Counselling Major - Bachelor of Health Science

If you become a counsellor you help people deal with their feelings, better understand themselves, make decisions and create change in their lives. The Counselling major prepares you to work with a diverse client base as a counsellor.

You become familiar with the history and theory of counselling, and the relational counselling model. AUT's counselling degree includes 200 hours of counselling practice, bicultural learning, marae visits and knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi issues. It's suitable for adult students who have appropriate life experience like a personal development course (eg Youthline), personal experience of counselling, volunteer work, peer support work, or other relevant work or experience.

To study this major, you should apply by 1 November 2024*. Completed applications received before this date will be assessed and an outcome will be provided as soon as possible.

*The apply by date is a guideline only.  If there are more applications than places available, applications may close earlier than the date above. Applications received after this date may not be considered.

New Zealand Association of Counsellors website

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This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.

Download programme guides

You can study the Counselling major either full-time or part-time. View the information below to see what your studies as a counselling student could look like.

Year 1

Semester 1 courses

In the first semester all students study the same four courses (HEAL504, HEAL505, HEAL506 and HEAL507) to help you develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students. You can study these four courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.

Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the North or South Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.

Semester 2 courses

Year 2

You take courses from your major areas of study and begin your first counselling placement.

Full-year courses

Semester 1 courses

Semester 2 courses

Year 3

Full-year courses

Semester 1 courses

Semester 2 courses

  • Two optional courses

*You could also study any of these courses in Year 3 and instead take optional courses in Year 2
**You could replace your Year 2 optional course with the course HLAW701 instead of taking it in Year 3

Year 1

Semester 1 courses

You can study these courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.

Semester 2 courses

Year 2

Semester 1 courses

You can study the courses HEAL504 and HEAL507 at the North Campus, South Campus or online. Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the North or South Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.

Semester 2 courses

Year 3

Semester 1 courses

Semester 2 courses

Year 4

Semester 1 courses

  • Two optional courses

Semester 2 courses

  • Two optional courses

Year 5

Full-year courses

Year 6

Full-year courses

*You could also study any of these courses in Year 4 and instead take optional courses in Year 3

Full-year optional courses

Psychotherapy

Semester 1 optional courses

Addictions

Māori health

Other optional courses

Semester 2 optional courses

Addictions

Māori health

Other optional courses

*With approval from the programme leader

Workplace experience in the Counselling major

As part of this major you complete a minimum of 200 hours of counselling practice and 20 hours of supervision, along with 10 hours of cultural supervision as required by the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Please note that there will be an additional cost for this supervision.

Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?

Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.

Workplace experience in AUT programmes

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  • Community counselling agencies
  • Counsellors in schools
  • Mental health providers
  • Māori health providers
  • Pacific health providers
  • Refugee and migrant services

AUT counselling graduates are eligible to apply for provisional membership of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) to begin practising as a counsellor.

Key features
  • The only undergraduate counselling degree by a New Zealand university
  • Includes 200 hours of counselling practice and 10 hours of external supervision
  • Prepares you for application as a provisional member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors
  • Offered at the South Campus
  • Part-time study options available
See yourself as
  • Interested in the counselling and mental health sector
  • A good listener
  • Self-aware
  • Having relevant life experience

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.