Academic Regulations 2004/05
School of Social Sciences (New College)

Diploma of Higher Education: Counselling (1543)


  1. The Diploma in Higher Education - Counselling, will be awarded by Senate on the recommendation of the School Board to candidates who have satisfactorily completed a course of part-time study, who have satisfied the examination requirements and who have met the minimum 80% attendance requirements for the course.
  2. The period of study will normally extend over not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years.
  3. Applicants for admission to the course must normally hold a Certificate of Higher Education or equivalent qualifications/experience. All course admissions will be subject to the approval of the School Board.
  4. Up to 50% of the credits required to be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education: Counselling, may be attained through the transfer of credits or the accreditation of prior learning as approved by the School Board.
  5. The course consists of required and optional units of learning (see list below). Each unit of learning has a specified CATS rating in accordance with the CATS Guide and Regulations.
  6. To be eligible for the award, candidates must normally complete units amounting to 240 credit points at a pass grade or above in each unit. The total of 240 credit points includes 120 credit points at Level C. These are earned either by possession of the University's Certificate of Higher Education or by being granted Advanced Standing in respect of equivalent qualifications/experience from elsewhere. The other 120 points are obtained at Level 2 upon satisfactory completion of this Diploma.
  7. Examination will be by assessment of written work, clinical practice and such other methods of examination as are approved by the School Board as appropriate to the course. Candidates who have successfully completed the required units and the additional practitioner requirements will be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education: Counselling.
  8. Subject to the approval of the School Board, candidates who have been unsuccessful in the examination of any unit may normally submit themselves to be re-examined in that unit on one occasion only. The School Board shall prescribe the conditions for the re-examination of each candidate.
Diploma of Higher Education: Counselling

To complete the Diploma you will need to attend all the following units, core and option, but only need to submit assignments to a total of 120 credits (these are all at Level I - Intermediate). The course is normally studied over two years, but you may take up to five years if necessary.

Core Units (Assessments must be submitted for all of these):

COUN2009 Therapeutic Relationships Overview (Year 1, Semester I)
COUN2005 Transferential Relationships (Year 1, Semester II )
COUN2008 Reparative and Real Relationships (Year 1, Semester II
COUN2007 The Researcher/Practitioner (Year 1, Semester II)
COUN2006 The Troubled Mind (Year 2, Semester I)
COUN2010 The Reflective Practitioner (Year 2, Semester II)
COUN2003 Human Sexuality (Year 2, Semester II)

Option Units (All must be attended, but assessments for only 15 credits need be submitted) :

COUN2004 Counselling and Health (Year 2, Semester I)
COUN2011 Cultural Identities (Year 1, Semester II)
COUN2012 Spirituality and Prejudice (Year 2, Semester I)
COUN2013 Professional Issues 1 (Year 1, Semester II)
COUN2018 Professional Issues 2 (Year 2, Semester II)
COUN2001 Personal Development Weekend (Year 1 & 2, Semester II)