Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice)

Overview

• UniSQ's Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) is designed to provide you with foundational knowledge and contextual understanding of counselling practice.
• During this degree you will study counselling frameworks, professional practice and ethics, and counselling assessment and interventions.
• The knowledge you acquire will be transferable between nursing, psychology, teaching, welfare, human services or allied health practices.
• While study is mainly external, you will be required to attend mandatory residential schools at UniSQ Ipswich campus associated with four designated courses to meet the required number of hours of face-to-face instruction and ensure you have the best possible skills preparation.

Further study

A UniSQ Graduate Diploma of Counselling enables you to apply for membership with the Australian Counselling Association. However, if you wish to gain professional accreditation and practice as a counsellor we recommend you go on to study the Master of Counselling. You may be eligible to transfer to the Master of Counselling once you have completed 50 percent of the Graduate Diploma of Counselling (which must include two Foundation of Practice courses).

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.

Career outcomes

• As a graduate, your counselling and case management skills will provide you with the opportunity to work in a professional nursing, psychology, teaching, welfare, human services or allied health practices.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 8 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* 5 3 x approved courses 3 Total 8

*All core courses have a mandatory 4-day residential school at UniSQ Ipswich and 10 hours of mandatory online tutorials.

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

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.

This degree has a mandatory attendance requirement for some of the residential school courses. View the UniSQ Handbook or please contact us for more information.

Other specialisations

• Alcohol & Drug Studies
• Child, Youth & Family Therapy
• 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.