Master of Counselling
MOC
Australia’s most popular Master of Counselling program. The ideal path to registration for those with an undergraduate degree (in any field).
Our Master of Counselling is the most popular graduate pathway to become a Registered Counsellor in Australia. Entry is available to anyone with a prior undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in any field.
Our Master of Counselling is the ideal qualification for you if you want to transition into a counselling career. As a counsellor with a Master of Counselling, there are many opportunities for you in employed positions or in private practice. You can make a real difference in areas such as grief and loss; relationships; abuse; youth and adolescents; family; stress; trauma recovery; addictions; mental health and many more.
Our program is approved for FEE-HELP, industry accredited with the Australian Counselling Association, and is delivered mostly online with some residential schools at our national campuses.
You can apply for entry to the Master of Counselling if you have successfully completed an undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in any field.
The Master of Counselling has attained industry accreditation through the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). ACA is the leading industry body for Counsellors in Australia. Upon graduation, you automatically qualify for membership to the ACA.
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme for eligible students to pay their tuition (subject) fees.
Pay your subject fees direct to the institute each trimester for each subject in which you are enrolled.
Split Payments. This means you can pay a portion of your subject fees yourself, and the remaining portion using FEE-HELP (if elgible).
Pay via Credit Card or Direct Debit.
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Course Recognition
Why study our Master of Counselling
Our Master of Counselling provides a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional tertiary education.
Career ready
When you graduate, you will be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in counselling – employed or self-employed – enjoying our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
This course is extremely applicable to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to your core profession – such as teachers, nurses, ministers of religion, corrective services officers and administrators.
Counselling education specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time it can be difficult to fit study in around other commitments, that's why our Master of Counselling has been designed to maximise your learning from home where you can progress through your studies in a full-time or part-time pace.
Career ready
When you graduate, you will be extremely well prepared to pursue a career in counselling – employed or self-employed – enjoying our strong industry reputation and linkage.
Extremely applicable
This course is extremely applicable to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you are seeking a fresh start in a rewarding profession; or want to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to your core profession – such as teachers, nurses, ministers of religion, corrective services officers and administrators.
Counselling education specialists
We believe you're better off learning from a specialist than a generalist. Many training providers deliver courses across a variety of industries. At AIPC, we prefer to concentrate on counselling and community services education.
Flexible learning
With so many demands on our time it can be difficult to fit study in around other commitments, that's why our Master of Counselling has been designed to maximise your learning from home where you can progress through your studies in a full-time or part-time pace.
Course Outline
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject introduces students to counselling as a profession. Students will learn about the development of the counselling profession, its relationship to other professions and its future directions. The subject introduces students to a trans-theoretical counselling framework and includes topics such as characteristics of effective counsellors; the role of the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic techniques in facilitating client outcomes; counselling in a culturally diverse society, and ethical issues in counselling practice.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject focuses on stages of counselling that are common across therapeutic approaches, including the development of the therapeutic relationship; clarifying concerns; goal-setting; applying techniques and interventions, termination and evaluation. Students reflect upon and analyse the effect of the counsellor’s Self on the counselling process and apply their knowledge of the stages of the counselling process in initial and final counselling session role-plays.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject focuses on stages of counselling that are common across therapeutic approaches, including the development of the therapeutic relationship; clarifying concerns; goal-setting; applying techniques and interventions, termination and evaluation. Students reflect upon and analyse the effect of the counsellor’s Self on the counselling process and apply their knowledge of the stages of the counselling process in initial and final counselling session role-plays.This unit introduces students to the foundational practical skills of counselling. Students will develop an understanding of the key therapeutic conditions required to facilitate change and the role counselling skills play in establishing and maintaining those conditions. Students will learn through direct teaching, demonstration and supervised practice and will demonstrate key skills and integrate these into a counselling session.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject introduces students to the ethical principles that inform counselling practice and ethical issues and dilemmas counsellors face. Students will reflect upon and analyse their own beliefs, values, attitudes and biases to understand how these may impact on their counselling practice. They will evaluate counselling scenarios to clarify and develop solutions to ethical dilemmas common in counselling practice, including those relating to confidentiality, client rights, dual relationships, and values conflicts.
