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Postgraduate Taught

PGCert/GradCert Psychological Therapies Practice
(Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 12 months part time
Entry year September 2024 start
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Psychology
Contact
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

Applicants must be employed within NHS Talking Therapies services

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Pursue a career as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
  • Develop your clinical competency in the low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy clinical method
  • Gain an understanding of ways to adapt your practice to accommodate diversity and increase access to evidence-based psychological therapies
  • You will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
  • Your learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.

View 2024 Entry

Clinical Education Development and Research (CEDAR)

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Contact

Programme administrator: Laura Blaken

Email: LI-IAPT@exeter.ac.uk

Phone: +44 1392 723122

CEDAR logo: Clinical Education Development and Research

This programme is delivered by Clinical Education, Development and Research (CEDAR): an applied psychological practice centre of excellence, focussed on training the new psychological therapies workforce of the future.

Thinking icon: a cog inside a human head

Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical pedagogic approaches

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Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording

Graduation cap and diploma icon: symbolizing academic achievement and success.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development

Thinking icon: a cog inside a human head

Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical pedagogic approaches

Video Camera icon

Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording

Graduation cap and diploma icon: symbolizing academic achievement and success.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development

Entry requirements

This programme is only open to people employed within NHS Talking Therapies services with their places funded by Health Education South West.

Qualifications

  • This programme is offered at both final year undergraduate degree level (GradCert) for those who can demonstrate having studied at least at the second year of a degree or equivalent, or at postgraduate level (PGCert) for those already holding a degree. The topics you will study are the same for both levels. Please contact the administrative team for more information.
  • The subject of your previous studies does not matter; however, demonstrating previous experience in mental health is a requirement (see below).

Applicants must:

  1. Demonstrate in the region of one year of substantive related experience within a mental health setting or working extensively with patients with mental health difficulties.
  2. Be working within a NHS Talking Therapies Service or one in which the trainee has a caseload of patients with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. Some places on the programme are often offered as a position a NHS Talking Therapies Service as part of the trainee recruitment; applicants do not have to be in an IAPT Service before applying for the training - they are sometimes offered together.
  3. Receive supervision as per the National NHS Talking Therapies requirements, specifically one hour per week individual case management; and one hour per fortnight clinical skills supervision for low intensity CBT which can be individual or group based. This does not have to be gained before applying, but is part of the NHS Talking Therapies programme so will be provided by your employed NHS Talking Therapies service.
  4. Be able to commit to the attendance (minimum 100%) and study requirements of the programme.
  5. Demonstrate values consistent with those as specified in the NHS constitution.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.

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Course content

This programme will provide you with an outstanding opportunity to develop the competencies and knowledge associated with practice as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.

The programme aims to:

  • Provide you with a thorough grounding in the Department of Health curriculum for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners working within the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme.
  • Develop your understanding and clinical competency in the low intensity CBT clinical method and enable you to adapt your practice to work effectively with patients with diverse needs.
  • Provide you with the foundations to establish a commitment to continuing professional development and becoming an evidence-based practitioner.
  • Provide you with a high quality and stimulating learning experience in a supportive environment that is enriched by an internationally-recognised research environment, nationally-recognised innovative clinical teaching approaches and current clinical practice.

60 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
PYCM067 Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems 20
PYCM068 Evidence-based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Problems 20
PYCM069 Values, Diversity and Context 20

60 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
PYC3019 Engagement and Assessment of Patients with Common Mental Health Problems 20
PYC3020 Evidence-based Low Intensity Treatments for Common Mental Health Problems 20
PYC3021 Values, Diversity and Context 20

How to apply

Applications to this programme may only be made through NHS Talking Therapies services recruiting trainees and not directly through the University of Exeter. Posts are typically advertised by NHS Talking Therapies services on NHS jobs websites or equivalent.

Applicants without a degree

This programme is offered at both postgraduate level (PGCert) and at final year undergraduate degree level (GradCert). If you do not hold an undergraduate degree you may be eligible for enrolment on the GradCert programme. The topics you will study are the same for both programmes. Please contact the administrative team for more information.

Fees

UK/EU fees per year:

£5,910 (2022/2023)

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Teaching and research

Teaching consists of full days of lectures, in blocks. Sessions will include role play, practical exercises and small group discussions. Guided independent study is also expected to take place. Assessments will include an essay, competency assessment, exam, tape submission, reflective essay, presentation and three clinical outcomes documents. Details of assessment criteria may be found in the module descriptors for the programme.

Careers

This programme is training people already in a career within the NHS or NHS Talking Therapies service. It will provide you with an outstanding opportunity to develop your competencies and knowledge associated with practice as a Practitioner.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development.

Advantages of the programme are that:

  • You will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
  • Your learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.