MA Counselling Psychology – 2025 for 2026
The Department of Psychology offers a two-year Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology. This programme leads to registration as a counselling psychologist with the Professional Board of Psychology (PBP) of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). It is a full-time degree offered on the Kingsway campus (APK) in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. The language of instruction is English, and this is a contact-tuition programme because of coursework and lecture-attendance requirements. Therefore, candidates will not be allowed to hold part-time or full-time employment.
You will be registered as a student psychologist with the HPCSA. The first year consists of coursework, research proposal and practical placements. The second year requires you to serve as an intern psychologist at an HPCSA-accredited programme or institution and the submission of your final minor dissertation. All students must apply for and obtain this accredited internship position themselves. The Department will provide further information about this after you have been successfully selected and enrolled into the MA Counselling Psychology programme.
To gain entrance to the MA Counselling Psychology programme, you must apply online to the University of Johannesburg AND with the Department of Psychology. This means there are two processes in the application, and it is crucial that you do both. Your application will not be processed without these two processes.
All applications meeting the criteria will undergo a process of evaluation. The initial process is the paper screening. Thereafter, shortlisted applicants will be invited to selection week.
Please note you can only apply for either COUNSELLING or CLINICAL – NOT BOTH.
IMPORTANT DATES:
APPLICATIONS OPEN: 1 April 2025
CLOSING DATE: 13 June 2025 @ 12:00pm (midday) – strictly
SELECTION WEEK: 25 – 29 August 2025
- Complete the online UJ application. If you are a new applicant - https://www.uj.ac.za/admission-aid/postgraduate/ If you are a returning student - https://registration.uj.ac.za/pls/prodi41/w99pkg.mi_login
- Download the Application Guide and the Application Form below.
- You must apply for EITHER the Counselling Psychology programme or the Clinical Psychology programme.
You cannot apply for BOTH. Please do not make your 1st choice Counselling and your 2nd choice Clinical or vice versa. - The closing date is 13 June 2025 at 12:00 (midday).
- The following documents must be included with the Departmental application:
- Completed and signed Departmental Application Form;
- Please attach the following documents to your departmental application: i. Certified copy of your academic record and/or progress report indicating marks to date; ii. Proof of Payment.
- Please do not password-protect any documents.
- As we receive hundreds of applications, for ease of reference, please label every document you sent to the Department as follows: UJ Student number, surname, initials & document name e.g. 2024111111 Surname Initials – Academic record 2024111111 Surname Initials – Proof of payment
- Applicants who are still enrolled in an Honours course must provide their provisional results for the first semester (compulsory). Obtained and stamped as an original by the Psychology Department of your university as well as proof of registration to a current Honours programme;
- Please note that referee reports will only be requested from individuals who are invited to participate in selections. This information will be communicated directly to the applicants invited to selection week
- Compulsory administration fee of R300 (EFT or Direct Bank Deposits only) – non-refundable. This applies to ALL 2025 applications.
NB - Please do not use ANY other or older banking details. Using the incorrect bank account and/or REFERENCE could result in your application not being processed. Bank: FNB Name of Beneficiary: UJ Psychology Account Number: 626 158 73149 Type of Account: Cheque Account Branch: Main Street Branch Code: 250655 REFERENCE: 005020.Couns ONLY this reference will be permitted, failing to do this will disqualify your application.
Further enquiries:
- For the online UJ application process, please contact the Student Enrolment Centre on 11-559-4555;
- Student Enrolment Centre Online Chat: https://www.uj.ac.za/admissions-aid/campus-life/chat/
- For departmental application queries (only), please contact counsellingpsych@uj.ac.za
- Student Finance Department: https://www.uj.ac.za/admission-aid/student-finance/
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
All international students need to have their qualifications evaluated by SAQA, before applying to the University of Johannesburg for any of the programs on postgraduate level. Please go to www.saqa.org.za for more information.
Note: Admission into the MA (Clinical Psychology) programme is subject to a selection process. See Application Guide for selection process and selection criteria.
We receive an overwhelming amount of applications each year. As such, some applicants that meet the minimum entry requirements will be declined due to the competitiveness of the course. We also have a limited number of positions to offer on the programme. No individual feedback will be given to unsuccessful applicants.
Overview of the course
The MA (Counselling Psychology) degree trains student psychologists in line with the Department’s vision. The training aims to prepare counselling psychologists to be scientist-practitioners who are ethically astute and active critical thinkers. These psychologists must be keen to apply and be aware of community values and must hold multidisciplinary awareness when working. A key consideration is to locate theoretical and practical understandings in an intersectional paradigm. The training has a participatory ethos through which students engage dynamically and practically with facilitators and teachers who aim to incorporate innovative strategies and blended learning opportunities.
Modules
The course currently provides the following modules:
- Therapeutic Psychology: Individual Approaches
- Therapeutic Psychology: Group Approaches
- Child and Adolescent Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
- Psychopathology, Psychodiagnostics and Psychological Assessment
- Integrated Professional Development
In addition to the above students are required to complete a minor research dissertation.
Practical engagement
Counselling psychology students are involved in providing services at practical placements such as hospitals and counselling centres, as well as the implementation of community projects. This practical engagement is overseen by respective supervisors.
Disclaimer: Should you not follow the UJ application process correctly, we will not be held responsible for incomplete or unprocessed applications.