Master of Counselling
Sunway College Johor Bahru · Johor Bahru, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Master of Counselling programme at Sunway University is designed to develop highly competent and reflective counselling professionals equipped to work in a variety of settings, including educational institutions, community agencies, and workplace environments. Graduates are prepared to pursue professional certification as registered counsellors with Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia (LKM).
Through structured coursework and supervised practical experiences, you gain the theoretical foundation and hands-on skills essential for effective counselling practice. This 48-credit programme includes core counselling domains such as lifespan development, counselling theories, ethics, multicultural understanding, assessment techniques, and group counselling.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Development Across Lifespan
- Theories and Process of Counselling
- Foundation of Counselling Skills
- Theories of Career Development
- Career Counselling in Practice
- Theories and Techniques of Group Counselling
- Multicultural Counselling
- Counselling Research Design & Statistics
- Psychological Testing
- Assessment in Counselling
- Legal and Ethics in Counselling
- Research Project
- Practicum (In House) with supervised counselling practice (252 hours, including 96 client contact hours)
- Internship (External Placement) supervised counselling practice in settings such as mental health clinics, schools, and community centres (504 hours requirement)
- Electives: pick 1 elective (Marital and Family Counselling or Tele-Mental Health Counselling or Entrepreneurship in Counselling)
Curriculum
48-credit Master of Counselling (taught programme) structured around core taught modules, 1 elective, plus practicum (in-house) and internship (external placement).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Core taught modules | Development Across the Lifespan | 3 | 15 |
| Theories and Process of Counselling | 3 | |||
| Foundation of Counselling Skills | 3 | |||
| Theories of Career Development | 3 | |||
| Career Counselling in Practice | 3 | |||
| Semester 2 | Core taught modules plus electives | Theories and Techniques of Group Counselling | 3 | 21 |
| Multicultural Counselling | 3 | |||
| Counselling Research Design & Statistics | 3 | |||
| Psychological Testing | 3 | |||
| Assessment in Counselling | 3 | |||
| Legal and Ethics in Counselling | 3 | |||
| Research Project | 3 | |||
| Semester 3 | Practicum and internship | Practicum (In House) | 3 | 10 |
| Internship (External Placement) | 6 | |||
| Elective (choose 1 elective) | 1 | |||
| Total programme | All components combined | Total credit hours | 48 | 48 |
| Total | Core taught modules, 1 elective, practicum (in-house), and internship (external placement) | 48 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- Build counselling competency for roles such as Mental Health Counsellor, School Counsellor, Career Counsellor, and Community Health Counsellor through structured taught modules and supervised practice.
- Prepare for professional pathways tied to counselling practice, including work as a University Counsellor and supporting clients across educational institutions, community agencies, and workplace environments.
- Develop job-ready skills in counselling assessment, intervention, case management, and group counselling so you can confidently support clients and families in real settings.
- Gain evidence-based and ethics-grounded training through Counselling Research Design & Statistics and Legal and Ethics in Counselling, helping you apply safe professional decision-making.
- Strengthen employability with supervised practicum and internship experiences in counselling environments such as mental health clinics, schools, and community centres, guided by licensed professionals.
- Enhance career flexibility by selecting an elective aligned to your interests, including Marital and Family Counselling, Tele-Mental Health Counselling, or Entrepreneurship in Counselling.
- Develop advanced capability for progression into senior and specialist functions such as Clinical Supervisor and Researcher in Counselling as you build experience.
Employability rate
For counselling-related master’s graduates in Malaysia, employability is typically around 80% and unemployment around 20%, reflecting ongoing demand for qualified counsellors across education, community services, and workplace wellbeing functions.
Together, these figures suggest a generally stable outlook when you complete supervised practice and build a strong professional portfolio.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) | International applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in the field or related fields with a minimum CGPA of 2.50 or equivalent as accepted by the HEP Senate. |
| Field/related field match | If your degree is not directly in the field, the university states that you can still apply, and you may be encouraged to attend personal and/or professional development courses; prerequisite courses are not required. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Counselling and related studies | The university states that applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in the field or related fields; the programme page does not publish a detailed module-by-module matching table. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, Sunway University requires proof of English language proficiency unless your prior bachelor’s degree or equivalent was completed in English (in that case, the language requirement is stated as met).
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
PTE Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
Exam / assessment
| Component | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Internal interview | required | All candidates must attend and pass the internal interview. |
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total course fee | MYR 55010 / total program | Estimated Total Course Fee (Year 2026) for Malaysian students. |
Proof of financial resources
International students applying to study in Malaysia are typically required to demonstrate sufficient funds for tuition and living costs as part of visa/student pass processing. Prepare bank or financial evidence that matches your chosen funding source (self-funding, scholarship, or study loan).
- Proof of funding (self-funding, scholarship, or study loan) as required during international student processing
- Any additional financial evidence requested by the university as part of the application evaluation
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | September - Summer intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | September - Summer intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | September - Summer intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Eligibility check submission
Prepare your documents for the Master of Counselling eligibility check and submit them through the university eligibility check process. The university will review your eligibility and respond by email within 7 working days. Include the documents listed on the eligibility check page and be ready to complete any requested interview steps after approval.
Pass the internal interview
After you pass the eligibility check, the university will arrange the internal interview. All candidates must attend and pass this interview to proceed. Be prepared to discuss your background and motivations for the counselling profession.
Submit the online application after eligibility and interview
Once you have passed the eligibility check and the interview, proceed to enrol through the university’s official online application channel. Ensure your international student application form and required documents are complete to avoid processing delays. Pay any required enrolment fee as instructed for international applicants.
Student pass visa processing through EMGS
After the university receives your complete application and payments, your documents are submitted to Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) for approval and Student Pass processing. The Student Pass approval processing time is stated as up to 6–8 weeks after submission of required items. After approval, you will receive a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) and must enter Malaysia before the VAL expires.