Cognitive Behavioural Therapy,PGDip

This Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programme aims to provide a structured training where you can systematically acquire the knowledge and skills needed to practise as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist.

• The programme will progressively build your confidence and competence to take you from a novice to skilled practitioner.
• You will be equipped to work towards accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (for the PGDip route) and British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (for the MSc route) dependant on your individual experience.
• Uniquely on this course, students will be strongly encouraged to evaluate Cognitive Behavioural theory and practice, which will include an emphasis on understanding the relationship of CBT to other psychotherapeutic modalities and on the tailoring of interventions to individual needs. As such this training in CBT is presented within a broader framework of critical and positive psychology.
• The course also aims to develop your understanding of the impact of contextual and structural factors, particularly in terms of the impact of inherent power differentials, upon the formation and resolution of individual psychological difficulties. This also includes the influence of contextual factors upon the practice of CBT itself and the examination of the way in which CBT can contribute to the prevention and amelioration of the negative impact of these.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Nicola Walker.

MSc requirements

• An undergraduate degree (at least 2:2)
• Certificate in Counselling Skills/equivalent experience

Personal suitability will be assessed by the application form, references and a screening interview.

PGDip requirements

• An undergraduate degree (at least 2:2) or equivalent
• Qualification and two years experience in a core profession* (please see list below)
• Access to an appropriate work setting where you can undertake at least three days per week of face-to-face CBT practice and the audio/video recording of client sessions for assessment in an academic setting
• Access to a BABCP-accredited workplace supervisor who can offer weekly supervision

Personal suitability will be assessed by the application form, references and a screening interview.

* Core professions are determined by the BABCP. They include:

• Arts therapy – Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered
• Counselling – Accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling Society (NCS), Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA), or Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals’ National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (FDAP NCAC)
• Medicine – psychiatrist or General Practitioner, MBChB or MBBS, and usually PG training with membership of MRCGP, MRCP or MRCPsych
• Nursing – NMC Registered Mental Health Nurse, or NMC Registered Learning Disability Nurse
• Occupational Therapy – BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, MSc Occupational Therapy, or Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists (DipCOT) and HCPC Registered
• Psychotherapy/Psychotherapeutic Counselling – United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered
• Social work – Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW), Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), MA Social Work, or BA/BSc Hons Social Work. Registered with one of four UK regulators - Social Work England (SWE), Social Care Wales (SCW), Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology – Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and HCPC Registered as Practitioner Psychologist
• Educational Psychology – Doctorate or Qualification in Educational Psychology Stage 2 (QEPS) - must have BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist
• Health Psychology – Qualification in Health Psychology Stage 2 (QHP) - must have BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist
• Forensic Psychology – Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2 (QFP) - must have BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Where this degree can take you

Upon completion of the post-graduation accreditation requirements, student will be able to pursue a career as CBT psychotherapist both in the public and the private sector. Some may also choose to utilise their acquired skills and pursue an academic career by enrolling onto a PhD programme.

Links with employers

Clinical placements are at the core of the programme and are compulsory. Supervision on practice and learning will take place both in placements and at the university. This will allow students to establish links with potential employers and start to build a professional network to facilitate post-graduation and then post-qualification employment.