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Master of Counselling

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The Master of Counselling will extend your expertise in counselling theory and practice through:

  • psychological theory relevant to your workplace and interests
  • counselling interventions and psychological therapies
  • practical skills through industry-based learning and placement

You can specialise in one of two streams:

  • adult
  • child and adolescent

If you are applying for a Graduate program in Counselling at VU, you must complete a Referee Report

The Advice to applicants in Counselling will advise you which referee report/s you need to submit.

 

Please note this is not an Australian Psychological Society (APS) accredited course.

 

Course Essentials

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Methods of applying:

  • You can apply direct to VU

Please note that part-time study may not be available at all campuses.

Already a VU student?

You can transfer into this course through our internal transfer process.

For more info contact the
College of Arts

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Careers

Graduates find employment in human services fields such as:

  • social work
  • multicultural services
  • counselling
  • family support
  • community work
  • refugee services
  • youth work

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

Karina Uribe

Master of Counselling graduate

Now working in community health services as a counsellor.

"The...

Read more

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Course Objectives

The specific objectives of the course are to:

  • further develop knowledge of counselling theory and its application;
  • expand the students' knowledge and awareness of psychological theory relevant to their workplace and interests;
  • develop a deeper understanding of the range of counselling interventions and psychological therapies offered by helping professions;
  • develop understanding of counselling research methods and a corresponding ability to read critically within the counselling literature; and
  • further develop an applied knowledge of professional practice. At the conclusion of the course, students should be:
  • conversant with theoretical underpinnings of counselling intervention;
  • able to engage with the counselling literature relevant to their area of work and interest;
  • aware of the variety of professions in the field and their contributions;
  • able to place counselling aspects of their own work within a theoretical framework; and
  • able to put their own counselling work in context both within the professional field and within their own agency, and able to work more effectively as a counsellor in the health field.

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Units and electives

The course may be taken on a full-time basis over two years following a bachelors degree, or part-time over two years following a fourth year in counselling.

plus two Electives*

Electives

*Only units of study approved by the Course Co-ordinator may be used as electives. This decision may be based on the experience of the student.

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional 'elective' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

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Admission Information

  • International: The admission requirement is a three year first degree. Applicants with relevant work, education and/or counselling experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence. Applicants must be able to provide academic and professional references and may be required to attend a selection interview and provide samples of their work. IELTS minimum 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) or equivalent.
  • Mature: The admission requirement is a three year first degree. Applicants with relevant work, education and/or counselling experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence. Applicants must be able to provide academic and professional references and may be required to attend a selection interview and provide samples of their work.

English language requirements

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Admission requirements in your country

Find out if you meet the minimum academic (international qualification) requirements to be eligible to apply for this course by reviewing the academic entry requirements listed by country.
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How to apply for this course

Apply online

If you have questions about your application, you can:

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your course options:

Ring us on +61 3 9919 1164

Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students starting the course in 2013. Fees are subject to approval and may change. In some courses students must buy equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above and we recommend you seek advice from the relevant faculty.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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