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Bachelor of Counselling
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Bachelor of Counselling
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Bachelor of Counselling
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Christian Counselling

The University of Divinity is an ecumenical university which welcomes all people. It is committed to evidence-based, best practice, counselling education. The university also recognises that engagement with relevant religious and spiritual ideas enhances counselling practice. What the Bachelor of Counselling prizes is:

  • That all people are made in the image of God.
  • A narrative which highlights redemptive possibilities.
  • Showing hospitality and generosity to all.
  • The hope of the Christian life.

Our teachers are, by-and-large, mature Christians who are adept at facilitating deep conversations which integrate clinical best practice, your personal context, and questions of faith.

At the completion of the degree, our students will have the capacity – within their scope of practice – to consider clients from a biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual perspective.

Why study Counselling with the University of Divinity?

#1 in Australia for student experience

The University of Divinity is nationally recognised as having the most positive student experience of any university in Australia.

A unique approach

We seek to attract a diverse range of students who can gift insights from their lived experience. These students come with empathy and knowledge that can’t be learnt from textbooks. In addition to counselling skills, we focus on virtues such as hope, courage, and compassion. You will engage the human condition in all its messiness and beauty. You will also learn about artificial intelligence in mental health and basic business skills.

As a graduate, you will be well prepared for the 21st-century workplace and for future client needs.

Highly experienced teachers

Our teachers and associates have significant crossover experience between professional practice and academia. Under their guidance, you will learn critical thinking, evidence-based practice and develop empathy allowing you to work to effectively with a range of clients. The team of teachers and associates is led by Dr Tom Edwards.

Commonwealth Supported Places

Commonwealth Supported Places may be available for some Bachelor of Counselling students. Places are allocated on an equity basis to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. For the purposes of Equity Places, disadvantaged groups include:

  • students from low SES backgrounds
  • students from inner regional, outer regional, remote and very remote areas
  • students who are first in family to study at university
  • First Nations students students with a disability

The 2026 unit tuition fee for students who are eligible for a commonwealth-supported place is AUD$2,170 per unit.

Flexible learning

All Counselling units use blended learning to enable flexibility around work/life commitments. Blended learning means a mix of online and face-to-face components.

Learning materials will be available through online modules for students to access at any time 24/7 during the unit.

Seminars are scheduled outside normal working hours to permit flexibility.

Intensives (2-day compulsory) have an experiential focus and are a great way to meet your fellow classmates in person. Note that all intensives are held in Melbourne.

University of Divinity Box Hill VIC campus (2023).
University of Divinity Box Hill VIC campus (2023).

Industry accreditation and memberships

The Bachelor of Counselling is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association. The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) is the largest professional association for registered counsellors, psychotherapists and students in the Australia. It is dedicated to ensuring accreditation, professional development and growth, ethical conduct, and high standards in education and practice. 

The Bachelor of Counselling is endorsed by the Christian Counsellors Association of Australia. The Christian Counsellors Association of Australia (CCAA) is the nation’s key professional body for counsellors who work at the intersection of faith and professional practice. 

The University of Divinity is a member of the National Heads of Counselling and Psychotherapy Education network. The network represents Higher Education providers throughout Australia who deliver counselling training.

Hear from our students

SarahMinistry Student 2025
True service begins with presence and deep listening. … I discovered the quiet power of simply being with someone in their truth. This experience deepened my understanding of counselling and ministry as a sacred responsibility—grounded in empathy, not assumption, and I highly recommend the University of Divinity for anyone seeking a meaningful and transformative journey.
Sue2nd year student 2024
fter attending other universities I would say that it is the intimate style of education that makes the counselling degree at the University of Divinity unique. Smaller class sizes and access to support makes it easy to navigate the course. The lecturers are very passionate which is reflected in the positivity of the students. I really wouldn’t study anywhere else.
Christina2nd year student 2024
Each class leaves me inspired and eager to learn more. The support and guidance from my professors/lectures and peers has been invaluable. The collaborative learning environment fosters a sense of community and encourages meaningful exchanges of ideas and perspectives. Overall, I cannot emphasise enough how grateful I am for the opportunity to pursue this degree.
Nancy2nd year student 2023
Thank you for having the best teachers to teach us. … The lecturers you chose were such beautiful human beings. Such learned people who taught with so much compassion, patience and understanding it made me feel safe to ask questions… I learned so much from them and they made us feel empowered.
Fiona2nd year student 2023
I took the leap of faith to start my Counselling journey with the University of Divinity. My journey has been a bit like a river that ebbs and flows, and has been rocky along the way, but my teachers have always shown me the way forward. I have never regretted my choice to study with the University of Divinity!

Study Information

Counselling at the UD is hosted and delivered by Australian Lutheran College.

Australian Lutheran College 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.

Bachelor of Counselling

Course Duration
  • 3 years full-time
  • Up to 9 years part-time
AQF and Course Codes
  • Bachelor Degree (AQF 7)
  • Course Code: BCOUN
  • CRICOS: (N/A)
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.

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.

Consult the full Course Page

Information on this page is a summary only. Explore the course page for full information about admission criteria, tuition fees, pathways to further study, and more. 

Bachelor of Counselling

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.

Australian Lutheran College

Delivery and classes

You can visit the ALC website for current delivery information including:

  • Application dates throughout the year and how to book an appointment with a course advisor.
  • Specific information about the delivery of the course including locations, learning modes, calendars and timetables.
  • A guide on the progression of units throughout your course.
  • Facilities and support available to you as a student.

How to apply

Register your interest

Contact the team at Australian Lutheran College to register your interest. The ALC team can help you with questions about the course, units, delivery information and the admissions process.

Apply for admission

Once you’re ready to apply, fill out the application form. You’ll be contacted to arrange a time for an interview with Dr Tom Edwards. The purpose of the interview is to ensure that this course is right for you.

Submit your completed application form by email to the team at Australian Lutheran College, at: enquiries@alc.edu.au

Admission Form for Counselling
Apply for admission into the Counselling course(s) if you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen.

Contact

For more information and course advice (prospective and current students):

Australian Lutheran College

Email: enquiries@alc.edu.au
Phone: (08) 7120 8200
Website: https://alc.edu.au/study/counselling-programs/

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Send us a message using this form to register your interest in the course, ask a question, or receive course advice.

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