Course Duration
AQF and Course Codes
Tuition Fees
AU$52,416
at 2026 fees
Next Intake
February, April, July
Apply

Apply now to begin to begin your study journey

Course Overview

The need for well-trained mental health professionals has never been greater. As a counsellor you will work alongside other committed professionals to improve the lives of many people. Be they young people, couples, families, people self-identifying as members of a diversity community, or the elderly – you will make a difference.

To get you on the right path a Bachelor of Counselling at the University of Divinity will not only teach you how to be a competent practitioner, but help you to become a wise practitioner. In fact, we at the university are committed to virtues such as hope, courage, and compassion. It’s one of the things that makes us different. In addition, we are determined to train counsellors for the mid-21st century. You will therefore also learn about AI in mental health as well as basic business skills. By the end of your training you will be ready to take on the challenge of clients and to play your part in an exciting profession dedicated to helping others.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Counselling:

  1. have gained a broad, coherent and integrated understanding of various counselling approaches relevant to a diversity of clients, their contexts and traditions.
  2. are able to compare and contrast the relative merits of different innovative therapeutic approaches and so apply the appropriate approach depending on their own personal strengths/vulnerabilities and the client’s needs.
  3. have developed cognitive, technical, communication, professional, and basic business skills so as to practice in an impactful way that both enhances client outcomes and minimises risk in multiple counselling contexts.
  4. have developed their clinical, ethical and cultural judgement leading to an integrated awareness informing professional and collegiate practice.
  5. have gained personal and professional insight through critical reflection on self, the profession, and how society (including religion) impacts and shapes notions of wellbeing, distress, and marginalisation.

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Counselling consists of 432 points.

Course Structure Unit Type Points
Year 1 (144 points)
CO1001Z Expressing Integrity Through Excellence In Academic And Professional Communication Core 18
CO1002Z Self, Profession, And Society Core 18
CO1003Z Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, And Decision-Making Core 18
CO1004Z The Human Condition Core 18
CO1005Z Introduction To Counselling Core 18
CO1006Z Engaging Diversity Core 18
CO1007Z Introduction To Psychology Core 18
CO1008Z Data Literacy For Clinicians Core 18
Year 2 (144 points)
CO2001Z Human Development, Personality, And Identity Core 18
CO2002Z Working With Children, Adolescents, And Older Adults Core 18
CO2003Z Trauma-Informed Counselling In The Context Of Loss and Grief Core 18
CO2006Z What Is Abnormal?: The Individual, Diagnostics, And Society Core 18
CO2007Z Counselling Ethics, The Law, And Best-Practice Core 18
CO2008Z Self-Care And The Workplace (incl. 36hrs on-job training) Core 18
Elective units approved by the Dean of Academic Programs Elective 36
Year 3 (144 points)
CO3002Z Complex Clients: Neurodiversity, Addictions, And Personality Disorders Core 18
CO3003Z Virtues-Based Counselling: Working With Hope, Courage, And Compassion Core 18
CO3007Z Emerging Technologies, AI, And The Business Of Counselling Core 18
150 hours placement, including 20 hours counselling and 20 hours supervision, comprising:

  • CO3001Z Placement – Part A (18 points) and CO3006Z Placement – Part B (18 points)

or

  • CO3011Z Professional Placement: Counselling (36 points)
Core 36
Elective units approved by the Dean of Academic Programs Elective 36
CO3008Z Capstone Project Core 18

 

Students who complete Year 1 may exit with the Diploma in Counselling.

Students who complete Year 2 may exit with the Advanced Diploma in Counselling.

Admission: Minimum Academic Requirement

Australian secondary school qualification or equivalent.

Probationary admission is available into the first year of the Counselling program (Diploma level).

