Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGDip
Study level: Postgraduate
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a current form of evidence-based psychological therapy recommended by NICE as a first line intervention for many psychological disorders.
Year of entry
2023-24
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
1 year full-time
Course code
HLST238
Start date
January 2024
The content of this course for 2023/24 entry is still being updated. The information on these pages relates to 2022/23 entry and is for guidance only. Please revisit this course page for updated information.
Course overview
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a current form of evidence-based psychological therapy recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as a first-line intervention for many psychological disorders.
This PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy aims to provide practical, intensive and detailed skills training to facilitate skills development to a defined standard of competence while increasing your knowledge base of theory and research in CBT.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- The aim of this course is to train you to deliver CBT to people with depression and a range of anxiety disorders.
- Successful completion of the training should equip you with the skills required to become an independent CBT practitioner.
- Two modules dedicated to reflective practice and personal/professional development as a CBT therapist are included within our course (Foundations of Reflective Practice and Personal and Professional Development in Clinical Practice).
- Currently accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), this Level 2 CBT training course aims to provide all the necessary training as per BABCP's Minimum Training Standards1.
- Each year a number of places are usually funded by Health Education England*, or you can choose to self-fund your training if there are available places.
*HEE commissioned places are available to those candidates who have an NHS IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) commissioned clinical placement. Placements usually advertise their own trainee therapist vacancies (e.g. on the NHS Jobs website) and we conduct a joint recruitment process with them (academic screening and interview)5.
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited 1 and recognised by the following bodies:

British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
This course is currently accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Upon successful completion of the training you should be eligible to apply for provisional accreditation as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with the BABCP.
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
The PgDip course is offered on a full-time basis and is delivered through a combination of university attendance, clinical placement activity, clinical supervision and access to online learning materials.
It is taught through a range of teaching styles and opportunities, which is aimed at providing both an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of relevant materials and an opportunity to develop clinical competence.
These may include:
- Supervised clinical placement**
- Academic lectures
- Skills workshops
- Individual and group clinical supervision both within the clinical setting and within the university
- Guided self-study
- Individual tutorials
- Self-practice/self-reflection groups
The course is one year’s duration: two days a week at Coventry University and three days a week in clinical placement**. There are approximately 11 hours teaching contact hours per week.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on-campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
**To be eligible to enrol on the course, you must have an appropriate clinical placement. It is your responsibility to secure an appropriate placement (NHS IAPT commissioned placement or equivalent), where you will work for three days per week for the 12-month duration of the course.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- A critical literature review
- A clinical simulation exercise
- Clinical case study reports
- Clinical process analysis reports
- Self-reflective reports
- Clinical session recordings
- A professional practice portfolio
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International Experience Opportunities
The faculty aims to provide a multicultural, international experience2, attracting students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and different countries, who may provide global insight and experience. Many of the organisations we have links to operate on an international basis and we also collaborate with internationally renowned researchers across the globe.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
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UK | HEE funded per year | Not available |
EU | Not available | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
Please note that HEE operates a 2-year psychological professions funding rule which means that once an individual has commenced an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme, a 2-year period will be required to pass from the expected complete date of that training before the funded individual would be eligible for further NHS funding to train in another psychological profession training (where this leads to a change of occupation). For further details please see HEE guidance.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of the PgDip, you will be able to:
- Construct maintenance and developmental CBT conceptualisations for depression and anxiety disorders
- Develop CBT-specific treatment plans
- Practise CBT with depression and anxiety disorders systematically, creatively and with good clinical outcomes
- Deal with complex issues arising in CBT practice
- Take personal responsibility for clinical decision-making in straightforward and more complex situations
- Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving therapeutic problems
- Practise as a ‘scientist practitioner’, advancing your knowledge and understanding and developing new skills to a high level
- Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of the principles of CBT, and the evidence base for the application of CBT techniques
- Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of CBT for depression and anxiety disorders
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theoretical and research evidence for cognitive behavioural models, and an ability to evaluate the evidence
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has a continually evolving and robust evidence base and is indicated in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance across a number of psychological disorders. These include depression and a range of anxiety disorders.
Adequate access to a choice of effective psychological treatments for these problems via local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services continues to be a key Government priority. As such, CBT can form the basis of much mental health practice across NHS Trusts.
This award should provide students with a solid foundation in cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy, and an opportunity to seek a role within the field of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Facilities are subject to availability. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
5Placements
Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.