Bachelor of Counselling

At the end of the program, students of the Bachelor of Counselling can:

1. Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and skills in the foundations of Counselling.
2. Review, analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate foundation psychodynamic, humanistic and systemic counselling theoretical frameworks.
3. Exercise critical thinking and judgement to identify and solve problems as applied to understanding the dynamics and process of individual counselling and psychotherapy. (3)
4. Communicate knowledge and ideas demonstrating interpersonal skills and essential counselling skills relevant to an entry level professional helping role.
5. Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving, and decision-making appropriate to engaging professionally with others in a supportive counselling role.
6. Integrate entry level counselling knowledge and skills into diverse contexts.
7. Develop counselling transliteracy including an appreciation of the distinctness of the consulting room context.
8. Work collaboratively in groups producing quality counselling knowledge.
9. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues and principles and their application to engaging with, maintaining and terminating a professional relationship within an entry level counselling context.
10. Use creativity, innovation and the ability to generate ideas to work constructively in a supportive professional role.
11. Demonstrate an awareness of counselling practice that is astute to human diversity in all its forms including issues of power differences.
12. Demonstrate clear understanding of the importance of a developmental focus and its application to understanding individuals, couples, families and groups at a local and global level.

Our counselling degree will start you on an enthralling journey to unravel the human mind. You’ll begin to explore the relationship between biology, psychology and our environment.

The course gives you the opportunity to learn interpersonal competencies, including communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, self-reflection, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

The clinical knowledge, diverse expertise and experience of our academic staff will help you develop the foundational skills, to use this knowledge in the future – in your own relationships, but more importantly should you wish to pursue postgraduate studies in counselling and psychotherapy.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• Dynamic Models of Counselling
• Therapeutic Practice with Families and Couples
• Self Development 1
• Culture and Diversity in Therapeutic Practice

Plus there’s a selection of majors, minors and electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

Students are required to complete 360 credit points.

Choose your subjects

Majors

Students are required to complete 12 Core units. In addition to the core units, students should complete any 12 unit major in the School of Arts and Humanities from discipline areas such as Social Science, Youth Work, Design, Psychology, Arts, Contemporary Arts and Media & Communications; or any other combination of majors, minors, or elective units from the School of Arts and Humanities or other schools where available.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $37,200

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

ECU is ranked one of the world’s best young universities and Australia’s best public university for teaching quality. That quality extends to more than 30,000 students, many studying online through Open Universities Australia. ECU offers the same quality of teaching to you, regardless of where you’re studying in the world. Their flexible study solutions include a huge range of online courses, recognising your need to juggle work, family or other commitments.

Learn more about ECU.

Explore ECU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

29

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

One or more of the majors in this course has admission requirements. Refer to the major for more information.

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. Academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• AQF Cert IV;
• Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Undergraduate Certificate;
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
• University Preparation Course;*
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
• For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

Alternatively, applicants can apply with the indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published.

Alternatively, applicants can apply via Experience Based Entry Scheme, subject to eligibility.

Students can satisfy English competency requirements by showing any of the following: 

• Results of Year 12 English ATAR or English Literature ATAR with a grade C or better or equivalent. 
• Results of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test to ECU’s standards. 
• An IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0). 
• Completion of 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada. 
• Completion of an ECU University Preparation Course, Indigenous University Orientation Course, or Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment. 
• Completion of a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree as described by the Australia Qualifications Framework. 
• Completion of 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or 
• Completion of other tests, courses or programs as accepted by ECU.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. For eligible students, ECU offers credit and recognition of prior learning (CRPL). There are 2 CRPL options: 

• Credit transfer to acknowledge students’ formal learning at uni or TAFE. 

• Recognition of students’ informal learning gained outside of the education system (for example workplace experience or volunteer training.)