MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies
Course Overview
It's estimated that 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year (1). The problem-focused, action-oriented approach used by cognitive behavioural psychotherapists to help people develop personal coping strategies is a popular and effective method of treating several mental health conditions. Our MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies (CBP) course prepares you for practice in this in-demand profession. Additionally, our experienced British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP) accredited staff will support you in completing a dissertation based on independent research, preparing you for higher-level study and enhancing your career prospects.As a graduate of this course, you'll be eligible to apply for Level 2 Provisional Accreditation as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with BABCP. During your studies, we'll guide you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin CBP practice. You'll explore the underlying principles and have opportunities to develop skills in the assessment of clients and the analysis of their presenting difficulties. Our expert team will guide you as you develop a detailed knowledge of CBP techniques, and build your understanding of the models of anxiety disorders and depression, and their application to clinical casework.
This course is ideal if you wish to practice using a cognitive behavioural approach in settings that include the helping or health professions, private practice or management roles where working with people is the prime focus. Training in research methods and design will also prepare you to keep abreast of evolving ideas in the field and open doors to doctoral-level studies.
If you've already completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies and wish to continue your studies at master's-level, please visit our MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies (top-up) course search web page.
(1) https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/mental-health-facts-and-statistics/#HowCommonAreMentalHealthProblems accessed on 23 May 2024
Highlights
- This postgraduate degree offers you the opportunity to gain accreditation as a therapist from the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). It has Level 2 Accreditation, which means it meets the training requirements for practitioner accreditation. The course is also designed to cover the therapeutic competencies for cognitive behavioural psychotherapists outlined by the Department of Health.
- Upon successfully completing the course, you'll have an assessed portfolio of evidence designed to meet the BABCP criteria for accreditation.
- You can benefit from supervised opportunities to apply proven techniques in practice and evaluate their efficacy, including supervision from a course tutor who has personal BABCP Accreditation.
- Our accessible and knowledgeable course team includes Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists and active researchers.
- We work hard to create a learning environment that offers innovative teaching and assessment methods and access to high-specification facilities such as our observation and psychophysiology laboratories.
- Together we'll consider wider issues in CBP, such as the evaluation of literature, models and therapeutic practice, psychological research methods, evidence-based practice, professional issues and ethical practice.
- The course team provides all of your course supervision. No external supervision is required.
Key Features
- A strong basis of theoretical psychology underpins the course. This helps to ensure your practice-related learning is not separated from its primary academic base, and supports your understanding of where CBP techniques come from, and how they might develop in future.
- We'll also explore how to evaluate literature, models and therapeutic practice and consider how research methods, design, and evaluation underpin evidence-based practice. The course also covers issues relating to ethical practice and the professional role of the therapist.
- You'll be expected to complete 200 hours of experience working with clients in a clinical setting through supervised clinical practice placements. You're usually responsible for arranging your own placements.
- Our teaching staff are accredited therapists with extensive experience in the field and teaching groups are small, ensuring there is close contact between you, your classmates and your tutors.
- If you’re following the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Qualification in Counselling Psychology (QCoP) by the independent route, the course may be appropriate as part of the required training.
Entry Requirements
- If you’ve already completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies and can provide evidence of your good academic performance (in the form of a transcript), then you can apply to top-up your qualification to MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies by completing two research-focused modules (worth 60-credits).
- You must have already achieved a minimum of an upper second class (2.1) honours degree in a psychology-related discipline (or equivalent).
- You should possess a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills (or equivalent).
- You must have a minimum of 200 hours of experience in a clinical therapy role.
- You must complete and pass a Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes portfolio (see https://babcp.com/Knowledge-Skills-Attitudes) pre-entry unless you're able to evidence a core profession (https://babcp.com/Core-Professions)
- You should have access to clients once practice modules commence (usually via arrangement of a voluntary placement).
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- You'll be required to attend an interview as part of the application process.
- You must be able to provide two satisfactory references.
- This course involves working unsupervised with children and/or vulnerable adults and all students must gain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure certificate for a Child Workforce including Child Barred List checks, before starting their studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
The University of Bolton's MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies is designed to enhance practice and facilitate employment and career progression in psychology or therapy, research and teaching, the helping and health professions, social work, education, private practice and management roles where working with people is the prime focus.
During your studies, we'll support you in developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin cognitive behavioural psychotherapies practice. As a graduate, you'll understand the principles of cognitive behavioural psychotherapies and possess skills in the assessment of clients and formulation of their presenting difficulties.
Studying this course will also support the development of your personal and transferable skills such as critical analysis, self-reflection, observation and questioning skills, communication skills and the ability to work independently.
What can I do with this qualification?
Some graduates choose to specialise in a particular area; for example, working with children as a child psychotherapist. Other psychotherapists set up independent private practices, but this may take some time to develop.
Upon completing this course, you'll have the option of continuing your studies by taking up a research degree.
With extensive experience, it's possible to become a training therapist, training student psychotherapists, or a supervisor, providing support to other psychotherapists.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use this qualification as a stepping stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Some possibilities include:
- Research and development
- Community mental health
- Clinical psychology
- Art therapy
- Health care management
- Counselling
- Consultancy
- Human resources
- Market research analysis
Professional Recognition
The University of Bolton's MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies course is a Level 2 Accredited training course with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). This means that on completion of the course, you’ll have met all of the training requirements for practitioner accreditation by the BABCP.
If you’re following the British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Qualification in Counselling Psychology (QCoP) by the independent route, the course may be appropriate as part of the required training.
Fees & Funding
Please note the total course fee for a Home student starting this course in 2023/24 will be £9,270. As this is a three-year course, the fees are £3,090 for the first year, £3,540 for the second year and £2,640 for the third year.
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Teaching & Assessment
We use a range of learning and teaching strategies to promote independent and active learning. These include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, e-learning, poster presentations and supervision sessions. At Level HE7, you're expected to take more responsibility for your own learning than at the undergraduate level. Therefore, you should expect to engage in a substantial amount of independent study, including library research, practical activities and further reading, which your module tutor will guide.
We'll expect you to participate in group discussions for seminars and tutorials, present papers and posters and lead plenary sessions. These methods encourage an enquiring, analytical and imaginative mind, leading to independence of thought, judgement and criticism, which truly reflects mastery of the subject.
The different assessments we use aim to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and progress towards achieving the learning goals. You can expect essays, seminar presentations, case studies, skills assessments, and written and verbal reports. You’ll also be expected to complete a dissertation by supervised independent study.
Your development of therapeutic skills will be evaluated and assessed using the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale together with supervisor reports, course team reports, and peer feedback. Formative ratings will be made of role plays and tapes. Summative ratings will be made of recordings of clinical work within the supervised practice modules.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Fundamentals of CBT
- CBT Knowledge, Skills and Practice 1
- CBT Knowledge, Skills and Practice 2
- CBT Knowledge, Skills and Practice 3
- Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies Dissertation
- Research Methods MSc top-up
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Placement/study abroad 11% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 75% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 14% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
