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Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (PgCert)

  • Duration: 1 year
  • Mode: Part time

Applications are closed

Applications for this course are currently closed. Contact us for more information.

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Deadline date

The deadline date for application is 19 June.

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Open day

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.

Why study this course

This BABCP accredited training programme will provide you with the knowledge and clinical skills to qualify as a psychological therapist.

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Accredited by British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP)

This programme meets the high-quality standards in education set by the BABCP and is designed to help you towards individual practitioner accreditation with BABCP.

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The only accredited multi-professional CBT programme in Wales

This is the only multi-professional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme in Wales accredited by the BABCP.

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Ranked 5th in the UK and 38th in the world

Our School is ranked highly for Psychology in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.

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Taught by BABCP accredited practitioners

You will be taught by BABCP accredited practitioners with a vast range of professional, clinical and research experience.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking treatment tool used by mental health professionals that has been proven to help people manage a range of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

This part-time course is intended for professionals working in mental health, such as mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers. However, we offer another route called the Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KSA), which ​enables practitioners with sufficient levels of experience and knowledge to be able to attain the equivalent level of training eligible to apply for the training.

The syllabus is based on the Roth & Pilling competency framework for CBT with anxiety disorders and depression, and the course focuses on CBT with adults, although we also welcome practitioners working with children and older adults.

This programme provides high quality postgraduate training in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CBT), and is accredited by the BABCP at Level 1. You will have to meet some further criteria, in addition to the course, for full practitioner accreditation.

There is a requirement of 100 practice hours to complete the course, the overriding majority of which needs to occur on a 1:1 basis. This involves working with Depression and Anxiety disorders that you will be taught on the training programme.

Accreditations

Where you'll study

School of Psychology

Study in a dynamic and stimulating learning environment, informed by our leading research in psychology and neuroscience.

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  • Telephone+44 (0)29 2087 4007
  • Marker70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

  1. A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved an honours degree in a relevant subject area, or an equivalent international degree.
  2. Evidence that you have a core profession in mental health or a Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) portfolio (please contact cbt-admin@cardiff.ac.uk for further details). If you are required to provide a KSA Portfolio as part of your application, this must be submitted no later than 1 May, to allow time for review.
  3. Evidence that you work (paid or unpaid) in the UK, and you can practise individual CBT with clients experiencing anxiety and depression.
  4. Evidence that you have a manager and a clinical supervisor (these may be the same person). Please complete both the Manager’s and Supervisor’s forms.
  5. A personal statement, which e vidences your personal suitability, interest and commitment to CBT.
  6. You will be required to obtain student membership of the BABCP.
  7. Evidence of GCSE English language grade C/4. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of a GCSE.
  8. A completed copy of the Additional Questions form.

Please note that you should apply for the postgraduate certificate (PgCert) in the first instance unless you hold a BABCP accredited CBT certificate from Cardiff University or another institution.


Application Deadline

The application deadline is 19 June. If you are required to provide a KSA Portfolio as part of your application, this must be submitted no later than 1 May, to allow time for review.

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet the entry requirements we will invite you to an interview. Interviews will be held on 31 July. Offers are made based on the outcome of the interview.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Application downloads

Manager Form

For the CBT training to be effective those undertaking it will need the support of their managers.

Supervisor Form

Evidence of supervision in the workplace.

Additional questions

Additional application questions.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.

Criminal convictions

If you do not currently work for the NHS you will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from or have resided in certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required. If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.

Course structure

The Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) consists of a series of training days commencing in September.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2025/26 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2025.

Module titleModule codeCredits
The Fundamentals of CBTPST40120 credits
CBT for Specific DisordersPST40240 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

The Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) consists of a series of training days commencing in September. These will focus on developing a critical understanding of the theoretical and research base for CBT. These training days will include didactic teaching, discussion, video, clinical material, reflections on practice, role play and experiential exercises to encourage participants to reflect on links between theory, research and practice. 

You are expected to attend all training days, you should be prepared to practice the skills taught in your own CBT practice and be prepared to discuss your clinical work at training days.

How will I be assessed?

The course requires you to complete an essay, a case study and two extended clinical narratives. You will also keep log books over the year detailing CBT-related activity.

How will I be supported?

You will have access to a personal tutor to oversee pastoral care, and there will be opportunities to consult with the teaching staff and to engage in discussion with visiting trainers.

A Programme Handbook will include detailed information about the programme of study including guidance on completing assessed work. The course outline, handbook and schedules of assessment will be available via the Cardiff University website, and you will have access to Cardiff University Library, a bench library of key text at the course base, and online resources via the Cardiff University website.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Year Tuition fee Deposit
Year one £4,500 None

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

This course does not currently accept students from outside the UK/EU.

More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Funding

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Career prospects

Graduates from the course will have evidence of skills in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, recognised by the BABCP, which can be used in a number of employment fields.

To apply for accreditation, you first need to have a BABCP recognised professional background in mental health which the BABCP call a Core Profession. If your prior mental health profession is not listed here or you do not fully meet the criteria, equivalent training and experience in mental health is recognised through the KSA Route to Accreditation.

Read the Core Profession information on the BABCP website.

Next steps

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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.