Program Overview

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies is designed to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills essential for professional guidance counsellors and career development practitioners. This program allows students to develop competencies as a professional guidance counsellor and/or career practitioner for employment in schools, TAFE colleges, agencies, or as a private practitioner.

Program Focus

The program focuses on:

• Developing counselling competencies
• Understanding career development and education across the lifespan
• Linking assessment practices to instructional interventions
• Understanding ethical behaviour and practices
• Developing comprehensive guidance programs

Career Possibilities

Postgraduate study can lead to various careers, including:

• Student counsellor
• Careers counsellor
• Guidance counsellor
• Life planning adviser
• School counsellor

How You'll Learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose, including:

• Work placements
• Seminars
• Workshops

What You'll Study

At UQ, subjects are called 'courses'. A sample of the courses you could study includes:

• Counselling in Professional Contexts: Helping Groups and Individuals
• Proactive Interventions in Guidance, Counselling and Careers
• Career Guidance: Counselling for Life Planning
• Career Development In Practice: Constructing Careers

Program Highlights

• Ranked 41 in the world for education (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• Ranked 1 in Queensland for education and training (QS World University Rankings 2025)