Counselling courses

Train as a counsellor, and empower others to overcome their personal challenges

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.

Open Universities Australia student, Emma, outdoors next to a plant covered wall.
Emma studied psychological sciences with Swinburne University through Open Universities Australia

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.

View bachelor degrees

Don’t have the right ATAR? No worries

View pathways

Postgraduate 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.

View postgraduate degrees

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

Most popular

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
View undergraduate certificates

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
View single subjects

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.

Curtin University

UndergraduateCUR-HPS-CTF

Undergraduate Certificate in Psychology

Launch your future in psychology

100% online

6 months full time or part time equivalent

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

View all undergraduate certificates

Online counselling subjects and short courses

Start small with no entry requirements, and gain entry into a degree, or other qualification.

University of Tasmania

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Enrolments open until 18 Jul

University of Tasmania

UndergraduateTAS-HGA102

Sociology: Experiencing Social Life

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Enrolments open until 18 Jul

University of Tasmania

UndergraduateTAS-PSY114

Stress, Self-Care and Mindfulness

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Enrolments open until 18 Jul

University of Tasmania

UndergraduateTAS-ZAC101

Supporting People and Diversity

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Enrolments open until 18 Jul

La Trobe University

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 29 Jul 2024

Next enrolment closes 21 Jul

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-BEHL1026

Counselling Concepts

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 16 Sep 2024

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-BEHL2019

Introductory Research Methods

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 16 Sep 2024

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-HLTH1054

Health and Society

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 16 Sep 2024

University of South Australia

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-SOCU1007

Sociological Perspectives

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-SOCU1008

The Social World

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

View all subjects

Online counselling degrees

Help people manage their mental health, and make a difference in the lives of others with a bachelor degree.

Southern Cross University

UndergraduateSCU-COU-DEG

Bachelor of Counselling

Work with people and make real change

Online & on-campus

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Edith Cowan University

UndergraduateECU-COU-DEG

Bachelor of Counselling

Gain knowledge and skills in the foundations of counselling

100% online

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Torrens University Australia

UndergraduateTUA-COU-DEG

Bachelor of Counselling

Facilitate real, long-lasting change in people's lives

100% online

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Edith Cowan University

UndergraduateECU-PSC-DEG

Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling

Analyse, listen, and respond to people with empathy

100% online

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Torrens University Australia

UndergraduateTUA-COS-DEG

Bachelor of Community Services

Help people in communities connect and thrive

Online & on-campus

3 years full time or part time equivalent

Swinburne University of Technology

Build amazing people skills to understand those around you

100% online

3 years full time or part time equivalent

View all bachelor degrees

Online counselling postgraduate courses

Progress your career and deepen your understanding of counselling with postgraduate study.

Torrens University Australia

PostgraduateTUA-MOC-MAS

Master of Counselling

Support your clients and take care of yourself

100% online

Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent

University of Southern Queensland

Build your expertise in mental health counselling

Online & on-campus

1 year full time or part time equivalent

University of Southern Queensland

Build your expertise in family counselling

Online & on-campus

1 year full time or part time equivalent

University of Tasmania

PostgraduateTAS-COU-GCE

Graduate Certificate of Counselling

Strengthen your therapy skills to guide clients through hardship

100% online

1 year full time or part time equivalent

University of Tasmania

PostgraduateTAS-COU-GDI

Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Help people navigate life's challenges

100% online

1 year full time or part time equivalent

View all postgraduate degrees

Discover 39 ways to study counselling with leading Australian universities.

Explore counselling courses

Not sure what to study? Take our course matching quiz.

Help me choose a course

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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

What’s the difference between a diploma in counselling, a certificate in counselling and a degree in counselling?

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.

How do I enrol?

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.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

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.

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

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.

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.

Student stories and study advice

From minimum wage to psychologist: Meet single mum Courtney

Courtney is a single mum living in Tasmania. She was earning minimum wage, didn’t finish Year 12, and didn't think she would ever go back to study again–until she spoke to a student advisor at Open Universities Australia.  

How online learning can empower students with school refusal

If school refusal (or ‘school can’t’) is affecting your family, there is hope. Learn more about this growing issue, and how online learning might help.

The power of a workout: Can exercise boost your grades?

If you’re looking for ways to improve your focus, studying longer and harder might not actually be the answer. 

4 high-growth jobs in mental health

The stigma associated with mental health issues is quickly disappearing—what a relief! But with more people seeking help, we need more specialists (future you) in the sector.

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 518,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

Enrol in courses from 25 of Australia's leading universities

University of Southern Queensland logoBond University logo
The University of Newcastle logoSwinburne University logo
James Cook University Australia logoThe University of Queensland logo
Griffith University logoUniversity of South Australia logo
La Trobe University logoEdith Cowan University logo
Flinders University logoUniversity of New England logo
Torrens University Australia logoUniversity of Adelaide logo
Macquarie University logoUniversity of the Sunshine Coast logo
RMIT University logoAustralian Catholic University logo
Southern Cross University logoCharles Sturt University logo
Australian National University logoThe University of Notre Dame Australia logo
University of Tasmania logoMurdoch University logo
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