Graduate Diploma in Counselling

All applications for admission must be submitted electronically using the online systems described below. Applications will not be accepted by mail or fax. As payment is required at the time of application, please ensure you have met the admission requirements prior to applying to the program. Application fees are not refundable.

Application deadlines

The Faculty of Health Disciplines typically recommends that students start the application process at least 12-16 weeks prior to the application deadline (noted in the chart below). Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. It may take 8-12 weeks after the deadline to receive an admission decision.

These deadlines are final, and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admissions decisions. Incomplete or late applications are not assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

Course registration deadlines

For course information and details about deadlines and registering, please see the Athabasca University course listings and follow online course registration procedures.

Step 1: Apply to be an AU graduate learner

The application process has 2 parts. You must first apply to become a graduate learner at Athabasca University and then apply to your program.

Complete the Graduate Program Application Form through the AU Office of the Registrar online services to receive your student ID number, which is needed to apply for your specific program.

Current/returning students

1. Click here and login with your existing AU student ID number. Once logged in, click on "Change of Program".
2. Click on the "Graduate Application" and complete the required steps.
3. Be sure to select the appropriate graduate program.

New to AU

1. Click here, and click on "Apply Now" under the Graduate Application heading in the middle of the screen.
2. You will be assigned an AU student ID number, which will be used to access all AU services and resources.
3. Be sure to select the appropriate graduate program.

Step 2: Pay the application fee

As part of the AU graduate program application process, pay your non-refundable application fee.

Step 3: Apply to your program

Once you have received your student ID number and paid your fee, log into your myAU account to begin the program application process. You will complete your program application using the Faculty of Health Disciplines' Graduate Student Admission System (GSAS).

In your GSAS application, please select the same program as you did in Step 1.

As part of the application process, you will provide information related to:

• Academic background
• Work and volunteer experience
• Professional development activities
• Rationale for applying to the program and other pertinent information

You can log into your GSAS application and change your information at any time during the application process. However, once you finalize and submit your GSAS application for review, it can no longer be modified. You will be able to track completion of various components of the online application through the GSAS Application Checklist after submission (receipt of reference forms and hardcopy documents). You do not need to wait for your Hardcopy Materials Package to be confirmed as received before submitting your online application for review, however, the Hardcopy Materials Package must be received no later than your chosen application deadline.

To check your application status, return to the GSAS application, not myAU.

Letter of reference

Letters of reference must be submitted within the online application process; paper copies will not be accepted. Each applicant is required to provide 3 official letters of reference, including providing the email address of each referee. At least 1 of the letters of reference should come from someone familiar with your academic skills. If an academic reference is not provided, you will be asked to explain within the application why you were unable to meet this requirement.

All referees must be able to provide an objective assessment of your background and capabilities with respect to the prospective graduate program. Letters from friends, family members, clients, colleagues, or people currently registered in an AU graduate program, or general reference letters (letters that are not written in support of your application to the particular graduate program) are not acceptable. For professional or employment references, please select individuals who are familiar with your work, preferably if they have supervised you in some way.

You must submit current letters of reference with your application, even if you have previously applied to an AU graduate program.

Note: The application system does not allow changes in the References section after the application deadline (e.g., to modify a referee email address, changes a referee, etc.).

• Counselling Programs Reference Assistance, contact: gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca
• Nursing and Health Studies Reference Assistance, contact: cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca

Step 4: Submit required hardcopy materials

We accept transcripts sent through MyCreds™, by mail, or email (directly from the institution attended). Please see the instructions below.

If transcripts are sent by mail, they should be assembled in one package and sent to the address below. Please print the Hardcopy Application Material Checklist and include this form with your completed hardcopy application package.

Assemble and then mail or courier all required hardcopy information. Photocopies, unsealed/opened transcripts, and transcripts sent as attachments via personal email are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. Send your hardcopy information when you have compiled all the required materials with sufficient time to be received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines and date stamped by the application deadline.

When assembled, send your hardcopy materials to:

Graduate Programs
Faculty of Health Disciplines
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
Canada

If transcripts are sent by email, they must be received electronically directly from the post-secondary institution to our program office. Please use the following email in your transcript request:

cnhsgradapply@athabascau.ca (Nursing and Health Studies applicants)

gcapgradapply@athabascau.ca (Counselling applicants)

You may also send any additional required documents (e.g., verification of registered nursing (RN) hours and licensure, English language proficiency assessment) by email from the email address you have provided in the program application. Please scan these documents and email them with your full name and student ID number in the email body.

