Regulations for The Master of Counselling Studies - MCounsStuds

Official rules and regulations for the Master of Counselling Studies. These regulations are for the 2024 intake to this qualification.

Looking for general study information or to apply?

Go to Master of Counselling Studies – MCounsStuds

Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Master of Counselling Studies requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified;

and:

(b) have been awarded or qualified for either:

(i) the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Counselling and Guidance); or

(ii) the Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation Counselling); or

(iii) the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Guidance; or

(iv) an approved equivalent qualification; and:

(c) have achieved at least a B grade average across all courses in the qualifying programme of study;

(d) have satisfied the Academic Board that they have sufficient background of professional experience to be likely to successfully engage in the programme; and

(e) meet the requirements for registration as a counsellor as set down by the New Zealand Association of Counsellors in terms of good character and fitness to be a counsellor.

2. Admission to the qualification will be granted or withheld on consideration of the admission requirements specified under Regulation 1, a police vetting report and a selection process that may include a written application, interview, and practical exercises as may be determined by the College Pro Vice-Chancellor or their delegate.

Qualification requirements

3. Candidates for the Master of Counselling Studies shall follow a fixed programme of study, which shall consist of:

(a) courses totalling at least 120 credits as specified in the Schedule to the degree.

(b) attending workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required;

(c) completion of supervised practice as specified in the requirements for the Professional Development in Counselling I and Professional Development in Counselling II courses.

Specialisations

4. There are no specialisations for this degree.

Academic requirements

5. The degree shall be awarded on the basis of the whole examination which shall include the evaluation of the separate courses and of the research project, with the proviso that all components shall be at least of pass standard.

6. A candidate may be permitted to revise an unsatisfactory Research Project and to resubmit it for assessment on one occasion.

Student progression

7. The Master of Counselling Studies is not awarded with honours, distinction or merit.

8. Candidates must maintain their eligibility for regstration with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors in terms of good character and fitness to be a counsellor, throughout the duration of their enrolment in the programme.

Completion requirements

9. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.

10. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

11. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Transitional provisions

12. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I regulations for the degree, candidates enrolled in the Master of Counselling studies who have successfully completed 253761 may substitute this for 253740 and 267721, until 31 December 2026.

Schedule for the Master of Counselling Studies

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Compulsory courses (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 253740 Professional Development in Counselling I 30 credits

The development of attitudes and skills for effective counselling practice, informed by current research and undertaken in the context of campus-based workshops and field-based supervised practice.

Restrictions: 209751 and 253761

View full course details
Course code: 253762 Professional Development in Counselling II 30 credits

A continuation and integration of personal and professional development undertaken in Professional Development I whilst pursuing field-based practice and campus-based workshops.

Prerequisites: 253761 Restrictions: 209752

View full course details
Course code: 253800 Research Project in Counselling 45 credits

A negotiated research project related to relevant aspects of counselling or counselling-related activity.

Prerequisites: 267721 or 267740 or 267741 or 267782 or 267783 or an approved research methods course or courses Restrictions: 209758 or 253758

View full course details
Course code: 267721 Research Methodologies in Education 15 credits

An advanced study of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research design in education. Theoretical and practical issues of research are studied under three course themes: context for research, research designs, data collection and analysis.

View full course details

Looking for a previous version of this regulation?