia   (PACFA). This enables graduates to apply for registration with the Counselling Association of South Australia and PACFA , and to be listed with the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).

Potential careers

Mental Health Worker, Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Therapist, Community Services Officer


Degree Structure

The first year of the program follows the structure of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy

To qualify for second year, students will need to have met the requirements for the Graduate Diploma (which requires a satisfactory completion of a program of study consisting of 7 core courses to the value of 21 units and closed electives to the value of 3 units). 

The Second Year of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy starts during the Summer School period (January – February). As part of this second year, student's will choose the Clinical Pathway or the Research pathway. Students who choose the Clinical pathway will undertake counseling placements while students who choose the research pathway will complete a dissertation. The indicative study plans below show what courses are to be completed for both options.

An elective in the Second Year of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is offered during the Winter School period (June – July).

As part of the accreditation for our Masters program with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), students are required to attend all classes/seminars.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Example Study Plan

To qualify for the degree of Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the student must satisfactorily complete a program of study in either the Clinical Practice pathway or the Research pathway.
Clinical Pathway indicative study plan
Year1S1PUB HLTH 5007  Attachment across the LifespanPUB HLTH 5005  Counselling Skills 1PUB HLTH 5008  Counselling and Psychotherapy TheoriesPUB HLTH 7010  Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications
S2PUB HLTH 7003  Cognitive Behaviour TherapyPUB HLTH 5006  Ethics in the WorkplacePUB HLTH 6018  Counselling Skills 2PUB HLTH 6021  Nature of Grief
Year2S1PUB HLTH 7020A  Counselling Placement 1A (0 units)PUB HLTH 7005  Narrative Approaches to CounsellingPUB HLTH 7025  Trauma Informed PracticeClosed Elective Course. Explore here
S2PUB HLTH 7020B  Counselling Placement 1B (6 units)PUB HLTH 6019  Overview of Mental HealthClosed Elective Course. Explore hereClosed Elective Course. Explore here


Research Pathway indicative study plan
Year1S1PUB HLTH 5007  Attachment across the LifespanPUB HLTH 5005  Counselling Skills 1PUB HLTH 5008  Counselling and Psychotherapy TheoriesPUB HLTH 7010   Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications
S2PUB HLTH 5006  Ethics in the WorkplacePUB HLTH 6018 Counselling Skills 2PUB HLTH 6021 Nature of GriefPUB HLTH 7300OL  Developing a Research Proposal
Year2S1PUB HLTH 7211A  Dissertation Part 1 (0 units)PUB HLTH 7078  Qualitative Research Method in HealthClosed Elective Course. Explore here
S2PUB HLTH 7211B  Dissertation Part 2 (12 units)PUB HLTH 6019  Overview of Mental HealthClosed Elective Course.
Explore here

Assessment

Case reports, presentations, quizzes and written assignments and may include counselling placements or a research thesis.


RECOGNITION AND AFFILIATIONS

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