Key facts

Domestic students course information.

Entry requirements

Entry is based on a bachelor qualification or higher, an overseas equivalent, or recent relevant professional experience.

Entry is based on a bachelor qualification or higher, an overseas equivalent, or recent relevant professional experience. English language requirements must also be met.

View full entry requirements
Duration
  • Up to 4 years part-time
Number of Units (Subjects)
  • 8 units (48 credit points)
View course structure
Fees
  • Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply)
  • Full Fee
  • International
View more fees information
Start Dates and Campus
Trimester 1 – February 2024Trimester 2 – June 2024Trimester 3 – October 2024
OnlineOfferedOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
OnlineOfferedOfferedOffered
Armidale CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney CampusNot OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered

Course information

Download course brochure
UNE student on park bench discusses studies with a peer

Whether you are new to professional counselling or want to safeguard your career with an industry-recognised qualification, UNE's Graduate Diploma in Counselling gives you real-world skills and knowledge, underpinned by a strong philosophical framework. Our course equips you to support and empower people, building relationships and fostering personal growth in a diverse range of contexts. With flexible delivery, our accredited course integrates theory with skills-based practical experience and supervision to allow you to practice in this dynamic, person-centred field.

Why study the Graduate Diploma in Counselling with UNE?

At UNE, we have a long history of training university-qualified counsellors. Our Graduate Diploma in Counselling provides professional training that prepares you for work in a diverse range of counselling contexts. Our course is underpinned by Humanistic and Existential counselling philosophies, which deal with questions of meaning and freedom, grapple with what it means to be human, and emphasise the value of individual and collective agency.

Whether you are new to counselling or you have existing professional experience and wish to pursue a formal counselling qualification, our course allows you to future proof your career with an industry-recognised qualification while enabling you to meet your work and family commitments.

This course also provides a direct pathway to the Master of Counselling at UNE, if you wish to pursue further study.

What makes our course different?

Our Graduate Diploma in Counselling focuses on providing you with industry-valued skills and an in-depth understanding of real-world counselling processes. Our approach to counselling is founded on connecting with others and exploring what emerges when we make these connections. You might find that the learning experience in this course is different to what you have experienced previously – your development as an independent, self-directed and reflexive thinker requires a degree of emotional and psychological agility. We aim to support you to engage with your colleagues, teachers and clients in order to assist with your development of genuineness, acceptance, caring, compassion and empathy.

Our goal is to provide a growth-promoting learning environment that mirrors what you will provide for your clients in practice, alongside opportunities to:

  • Study flexibly — we know that you need to balance study with your existing commitments. Our course is flexibly delivered to help you balance your workload, with options to study units across UNE's trimesters, allowing you to tailor your program of study to your individual needs*.
  • Learn with passionate and experienced academics and practitioners and equip yourself with the practical knowledge and skills required to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace. Our combination of online learning and mandatory intensive schools means that you can integrate theoretical learning with skills-based practice, academic support and clinical supervision.
  • Choose a pathway to follow, with options for the Generalist Counselling Pathway, the Mental Health Practice Pathway or the Counselling Placement Pathway which includes 40 hours of face-to-face counselling, 10 hours of clinical supervision and 150 hours of agency-based activities.
  • UNE is proud to be an industry leader in the provision of online learning. In fact, we're Australia's longest continuous provider of distance (now online) education.

*In order to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Counselling Association, the minimum time in which you can complete the Graduate Diploma is two years.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

Entry requirements

Select the option that best describes you.

This course is not currently available for this mode of study.

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Visa Information

On-Campus study
If you would like to study full-time in Australia at one of UNE's campuses, you will need to have a visa that allows you to study. For most international students this visa will need to be a Student Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has further information about visa eligibility and conditions.

If you are an international applicant who wants to study online (overseas or in Australia):

You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course. 

This course is offered under five admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule B: You have completed the UNE Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling Major) from 2023 onwards.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule C: You have completed the UNE Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice or the UNE Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule C. Please see the Rule C Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule D: You have completed a Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8), Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8), Masters (AQF Level 9) or Doctorate qualification (AQF Level 10) (or overseas equivalents).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule D. Please see the Rule D Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule E: You have completed a minimum of three years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant professional experience and training* within the past ten years.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule E. Please see the Rule E Course Structure (Program of Study).

* Relevant professional experience and training includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

  • Care for the aged
  • Care for the disabled
  • Children’s services
  • Community services
  • Counselling
  • Human resources
  • Human welfare services
  • Life coaching
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pastoral care
  • Psychology
  • Residential client care
  • Social work
  • Teaching
  • Welfare studies
  • Youth work

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Visa Information

Online study in your own country
If you would like to study online with UNE while you reside outside of Australia you do not need a Student Visa. If your course requires you to visit Australia to attend any mandatory study requirements, you would need to explore Visitor Visa options for a short-term stay.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • If you are applying for admission under Rule A or D you must provide a certified academic transcript of your completed qualification/s.
  • If you are applying for admission under Rule E you must provide a resume and a Statement of Service from your employer/s on company letterhead. Learn about our Statement of Service requirements.
  • Proof of identity and citizenship. This can be a certified/notarised copy of the photo page of your passport, or another form of official photo identification that lists your full personal details including name and date of birth; for example, a foreign government identity card.
  • Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved formal English test within the last two years, you must provide a copy of the test results with your application. Please see UNE’s English Language Requirements above for further information.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.

