Key Facts
Part-time (6 years)
Semester 2 each year (Part-Time)
$83,825* International
Course Overview
Get work-ready in 3 years!
The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is Cairnmillar’s brand new, TEQSA-accredited double major undergraduate degree, which provides an immersive learning experience to get you workplace-ready faster.
The program’s curriculum focuses solely on mental health, which means you won’t need to study units that are not relevant to your future career.
You will be eligible to work as a counsellor after the successful completion of your first three years of study and/or apply for postgraduate study in psychology, putting you on the pathway to becoming a registered psychologist.
Both counselling and psychology are evidence-informed, relational disciplines. The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling at Cairnmillar provides a unique synthesis of the science-practitioner and reflective-practitioner models. The course develops the skills, knowledge and personal capacities required for critically reflective, ethically aware professional practice. The course takes a trauma-informed, person-centred perspective.
Students will explore counselling and psychological theories, human development across the lifespan, social psychology and foundational principles in cognition and neuroscience. Skills in assessment, intervention and treatment planning will be developed. The curriculum allows students to explore the fields of health psychology, organisational behaviour, and group facilitation skills. Students will also undertake a counselling placement in their final year, including at least 40 hours of direct experience with clients.
All teaching staff are experienced practitioners and researchers committed to advancing psychology and counselling through their work and their interaction with students.
Please note: Cairnmillar’s courses are subject to minimum and maximum group numbers. Courses may be cancelled or postponed if minimum numbers are not achieved by the start date of the course. Courses may close prior to the start date if the maximum numbers are reached. In that situation, eligible applicants will be offered a place in the next available intake.
Application Period
Direct Applications for 2025 main round are now open!
Click here for information on how to Change your Preferences
Information Session
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You may also watch the most recent Info Session Recording
Course Structure
The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling consists of 300 credit points. Students undertake a total of 24 units of study, consisting of 22 coursework units (275 credit points) and two placement units (25 credit points).
Full-time (3 year) suggested course structure:
| Year | Semester | Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
| 1 | 1 | PSY101 | Foundations of Psychology | 12.5 |
| 1 | 1 | PSY102 | Research Methodology and Statistics I | 12.5 |
| 1 | 1 | CAP101 | Counselling Theories and Models | 12.5 |
| 1 | 1 | CAP102 | Person-Centred Counselling | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PSY103 | Behavioural Psychology and Learning | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PSY104 | Cognitive Psychology | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PCN101 | Development Across the Lifespan | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PCN102 | Ethical Paradigms and Philosophy | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | PSY201 | Social Psychology | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | PSY202 | Research Methodology and Statistics II | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | CAP201 | Cognitive Behavioural Therapies | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | PCN201 | Psychopathology and Mental Health | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | PSY203 | Organisational Behaviour | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | PSY204 | Personality | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | CAP202 | Assessment Processes | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | PCN202 | Practical Skills for Group Facilitation | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | PSY301 | Neuroscience | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | PSY302 | Research Methodology and Statistics III | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | CAP301 | Working with Children and Adolescents | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | CAP360 | Counselling Placement/Practice 1 | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | PCN302 | Research Capstone | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | CAP302 | Trauma-Informed Practice | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | CAP361 | Counselling Placement/Practice 2 | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | PCN301 | Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mental Health | 12.5 |
Part-time (6 year) suggested course structure:
| Year | Semester | Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
| 1 | 1 | PSY101 | Foundations of Psychology | 12.5 |
| 1 | 1 | PSY102 | Research Methodology and Statistics I | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PCN101 | Development Across the Lifespan | 12.5 |
| 1 | 2 | PCN102 | Ethical Paradigms and Philosophy | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | CAP101 | Counselling Theories and Models | 12.5 |
| 2 | 1 | CAP102 | Person-Centred Counselling | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | PSY103 | Behavioural Psychology and Learning | 12.5 |
| 2 | 2 | PSY104 | Cognitive Psychology | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | PSY202 | Research Methodology and Statistics II | 12.5 |
| 3 | 1 | CAP201 | Cognitive Behavioural Therapies | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | PSY203 | Organisational Behaviour | 12.5 |
| 3 | 2 | PSY204 | Personality | 12.5 |
| 4 | 1 | PSY201 | Social Psychology | 12.5 |
| 4 | 1 | PCN201 | Psychopathology and Mental Health | 12.5 |
| 4 | 2 | CAP202 | Assessment Processes | 12.5 |
| 4 | 2 | PCN202 | Practical Skills for Group Facilitation | 12.5 |
| 5 | 1 | PSY302 | Research Methodology and Statistics III | 12.5 |
| 5 | 1 | CAP301 | Working with Children and Adolescents | 12.5 |
| 5 | 2 | PSY303 | Health Psychology, Health Promotion and Behavioural Medicine | 12.5 |
| 5 | 2 | CAP302 | Trauma-Informed Practice | 12.5 |
| 6 | 1 | PSY301 | Neuroscience | 12.5 |
| 6 | 1 | CAP360 | Counselling Placement/Practice 1 | 12.5 |
| 6 | 2 | CAP361 | Counselling Placement/Practice 2 | 12.5 |
| 6 | 2 | PCN301 | Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mental Health | 12.5 |
Entry Requirements
Applications for all current year 12 students and domestic non-year 12 students can be submitted through VTAC. See the Undergraduate page for more detailed information, including regarding applying for the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).