Please send your documents in a hardcopy package either by mail or email—not both. Transcripts are not official unless they are received through MyCreds™, by mail in a sealed envelope, or directly by email from the institution.

Required hardcopy materials

Official transcripts

Submit official transcripts from ALL institutions (including Athabasca University, if applicable) regardless of the number of courses taken or the amount of time spent there. Please note the following:

• To be considered official, transcripts in your package must be received in envelopes that have been sealed and endorsed by the issuing institution, or submitted through MyCreds™.
• Do not include transcripts from high school.
• Transcripts must state the degree awarded and must be dated within 1 year of the application deadline.
• Official transcripts must be issued through MyCreds™ or directly to you and mailed/couriered as part of your hardcopy documents package to the address listed above. AU is not responsible for the delay/loss of transcripts sent directly to the university.

Additional materials for all programs

• Applicants with international credit (completed outside Canada and the US) must request a course-by-course educational assessment from a member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (members include: World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)). The assessment must be dated within 5 years of the application deadline. If your assessment was issued more than 5 years prior to the deadline, it must be reassessed or reissued by the credentialing agency prior to your package submission.
• Official translated transcripts must be submitted for applicants with transcripts issued in a language other than English (Canadian French language post-secondary institutions included).
• Applicants without Canadian citizenship must provide a photocopy of permanent resident documentation.
• Proof of English language proficiency. See the English language proficiency requirements.
• Applicants requesting transfer credit for courses taken outside Athabasca University must review Transfer credit and follow the steps provided.
• Note: All transcripts, references, test scores, and other documents become the property of Athabasca University and will not be returned to the applicants or forwarded to another program or institute.

Additional materials for Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner and Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner ONLY

You must provide the following documents in your Hardcopy Application Package:

• Photocopy of current nursing registration,
• Copy of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate,
• Photocopy of nursing practitioner (NP) license (if applicable), and
• Letter of verification (from employer or College of Registered Nurses) confirming 5,000 hours of recent clinical practice as a registered nurse.

Step 5: Track your application status

Track receipt of your hardcopy documents and your application status by logging into your Graduate Student Admission System (GSAS) application.

Nursing/Health Studies applicants

Counselling applicants

It is your responsibility to ensure that all components of your application package have been received by the Faculty of Health Disciplines (FHD) program office and date-stamped no later than the application deadline.

Allow sufficient time prior to the deadline for the assembled package containing transcripts, etc. to be received by the FHD program office. Begin the application process early—we recommend that you prepare your application package and mail or email it to our program office at least 8 weeks before your chosen deadline. Late documents will not be accepted.

Please ensure that your former institution does not send your transcripts directly to Athabasca University's Office of the Registrar. You must assemble and mail/courier/email the Hardcopy Materials Package directly to the Faculty of Health Disciplines Graduate Program Office (address or emails listed above).

Once your file has been reviewed the status of your application will be updated online. It is your responsibility to continue to check you GSAS application for updated information. Due to the large volume of applications, the FHD administrative staff are unable to provide information on the status of your application by phone or email.

As already stated, application deadlines are final and no exceptions will be granted. There are no appeals to admission decisions. Incomplete or late application packages will not be assessed nor retained for consideration for admission the following year.

Please read all the application procedures carefully before you begin the application process.

Visiting students and prospective students who have not been admitted to the Master of Counselling (MC), Graduate Diploma in Counselling (GDC), or Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling (PMCC) programs may be permitted to register in up to 2 approved Graduate Counselling Applied Psychology (GCAP) courses on a first-come-first-served basis, space permitting.

This option is only available to current and post-master's learners who are not currently enrolled in the MC, GDC, or PMCC programs. Eligible applicants may apply to register in MC courses on a first-come-first-served basis, space permitting. Courses taken as a non-program learner may be directly applied toward the program in accordance with the degree requirements if a learner is accepted as a program student. Grades on courses completed as a non-program student will be considered in the admission process. However, the GCAP is under no obligation to admit non-program learners into the MC program. To apply to take a course as a non-program learner, please contact gcapadmin@athabascau.ca.

Graduate students:

Please see below to determine the best fit for your situation:

Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling

For students who have completed a master's degree in counselling, applied or educational psychology elsewhere and would like to take 3-4 courses.