Integral to this unit, students will develop reflective practice skills to assist in ongoing self evaluation and personal and professional development. Students will also examine the role of supervision in ensuring ethical professional practice, and will learn skills involved in providing supervision to others.
Prerequisite: NIL, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject examines physical, cognitive, emotional, social and moral human development across the lifespan. Students will identify developmental issues that occur as part of normal human development, as well as issues that may occur when development is impaired or delayed. Students will evaluate various theories of development and apply these to case studies.
Prerequisite: MC02, MC03, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject provides students with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical foundations, concepts, processes and techniques of cognitive-behavioural counselling approaches. Students will learn to use these approaches in counselling sessions and will evaluate the differences between cognitive-behavioural approaches, including an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses and applications of each.
Prerequisite: MC02, MC03, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject provides students with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical foundations, concepts, processes and techniques of collaborative and competency-based counselling approaches. Students will learn to use these approaches in counselling sessions and will evaluate the differences between approaches, including an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses and applications of each.
Prerequisite: MC04, EFTSL: 0.125
In this subject, students learn the principles and skills of assessment and case conceptualisation. Students will distinguish issues suitable for counselling intervention from those requiring mental health or other interventions, and will learn to use assessment tools and methods appropriate for counselling settings. In addition students will be introduced to a case-conceptualisation framework and will learn to conceptualise cases and plan treatment from behavioural, cognitive, feminist, emotion-focused, dynamic, family, transtheoretical, and constructivist theoretical perspectives.
Prerequisite: MC04, EFTSL: 0.25
In this 12 credit unit, students will learn the role research plays in professional counselling practice and will examine the contributions counsellors can make to the generation of research. Students will review quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to counselling practice, apply basic statistical procedures and interpret statistical information in counselling research. Particular attention will be paid to qualitative research designs such as narrative analysis and single-case studies, as students may use these when they undertake the capstone project in Semester 4.
Prerequisite: MC05, MC06, MC07, MC08, MC09, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject offers students the opportunity to gain experience with and exposure to practical counselling issues in a supervised counselling environment. Students will spend a total of 168 hours on placement, including 12 hours of agency supervision.
In conjunction with the counselling placement, the Capstone Project component of the subject allows students to synthesise and integrate knowledge and skills gained throughout the course into counselling practice. Students begin their Capstone Project by preparing a plan detailing how they will integrate course outcomes into both their placement activities and their professional lives on completion of their degree. Students then undertake projects which may relate to their placement (e.g., case study or service evaluation) or may address issues that affect the counselling industry in some way (e.g., develop and administer a survey regarding counsellor burnout).
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject examines the effects of crisis and trauma on individuals and families. The relationship between stress, crisis and trauma is explored, and students learn interventions that address both the immediate and the longer term effects of traumatic events. Approaches suitable for diverse counselling populations are examined and the concept of vicarious traumatisation is addressed.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject introduces students to theoretical concepts and intervention strategies associated with contemporary family therapy. Students will gain knowledge and understanding in areas relating to family dynamics, diversity and develop specific skills to guide family therapy practice.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject focuses on the theory and practice of counselling with children and adolescents. Students will learn to respond appropriately to this client group as well as identify and address specific issues that may arise including behavioural problems, family conflict, self-harm, identity issues, abuse and violence, and school issues such as bullying. Ethical and legal issues are addressed in this unit, and students will learn appropriate responses to these.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject introduces students to theories of substance misuse and addiction, including intervention strategies to address addiction issues. Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between social, biological and psychological factors of addiction and will consider contextual and cultural factors in the development and maintenance of addictive patterns of behaviour. Motivational interviewing and primary, secondary and tertiary relapse prevention strategies will be covered.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject explores the experience of loss and grief and introduces students to conceptual models of the grieving process as well as counselling approaches to use with clients experiencing loss and grief. Students will learn to assess and respond appropriately to complicated and traumatic grief.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
Students are introduced to the theory and practice of counselling with couples. Students will learn to critically analyse dynamics and issues in relationships, including those relating to conflict, violence and abuse. Students will be introduced to different therapeutic approaches and provided with the opportunity to develop relevant practical skills.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject introduces students to the use of digital technologies and online platforms to deliver effective and accessible counselling therapy. Fundamental counselling theories and techniques are examined and critiqued for online delivery and students will revisit key ethical concepts pertaining to boundaries, privacy and security. Opportunity will be provided for students to actively engage and practice online counselling skills.
