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Program application deadlines

The Faculty of Health Disciplines recommends that students begin the application process at least 12 to 16 weeks before the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Depending on the program, it may take 6 to 12 weeks after the deadline to receive an admission decision.

The following deadlines apply to applications:

• Jan. 15 for admission to Fall semester

Deadlines are final. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed or saved for next year, and there are no appeals to admission decisions.

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Admission requirements

The Master of Counselling admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree in a related area or equivalent education and experience.

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Transferring outside credits

Students may apply for transfer of credits for appropriate graduate-level coursework completed at other post-secondary institutions. For more detailed information on transferring outside credits, refer to Transfer Credit under Admission requirements in the Calendar.

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Application procedures

How to apply

• if you are a returning user and select the program intake for the Master of Counselling program.
• Complete all components of the application by the deadline and pay the application fee.

The application will include the following information:

• Academic background
• Work and volunteer experience
• Professional development activities
• Rationale (short essay) for applying to the program
• References

You can log into your application and update your information at any time during the application process. However, once you finalize and submit your application for review, it can no longer be modified.

1. Transcripts

Official transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s) by mail, email, or . They must include the graduation date, degrees granted, and any completed courses. They must be issued within 1 year of the application deadline. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted to finalize the application, but official transcripts will be required before admission is considered.

a. Mailing address:

b. Email address: fhdgradadmissions@athabascau.ca

Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents (including those from Canadian French Language Institutions).

To prevent loss or delay of transcripts sent by mail, we recommend that applicants utilize mail tracking to ensure timely delivery. Late transcripts will not be accepted.

If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada or the United States, documentation measuring its equivalence based on Canadian qualifications can be acquired using an evaluation service. Please submit a course-by-course evaluation for all FHD graduate programs. This evaluation must include course weights and grades. World Education Services () is preferred. 

• The assessment must be dated within 5 years of the application deadline. If your assessment was issued more than 5 years before the deadline, it must be reissued by the credentialing agency.  
• The official evaluation/assessment report must be mailed to our program office directly from the credentialing agency to our program office. Unsealed or emailed evaluations received directly from applicants will not be accepted.

2. Letters of reference

You'll need two letters of reference, submitted online. We do not accept paper copies. Your reference form will be emailed to the referee's email address, which you provide.

1. Your first letter of reference should come from someone familiar with your academic skills.
2. The second reference should be a professional reference from someone familiar with your work, preferably if they have supervised you in some way.

If an academic reference is not provided, you will be asked to explain within the application why you could not meet this requirement.

All referees must be able to objectively assess your background and capabilities with respect to the prospective graduate program. Letters from friends, family members, clients, colleagues, pastors, or people currently registered in an ÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓgraduate program, or general reference letters (not written to support your application to the graduate program) are not accepted.

You must submit current letters of reference with your application, even if you have previously applied to an ÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓgraduate 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, change a referee, etc.).

3. Additional requirements

Programs with in-person requirements: Applicants without Canadian citizenship must provide a photocopy of permanent resident documentation.

Students must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements to be admitted to graduate programs at AU. It is their responsibility to ensure they meet these requirements.

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Non-program application

Application deadlines

Application procedures

The following are the procedures required to apply as a Master of Counselling non-program student. It is strongly recommended that you print and read this entire document before proceeding with your application. Failure to complete all steps will result in your application not being reviewed for approval or processed.

Before starting your application, please verify that you meet the admission requirements for your chosen program, as outlined in the Graduate Calendar.

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 master's 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.

Complete all components of the application by the deadline and pay the application fee.  The application will include the following information:

• Academic history
• General employment history
• Credential evaluation letter (if applicable)

You can log into your application and update your information anytime during the application process. However, it can no longer be modified once you finalize and submit your application for review.

Important: If you have been a student at Athabasca University (AU) or have received an ÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓstudent ID number as part of a previous application, please provide the ID number in the application.

Please check your student application for updates regarding your application.

After you have been approved as a non-program student, you will receive a letter from the Faculty of Health Disciplines. This letter will contain instructions regarding registration confirmation and course access, course materials, course withdrawal procedures, fees, etc.

How to apply

 if a returning user and select Non-Program - Master of Counselling.

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