MSc Psychological Therapies

This programme is also available to study on a part-time basis: MSc Psychological Therapies (Part Time)

Please check the postgraduate Degree Finder to see the specific entry requirements, start date, and application deadlines. 

Our full-time programme is aimed at recent graduates or those looking for a change in career, who do not hold a core clinical qualification or equivalent. There is a special, but not exclusive, focus on children, young people and vulnerable adults.  

Teaching is delivered through a mixture of workshops, lectures and seminars, individual and peer supervision, delivered using a blend of on campus and remote delivery, supplemented by individual and group online tasks. Learning is collaborative, experiential and strikes a balance between information-sharing, skills-building, and critical methods of teaching.   

Students must have access to a suitable client group to undertake the programme. Placements to achieve this can be offered via the Centre for Psychological Therapies.

This programme provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Students will learn from expert practitioners who provide both theoretical foundations and practical skills, emphasizing treatment fidelity and ethical practice standards in therapeutic interventions.  

This MSc has a higher credit bearing load to allow the teaching and assessment of the requisite Knowledge, Skills and Attributes laid out by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapists (BABCP).  The programme is not currently accredited however we aim to ensure students have access to the following:

• Courses which build on relevant undergraduate teaching and provide theory and skills relevant to aspects of KSA application.
• The correct number of core CBT teaching hours in training (theory and skills based) and number of formally assessed pieces of client work required for application.
• Experienced clinical supervisors and appropriate clinical supervision hours.
• A varied range of clinical presentations in training, and number of supervised cases.

Graduates of the programme are eligible to make individual applications for accreditation with British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). 

Graduates of this programme have gone on to gain employment in a range of services and settings including private practice, NHS Mental Health Services and mental health support in education.  Others have gone on to pursue further postgraduate study including PhD and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. 

We offer intermittent CPD sessions open to practitioners. Our graduates are welcome to attend these events, which contribute to maintaining accreditation and lifelong renewal of skills.