Admission: Other Requirements

Applicants to the undergraduate Counselling program must:

  • have regular access to a computer that supports video and other standard computing software.
  • No later than by the completion of their eighth (final) first year unit, provide:
    • a national police check (completed at the candidate’s expense).
    • a Working With Children’s check (or equivalent; and completed at the candidate’s expense).
  • Subject to the applicable state legislation and industry standards, candidates may be required to provide evidence of current COVID-19 vaccination in order to commence clinical placement.

The Bachelor of Counselling requires completion of 432 points of study, or 21 standard undergraduate units and 3 non-standard undergraduate units.

Fees for 2026 are $2,184 per standard unit* or $17,472 for a year of full-time study (8 units). The total course cost is $52,416*.

Fees are subject to change from year to year. For more information about fees, please visit the Fees page.

*In year two and three students will undertake on-the-job training as placements. These are 3 non-standard units which will include a surcharge for the clinical supervision of students.

Credit is granted in accordance with the Credit Policy.

Graduate pathways

The Bachelor of Counselling qualifies graduates to work as professional counsellors. Further study pathways include the Doctor of Philosophy.

Home College

All students join the University through a Home College or School – so the first step is to put you in touch with one of the course advisors at a college, who can talk with you about your study goals, help you with the admission process, and provide support during your studies.

The Bachelor of Counselling is hosted and delivered by Australian Lutheran College.

Australian Lutheran College (ALC) is a diverse learning community, committed to learning for life, providing excellence in theological education and training that prepares tomorrow’s leaders in church and community.

While the ALC team is primarily located in Adelaide, South Australia, the Bachelor of Counselling is taught from the University of Divinity’s St Paschal Campus in Box Hill, Victoria.

Study Modes

Courses can be delivered through a variety of modes, such as:

  • Face-to-face: This is the traditional mode of study where you attend your classes in person at a physical location.
  • Online: In this mode, teaching and learning activities are delivered online.
  • Mixed-modes: This combines both face-to-face and online units throughout your award.
  • Intensive: this involves completing a condensed amount of content over a shorter period of time. Intensives can be face-to-face or online.
  • Supervised Research: This involves independent research, which is supervised by one or more people with expertise in the field.

Some units include compulsory 2-day intensives, all held in Melbourne. Students may study from anywhere in Australia, provided they are able to attend these intensives.

Course Duration

The standard full-time duration of the Bachelor of Counselling is three years. The Bachelor of Counselling must be completed in not less than three years and not more than nine years from the date on which the course is commenced.
Standard Minimum Maximum
3 years
3 years
9 years

Regulation:

Course Code:

BCOUN

CRICOS Code:

N/A

The table gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students admitted into this course. It provides data on all students who commenced study in the most relevant recent intake period.

Undergraduate intake for Semester 2, 2025

Applicant Background Number of Students Percentage of Students
(A) Past Higher Education Study 2 40%
(B) Past Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study 2 40%
(C) Recent Secondary Education
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR 0 0%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered 0 0%
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor 1 20%
(D) Work and life experience 0 0%
International Students 0 0%
All Students 5 100%

You can compare other institutions with the University of Divinity to help inform your undergraduate study choices. ComparED is an initiative of the Australian Government. It’s powered by QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching) surveys that draw data from real life student experiences from commencement of study through to employment.

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, students will receive an invitation to graduate. This entitles the graduate to wear the approved Academic Dress at the graduation ceremony, and to use the approved postnominals after their name.

Academic Dress

Gown: Black Bachelor gown

Headwear: None

Hood: Lilac

Postnominals

BCouns

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Course Structure
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    [​future_pathways] => <p>The Bachelor of Counselling qualifies graduates to work as professional counsellors. Further study pathways include the <a href="https://divinity.edu.au/courses/doctor-of-philosophy/">Doctor of Philosophy</a>.</p>...
    [​fees_cost] => 52,416
    [​fees_year] => 2026
)
Getting meta data from field: table_test_body from current_post, Bachelor of Counselling
Empty Response. No Repeater Items Found
A

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