Guidance Counselling

During the 1.5-year-course, you’ll focus on reflective practice and personal growth through counselling and placement experience to nurture personal and professional development.



Gain skills to grow your career

Students will be selected based on their academic achievement and professional experience, as well as their willingness to commit to the demands of the programme and their understanding of the role of a guidance counsellor at interview. The DE also requires employees to hold a primary degree with subjects recognised for teaching in secondary schools and a teaching qualification.



The course is designed for anyone who wants to become a guidance counsellor or to help existing practitioners enhance their careers. On completion, you can pursue roles in secondary schools, third level career services, adult guidance, youth and community work, employee welfare, rehabilitation services and private practices.



The overall aim of this programme is to provide students with a standard of excellence in the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary for practice in the field of personal, education and career guidance and counselling;



You will be educated and trained to develop a systematic and coherent framework for practice within your organisation;



Through strong reflective practice, you are encouraged and supported to develop responsibility for personal and professional development, and learn how to identify and mobilise resources across a network of external agencies and the wider community.

This programme is offered in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth for experienced and qualified second-level teachers who are registered through Route 2 with the Teaching Council of Ireland



Applicants are required to hold a Primary Honours (Level 8) degree, plus three years relevant work experience.



OR

Equivalent professional qualification with three years relevant experience.



All applicants who are deemed to meet the minimum academic qualifications will be required to attend for interview.



Applicants will not be considered for interview unless all aspects of the application process are fully completed.



Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above.



International Applicants

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language, they must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here

We are delighted to announce our newest outreach offering in Cork starting January 2026. The programme is offered with the support of the Department of Education and will be delivered on Cork ETB’s College of Further Education and Training (FET): Bishopstown Campus. Applications will open in late September 2025 via our application portal.



Please note:

Applications will open on 22nd September 2025

Closing Date: 24th October 2025

Please note all documents must be submitted by 24th October 2025



Successful candidates please note deferrals on this programme are not permitted due to the large volume of applicants and the very strong competition for places.

1.5 Years Part-time.

All places for 2025 have been allocated and we are unable to accept late applications.

Details regarding the application process for entry in 2026, will be posted on our webpage as soon as they are available:

Please note both programmes are delivered as blended programmes, but attendance on campus (Dublin or Cork) is required throughout the programme.

Grad Dip (Outreach - Cork) starting January 2026: Applications will open in Sept 2026 - view application link below.



The Masers in Guidance Counselling course:

MSc Guidance Sept 2026: https://www.dcu.ie/courses/postgraduate/institute-education/msc-guidance-counselling Applications will open in November 2026

The programme is designed to support participants wishing to engage in initial education and training as guidance counsellors and to enhance the in-career development of existing practitioners.



Graduates are currently employed in various settings such as second level schools, adult guidance (including employment by ETBs), youth and community work, third level career services, employee welfare, industry, health sector, rehabilitation services, and private practice.