  • If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
  • If you are admitted under Rule C you will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing. You cannot apply for further Advanced Standing.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.

  • If you are admitted under Rules A, D or E you can apply for up to 24 credit points of Advanced Standing.
  • If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.

> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing

This course is offered under five admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule B: You have completed the UNE Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling Major) from 2023 onwards.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule C: You have completed the UNE Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice or the UNE Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule C. Please see the Rule C Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule D: You have completed a Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8), Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8), Masters (AQF Level 9) or Doctorate qualification (AQF Level 10) (or overseas equivalents).
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule D. Please see the Rule D Course Structure (Program of Study).

Rule E: You have completed a minimum of three years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) relevant professional experience and training* within the past ten years.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule E. Please see the Rule E Course Structure (Program of Study).

* Relevant professional experience and training includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

  • Care for the aged
  • Care for the disabled
  • Children’s services
  • Community services
  • Counselling
  • Human resources
  • Human welfare services
  • Life coaching
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pastoral care
  • Psychology
  • Residential client care
  • Social work
  • Teaching
  • Welfare studies
  • Youth work

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

English Language Requirements

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

Inherent Requirements

You must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

  • If you are applying for admission under Rule A or D you must provide a certified academic transcript of your completed qualification/s.
  • If you are applying for admission under Rule E you must provide a resume and a Statement of Service from your employer/s on company letterhead. Learn about our Statement of Service requirements.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.

  • If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 12 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing.
  • If you are admitted under Rule C you will be granted 24 credit points of Specified Advanced Standing. You cannot apply for further Advanced Standing.

Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.

  • If you are admitted under Rules A, D or E you can apply for up to 24 credit points of Advanced Standing.
  • If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.

> Learn how to apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing

Course structure

The following units have mandatory intensive schools attached to them: HSCS435, HSCS533, HSCS536 and HSCS538.

HSCS441 has 200 hours of clinical field placement.

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 48 credit points, including a minimum of 30 credit points at 400-level and a maximum of 18 credit points at 500-level.

48 credit points

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), Rule (d) or Rule (e)

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

24 credit points

Complete 24 credit points from ONE of the following approved Pathways:

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

12 credit points

Complete the following unit:

12 credit points

Complete 12 credit points from the following units:

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

48 credit points

For candidates admitted under Rule (b)

12 credit points

12 credit points specified advanced standing granted to candidates who hold the 2023-onwards Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling Major) from UNE.

12 credit points

Complete the following units:

24 credit points

Complete 24 credit points from ONE of the following approved Pathways:

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

12 credit points

Complete the following unit:

12 credit points

Complete 12 credit points from the following units:

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

48 credit points

For candidates admitted under Rule (c)

24 credit points

24 credit points specified advanced standing granted for candidates who hold the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice or the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice from UNE.

24 credit points

Complete the following units:

See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:

Fee typeCost
Full Fee
$27,568*
International
$31,432*
Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply)
$16,282*
Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time$351
*The costs will depend on the units you choose to study as the cost of individual units vary. “Estimated fees” are provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking a study load of 48 credit points in the first year of this course. For courses that require less than 48 credit points the fees indicated are based on the total credit points required for completion of that course. For more information, please see fees and costs.

*Annual course fees only cover the cost of tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as text books, accommodation and living expenses. If you are successful in gaining admission to study at UNE, the Offer of Admission will list the exact tuition fees you need to pay for your course. Fees quoted cover full-time tuition for two full-time trimesters only. For more information, please see fees and costs.

What are the course fee payment options?

Full Fee places are mostly in postgraduate coursework degrees. In a full fee place you pay the tuition fee set for your course, however you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP Loan to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.

If you are enrolled in a Full Fee place and there is a direct connection between your work and your study, you may be able to claim your tuition fees as a tax deduction.

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government subsidised place in a university course. The government pays part of your tuition fees, and you pay the remainder.

If you have a CSP in either an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan, which allows you to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.

UNE scholarships are open for all to apply and offer financial help while you are studying. There are scholarships for students with high academic achievement, from rural areas, studying specific degrees, in disadvantaged groups, experiencing financial hardship, who excel at sport or want to live in a UNE residential college.

UNE scholarship applications are free and confidential. You may apply for more than one scholarship.

Scholarships

UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.

The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 20%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2024. View detailed Bursary information.

UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying research-based degrees.

Your career

Career outcomes

The world of mental health and wellbeing in Australia is rapidly changing, and future growth of the sector is very strong. With UNE's Graduate Diploma in Counselling, your high skill level, practical experience, and adaptability open a diverse range of opportunities. Counselling professionals are in demand across many specialty fields in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including:

  • relationship and family counselling
  • child and adolescent counselling
  • trauma and grief counselling
  • drug and alcohol rehabilitation
  • mental health counselling
  • career and student counselling.
Professional recognition

UNE's Graduate Diploma in Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), a national peak association, and Australia's largest single registration body for counsellors and psychotherapists. On completion of your degree, you will be eligible to become a registered counsellor with the ACA.