Prerequisite: MC06, MC07, EFTSL: 0.125
This subject provides an insight into mental health conditions and their presentation in counselling. Students develop knowledge of indicators and support options for people with a variety of mental health issues and analyse case studies to identify support options and appropriate referral pathways. Using a recovery model and understanding of the lived experience, students will establish a framework for working with clients facing mental health challenges.
Subjects marked with a # require compulsory attendance at a residential school at one of the institutes campuses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. The total number of days spent in a residential school in the program is 15 days, comprising of 10 online days and 5 days on campus. This is made up of MC02 (2.5 days on campus), MC03 (2.5 days on campus), MC06 (5 days online) and MC07 (5 days online).
Below are the upcoming intake periods for the Master of Counselling.
Trimester | Commences | Census | Residential School | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trimester 1, 2026 | 2nd Mar 2026 | 18th Mar 2026 | 12th May – 24th May 2026 | 24th May 2026 |
May Intake | 4th May 2026 | 20 May 2026 | - | 26th July 2026 |
Trimester 2, 2026 | 6th Jul 2026 | 22nd Jul 2026 | 14th Sept – 27th Sept 2026 | 27th Sep 2026 |
Trimester 3, 2026 | 2nd Nov 2026 | 20th Nov 2026 | 18th Jan – 31st Jan 2027 | 31st Jan 2027 |
Below are the tuition fees for the Master of Counselling.
Course | Year | Tuition Fee per subject | Total Course Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Master of Counselling (14 subjects) | 2026 | $2,990 x 12 subjects + MC09 $4,485, MC10 $4,485 | $44,850 |
On your application form, you can choose one course payment option to pay for your course. You are able to:
Option 1: Pay for your course using FEE-HELP (if you are eligible).
Option 2: Pay for each trimester of your studies upfront.
Option 3: Pay for a portion of your fees upfront and the remaining portion using FEE-HELP.
If your application is successful and you accept your placement, the investment for each subject is payable via the following methods after accepting your placement:
If you are choosing to pay all or part of your subject fees through FEE-HELP, you will need to return your Request for FEE-HELP Assistance form for the trimester by the due date indicated in your trimester enrolment letter. You can find out more about FEE-HELP from the following publication: Fee Help Information – 2026
Payment by credit card, cheque or money order for the trimester by the due date indicated in your trimester enrolment letter (usually within two weeks of the trimester commencing).
If you are paying some of your fees yourself and some through FEE-HELP, then returning your Request for FEE-HELP Assistance form and payment of the remaining amount by credit card, cheque or money order by the due date of the trimester.
If accepted into the course, you nominate your preferred payment method on your Confirmation of Acceptance form to confirm your place in the course. Please note that the subject fees, and any other associated fees, are current only for the subjects in which you are presently enrolled, and can be reviewed and changed at the Institute’s discretion for future trimesters.
Subjects where credit is granted
Students are able to apply for credit of previous studies and experience as described in the RPL and Credit Transfer Policy and are not required to pay the subject fee for each subject in which credit is granted.
Students articulating from the AIPC Bachelor of Counselling are automatically eligible to receive credit for 4 subjects of the Master of Counselling program detailed in the RPL and Credit Transfer Policy. The Institute will take this automatic awarding of credit into account when processing enrolments for graduates of the Bachelor of Counselling with the student’s Course Enrolment Confirmation Letter detailing the reductions in course fees applicable to students receiving this automatic credit.
Additional and Non-Tuition Costs
The following additional and/or non-tuition costs apply:
Current textbook lists are found on the Higher Education Learning Portal which can be accessed upon enrolment. Students are encouraged to submit their online textbook order through Booktopia prior to commencing their studies for the trimester. Students are able to source textbooks from other suppliers if they choose. Students are able to choose from textbooks or e-books, depending on availability, and further information is provided each trimester as to where these can be sourced from.
