Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health, Courses and degrees, data, 2026, domestic, ON, La Trobe University

Entry requirements and pathways

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).

Students who have completed Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling (PHG0001CI) can enter the course via Cognate pathway and receive up to 120 credit points (1 year).

Applicants with industry experience will also be considered.

Specialisation - recommended: Health Sciences, Psychology, Behavioural Sciences or other relevant field.

Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.

Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS)

For information on adjustment factors that may be applicable, such as those through Special Entry and Access Schemes (SEAS) and other La Trobe special access schemes see: Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS)

Core participation requirements

Core Participation Requirements are abilities, attributes and behaviours that are required to undertake learning activities and professional experience in your course. These requirements are provided for your information and are not entry requirements. Core Participation Requirements are also referred to as Inherent Requirements by other institutions.

La Trobe University wants you to understand the Core Participation Requirements of your course so you can:

determine if you may need support during your studies; and
make an informed decision about whether the course is suitable for you.

If there are any Core Participation Requirements listed below that you do not feel capable of demonstrating, we may be able to make adjustments that may support your studies. Please contact the AccessAbility Hub or your Course Coordinator to discuss any adjustments you may need.

As a La Trobe student, you will also need to abide by the Student Charter and meet any professional accreditation requirements of your course.

Core requirement

Students must be able to manage their own responses and behaviour to work effectively in a range of learning environments with diverse people and tasks. This includes the capacity to be receptive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback. Students should also be able to work with others in a team or group environment and make and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals in order to complete tasks or for professional practice.

See also Student behaviours policy for more information.

Course-specific requirement

Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health must demonstrate strong interpersonal and interpersonal communication skills that will allow them to continuously develop their communication and counselling skills throughout their careers.
Students must be able to manage personal responses, beliefs or preferences in order to work in an ethical and socially responsible manner with diverse groups , for example to be able to work with people from ethnically and religiously diverse backgrounds.

Core requirement

Students must be able to locate, acquire, retain and apply knowledge as part of their learning and for assessment. They must have the ability to sustain their attention over a designated period, maintain their focus in a variety of learning environments and remember information long enough to complete tasks in a reasonable and safe timeframe.

Course-specific requirement

Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health students must be able to use retained knowledge to determine safe and appropriate care decisions. Students must be able to notice, focus their attention and process information in order to respond in an ethically and socially responsible manner that recognises the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and legislative requirements. For example, for a client in a return to work setting they must be able to focus on and respond to changing information from clients in order to respond in an appropriate manner that recognises both the duty of care for the client and the client's rights and responsibilities as stipulated by legislation.

Core requirement

Students should possess the ability to interact with visual, auditory or tactile inputs sufficiently to manage their learning environment and to meet professional performance needs.

Course-specific requirement

Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health students must be able to process visual and or auditory information and monitor the broader environment for client safety, including observing multiple people and events simultaneously. Students must be able to detect changes in client voice, vocal content, posture, movement and other responses to clinical treatments.

Credit for previous study (advanced standing)

Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.

The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.

To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.

Defer

Find out if you can defer

Pathways

A pathway is simply an alternative way for a student to get into their dream course - if direct entry isn't an option.

We've listed the 'pathway method and outcome' - which is how you can transfer into the area you want to study, assuming you meet the entry requirements (e.g. minimum WAM). You'll also find an estimate of how long it could take you to graduate, from the start of your pathway to the completion of your dream degree.


Preferred course	Alternative pathway courses	Pathway method & outcome	Years to graduate including the Pathway course (approx.)
Master of Counselling, Rehabilitation and Mental Health	Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling	Graduate and apply for entry into preferred course with advanced standing	2years

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What you'll study

Work-Based Learning

Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local, interstate or international industry partners or agencies. WBL placements will generally be arranged by the Office of the Provost Placements and WBL Team at La Trobe University. The number of hours undertaken can vary considerably, depending on the requirements of the course. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.

See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

View course information for Online