Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy
Full-time
Part-time
One year
Two year
September 2024
In a nutshell
International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) has a crucial role to play in health and social care provision today. This course is delivered by a highly qualified team of psychotherapy and counselling staff from a variety of professional backgrounds.
On this course, you will gain insight into how to use CBT creatively and collaboratively with clients and how to assess, formulate, provide interventions and evaluate your own practice.
Please note: Due to the structure of this programme, it is not available to applicants who require a Student Visa.
You will:
- Study new developments in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
- Focus on interventions with clients who have anxiety and depression right through to people with personality disorder and schizophrenia as well as other complex needs.
options available
students accepted
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
You have one year's experience in a mental health setting and an active interest in cognitive behavioural work.
You have the ability to understand people's reactions.
You have patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
All about the course
You will gain insight into how to use CBT creatively and collaboratively with clients and how to assess, formulate, provide interventions and evaluate your work with clients. This course focuses on interventions with clients who have anxiety and depression right through to people with personality disorder and schizophrenia as well as other complex needs. There are opportunities to study new developments in CBT, related to mindfulness and compassion-focused therapy.
- MSc: one year full-time; two years part-time
- PgDip: one year full-time; two years part-time
This course involves a range of half-day and full-day sessions. Optional modules on the part-time route may be delivered in a series of block sessions. You will also have the chance to exit with the following awards:
Depending on your level of experience and professional interests you can choose to study a variety of modules.
Full-time study option:
The course requires the completion of:
- Semester 1: one module
- Semester 2: two modules
- Semesters 1 and 2: one module spanning both semesters
- Semester 3: Dissertation
For module descriptions, please see below.
Part-time study option:
The course requires the completion of two modules in year one, two modules in year two and the dissertation in year 3.
- Year 1, Semester 1
- Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (30 credits)
- Year 1, Semester 2
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders and Addictive Behaviour (30 credits)
- Year 2, Semester 1
- CBT Protocols and Skills Part 1
- Year 2, semester 2
- CBT Protocol and Skills Part 2 plus
Choose one of the following modules:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Complex Cases (30 credits)
- Compassion Focused Therapy (30 credits)
- Military Veterans and Emergency Service Personnel (30 credits)
- Mindfulness-based Approaches with CBT (30 credits)
- CBT for Children and Young People (30 credits)
Year 2, semester 3
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practical application of CBT, together with the critical evaluation of its use in addiction and associated depression and anxiety disorders.
CBT Protocol and Skills Part One
This module will provide you with a rigorous theoretical and evidence based understanding of specific protocols related to key disorders where CBT can be demonstrated as a therapy in a practice area. It will enable you to critically assess the use of cognitive behaviour therapy skills for practical application.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders and Addictive Behaviour
Assess treatment methods for clients with anxiety disorders and/ or addictive behaviour, and use a conceptualisation methodology to evaluate courses of therapy.
CBT Protocol and Skills Part Two
This module will build on 'Part One' to further develop your understanding of specific protocols related to key disorders where CBT can be demonstrated as a therapy in a practice area.
Choose from one of the following optional modules:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Complex Cases
Develop and enhance your skills in the use of CBT, enabling you to work with clients with complex and/ or long-term needs.
Compassion Focused Therapy
This module aims to focus on the development and use of compassion in therapy. It uses work from Paul Gilbert, Chris Irons and Elaine Beaumont; focusing on the principles of compassion towards care and understanding.
Mindfulness Based Approaches with CBT
Explore your practice of mindfulness with the context of CBT.
CBT for Children and Young People
Enhance your knowledge, skills and interpersonal awareness in order to provide CBT for children and young people. You will be required to use CBT within your work/ voluntary placement setting and you will need to access CBT supervision for at least one hour per month.
Dissertation
Provides you with the opportunity to pursue an area of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy that directly relates to your own work or interests.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real-world impact.
We live in a rapidly changing world, and we’re keen to leave a productive legacy of helping people at all stages of their lives, improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Programme Lead
Would you like to learn more about the programme or get in touch with the programme lead? Jennifer Darling is available to contact via email using the link below.
What about after uni?
This master's course has been designed to meet the growing need for people to have the skill set to work with clients with complex needs or mild to moderate mental health issues.
Many of our students are already in employment, but inform us that this course enhances their career prospects or offers a new career pathway.
Career Links
This course was created after a request from the North West Strategic Health Authority. Some students will be able to use the Service Level Agreement in place to fund these modules. Other students will self-fund or request funding from their employer.
What you need to know
Applicants must have one year’s experience in a mental health setting and an active interest in cognitive behavioural work. Applicants must have an active placement where they can work with clients and have the approval to use clients as part of their coursework. Overseas students must be able to complete placements and have access to clients.
Students should access supervision from someone with experience of CBT. If the student does not have a core profession, then the KSA (see BABCP guidance) will need to have been commenced and be available to support any application.
This course is accredited with the BABCP at level 1. We fulfil all the 200 teaching hours and case studies. The 200 clinical hours and 40 supervision hours can be completed after the course to complete accreditation requirements. We provide a portfolio of all tasks completed on the course.
Placement suggestions and advice are offered by the course as well as consultation with our industry links but we do not directly provide placements.
DBS equivalent for international students is required.
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English-speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 5.5. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Please note: Due to the structure of this programme, it is not available to applicants who require a Student Visa.
Undergraduate degree
An upper second class honours degree in psychology or other health/social care related discipline, e.g. counselling, health sciences, nursing.
OR an honours degree (in any discipline) (2.2 or above) and a diploma in counselling or its UKCP or BPS equivalent.
International Students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/ traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,820.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
| Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,100.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. See the full range of our International Scholarships.
All Set? Let's Apply
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545