Student membership with the ACA is available while undertaking the course, with professional membership eligibility after graduation. After graduating, should you continue to engage in ongoing professional development, you will also be eligible to be listed on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP), an independent national register of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists.

Course outcomes

This course aims to equip students with advanced theoretical knowledge and practice-based counselling skills.
  1. demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge and skills-based practice in the discipline of counselling;
  2. utilise contemporary research and evidence-based guidelines, together with a professional understanding of diverse client populations and the main approaches used, in order to best meet their client's needs;
  3. apply principles of ethical practice to plan, implement, analyse and document ways of working with clients in complex situations, demonstrating respect for diversity;
  4. conduct skills-based practice sessions in a competent, adaptable and professional manner, demonstrating well-developed judgement, in order to best meet the needs of clients and groups;
  5. engage reflexively in analysis of the development of their professional practice, counselling and supervision skills and on the need for ongoing supervision and professional development; and
  6. demonstrate the capacity to work inter-professionally and to communicate knowledge, skills and ideas to others.
Knowledge of a Discipline

Students will adopt a culturally sensitive, global perspective during the acquisition of advanced knowledge and skills in counselling.

Communication Skills

Students will increase their English language proficiency by developing communication skills to build empathic relationships with clients based on approaches outlined and the ability to critically reflect on the use of these skills.

Problem Solving

Students will develop their ability to review, analyse and critically reflect on knowledge and identify appropriate ways to support clients with complex issues.

Information Literacy

Students will increase their capacity to critically evaluate the sources and validity of relevant information and their ability to think critically and evaluate complex ideas and experiences, using specialised techniques.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Students will increase their capacity to reason, practice and behave in an ethically sound and socially responsible manner towards their clients, colleagues and the wider community.

Lifelong Learning

Students will expand their capacity to take responsibility and be accountable for personal and professional practice as a counsellor through self-reflexive practice.

Independence and Collaboration

Students will extend their understanding of the importance of both effective, multi-disciplinary teamwork and the capacity for competent independent practice when working with clients, their families and the community.

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

A five-star experience

2024 Overall Experience Good University Logo

Five Stars,
18 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 18 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience

Good Universities Guide 2007-2024
2024 Student Experience Good University Logo

No.1 in NSW for
Student Experience

QILT (government-endorsed) ranks UNE as the top public NSW uni for Student Experience

QILT Student Experience Survey
2024 Teaching Quality Good University Logo

Five Stars for
Teaching Quality

UNE rates among the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia for Teaching Quality

Good Universities Guide 2024
Woman studying online at home

Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian University.

As an international student you can take advantage of flexible online study from overseas or while you are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa. You can’t study fully online on a Student Visa.

To study online from overseas you need to consider that you may need to travel to Australia to attend a UNE campus for some mandatory intensive schools.

Studying on Campus

Whether you are an undergraduate student coming to study in Australia for the first time, a PhD student coming to live here with your family, or you only need short-stay accommodation whilst in Armidale for Intensive Schools, we have the perfect accommodation option for you.

Find out more about studying on campus

Stay connected

Register your interest and we'll keep you updated

UNE collects personal information to help with your enquiry and for marketing. Information may be disclosed outside of NSW and Australia through third parties acting for UNE. By entering your details you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Notice and consent to this disclosure.

Why study with us?

Graduate Diploma in Counselling student Cale Moloney standing by a rockface in a black tshirt.

Being guided towards personal and professional growth by the unit coordinators has been a unique, invaluable aspect of studying this degree through UNE.

Cale Moloney, Student, Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Why study with us?

UNE graduate smiles in UNE campus courtyard

Joining UNE was one of the wisest decisions I have ever made. It allowed me to explore so much and gave me the best international platform to stand tall in my field.

Wasana Welikala, UNE graduate

How to apply

Applying to UNE is quick and easy. If you are an
you can apply at any time. Apply now and we'll get you started in the next possible intake.

Preparing to apply

You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.

The kind of documents you need will depend on:

  • Your preferred course/s
  • Your personal circumstances
Applying to UNE is quick and easy. If you are applying as a
, the application process may be a little different depending on who you are and what you want to study.

Preparing to apply

You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.

The kind of documents you need will depend on:

  • Your preferred course/s
  • Your personal circumstances

Important Dates

Different application methods and courses can have different closing dates. To find your correct application method click the Apply Now button below. Please check the appropriate application website for opening and closing dates.

If you are applying online direct to UNE please see below for application dates.

IntakeApplication Closing DateTrimester Start Date
Trimester 116 February 202426 February 2024
Trimester 214 June 202424 June 2024
Trimester 311 October 202421 October 2024

Important Notice for Prospective Students

For accurate, up-to-date details on entry requirements, course structure, and other essential information, please consult the UNE Student Handbook before applying or enrolling. The Handbook provides comprehensive guidance to assist in your decision-making process. We apologise for any inconvenience.

You may also like