Residential Schools teach you to apply your theoretical knowledge to counselling scenarios. Residential Schools provide you with an ideal teaching forum to handle practical counselling issues. You also meet and share ideas and experiences with fellow students and have the opportunity to reflect on the development of your counselling skills.
Residential Schools are held both online (depending on subject) and at our academic rooms in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, Australia and are scheduled at the end of each trimester. Depending on the number of subjects you have undertaken during the trimester, Residential Schools are up to one or two weeks’ duration. If studying full time, you complete between 2.5 and 10 days at a Residential School at the end of each trimester. Not all subjects include a Residential School component, you only need to attend the days of the Residential School allocated to the specific subject(s) in which you are enrolled.
Students are required to meet personal expenses such as travel, accommodation and meals for the face-to-face components. Travel includes travel costs to and from where the Residential School is held and travel to and from the Institute's premises each day.
When attending a residential in a city in which you do not live, you should allow approximately $300 per day for accommodation, meals and incidentals. This daily allocation has been determined by the ATO's recommended allowance rates for Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, available at: http://law.ato.gov.au/atolaw/. You should also add the cost of return airfares, or cost for another mode of travel, from your place of residence to the Residential School location.
Students have access to comprehensive online library of texts and resources.
External students borrowing hard copy library resources will need to pay for postage to return the borrowed item/s to the Institute at Locked Bag 15, Fortitude Valley 4006. Please refer to the Australia Post postage calculator for current indicative pricing: http://auspost.com.au/apps/postage-calculator.html.
For students living overseas, please check postage costs with your chosen postal or courier service. Overdue items are charged at $1 per day until the item is returned.
Students are able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Credit Transfer to receive credit for one or more subjects** of the Master of Counselling (up to a maximum of 4 subjects).
This enhances student progression through the course and provides recognition for students entering the course with relevant prior studies and work experience. Students granted RPL or credit are not disadvantaged in achieving the expected learning outcomes of the course, and the integrity of the qualification must be maintained.
RPL recognises that students, due to relevant life and work experiences, may already possess the requisite skills and knowledge for subject/s in the Master course. Students who have been working within a counselling environment for a number of years are able to apply for recognition of this prior learning or experience. Exemption can be applied for one or more course subjects** (up to a maximum of 4 subjects).
Assessing credit from prior experience takes into account the authenticity, currency, quality, relevance, transferability and comparability of the experience to the requirements of the subject for which credit is being applied.
Credit Transfer
Credit Transfer refers to obtaining credit towards another course on the basis of having completed previous study of an equivalent subject or unit. Students who have completed similar units to those included in the Master of Counselling are welcome to apply for Credit Transfer. Students who have completed or partially completed another counselling course are particularly encouraged to apply for Credit Transfer.
Credit will not normally be granted for formal study completed more than 10 years prior to application unless there is evidence of continued relevance of this study for the course towards which credit is sought. Credit is granted where there is substantial overlap with the content and/or learning outcomes of the subject for which credit is being applied.
When assessing credit based on prior study, consideration is given to the objectives of the course, methods of delivery and assessment, admission requirements, course durations, the breadth and depth of the course material, practical training requirements, and experience requirements.
**Students can only obtain credit for a total maximum of 4 subjects inclusive of whether this credit has been obtained via RPL or credit transfer.
Students progressing into the Master of Counselling from the Institute’s Bachelor of Counselling will automatically receive credit for the following subjects:
MC01 Introduction to Counselling
MC02 Counselling Process
MC03 Counselling Skills
MC05 Counselling and Human Development
The student’s record will be automatically updated and a confirmation letter sent to the student. Students are not required to formally apply through the RPL process.
Dependent on the chosen specialty stream within the Graduate Diploma, students progressing into the Bachelor of Counselling from the Institute’s Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Curriculum Code: AIPC 31000QLD) will automatically receive credit for the following subjects:
Graduate Diploma Specialty Stream | Credit offered towards |
Family Therapy | MC12 Counselling for Families |
Addictions | MC14 Counselling for Alcohol and Other Drugs |
Loss and Grief | MC15 Counselling for Loss and Grief |
The student’s record will be automatically updated, and a confirmation letter sent to the student. Students are not required to formally apply through the RPL process.
