PG Dip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

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.

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.
• For the full-time pathway, the prospective student will be employed in a Talking Therapies/Wellbeing (or equivalent) site, where they will work as a trainee High Intensity Worker for 3 days per week, with the other two available for modules listed above.  Employer guidance recommends a case load of between 10 to 12 clients per week. Trainees need to be completing 200 hours of practice by the end of their training.
• A suitable professional and/or academic reference to ensure that the student's application is supported.
• All candidates are interviewed either by their placement or by University staff prior to offers being made.  

Details of what constitutes a core profession can be found at https://babcp.com/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. 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.

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

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more.

The University of Hertfordshire offer a range of tuition fee discounts and non-repayable scholarships to support our postgraduate students, visit website to find out more.

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 completed over two academic years.

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. 

• Fundamentals of CBT
• CBT for Anxiety and Depression
• CBT Practice 1
• CBT for Complex and Comorbid Presentations
• CBT Practice 2
• Fundamentals of CBT
• CBT for Anxiety and Depression
• CBT Practice 1
• CBT for Complex and Comorbid Presentations
• CBT Practice 2