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Counselling

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Master of Counselling

(R/0923/7/0011)(09/33) (MQA/FA12002)

Commencement

Sep

Degree/Duration

Master of Counselling (IMU):
2 – 5 years (Full-Time)
4 – 8 years (Part-Time)

Become an Advocate for Compassion

1

Counsellors dedicate their expertise to assisting clients dealing with various personal challenges and issues, which significantly impacts the overall well-being of their communities. The Counselling programme is crafted to nurture professional and adept counsellors through comprehensive, multidisciplinary training. Students have the opportunity to specialise in areas of their interest, such as Marriage and Family Counselling, Crisis, Trauma and Grief Counselling, or Expressive Art Therapy. Furthermore, students can enrich their learning journey by actively participating in various IMU Cares Community projects, which focus on mental health initiatives and other activities aimed at promoting mental wellness.

Mind Health Centre – Empowering Minds, Transforming Lives 
Practical experience plays a vital role in shaping competent healthcare professionals, and the IMU Mind Health Centre (MHC) serves as a dedicated platform for such experiential learning. The MHC aims to serve a dual purpose: to equip students with the necessary competencies to become effective mental health professionals, while also offering accessible mental health services to the community. Find out more HERE.

Why Study Counselling at IMU?

01

An Established Private Healthcare University

IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and healthcare university with over 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education. The IMU is placed under the Competitive (Berdaya Saing) category under SETARA 2022 for the third consecutive year.

02

Multidisciplinary Learning

To increase the ability to support clients, students will work closely with different healthcare professionals to co-construct an intervention plan with clients’ best interests.

03

Specialty Training

To cater to the diverse population with specific needs, students will be offered areas of specialised training to focus on, which includes Marriage and Family Counselling, Crisis, Trauma and Grief Counselling, or Expressive Art Therapy.

04

Serving the Community

To enhance the learning experience, students will be participating in IMU Cares Community projects related to mental health activities such as counselling, psychoeducation, assessments and other activities to promote mental wellness.

05

Platform to Practise

To enhance the practical learning experience, students will have the opportunity to practise in the IMU Psychology and Counselling Learning Centre and established centres with close supervision of qualified counsellors and psychologists. This will provide students with an up-close experience to help clients in an integrated healthcare setting.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

Applicants are required to have obtained:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 or equivalent, as accepted by the University’s Senate; or
  • A Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 to 2.74, with or without prior industry experience may be accepted subject to rigorous internal assessment.
  • A personal statement is advantageous to the application.
  • Shortlisted applicants who meet the entry requirement will undergo an interview session. Shortlisted applicants must pass the interview carried out by members of the selection committee.
  • Students who have any relevant work experience would have an added advantage

English Requirements

For Malaysian Students

Not applicable

 

For International Students

  • IELTS : Band score 6.0; or
  • TOEFL iBT : Overall score of 60 / Scale score of 4.0; or
  • MUET : Band 4
  • Cambridge English : Advanced (CAE) : Overall score of 169; or
  • Cambridge English : Proficiency (CPE) : Overall score of 169; or
  • Cambridge Linguaskill : Overall score of 169; or
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) : Overall score of 59;
  • ELS (CIEP Level) : 109

The following categories of students are exempted from the above requirements:

  • International students from countries in which English is the first language.
  • International students who graduated from any Malaysian or other institutions where the curriculum is delivered in English.

Note: Please note that achieving the minimum Entry and English requirements as stated does not guarantee you admission into any of IMU’s programmes. Please refer to our Student Admissions Policy for more information.

Programme Structure

Human Development across the Lifespan Psychological Testing and Assesment Research Project
Theories of Psychotherapy Abnormal Psychology and Clinical Assesment Counselling Internship
Theories of Career Counselling Counselling Skills Elective option 1 - Focused on Marriage and Family Counselling
Ethical and Professional Issues in the Helping Professions Research Methods Elective option 2 - Focused on Crisis, Trauma and Grief Counselling
Multi-cultural Counselling Group Counselling Elective option 3 - Focused on Expressive Art Therapy
Information, Personnel and Career Development Counselling Practicum

To strengthen students’ learning, the programme incorporates case-based scenarios and reflective practice as part of the curriculum. Electives courses are offered based on availability.

Fee Structure

Fee Malaysian Student (RM) International Student (RM)
Application Fee 150 500
Registration Fee 1,100 3,400
Refundable Caution Deposit 2,000 2,000
Student Association Fee per Semester 60 60
  • All IMU Alumni who are self-funding their postgraduate studies and meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for a bursary of 15%.
  • Application fee is payable upon submission of application.
  • Registration fee and refundable caution deposit is payable upon acceptance of the offer letter issued by the IMU Admissions Office.
  • Students must adhere to the Policy on Payment of Fees
  • For information on Student Visa Administration fee, please refer to Visa and Immigration on the IMU website, www.imu.edu.my
  • Fee payable per semester are subject to the number of credits registered
  • **Subject to annual increase
  At IMU University
Study Mode Malaysian Student
Tuition Fees
International Student
Tuition Fees
Master    
Conventional RM1,200 per credit hour RM1,300 per credit hour
No. of Credit Hour: 54 hours RM64,800 RM70,200
  • All listed fees are exclusive of the 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST), which will be applied to all international students where applicable.
  • Early bird discount – RM5,000
  • All IMU Alumni who are self-funding their postgraduate studies and meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for a bursary of 15%.
  • Early bird discount – RM5,000 for those accepting offer by 2 months before enrolment date.

