Edith Cowan University

Master of Counselling Online

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Prepare for person-centred counselling practice through ECU’s ACA-accredited master’s. Combine online learning with supervised placement and an in-person intensive, exploring mental health, trauma, cultural awareness and digital counselling.

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Download your course guide and connect with a study advisor to explore:

  • Course structure
  • Learning outcomes
  • Fees
  • Entry requirements

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Course overview

Support people through challenging experiences with ECU’s Master of Counselling. Designed for those preparing for a counselling career and professionals looking to extend their existing skills, this course combines evidence-based knowledge with practical experience. A person-centred approach emphasises individual strengths, cultural awareness and the relationships between people, communities and social structures.

Explore counselling theories and techniques alongside ethical practice, mental health, trauma-informed approaches and child and adolescent counselling. Examine how counselling can be adapted for digital delivery and deepen your understanding of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Reflective practice and self-awareness help you consider how your own perspectives influence therapeutic relationships and ongoing professional development.

The course combines online learning with a compulsory three-day in-person intensive and 220 hours of professional placement with an approved organisation. Placement includes at least 60 hours of client contact, providing opportunities to apply theory in a supervised setting. Travel may be required for both the intensive and placement, with arrangements subject to location and availability.

The Australian Counselling Association accredits the degree, and professional registration is subject to the association’s requirements. ECU’s placement team helps students find practical experience, while a Student Success Advisor provides non-academic guidance throughout the course. Together, the academic and practical components prepare you to apply counselling knowledge across professional settings.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Course Type
Master's
Duration
24 months (Part time)
Price Per Unit
From $4,550
More Information
The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Intake
January, 2027
March, 2027
May, 2027
July, 2027
August, 2027
October, 2027
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
12
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
FEE-HELP

What you will study

The course has 12 units of study made up as follows:

  • 10 core units
  • Professional field placement (equivalent to two units)

Core Units

  • Foundations of Counselling Practice (Graduate Certificate)
  • Theories and Techniques in Counselling (Graduate Certificate)
  • The Role of the Counsellor (Graduate Certificate)
  • Ethics in Counselling
  • Counselling in a Digital World
  • Trauma-Informed Counselling
  • Child and Adolescent Counselling
  • Counselling at the Cultural Interface: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Practice
  • Mental Health Counselling
  • Advanced Theories and Techniques in Counselling
  • Professional Field Placement

Entry requirements

Admission requirements you’ll need to meet for this course:

  • Bachelor's degree from a country specified in the Admissions Policy (with preference given to degrees relating to 'helping professions') OR Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.
  • A personal statement about motivations to complete the course.
  • Submission of academic transcript, two referee reports and an online interview.
  • English Language requirements (Band 4).

Students seeking the Graduate Certificate of Counselling must submit documentation covering points one and four. Points two and three are covered during the Graduate Certificate component of the course.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

  • Understand counselling in a digital world.
  • Develop a person-centred approach.
  • Examine the roles of counsellors working at the cultural interface.
  • Explore self-awareness and reflective practice.

Career outcomes

ECU’s online Master of Counselling provides advanced, evidence-based counselling knowledge and skills for professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities. Students may study this course to prepare for a career as a counsellor. Alternatively, they may wish to add to their existing skill set in roles including:

  • Social Work
  • Career Coaching
  • Psychology
  • Other Allied Health
  • Human Resources
  • Youth Work
  • Human Welfare Roles
  • Local Government Support/Community Development Roles
  • Case Work
  • Disability Support Work
  • Cognate Undergraduate Social Science or Behavioural Science

Fees and FEE-HELP

Full-fee paying place

Indicative unit fee in 2027: $4,550 (20-credit-point unit)
Indicative annual fee in 2027: $27,300
Indicative full-course fee: $54,590

The average full-course fee shown is calculated based on the 240 credit point (12 units) course structure completed over 24–26 months.

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.