MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
This master’s programme is for practitioners who wish to gain specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
The course is designed to meet the criteria for accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)**. The programme sets out to develop practitioners who can work individually in a professional practice setting or as part of a multi-disciplinary team in various settings using CBT approaches. It is designed to provide you, as the learner, with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and personal confidence to apply strategic protocols of CBT in the area of mental health and general health wellbeing.
Who is this course for?
The MSc CBT is a comprehensive professional training course focused on the acquisition, refinement and application of CBT skills across a variety of presenting issues and settings. The course is designed to enhance trainees’ existing qualifications. Applicants include counsellors and psychotherapists and those from a BABCP recognised core profession (Psychiatry, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Mental Health Nursing, Art Therapy, and others). The course is designed to meet the criteria for BABCP accreditation**. The course is not a stand-alone counselling qualification.
What are the benefits of doing this course?
This programme has been developed to meet an ever-expanding need in the Irish market to provide high quality, affordable education to individuals wishing to enhance their qualifications. This Master’s in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be regarded as one of the most innovative programmes of its kind in Ireland, with an emphasis on third-wave interventions supplementing more traditional approaches. The programme centres around theoretical knowledge, skills and experiential growth which will instil a sense of competence, confidence and clarity for the developing CBT practitioner. We integrate professional development through self-reflection, emphasising personal capabilities such as self-awareness, integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, compassion, imagination, and personal presence.
What will you learn?
As a student in the MSc programme, you will be immersed in the therapeutic skills required to work with varying complex cases. You will experience practical application of both skills and theory in class and through a clinical placement setting, supported via in class and external supervision. You will be provided with opportunities to evaluate and critically assess appropriate interventions for the client group and develop proficiency in assessment and case formulation skills. You will develop mastery of CBT application complemented by the efficacy of 3rd wave approaches. You will also have opportunities to create your own specialisation through our CBT in Specialised Areas module and via your dissertation. This Masters is designed to be participative and experiential and draw on prior professional experience whenever possible. The academic value of the programme is enhanced by a learning environment that is warm, transparent, and genuine. On completion, you will have a range of transferable skills and a deep understanding of this new area of professional practice. **The course is designed to meet the criteria for BABCP accreditation and its accreditation application is currently under review.
Validated By
Year 1
Year 1: Postgraduate Certificate – 60 credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits)
• Theoretical Underpinnings of CBT
• Theory, Skills & Research: CBT for Anxiety Disorders
• Theory, Skills & Research: CBT for Depression
• Practitioner Competencies: Teaching & Supervised Skills Practice for Anxiety and Depression
Year 2
Year 2: Postgraduate Diploma – 60 credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits)
• CBT: The New Generation
• Theory, Skills & Research: CBT for Complex Disorders
• Contemporary Applications: CBT in Specialised Areas
• Practitioner Competencies: Teaching & Supervised Skills Practice for Anxiety, Depression and Complex Disorders
Year 2: MSc Component – 60 credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits)
• Dissertation
Additional Course Requirements
• 200 hours of clinical placement/client work (50 hours must be completed before the end of Year 1)
• Students are required to attend a BABCP accredited external supervisor for a minimum of 40 hours of one-to-one supervision
• 20 hours of Personal Therapy is a requirement for all students
• Students must join the BABCP as student members whilst undergoing CBT training within the programme.
Assessment
Assignments
There are no formal examinations, giving students more opportunities to concentrate on their assignments and their own self-exploration throughout their journey.
Eligibility
ELIGIBILITY YEAR 1
• Level 6 FHEQ/Level 8 NFQ accredited degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy (final grade 2.2 or above)
OR
• Accredited Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy plus Level 6UK (or equivalent) degree in a related area plus submission of a clinical portfolio
OR
• A BABCP recognised Core Profession (Psychiatry, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, and others) – please see BABCP’s list of Core Professions here.
Applicants who do not meet this criterion may be eligible to enter the course on the basis of prior learning and experience in the area. Students applying on the basis of prior learning must provide evidence of their knowledge, skill and ability to pursue this programme of study. This should be in the form of a career portfolio outlining and demonstrating your career path as is relevant to this course (including transcripts of any relevant results, statements of prior learning based on systematic reflection) and be must be submitted with your application. Please note that those interested in applying for BABCP accreditation post qualification and who do not have a BABCP recognised core profession will be required to apply to the BABCP for accreditation via a KSA portfolio application. This process is managed via BABCP and PCI College cannot guarantee eligibility. For information about this accreditation route please click here.
ELIGIBILITY YEAR 2
Students who hold a Postgraduate Certificate in CBT (PCI College or equivalent) may apply for entry to Year 2 of the course.
