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Study online or a combination of both on-campus and onlineEducating future generations for more than 50 years
The trusted leader in educating our educatorsFast Facts
Location
Online students must undertake their professional placement in Australia
Townsville students please note that some subjects are only available online
Commencing
- Online: January, September
- Townsville: January, September
Fees
$4,900+
$26,014^
+
estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load. Please note this estimate is variable and subject to fluctuation depending on choice of elective subjects.
^
estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee. Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2026, which are subject to change in following years.
Duration
1 year and 1 trimester
2 years and 2 trimesters part-time
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor in cognate discipline
Course Code
34704
Course detail
Ready to take on a career that supports others to live confidently and healthily as they find the path that’s best for them? Studying JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling will equip you to provide information and support to future clients in the ways they need most. Whether you go on to work as a school guidance officer or professional counsellor, you’ll have an array of guidance and counselling techniques and skills, allowing you to compassionately and sensitively educate and empower your future clients.
Over the course of this 1.5-year degree, you will gain a deep and critical understanding of the theoretical origins and concepts underpinning current approaches to counselling and their application to the field, including career development. You will explore the intercultural applications of guidance and counselling to the tropical context, including Indigenous, rural and regional wellbeing. You will develop strong micro and macro skills in counselling and have opportunities for intentional practice of micro skills in simulated counselling sessions.
This Master of Guidance and Counselling degree has eight core subjects that cover topics such as the foundations of counselling theory and practice, advanced counselling techniques, reflective practice, career and leisure guidance, and atypical development. You can tailor the degree to suit your interests and career goals by choosing four elective subjects, with options including educational research, behaviour management, social learning perspectives, conflict analysis and resolution, plus many others.
In this degree, you will undertake an individual, small-scale research project that encourages informed, action-oriented leadership approaches to building social and/or ecological capacity in the guidance and counselling field. You will be supported in your research by expert academics who will give you advice and guidance relevant to your chosen topic and your future goals. The research knowledge and skills you gain in this project will prepare you for pursuing a Higher Degree by Research.
Upon completion of JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling, you will be ready to be a guidance officer, counsellor, or career development advisor with the ability to identify complex issues, develop creative solutions, give informed guidance and provide compassionate counselling in a range of professional guidance and counselling practice contexts.
View the handbook for a detailed overview of subjects.
Additional information
Study a Master of Guidance and Counselling at JCU
If you already work in a well-being capacity and want to deepen your knowledge to help others, JCU’s Master of Guidance and Counselling may be the next step toward a more fulfilled career. This course covers 8 core topics that will take practitioners from foundational to advanced level skills. The purpose of JCU’s Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling is for graduates to be able to offer skilled support for people’s social and emotional lives in different cultural contexts.
Australia is home to many different cultural contexts including Indigenous, migrant and refugee communities. In addition, there are rural and regional aspects to take into consideration when planning how to provide guidance to communities. Through studying this specialised counselling master’s degree, graduates will gain a deeper insight into how to sensitively and compassionately empower individuals and communities to provide lasting outcomes. The course will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to provide guidance to clients and also to devise ethically delivered community guidance programs.
Core Subjects for JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling
The JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of counselling guidance and practice. Eight core subjects must be studied including:
- Foundations of counselling theory and practice
- Advanced counselling techniques
- Reflective practice
- Career and leisure guidance
- Atypical development
To further tailor study to suit the individual participant’s interests, it is possible to choose four electives from subjects such as:
- Educational research
- Behaviour Management
- Social learning perspectives
- Conflict analysis and resolution
Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling students will also need to complete an individual small-scale project. More information can be found on the main course page. The whole course can be completed within an 18-month timeframe if all deadlines are met. Postgraduate students will be supported by leading industry experts to gain a first-class understanding of counselling theory and practice.
Career Options for JCU Master Degree in Guidance and Counselling Graduates
JCU graduates work in a range of different fields such as guidance, counselling, and career development. Some sectors that need graduates with an information, advice and guidance masters include private and public sector organisations where specialist human resource management is required, schools and charities. The JCU Master's degree in Guidance and Counselling is also accredited within Australia and Singapore, allowing graduates to work internationally.
JCU is pleased to welcome students from Australia and internationally. Please view the general admission requirements section in the course handbook for eligibility criteria and pathways to this course. If you are considering doing a Masters of Guidance and Counselling in Queensland, there is a choice of flexible study options. students can choose between in-person attendance at the JCU Townsville campus and online delivery. Online students will have to attend some on-campus classes to qualify.
If you are ready to take the next step to become an accredited professional counsellor, visit the JCU main course page for further information on entry requirements and fees. Read the current student and alumni testimonials to see where this pathway could take you.
Hide additional information
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Guidance and Counselling .
Diversify your teaching and human resource management skills with a JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling.
You could provide specialist human resource management skills across the public or private sector for business or government, as well working in schools as a guidance counsellor*.
This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association and the Singapore Association for Counselling, giving you the ability to pursue a career internationally.
* Please note: Qualification requirements can vary between states, sectors and educational institutions. Interested applicants are encouraged to confirm the JCU Master of Guidance and Counselling meets the conditions of their intended employer. In some instances, further study may be required.
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,900.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD26,014.00
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Learn more about fees and financial support
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Advance your career in education.
Build the expertise, confidence, and practical skills to lead, teach, and create real impact in diverse learning environments — with postgraduate study at JCU.
Real stories
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Student
Garrett McKenzie
Master of Guidance and Counselling
Working within a wellbeing role already, I am now able to better understand students and their behaviour to support them more effectively in the classroom. Some of the best school leaders I’ve worked with have a Masters of Guidance and Counselling and are some of the greatest and most inspiring leaders in their fields.
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Alumni
Irna Spigariol
Master of Guidance and Counselling
The course prepared me fully for my new career and I have gained my first position as a Guidance Officer in The Torres Strait Islands. As a first generation Australian from a minority background, I hope to assist other students who have had adversity in their lives, to stretch their success and lead fulfilling lives.
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Course Coordinator
Dr Margaret-Anne Carter
Master of Guidance and Counselling
Our Master of Guidance and Counselling course takes an integrative approach to counselling theory and practice, combining industry-relevant skills with practice-based experiences.
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Employer
Colette Wasson
Director, Human Resources Business Partnering, Education Queensland
The Department of Education finds JCU students to be equipped with the knowledge, skill set and willingness to make a difference in Queensland State Schools. Graduates leave JCU with a well-rounded ability to succeed in the classroom, while also stepping outside their comfort zone to begin their professional careers.