- How long it takes
- 18 to 24 months
- full time
- Level
- Masters degree (coursework)
- University
- Leads on to
- Counsellor
- $112,000 median pay
- Taught by
- 14 providers
- 6 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Master of Counselling asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Counsellor
Counsellors talk with people through emotional, behavioural or relationship difficulties and help them find their own way of coping and moving forward.
What else you need
A recognised route into counselling. Professional body membership and ongoing supervision expectations vary, and some employers ask for an accredited program.
Median pay$112,000
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 14 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Monash University (opens in a new tab)
Monash University
Monash Clayton, VIC
4.3from 1,955 Google reviews
What students like
- Staff are supportive and resolve issues quickly
What to weigh up
- Admin replies can be slow
- Feedback from teaching staff can be limited
- Website for Deakin University (opens in a new tab)
Deakin University
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood, VIC
4.4from 2,192 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable, supportive and knowledgeable
- Support services are helpful for students
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Murdoch University (opens in a new tab)
Murdoch University
Murdoch University (Murdoch), WA
4.3from 596 Google reviews
What students like
- Staff are friendly and helpful
What to weigh up
- Admin and support can be hit and miss
Victoria University
Victoria University City Campus (City Tower), Victoria University Footscray Nicholson, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
Edith Cowan University
ECU Joondalup, WA
4.3from 679 Google reviews
- Website for Queensland University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove, QLD
4.5from 896 Google reviews
What students like
- Students are friendly and approachable
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find staff less helpful
- Website for Excelsia University College (opens in a new tab)
Excelsia University College
1 City View Road, Pennant Hills NSW 2120, NSW
3.4from 173 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are supportive, patient and explain things clearly
- Staff are kind and helpful with student queries
What to weigh up
- Student services can be hard to reach
- Fee and enrolment issues can be slow to fix
- Timetables and due dates can change at short notice
- Website for The University of Queensland (opens in a new tab)
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, QLD
4.5from 1,654 Google reviews
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Master of Counselling.
- Counselling theories and approaches
- Counselling skills and assessment
- Ethics and professional practice
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Supervised counselling practice
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?