Public Health
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Domestic
- International
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 Code | 3CM146 |
|---|---|
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February |
| 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
| Higher Education Study | A completed Bachelors degree or equivalent. |
|---|
Student Profile
| Applicant background | Semester one/Full year intake 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students | Percentage of all students | |
| International students | 9 | 15.8% |
| All students | 57 | 100.0% |
International applicants
| CRICOS | 091225G |
|---|---|
| Intake | February |
| 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 (by phone or skype) |
Selection Criteria
English Language Requirements
| Australian Year 12 | Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject | ||||||||||||
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| English Tests accepted by the University of APSB |
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| Additional English Tests accepted | Occupational 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 requirements | A range of alternative qualifications may meet the University’s minimum English requirements | ||||||||||||
Academic Entry Requirements
Detailed information on international qualifications assessment
| Tertiary Qualifications | Bachelor degree or equivalent | |
|---|---|---|
How to Apply
Student Profile
| Applicant background | Semester one/Full year intake 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students | Percentage of all students | |
| International students | 9 | 15.8% |
| All students | 57 | 100.0% |
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
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.
- Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
- Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Professionalism and leadership readiness
- Intercultural and ethical competency
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
- Digital capabilities
- 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
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
| Year1 | S1 | PUB HLTH 5007 Attachment across the Lifespan | PUB HLTH 5005 Counselling Skills 1 | PUB HLTH 5008 Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories | PUB HLTH 7010 Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | PUB HLTH 7003 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy | PUB HLTH 5006 Ethics in the Workplace | PUB HLTH 6018 Counselling Skills 2 | PUB HLTH 6021 Nature of Grief | |
| Year2 | S1 | PUB HLTH 7020A Counselling Placement 1A (0 units) | PUB HLTH 7005 Narrative Approaches to Counselling | PUB HLTH 7025 Trauma Informed Practice | Closed Elective Course. Explore here |
| S2 | PUB HLTH 7020B Counselling Placement 1B (6 units) | PUB HLTH 6019 Overview of Mental Health | Closed Elective Course. Explore here | Closed Elective Course. Explore here | |
| Year1 | S1 | PUB HLTH 5007 Attachment across the Lifespan | PUB HLTH 5005 Counselling Skills 1 | PUB HLTH 5008 Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories | PUB HLTH 7010 Mindfulness-based Counselling Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | PUB HLTH 5006 Ethics in the Workplace | PUB HLTH 6018 Counselling Skills 2 | PUB HLTH 6021 Nature of Grief | PUB HLTH 7300OL Developing a Research Proposal | |
| Year2 | S1 | PUB HLTH 7211A Dissertation Part 1 (0 units) | PUB HLTH 7078 Qualitative Research Method in Health | Closed Elective Course. Explore here | |
| S2 | PUB HLTH 7211B Dissertation Part 2 (12 units) | PUB HLTH 6019 Overview of Mental Health | Closed Elective Course. Explore here | ||
Assessment
Case reports, presentations, quizzes and written assignments and may include counselling placements or a research thesis.
