About the university
The Cairnmillar Institute is a small, not-for-profit provider in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, that teaches only psychology, counselling and psychotherapy. It was founded in 1961 and also runs low-cost counselling clinics, where it says it gives about 9,000 sessions a year. Not every course is open to international students; those that are include a bachelor's degree in psychology and counselling, an honours year, counselling and psychotherapy postgraduate courses, and a Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology).
Indian students look at Cairnmillar for professionally accredited training: the psychology courses are accredited by APAC, and the counselling courses by the Australian Counselling Association (and PACFA for the master's). Entry is selective, postgraduate psychology applicants must have their degree assessed by the Australian Psychological Society, and the English bar is high, with no waivers.
- Founded
- 1961, by Professor Emeritus Dr Francis Macnab
- Type
- Private, not-for-profit higher education provider and charity (CRICOS provider 03530E)
- Campus
- Hawthorn East, Melbourne (face-to-face teaching); counselling clinics in Hawthorn East, Dandenong, North Melbourne and the CBD
- Subjects
- Psychology, counselling and psychotherapy
- Intakes
- Semester 1 (February) for most courses; Semester 2 also for the bachelor's degree
- Study load for visa holders
- Full-time only
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Fee / year
- A$34,578
- Duration
- 2 years full-time
- Intakes
- February (Semester 1)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 100 (L25, R25, W27, S23), PTE 72 with 72 in each, or OET B (C in each)
- Postgraduate
Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Fee / year
- A$34,578
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- Intakes
- February (Semester 1)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 100 (L25, R25, W27, S23), PTE 72 with 72 in each, or OET B (C in each)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling
- Fee / year
- A$29,339
- Duration
- 3 years full-time
- Intakes
- February (Semester 1); July (Semester 2)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 87 (L19, R19, W21, S19) or PTE 64 with 60 in each
- Postgraduate
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
- Fee / year
- A$40,323
- Duration
- 1 year full-time
- Intakes
- February (Semester 1)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 100 (L25, R25, W27, S23) or PTE 72 with 72 in each
- Postgraduate
Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
- Fee / year
- A$51,179
- Duration
- 2 years full-time
- Intakes
- February (Semester 1)
- English
- IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in each component, TOEFL iBT 100 (L25, R25, W27, S23) or PTE 72 with 72 in each
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AUD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy | 2 years full-time | A$34,578 | ≈ ₹22.5 lakh |
| Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy | 1 year full-time | A$34,578 | ≈ ₹22.5 lakh |
| Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling | 3 years full-time | A$29,339 | ≈ ₹19.1 lakh |
| Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) | 1 year full-time | A$40,323 | ≈ ₹26.2 lakh |
| Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) | 2 years full-time | A$51,179 | ≈ ₹33.3 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at The Cairnmillar Institute with similar universities in Australia.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling: Year 12 or equivalent (Class 12). The course page gives an ATAR of 60 for Australian school leavers and points overseas applicants to the international students page.
- Student visa holders must study full-time.
Postgraduate
- Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy: a related bachelor's degree with a weighted average of 60, or any bachelor's degree with 60 plus relevant work experience.
- Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy: a related bachelor's degree (such as psychology, social work or teaching) with a weighted average of 70; otherwise start with the Graduate Diploma.
- Bachelor of Psychology (Honours): a three-year APAC-accredited psychology sequence, or an overseas degree assessed as equivalent by the APS, with a weighted average of 60.
- Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology): a four-year APAC-accredited psychology sequence with a weighted average of 75, and eligibility for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
- Shortlisted postgraduate applicants have an admissions interview, held remotely.
Documents
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Proof of identity (passport)
- CV or résumé
- APS assessment of an overseas psychology degree (psychology postgraduate courses)
- English test results
- Referee reports if shortlisted
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component), TOEFL iBT 87 (L19, R19, W21, S19) or PTE 64 (60 in each) |
| Honours, graduate diploma and master's | IELTS 7.0 (7.0 in each component), TOEFL iBT 100 (L25, R25, W27, S23) or PTE 72 (72 in each) |
| OET | Accepted for counselling and psychotherapy courses: overall B, with C in each component |
| Waivers | None: Cairnmillar says accreditation rules mean it gives no English test waivers. Five years living or working in an English-speaking country may be accepted instead. |
Accommodation and living costs
Cairnmillar has no student housing, and the pages reviewed give no accommodation advice or costs. Students rent privately in Melbourne; the Hawthorn East campus is in the inner east.
| Item | In AUD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
All face-to-face teaching is at the Hawthorn East campus, 391–393 Tooronga Road, in Melbourne's inner east.
- Small, specialist provider teaching only psychology, counselling and psychotherapy.
- Runs low-cost counselling clinics in Hawthorn East, Dandenong, North Melbourne and the CBD.
- Counselling courses include supervised placements.
- Orientation for 2027 runs from 1 to 12 February.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Courses are built around registration and professional accreditation: APAC for psychology, and the Australian Counselling Association and PACFA for counselling. Cairnmillar lists careers such as private practice, community mental health, family services and case management for counselling graduates. It publishes no graduate outcome figures on the pages reviewed. See our Australia guide for work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Australia
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Australia. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Australia
Photo: Bob Tan, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Melbourne (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Law, Business & Management
Photo: Rob Deutscher from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0 PublicMonash University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne, AustraliaOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: J Bar, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicUNSW Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Finance & Accounting
Photo: Donaldytong, Public domain PublicDeakin University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Melbourne and Geelong, AustraliaOften chosen for Nursing & Allied Health, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. KittySaturn~commonswiki assumed (based o…, Public domain PublicThe University of Sydney (official website, opens in a new tab)
Sydney, AustraliaOften chosen for Business & Management, Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences
Photo: BobTanGo, CC BY 4.0 PublicThe University of Queensland (official website, opens in a new tab)
Brisbane, AustraliaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Business & Management
FAQs
How much does Cairnmillar cost for international students?
At 2027 rates, the Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is A$29,338.85 a year, the counselling Graduate Diploma and Master's A$34,577.93 a year, and the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) A$51,178.67 a year. Fees may rise each year.
Can I get an English waiver for Class 12 English?
No. Cairnmillar says it gives no English test waivers because of accreditation rules. Postgraduate courses need IELTS 7.0 in every band.
Are there scholarships for international students?
Cairnmillar lists honours scholarships and a doctoral scholarship, but the pages reviewed do not say international students are eligible, and the doctoral one is for domestic students only.
Sources
- Cairnmillar Institute: home (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: fees and scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: 2027 tuition fees table (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: key dates (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling (opens in a new tab)
- Cairnmillar: Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.cairnmillar.org.au (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details