Counselling courses
Introduction to Counselling
If you’d like to make a difference in people’s lives, then becoming a counsellor is a fantastic way to do it. After taking an online counselling course, you’ll have the knowledge you need to help people navigate tricky situations, manage their self-care and improve their mental health.
Discover why counselling is the right path for you before exploring your study options through Open Universities Australia. All courses are delivered online by leading Australian universities.
What counselling course to study
If you want to become a counsellor or explore how you can apply counselling skills to another career, you’ll need to start with study.
So what’s the right option for you?
Bachelor degree
Best suits you if:
You’re new to study, curious about counselling, or want to work in mental health in the future.
Don’t have the right ATAR? No worries
View pathwaysPostgraduate degree
Best suits you if:
You’ve already got a bachelor degree and want to upskill or reskill by growing your knowledge in counselling or mental health.
Pathways to a counselling degree
You don't have to put your future on hold if you didn't finish high school, or get the right ATAR.
Start uni with a study pathway today.
No entry requirements
Two options to start
Undergraduate certificates
- Begin your study path in counselling
- Best for domestic students who want to become a registered counsellor
- Flexibly upskill in as little as six months to open up career opportunities
- Gain a qualification and four subjects to credit toward a bachelor degree
- Access student loans to support your journey
Single subjects
- Best for students who want to start small and try out study
- Flexibly upskill a specific area in as little as 10 weeks
- Earn credit with each subject to count towards a bachelor degree
- Access student loans to support your journey
Meet entry requirements to continue to a degree
Bachelor degrees
- 100% online study
- Graduate directly from the university
- Apply what you learn to a variety of careers, or continue on your path to become a counsellor.
Discover counselling courses
Online counselling certificate
Start with no entry requirements, and gain a certificate qualification on the way to completing your degree.
UndergraduateCUR-HPS-CTF
Launch your future in psychology
100% online
6 months full time or part time equivalent
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Online counselling subjects and short courses
Start small with no entry requirements, and gain entry into a degree, or other qualification.
UndergraduateUSA-NURS1067
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 24 Jun 2024
UndergraduateUSA-SOCU1007
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 24 Jun 2024
UndergraduateUSA-SOCU1008
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 24 Jun 2024
UndergraduateTAS-CAD003
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 22 Jul 2024
UndergraduateTAS-HGA102
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 22 Jul 2024
UndergraduateTAS-PSY114
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 22 Jul 2024
UndergraduateTAS-ZAC101
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 22 Jul 2024
UndergraduateLTU-SOC1GIL
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 29 Jul 2024
UndergraduateUSA-BEHL1026
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
UndergraduateUSA-BEHL2019
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
UndergraduateUSA-HLTH1054
100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
Online counselling degrees
Help people manage their mental health, and make a difference in the lives of others with a bachelor degree.
UndergraduateSCU-COU-DEG
Work with people and make real change
Online & on-campus
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateECU-COU-DEG
Gain knowledge and skills in the foundations of counselling
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateTUA-COU-DEG
Facilitate real, long-lasting change in people's lives
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateECU-PSC-DEG
Analyse, listen, and respond to people with empathy
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateTUA-COS-DEG
Help people in communities connect and thrive
Online & on-campus
3 years full time or part time equivalent
UndergraduateSWI-SSB-DEG
Bachelor of Social Science with a Major in Behavioural Studies
Build amazing people skills to understand those around you
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Online counselling postgraduate courses
Progress your career and deepen your understanding of counselling with postgraduate study.
PostgraduateTUA-MOC-MAS
Support your clients and take care of yourself
100% online
Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateUSQ-MHC-GDI
Build your expertise in mental health counselling
Online & on-campus
1 year full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateUSQ-CYF-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Child, Youth & Family Therapy)
Build your expertise in family counselling
Online & on-campus
1 year full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateTAS-COU-GCE
Strengthen your therapy skills to guide clients through hardship
100% online
1 year full time or part time equivalent
PostgraduateTAS-COU-GDI
Help people navigate life's challenges
100% online
1 year full time or part time equivalent
Not sure what to study? Take our course matching quiz.
Help me choose a courseStudent reviews
We support thousands of students on their study journey every year
Our advisors are here to help with your study goals from enrolment to completion 7 days a week.
Counselling study FAQs
A Diploma of Counselling is a great choice for you if you don’t have prior counselling experience. You’ll gain foundational skills that you can use in many healthcare settings, including alcohol and drug rehabilitation, family counselling and phone counselling.
A Graduate Certificate in Counselling is a six-month qualification, while a Graduate Diploma in Counselling is a 12-month qualification. Both are designed to quickly upskill those who already have some experience in the health industry.
A Masters Degree in counselling (or a related area) is a more advanced postgraduate qualification for those who would like to specialise or take on a more senior role in counselling.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.
Chat with us to find out more.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
- You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there. - You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you. - You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students. - We’ll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
- You can enrol without entry requirements
Why should you study counselling?
If you’re interested in learning more about the human mind so you can help others manage their mental health, then a counselling course could be the perfect fit. Studying counselling allows you to use your compassion and empathy in a professional setting.
Demand for those in counselling roles has grown strongly over the last five years. Data gathered by Labour Market Insights suggests that Australia will need 3,500 new trained counsellors by 2026.
What you'll learn in a counselling course
It depends on where you are in your study journey. At an undergraduate level, a counselling degree covers the knowledge and skills that form the foundations of counselling. At a postgraduate level, counselling diplomas give students the opportunity to diver deeper and specialise.
Regardless of the path you choose, you’ll explore a variety of mental health topics, including mental health first aid and how to support others through personal issues like grief, chronic illness and trauma. Once you better understand the human mind, you’ll know how to encourage healthy thoughts and behaviours. You’ll also learn techniques for managing your own stress and helping others with theirs.
On graduating, you’ll have the knowledge you need to counsel others in different contexts, while keeping ethical considerations firmly front of mind. You’ll also be able to apply relevant counselling theories and research to better understand mental wellbeing and distress.
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You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year
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