Get All the Facts About Our Programme

Explore in-depth information on our programme, including intake dates, curriculum, partner universities, career pathways, and admissions requirements.

Our Team

Our academic members are highly qualified and experienced in different disciplines. The academic community of IMU pursues and achieves excellence in a wide range of research activities.

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Hear from Our Students and Alumni

I began IMU’s Master of Counselling with the simple goal of becoming better equipped to support my students, particularly after witnessing the emotional challenges many faced during and after COVID-19. As a teacher and homeroom teacher, I wanted to know how to respond effectively during times of crisis. What I did not expect was how profoundly this programme would transform me personally. The unwavering support, encouragement, and guidance from lecturers created a nurturing learning environment that inspired growth and self-discovery. Through reflection, challenge, and learning about the theories, I gained not only counselling skills but also a deeper understanding of myself.

Amelia Natasha Binti Md Ja'far

Student

My experience in IMU’s Master of Counselling programme has been transformative. Beyond learning counselling theories and skills, the programme has taken me on a journey of exploring my conscious and unconscious self which is an experience that has been both fascinating and invaluable in shaping me as a future counsellor. The lecturers’ wealth of experience and the practical assignments have helped bridge theory and real-world counselling practice, making the learning experience meaningful and impactful.

Harriran A/L Balakrishnan

Student

The Master of Counselling (MoC) Programme is a journey where you can't imagine when starting the first semester where and who you will be in the last semester. While starting to lay the foundations in theory it's hands on learning from the beginning. As it's not just a theoretical skill but counselling needs to be practiced experiential learning through observations, role play and real experiences in the community, MoC prepared me well and build my confidence for the actual practice later on.

Lydia Sophie Jung

Student

This Master of Counselling programme has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge and practical experience, allowing me to build and hone my skills as a counsellor. The lecturers have provided invaluable insight and guidance throughout this journey, alongside the warm company and support from my peers in the programme. This overall experience has fostered my growth not only as a professional counsellor, but also as an individual, deepening my self-awareness as well as my understanding of others.

Phuah Li Ann

Alumna

My experience in counselling has been deeply rewarding, as it has reaffirmed my values of community support and helping others, both professionally and personally. With the skills I gained here, the work I am doing has been fulfilling because it not only equips me in supporting others, but also allows me to build meaningful and supportive relationships with lecturers, course mates, and the wider community around me.

Wan Nur Ardini Batrisyia Binti Wan Anuar

Alumna

My journey in the Master of Counselling has been like a seed slowly growing. Along the way, I have not only learned the skills to become a counsellor, but also come to understand myself more deeply as a person. Through this process, I began to see people and the world with more awareness and compassion, recognising both their struggles and their strengths. Guided by my beloved lecturers and supported by my peers, I have grown to become more self-aware, more courageous, and more accepting. This journey has shaped me into a more grounded and understanding counsellor, while also helping me grow into a more authentic version of myself. Most importantly, it has allowed me to build more genuine connections with others and to show up more fully in both my work and my life

Wong Ee Leng

Student

Frequently Asked Questions

You will need to prepare the following documents for your application:  
  • Verified copies of your academic qualifications
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
  • A copy of your MyKad or the identification page of your passport
  These supporting documents needs to be attached electronically to your application. Please note that all of our programmes require payment of a non-refundable application fee after the application has been submitted. Application will only be processed once the payment for application fee has been made. We wish you all the best with your application and hope we will be welcoming you into one of our programmes soon!
September.
Full time is 2 years; Part-time is 4 years. Note: Students may not be able to graduate on time if they choose to defer or are required to retake modules or other conditions that might delay their course of study.
The IMU Master of Counselling programme is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). This programme also fulfils the standards of the requirement established by the professional counselling body of Malaysia. Therefore, the graduates of the IMU Master of Counselling programme will be eligible to apply for registration with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors (Lembaga Kaunselor Malaysia) upon graduation.
Master of Counselling, is a professional training programme producing counsellors to serve clients who are having relationship issues (couple, family, children and work), difficulty in adapting to life changes, career guidance, and other related issues. Master of Clinical Psychology is a professional training programme that focuses on producing psychologists who manage a patient’s mental health related issues such as diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders as well as learning disabilities. There may be an overlap of roles between a Counsellor and a Clinical Psychologist. However, the distinctive feature between a Counsellor and a Clinical Psychologist is that a Counsellor provides support for life transitions; self-development and relationship issues, whereas a Clinical Psychologist diagnoses and treats disorders.

A Word from the Programme Director

A Word from the Programme Director

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