Skip to content
Postgraduate

Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice)

Domestic students International students
Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Foundations of Practice) (GDCN)
Entry requirements
View full details
Study mode
  • External
Campus
  • -
Duration
  • 1 year or part-time equivalent
Start
  • Jan, May, Sep
Intakes
Note: The four Foundations of Practice courses within this major all have mandatory residential schools on-campus at Ipswich.

Go to

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.

Entry requirements 

  • A bachelor's degree from a recognised university.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 8 units.

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 2023 UniSQ Handbook for an example of courses to be studied. Recommended enrolment patterns for study in 2024 will be available shortly from the 2024 UniSQ Handbook.

From next year, all courses in this degree will be offered Trimester study periods. For example, if a course was previously offered in Semester 1, it will be offered in Trimester 1 in 2024. Trimester 1 starts on 22 January 2024.

Residential schools

This degree has a mandatory attendance requirement for some of the residential school courses. All students will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials to gain practical experience, use facilities and specialist equipment, and meet staff and other students.

Other specialisations

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 26640

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2023. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP. 

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Trimester 1, 2 or 3.

Study period  Application closing date Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2024  Monday 22 January Monday 15 January Monday 22 January Friday 26 April 
Trimester 2, 2024 Monday 13 May Monday 6 May Monday 13 May  Friday 16 August
Trimester 3, 2024 Monday 2 September Monday 26 August Monday 2 September Friday 6 December 

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2024

Talk to us