Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Program overview

Athabasca University’s online Graduate Diploma in Counselling (GDC) program is designed for students who either do not want to complete a full master's degree or who do not meet the admissions criteria for the Master of Counselling program.

The GDC focuses on the fundamentals of counselling psychology, theory, and practice.

Why take the Graduate Diploma in Counselling?

If you don’t meet the admission requirements for AU’s Master of Counselling, you will be considered to ladder your credits into the Master of Counselling program after you complete 5 courses in the GDC.

Program details

The Graduate Diploma in Counselling is an 18-credit online graduate program. You must complete at least 12 credits through Athabasca University.

There is only one GDC intake each year. The application deadline is February 1 and classes start in September (fall term). All courses are paced with defined start and end dates.

Routes and options

Ladder to a master's degree

Learners normally progress through the diploma program at a fixed pace. The time commitment will depend on whether you desire to ladder into the Master of Counselling (MC) program or exit the graduate diploma program with the diploma (Terminal Diploma program). Unless you inform the program office that you intend to exit the GDC program with the diploma, you will automatically be considered for laddering into the MC program (minimum GPA of 3.0 in completed courses required).  You will be informed of your admission to the MC program after you have completed your 6th course.

Please email our program for more information on laddering to a master’s degree.

• Learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 1.5 years of full-time study. You can take up to 3 years to complete all requirements.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA), a minimum number of credits in psychology or educational psychology, and experience in the field of counselling (preferred).

• See full GDC admission requirements

Required courses

Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following link:

Tuition and fees

The GDC has:

• an application fee
• a program admission fee
• a per-semester program fee

Tuition is then paid on a course-by-course basis.

• See all GDC fees