Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice)

Overview

• Specifically designed for qualified professionals who use counselling, you can diversify your expertise and study various counselling specialisations with Advanced Practice.
• Progress your counselling practice and choose subjects that suit you career goals or allow you to expand and grow your current knowledge.
• Develop your expertise and upskill in couple and family counselling, child and youth counselling, mental health practice, relapse prevention, and substance misuse.
• This degree provides you with the opportunity to undertake a substantial research project or choose to do a smaller capstone project to further your research skills.

Thinking of studying in 2024? UniSQ will be delivering flexible new ways of teaching, with different calendar offerings, making the balance of study and life easier. Read more in our new academic calendar FAQs.

Professional accreditation

The Master of Counselling (Advanced Practice) is recognised by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) as meeting their bridging requirements to meet Level 3 membership under certain conditions. These include, if the graduate is a Level 2 ACA Member; or if the graduate is not a current member but has an ACA-accredited bachelor qualification; or if the graduate is not a current member but holds an ACA-accredited graduate diploma and has evidence of one year's post-qualification supervised practice, and a post-qualification minimum of 50 hours of supervision.

Career outcomes

• Allows helping professionals to develop or expand their counselling expertise in specialty areas of their choosing, and may provide an opportunity to progress into doctoral studies.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units. Most courses (similar to 'subjects') are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units Core courses 16 Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

In addition to the courses to be studied, you will also need to complete clinical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of clinical/professional practice within this degree.

Residential schools

If you are enrolled in the External study mode in this degree, you will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials, use the facilities and meet staff and other students.

Other specialisations

• Alcohol & Drug Studies
• Child, Youth & Family Therapy
• Foundations of Practice
• Mental Health Counselling

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Apply direct to UniSQ

The closing dates for applying directly to UniSQ are:

• Semester 1, 2023 - applications close on 20 February and the Semester 1 study period commences on Monday 20 February, 2023.
• Semester 2, 2023 - applications close on 10 July and the Semester 2 study period commences on Monday 10 July, 2023.

Select to start your degree in one of the following intakes:

• Trimester 1, 2024 - applications close 22 January 2024 and the Trimester 1 study period starts on 22 January 2024.
• Trimester 2, 2024 - applications close 13 May 2024 and the Trimester 2 study period starts on 13 May 2024.
• Trimester 3, 2024 - applications close 2 September 2024 and the Trimester 3 study period starts on 2 September 2024.

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.