This course is now closed for applications for September 2024. The next intake will be in September 2025. 

Teaching will differ for both CBT applicants and the Talking Therapies applicants.  

The information below generally refers to those who apply directly for the PgDip/MSc in CBT - information may differ for those who have been interviewed to undertake the NHS Talking Therapies route.

For the full time Talking Therapies route (previously known as IAPT) please apply here : PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (NHS Talking Therapies) Full Time

About the course

The MSc Cognitive Behaviour Therapy course is an exciting and innovative course, delivered by an enthusiastic multi-disciplinary team of Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapists and lecturers. The course structure is designed to give you the option to study for:

• a postgraduate diploma (PgDip) in CBT

• a full Master’s degree (MSc) in CBT

The postgraduate diploma (PgDip) is suitable for health and social care professionals who are aiming for accreditation as Cognitive Behaviour Therapists. To be a successful candidate you will already have experience working in mental health settings, providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy interventions. 

Typically, our students bring significant experience in their own field of work as Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, medical doctors, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, and Counsellors.

Overview of the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

The PgDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is delivered part time over two academic years to facilitate the development of knowledge and application of CBT in stages.  Module delivery is on one day per week. For 24/25 academic year this will be a Thursday for first year and Wednesday is the second year. 

First year

The first year of the course is focused on giving you the clinical skills and academic understanding that you need in order to function as competent cognitive behavioural therapists. Typical modules include:

• 7HSK2141 - Fundamental of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) (15 credits)

• 7HSK2142 - CBT for Anxiety and Depression (15 credits)

• 7HSK2143 - CBT Practice 1 (30 credits)

Second year

In the second year, you develop competence in more complex client presentations, and you also develop greater competency in clinical skills. Typical modules include:

• 7HSK2144 – CBT for Complex and Comorbid Presentations (30 credits)

• 7HSK2145 – CBT Practice 2 (30 credits)

The use of the CTS-R is prevalent throughout the PgDip Behaviour Therapy (CBT) programme to measure and provide feedback for your development. For eligibility of the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapists (BABCP) accreditation, you must satisfy the supervision requirements including completing a portfolio of practice.

The postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is accredited at Level two by the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies. This means that the course fulfils all requirements so that you can gain provisional accreditation. 

How you can gain a Master’s degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

When you successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, we would strongly encourage you to “top up” to the full MSc CBT. You will need to study the following modules in this order: 

• 7HSK2078 - Integrating Research with Contemporary Practice (15 credits)

• 7HSK2049 - Preparation for Research Project (15 credits)

• 7HSK2048- Research Project (30 credits)

Throughout your study, you will be facilitated to develop intellectual and critical thinking in evaluating the evidence that underpins your knowledge and the practice of CBT interventions.

What is Unique about the course?

A distinct feature of the programme is that it offers formal CBT clinical supervision as part of module delivery. This enables students to gain supervision whilst applying newly learnt knowledge and CBT skills.  It also ensures that students on the programme receive adequate supervision to achieve BABCP accreditation. 

Professional Accreditations

When you graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy you will be eligible to gain accreditation from the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), provided that you satisfy the supervision requirements including completing a portfolio of practice which is embedded within training.

Careers

As a qualified and accredited CBT therapist, you will be ready for a rewarding career within a variety of settings including the NHS, voluntary or private sectors.

Students who graduate with our postgraduate diploma can return to “top up” to a full MSc CBT.  This involves by completing research and a dissertation module, usually part time over one academic year.

Our CBT academic team include those able to support and supervise students wishing to engage in doctoral level study and research by, for example, undertaking a PhD. Faculty’s vibrant allied health research culture encompass mental health and CBT in it. 

Cost 

This course is £1,840 per 15 credits. The PgDip is 120 credits hence total cost of the PgDip CBT is £14,720. This amount represents the payment over 2 years (£7360 per year). This relates to students assessed as UK/home self-funded for fee purposes. Prices may differ for students that are assessed as EU Overseas/Overseas. Fees status will normally stay with the student for the remainder of their course. Here you can find further details along with, costs and when your fees need to be paid. You may be able to obtain a Post Graduate student loan, for which you must sign up for the whole MSc programme and not just individual modules or a Post Graduate Diploma, further details can be found at Gov.uk Master’s Loan

Modules

• Fundamentals of CBT (SEMA-Y1)

• CBT for Anxiety and Depression (SEMB-Y1)

• CBT Practice 1 (SEMA and SEMB-Y1)

• CBT for Complex and Comorbid Presentations (SEMA and SEMB-Y2)

• CBT Practice 2 (SEMA and SEMB-Y2)

For course enquiries please contact:

Admissions tutor Candan Ertubey : c.ertubey@herts.ac.uk 

Admissions team : cpdhealth@herts.ac.uk

Entry requirements and key information

The normal entry requirements for the programme are: 

• to have a core profession as defined by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), plus a good first degree (a minimum of second class) that relates to working with mental health service users, plus 3 years post qualifying practice experience in a health or social care setting to allow for consolidation of learning.  (click here for list of core professions).   

or 

• a good first degree (a minimum of second class) in a health-related topic or equivalent plus a minimum of four years practice experience in a health or social care setting to allow for consolidation of learning. Applicants who do not possess a core profession need to present evidence that they meet BABCP Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) conditions prior to an offer being made on the course. This is a mechanism whereby the applicant can show evidence that they have equivalent training and experience compared to a Registered Health or Social Care professional. 

• For the duration of the programme, all students must be working in a paid or voluntary capacity within a health or care organisation or within a voluntary sector. They would have access to a relevant client group plus supervision within their workplace.  The workplace setting would need to be successfully audited using the Multi-professional Practice Learning Environment Audit. 

• The prospective student will be working for at least four hours per week as a trainee CBT-therapist (allowing the trainee to practice CBT with at least eight clients and encompassing at least 100 hours of CBT practice per year.  

• A suitable professional and/or academic reference to ensure that the student's application is supported.  

• All candidates are interviewed prior to offers being made.  

Details of what constitutes a core profession can be found at https://babcp.com/Accreditation/What-is-Accreditation/Provisional-Accreditation/Core-Professions.  This site also provides details of KSA.

All applicants will attend an interview with as part of the selection process. You also need a professional and or academic reference to ensure that your application is supported.

You will need to secure your own access to a suitable adult client group and have access to external CBT clinical supervision. This can be in the NHS, voluntary sector or private. Alternatively, evidence needs to be provided that you can conduct CBT-sessions with clients in your current work environment.

If you do not have the required level of English for entry, our academic English courses can help you to achieve this level.