Students progressing into the Bachelor of Counselling from the Institute’s Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling (Curriculum Code: AIPC CHC81015) will automatically receive credit for the following subjects:
MC02 Counselling Process
MC03 Counselling Skills
MC16 Counselling for Couples
The student’s record will be automatically updated, and a confirmation letter sent to the student. Students are not required to formally apply through the RPL process.
Students progressing into the Master of Counselling whom have completed an undergraduate degree in Counselling with another Higher Education Provider, or an undergraduate degree that has included the completion of a Counselling Major (ie, 8 subjects in Counselling) can apply for credit of up to four subjects in the Master of Counselling.
The student is required to apply for Credit Transfer as per the Applying for RPL or Credit Transfer process outlined below and supply a certified copy of their Qualification and Academic Transcript in support of their application.
Below is a list of policies and procedures that apply to students enrolled in the Master of Counselling.
Admissions Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
A Master of Counselling qualifies you to practise as a counsellor in private practice or employment. You automatically qualify for Australian Counselling Association membership when you graduate, and an ACA-approved master's degree admits you at Level 2 on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Community health services, employee assistance programs, schools, family support agencies and private clinics all work with counsellors at this level.
The Master of Counselling is designed for graduates who want to move into counselling from another field. Entry is open to anyone who has completed a bachelor's degree in any discipline, so your first degree doesn’t need to relate to psychology or health. Teachers, nurses, ministers of religion and corrective services officers all enrol in this program, adding counselling to a profession where they already work closely with people going through difficult times.
You can study the Master of Counselling with AIPC from any part of Australia, since most of the degree is fully online. Four subjects require residential school attendance, but they only add up to 15 days over the whole program. Ten of those days are online and five take place on campus in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. Full-time study takes 24 months, with part-time enrolment available.
Students will also have the opportunity to undertake their placement at AIPC’s own online clinic, the Australian Counselling Service.
Fourteen subjects take you from counselling fundamentals through to supervised practice. You’ll learn to:
Work through every stage of counselling, from the first session to termination and evaluation
Assess a client and conceptualise their case before you plan any treatment
Distinguish issues suited to counselling from those needing mental health or other intervention
Resolve ethical dilemmas around confidentiality, client rights, dual relationships and conflicting values
Analyse how your own beliefs and biases affect the work you do
Supervise other counsellors
Read counselling research critically and apply it to your practice
Cognitive behavioural therapy and the collaborative, competency-based approaches each get a dedicated subject. Cognitive Behavioural Approaches covers the theory and techniques behind CBT and asks you to weigh the strengths and limits of each variation. Collaborative and Contemporary Approaches does the same for narrative and solution-focused therapy. Therapeutic Planning and Process goes broader still, teaching you to conceptualise cases from behavioural, cognitive, feminist, emotion-focused, dynamic, family and constructivist perspectives.
Yes, with one exception. Your coursework is delivered entirely online through AIPC’s Higher Education Learning Portal, where you’ll find study guides, assessment details and discussion forums, plus a weekly webinar in every subject. Four subjects require residential school attendance, including five days total on campus. You’ll also complete your placement in a counselling service in person near where you live.
Students will also have the opportunity to undertake their placement at AIPC’s own online clinic, the Australian Counselling Service.
A master's is what the senior ACA registration levels require. Level 3 asks for an approved degree plus two years of supervised practice, 750 client contact hours and 75 hours of professional supervision, so graduating here starts that clock. Ethics and Reflective Practice also teaches you to supervise other counsellors, which gives you more work opportunities beyond your caseload.
Consider this degree if counselling is where you want to end up and you’d rather get there through postgraduate study than start an undergraduate degree from scratch. Applicants may hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, so a background in law, teaching, business or the arts is no obstacle. You’ll need to examine yourself as closely as the material, since several subjects require you to analyse how your own beliefs and biases affect your work with your clients.
Related Courses
Master of Counselling
Australia’s most popular Master of Counselling program. The ideal path to registration for those with an undergraduate degree (in any field).
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