Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology
Counselling psychology focuses on health and wellbeing, and collaboration between psychologist and client to achieve desired mental health outcomes. Study the AUT Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology gives you the option to complete a pathway towards registration as a psychologist in New Zealand.
The Master of Health Science in Psychology is usually the prerequisite to the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, which is the last component of tertiary study for eligibility to register with the New Zealand Psychologists' Board.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
Must have completed the following or equivalent:
- Master of Health Science with a specialisation in Psychology; OR
- Relevant master’s degree in psychology and have passed the courses (Psychological Intervention, Psychological Assessment and Diagnosis, Supervised Practicum); OR
- Relevant master’s degree in psychology and courses equivalent to those listed above
Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) in Psychology, followed by the Master of Health Science in Psychology, may enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, subject to registration with the NZ Psychologists’ Board as an intern psychologist, and the securement of a suitable internship position (AUT has a number of internship providers, but agencies tend to interview for these positions).
In some cases, a further interview for selection into the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology may be required.
Direct entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology is not possible as the Master of Health Science/Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology is offered as an integrated package.
International student entry requirements
Other requirements
- May be required to meet Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) and Children's Act 2014 requirements and other relevant legislation
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0
What you study in the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science
Counselling psychologists acknowledge the importance of medical, psychosocial and cultural perspectives in understanding and explaining both the formation of mental illness and problem behaviour, and in understanding, explaining and implementing the treatment and caring regimes to sensitively address illness and problem issues.
For counselling psychologists research and practice are not distinct activities. Counselling psychology is committed to building on the concept of scientist-practitioner by producing:
- Practitioners informed by research findings
- A science informed by practice issues
Complete the following courses
- PSYC812 Theories of Counselling Psychology (15 points)
- PSYC813 Professional Frameworks, Issues and Applications (15 points)
- PSYC814 Counselling Psychology Internship A (45 points)
- PSYC815 Counselling Psychology Internship B (45 points)
And complete 1,500 practice hours
The Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology internship is an integral part of the programme and is a full year of practice (four days a week working in a practice setting – the equivalent of 1,500 hours as required by the Psychologists’ Board) and one day a week on campus at the AUT North Campus.
Key semester dates
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.
($10,028 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
($43,600 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.