There are two main admission pathways for this program:
School leavers with an Australia Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)
These applicants must have a minimum ATAR of 60 to apply.
Mature aged applicants (21+ years of age) who do not have an ATAR
These applicants must demonstrate:
- Capacity for successful study at Bachelor level (AQF 7) in their application, via completion of year 12 (or equivalent study of year 12 secondary education)
OR
- Appropriate work experience.
In addition to the above, documentation required in the application includes:
- Most recent academic transcript(s) (e.g., university or ATAR transcript).
- CV/Resume
- Proof of residency/citizenship in the form of a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate.
International students, who do not otherwise meet the AHPRA English standards, are also required to undertake The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the IELTS test, and a minimum overall band score of 6.5. Alternative English proficiency tests are accepted, and for more information, visit our International Students page here.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours which must be demonstrated by students in order that they successfully complete the program of study. As a guide for prospective and current students, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed that relate to student admission and progression through the course. These requirements are mandatory; however, there may be some flexibility in how they can be demonstrated. Click here to view the Inherent Requirements.
Admissions Transparency
- Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made in 2024 (exclusive of any adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points): 43.45
- Lowest Selection Rank to which a recent Year 12 student offer was made in 2024 (including the consideration of any equity or other adjustment factors): N/A
- Minimum Selection Rank required for consideration: N/A
ATAR and selection rank profiles for those offered places wholly or partly based on ATAR in 2024:
| (ATAR-based offers only, across all offer rounds) | ATAR* (Excluding adjustment factors) |
Selection Rank* (Including adjustment factors) |
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 81.00 | N/A |
| Median rank to receive an offer | TBC | N/A |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 43.45 | N/A |
Admission Profile Information
Student Profiles
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2024, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
| Applicant background | 2024 Semester 1 | |
| Number of students | Percentage of all students | |
| (A) Past higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) |
<5 | N/P |
| (B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study | <5 | N/P |
| (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) |
<5 | N/P |
(D) Recent secondary education:
|
N/A | N/A |
|
6 | N/P |
|
N/A | N/A |
| International students | N/A | N/A |
| All students | 8 | 100% |
Notes:
“<5” – the number of students is less than 5
N/A – Students not accepted in this category
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with minimal 5 students.
Graduate Learning Outcomes
Students who satisfactorily complete this course will have achieved advanced knowledge and skills in the following areas of study:
- Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of the key principles, theories, and concepts from the major disciplines in psychology and counselling.
- Prepare and deliver written and oral communications across a range of mediums for a variety of audiences that critique, problem solve and apply the theories and current issues in research and practice to psychology and counselling practice. Written and oral communications include essays, empirical reports, class presentations, recorded practice sessions and more.
- Conduct and critique research in psychology in regard to research methodology, data analysis, statistics and data sciences, and scientific and digital literacy.
- Apply knowledge of psychology and counselling in a way that is culturally sensitive and ethically and legally aware, employs evidence of reflexive thinking, effective delivery and receipt of feedback, and effective teamwork skills.
- Develop and propose sound solutions to current problems in psychology and counselling that are relevant in local, national, and international contexts.
- Employ autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in self-directed learning that facilitates ongoing learning beyond the course.
Fees & Scholarships
| 2024 Fees Schedule** | Domestic | International |
| Annual full-time tuition (per year) | $10,500 | $25,872 |
| Estimated Course total | $31,500 | $77,616 |
*Total fees are estimates only based on the current fee schedule. Annual tuition fee review and possible increases applies, see: Fees & Scholarships.
For information on tuition fees and what scholarships might apply to this course, please visit the Fees & Scholarships page.
Career Opportunities & Study Pathways
Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling graduates will develop a broad range of skills that prepare graduates for employment in:
- Administration
- Advertising
- Business
- Community services (e.g., child protection)
- Counselling
- Government and policy development
- Human rights and advocacy
- Media
- Public relations
- Publishing
- Research
- And many more!.
If successful in obtaining both PACFA and APAC accreditations, graduates may be eligible to:
- Apply for PACFA membership and in turn register as a professional counsellor with the Australian Register of Counselling and Psychotherapists (ARCAP).
- Apply for a PACFA or ACA accredited Graduate Diploma and many Masters counselling programs, such as the Graduate Diploma or Masters of Counselling & Psychotherapy, to take their counselling skills to the next level.
- Apply for APAC accredited fourth year psychology programs (e.g., Honours) to continue on the pathway towards general registration as a psychologist. Note: completion of this degree alone is not sufficient for registration with AHPRA as a psychologist. Additional study will be required.
Students who obtain a 70 average in the psychology major (PSY) units of the program will be eligible for automatic entry to the Cairnmillar Institute’s Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in the next academic intake, should they choose to apply.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) accredited program and sits within level 7 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Further information on accreditation can be found on the APAC website, as well as in APAC’s publicly available accreditation reports.
In 2024, The Cairnmillar Institute will seek accreditation of this course with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Students applying for this program may enter a process in which they may be granted credit or partial credit towards the qualification in recognition of previous experience where an equivalence of earlier learning can be established.
Students may only be given credit for coursework if it is from a successfully completed approved course at the appropriate AQF level. Credit or partial credit is not granted in recognition of knowledge or skills gained through work or life experience.
Cairnmillar’s RPL policy can be viewed here and further information can be found here.
