A Master of Genetic Counselling will equip you to have a profound impact on people’s lives. Under the guidance of experienced and passionate experts, you will share your journey with like-minded peers. Your two-year (full time) or three-year (part time) program will include high levels of clinical experience. This, along with your close student network, will build your career prospects in this specialised field.

Day-to-day experience

The Master of Genetic Counselling involves a high level of one-on-one teaching from world-renowned leaders in the field. You will gain invaluable clinical experience with practicing genetic counsellors, and learn to apply cutting-edge theory to your practice during placement and after graduation.

As part of a close-knit cohort and international community of peers, you will have access to national and international opportunities. These ongoing relationships will help you to confidently seek your dream career, wherever in the world you wish to practice.

Learning mode

You will have the privilege of studying in the University of Melbourne’s purpose-built Health Education and Learning Precinct in the Department of Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital campus. You will be taught by globally regarded geneticists, genetic counsellors and researchers with a range of specialisations, from genetic risk calculation to psychosocial support.

In addition to studies in genetics, ethics and research your first year includes clinic observations and a community placement in an organisation that supports individuals and families with genetic conditions. In second year, students enhance their counselling skills through placements in clinical genetics settings. During this time students also carry out an original research project in a relevant area and, by the time you graduate, you will have developed a comprehensive professional portfolio documenting your learning and assessment activities.

A close connection between the coursework and the workforce is a major asset to all students of this program, with assessments being relevant to the sort of tasks you will be performing as a genetic counsellor. For example, the clinical placement assessment tasks mirror the skills you will need in genetic counselling practice, and those required for professional certification by the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA).

Opportunities

As a student in this program, you will have the opportunity to undertake professional work experience with clinical genetic services. You will also have access to world-class clinical and research resources at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Student experience

"All the coordinators are so dedicated to their respective units and it always feels like they are putting real effort into making sure we get the most out of every tutorial.

The things we learn are all very practise focused which I find fantastic - it makes it a lot easier to learn and understand. All of the assessments are relevant to the sort of tasks I’ll be performing as a genetic counselling. Overall the course has been fantastic, I feel more confident now than when I started that this career is what I want to do".

- Michael Millward, Master of Genetic Counselling graduate