Students who do not meet these criteria may be eligible to enter Year 2 on the basis of prior learning and experience in the area. Students applying on the basis of prior learning must provide evidence of their knowledge, skill and ability to pursue this programme of study. This should be in the form of a career portfolio outlining and demonstrating your career path as is relevant to this course (including transcripts of any relevant results, statements of prior learning based on systematic reflection) and be must be submitted with your application. Please note that those interested in applying for BABCP accreditation post qualification and who do not have a BABCP recognised core profession will be required to apply to the BABCP for accreditation via a KSA portfolio application. This process is managed via BABCP and PCI College cannot guarantee eligibility. For information about this accreditation route please click here.
Language Requirements
All candidates are required to satisfy the English language requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English and who are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate may satisfy the requirement through the completion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) on the basis that they obtain a minimum band score of 6 at the undergraduate level and 6.5 at postgraduate level or an equivalent score of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or Cambridge, which denotes a very good skill level of English. It should be noted that these are the minimum requirements in English and PCI College may set higher requirements in each case.
Garda Vetting
Students will be requested to participate in Garda Vetting procedures in relation to programme and accreditation requirements.
IT Skills
Students require sufficient IT skills to complete the course
Additional Entry Requirements
Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application.
Fees
Applicants should complete the online application form including the initial application fee of €80. This application fee is separate from the tuition fees, should your application be successful. This application fee is non-refundable if it has been longer than 14 days after the application has been received, or if you have been interviewed and deemed to be an unsuitable candidate for the programme you applied for.
Please note that there is an additional charge of €20 for the Garda vetting process which is required prior to course entry and it is not included in the above fees.
Course Fees – Northern Ireland
Course Total
Year 1 Total
Year 2 Total
Year 1 Fees
Application Fee
Acceptance Fee
Validation Fee
Vetting Fee
Payment Plan
Pay in 18 monthly instalments, through the monthly payment plan. Please note that this plan will operate by direct debit only and is inclusive of a €100.00 administration fee. Each student must pass the progression board to enable them to move into the next year of study and the payment schedule outlined below.
Additional Course Costs
Course fees do not cover costs associated with additional course requirements (personal therapy and supervision). Fees for supervision and personal therapy are decided by negotiation between you and your supervisor and therapist. The average cost of supervision is approximately €80. Personal therapy may also average about €60 per session.
Career Path
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is in demand as the treatment of choice, across a wide variety of settings, from private practice, HSE, addiction, E.A.P. and general mental health settings. In order to practice as an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in Ireland, an individual must hold a Masters level qualification with accreditation in this highly desirable area. As the population’s needs increase, so does the demand for qualified and accredited CBT therapists by organisations and stakeholders.
On successful completion of this programme, graduates can decide on the course of action most appropriate to their needs and ambitions. The following avenues are open to them:
Avenue 1
Graduates may choose to continue working in employment settings where CBT skills are essential if they are to serve their clients in a more truly comprehensive way.
Avenue 2
Graduates may gain employment in Government-funded agencies and other organisations that prize CBT as a method of counselling and psychotherapy, for example, HSE settings, NHS, GP referrals, EAP organisations, etc.
Avenue 3
Graduates may increase their existing private practice services as psychotherapists who specialise in the area of CBT.
Avenue 4
Graduates may pursue supervision status with BABCP or other accredited organisations.
Avenue 5
A number of graduates choose to use their learning from this programme as a stepping-stone to further study in counselling and psychotherapy or the social sciences and participate in practice only insofar as they need to fulfil requirements in more advanced for example doctoral studies.
Please note that this course is a supplementary qualification. On its own, the course won’t enable you to work as a counsellor. If you seek a professional qualification as a counsellor and/or accreditation, we would advise you to first complete our BSc (Honours) Degree Counselling & Psychotherapy. After completing the degree course, you could then specialise in an area of interest with this MSc course. On the other hand, you could enrol in this course, if eligible, and incorporate what you have learnt into your daily working life.
If it is your intention to become a professional counsellor/psychotherapist, accredited by the IACP, please see our BSc (Honours) Degree Counselling & Psychotherapy course for more details.
Application Process
Applicants should complete the online application form including the fee of €80, which is separate from course fees if the application is successful. Applicants are entitled to a full refund of the application fee if they decide to cancel within 14 days of receipt of their application. Applications should be completed in full and returned with the appropriate deposit for the programme of choice. Applicants are entitled to a full refund of the initial fee if they decide to cancel within 14 days of receipt of their application, and haven’t attended the interview. If the cancellation is before the programme commences, any monies held will be left on account for use for the next course intake. Any monies left on the account exceeding this timeframe will be forfeited. Please note that the name used on your application needs to be the same name that you have on your passport.
The balance of fees is payable in full before the course commences. Fees are non-refundable in all personal circumstances. All courses run subject to demand and the formation of a viable class cohort. A full refund will be given to all applicants in the event that the class does not proceed.
Intake interviews will be arranged for suitable applicants. Applicants who are offered a place will be required to confirm acceptance in writing accompanied by an Acceptance Deposit of €1270. When an Applicant has accepted a place all tuition fees, including deposits, shall be fully non-refundable in all personal circumstances.