Western Dean's Agreement

For students who are attending a psychology-related masters at another Western Canadian university.

Non-program students

For psychology-related masters program graduates who are missing 1‑2 courses for licensure purposes.

Note for undergraduate students: We are not currently offering graduate-level courses to students who do not have a counselling-related master's degree completed or in progress.

Non-program student application deadlines

The following are deadlines to apply as a non-program student:

• May 15 for Fall session courses (September to December)
• Sep. 15 for Winter session courses (January to April)
• Jan. 15 for Spring session courses (May to August)

Late applications are not assessed nor retained for future consideration.

Steps in the application process

New non-program students must contact gcapadmin@athabascau.ca to confirm eligibility prior to submitting a non-program application and submitting the non-refundable fee. Course registration is not possible until our office has completely processed your application.

Once your application has been processed, current non-program students do not have to submit additional non-program applications. You will be able to register in future courses through the online registration system.

Non-program course registration deadlines

The following deadlines are for non-program course registrations:

• June 1 for Fall session courses (September to December)
• Oct. 1 for Winter session courses (January to April)
• Feb. 1 for Spring session courses (May to August)

Register in courses

Course registration is not possible until our office has completely processed your application. Existing non-program students can proceed to registering in courses.

1. View course offerings to review the syllabus for your course selection. Note: not all courses are available to non-program learners. Access to courses will depend on availability with priority given to program students.
2. Review the applicable fees. Ensure you include the appropriate Course Tuition Fee as well as the Athabasca University Graduate Student Association (AUGSA) Fee.  
3. For those students taking a course through the Western Dean's Agreement, online registration cannot be completed. Note that the fully completed and approved Western Dean's Authorization Form must be received in the Faculty of Health Disciplines (FHD) program office by the applicable course registration deadline noted above.  
4. It is the learner's responsibility to register by the course registration deadline and ensure that all prerequisite requirements are fulfilled. If a learner registers in a course for which they are not eligible, the registration may be cancelled and the tuition fee, less the withdrawal processing fee, will be refunded.
5. Ensure you are aware of the applicable course withdrawal regulations. Information about course withdrawal is under Course regulations and procedures. Contact the FHD program office at gcapadmin@athabascau.ca at least 1 month before the applicable course registration deadline.
6. Funded students will be required to pay out-of-pocket if funding is not received prior to the course registration deadline. You must contact the Student Financial Aid office at Athabasca University, three months prior to your anticipated start date to ensure funding is in place for your start date. For more information, contact AU Student Financial Aid.  
7. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Course registration

It is the learner's responsibility to register by the course registration deadline and ensure that all prerequisite requirements are fulfilled. If a learner registers in a course for which he/she is not eligible, the registration may be cancelled and the tuition fee—less the withdrawal processing fee—will be refunded.

Course extensions

The program is offered 3 semesters each year. Learners participate in paced learning activities that require completion of course work on a fixed schedule. All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted, if circumstances warrant.

In exceptional circumstances, and where the course instructor concurs, learners may be assigned a grade of "Incomplete" (INC). This allows learners to take 1 additional month to complete and submit the course work. In order for learners to extend their course work, they must submit the course extension form and fee for approval. One month after the original course completion date, a final grade will be assigned to the course based on the assignments completed before that date. If no assignments have been submitted, a final grade will be assigned based on the course work received as of that date. Normally this will result in a grade of F being assigned.

Course withdrawal

Learners may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the session (refer to the current Academic schedule). In order to withdraw from a course, students must submit a Graduate Course Withdrawal Form to their program office. The date of withdrawal will be the date of the emailed form.

Learners who withdraw from a course any time after their course registration is finalized and up until the early withdrawal deadline (1 month after the course start date) will have the record of registration deleted from their official transcript and will be refunded the course tuition less the Course Withdrawal Processing Fee. Course materials should not be returned as there will be no additional refund.

Learners who withdraw from a course after the first month of the course start date and before the last month of the course will have their official record and transcript indicate that they withdrew without credit, and without prejudice or academic penalty (W). No fees will be refunded for learners withdrawing after the first month of a course.

Learners may not withdraw from a course within 30 days of the final day of the course.

A learner will only be allowed to withdraw from a core course 2 times (non-medical) before being asked to leave the program. Continued enrolment and withdrawing from a course—in particular a core course—is interpreted as the inability to successfully meet the academic requirements of the program.

Code of ethics

Learners, instructors, and faculty are required to abide by the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.