Entry requirements

Anyone wishing to enrol in the MCouns must have qualified for one of the following:

• a degree from Aotearoa New Zealand with either acquired experience in counselling, teaching, nursing, social work, or an equivalent profession, or been deemed suitable for training as a counsellor; or
• other approved qualifications of an equivalent standard.

One or more courses in this degree may also require vaccinations. Check each course page for more details.

If English is not your first language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements. If you need help meeting these requirements, or would like to practise your English skills before studying, UC offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language programmes.

Selection will be based on academic attainment and other criteria, which will include an interview for admission to the professional counselling practice course (COUN675 Professional Counselling Practice I). The relevance and standard of previous studies and any subsequent professional work experience are the main criteria of approval. You will normally be expected to have at least a B Grade Point Average in your 300-level courses. You must also be vetted by police.

To apply, you will need to complete an application form – see 'How to Apply' below.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Counselling or use the admission requirements checker.

Entry to the Counselling programme is limited – applications close 1 October.

See the Counselling application process for details of entry requirements, application forms, and start dates.

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

Subjects and courses

• COUN671 Counselling and Psychology: Theories and Skills
• COUN672 Counselling Supervision and Reflective Practice
• COUN675 Professional Counselling Practice I
• COUN681 Solution-Focused Theory and Practice with Individuals and Groups

Note that COUN672 and COUN675 are limited entry courses.

Research Methods course

In Part I, you will also need to complete one of the following:

• HLTH462 Quantitative Methods in Health
• HLTH470 Qualitative Research Methods for Health
• another approved research methods course of at least 15 points

You will normally need to have achieved Part I with a B Grade Point Average or better to proceed onto Part II.

• COUN685 Professional Counselling Practice II

If studying part-time, you will instead complete COUN683 Professional Counselling Practice II (Part A) Part time and COUN684 Professional Counselling Practice II (Part B) Part time.

All students also choose between completing COUN695 Counselling Dissertation (60 points), or at least 60 points of courses chosen from:

• HLTH430 Motivating Behaviour Change I (30 points)
• HLTH 431 Motivating Behaviour Change II (30 points)
• HLTH448 The Foundation of Hospice Palliative Care (30 points)
• HLTH463 Whānau and Community Health (30 points)
• HLTH467 Mental Health and Addictions (30 points)
• HLTH469 Health Issues in the Community (30 points)
• COUN682 Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) (15 points)
• CFPY601 Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (30 points)
• CFPY602 Child and Adolescent Development: Research, Contexts, and Applications (30 points)
• CFPY603 Introduction to Interventions (30 points)
• EDEM608 Understanding Emotions in Education, Leadership, and Health (30 points)
• SOWK612 Tino Rangatiratanga and Mana Motuhake in Practice (15 points)
• CULT419 The Policies and Politics of Sex (30 points)

Career opportunities

Postgraduate study can bring many career benefits eg, specialist skills and enhanced knowledge, entry into specific occupations, higher starting salary/progression rates, research capability/achievement, and evidence of high academic attainment/self-discipline.