- How long it takes
- 2 years
- full time
- Level
- Masters degree (coursework)
- University
- Leads on to
- Counsellor
- $112,000 median pay
- Taught by
- 5 providers
- 5 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy 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 postgraduate route; professional association membership usually also depends on accreditation of the course and supervised practice hours. Check employer and association requirements.
Median pay$112,000
Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists work with people over repeated sessions to understand and change persistent emotional and behavioural patterns.
What else you need
Provides training in psychotherapeutic practice; professional association membership and many employers look for an accredited course plus ongoing supervision. This is not psychology registration.
Median pay$88,400 (estimate)
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
Where you can study this course
There are 5 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.
Edith Cowan University
ECU Joondalup, WA
4.3from 679 Google reviews
Adelaide University
Adelaide University, Adelaide City, SA
4.5from 1,262 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and staff are helpful and professional
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for ACAP University College (opens in a new tab)
ACAP University College
5 campuses
3.4from 205 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are supportive and qualified
- Admin staff are helpful and supportive
- Course content is engaging and enjoyable
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Poor communication from admin
The Cairnmillar Institute
The Cairnmillar Institute (Hawthorn), VIC
3.9from 14 Google reviews
Proteus Technologies
4 campuses
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
- Counselling theory and skills
- Psychotherapeutic approaches
- Mental health and assessment
- Ethics and professional practice
- Supervised clinical placements
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?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?