MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Buckinghamshire New University

Entry requirements

Typically students on this course have a relevant degree in psychology or equivalent from another field. You must also have at least two year's post graduation experience working with vulnerable adults and/or those with mental health problems. Some supervision is provided on the course. However, applicants will need to have access to a British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) accredited therapist for additional support and a clinical placement to enable them to put training into practice. If you are shortlisted for a place you will be invited to an interview. Applicants wishing to apply for full time or part time: Have a good undergraduate degree – 1st, 2:1; 2:2 (we advise this be in a Psychology / Mental health related area - Psychology, psychological therapy (such as counselling or CBT), Mental Health Nurse at degree level etc). (a) Have completed training in an eligible core mental health profession, as featured on the BABCP eligible professions list. OR (b) Meet BABCP KSA portfolio requirements ( If the applicant does not belong to a core profession, recognised by the BABCP ). The applicant may be eligible for the condensed portfolio requirements ( BABCP guidance ) If the applicant does not have a recognised core profession or meet the requirements for a condensed portfolio, they will have to complete a full portfolio The portfolios will need to have been reviewed by the KSA course selector, prior to admission. The student will need to have completed 1 year accountable practice in a mental health setting, following the attainment of skills and competencies required for the KSA portfolio or following core professional training. The one-year accountable practice would have been completed prior to commencing the course (this can be the year leading up to the course). Clinical supervision will need to be in place prior to acceptance on the course – Clinical supervisors will need to provide assurance letters that they are contracted or have agreed to provide clinical supervision and they are BABCP accredited therapists or posses additional accreditation in CBT clinical supervision (e.g. BABCP accredited supervisor). Clinical placement agreements need to be in place prior to commencing the course. Assurance letters from placements will need to be in place, prior to starting the course. Clinical skills training commences immediately and cases need to be focussed on common mental health problems – anxiety, trauma and depression. Psychological trauma training is in year 2 for part time students or half way through the course for full time students – we do not recommend working with trauma at the start of the course. Applicants wishing to apply for the part time route only: For part time applicants, the student will need to have a firm clinical placement in place already with access to at least 5+ cases. This can be a placement in which the applicant is familiar with and they may already work or volunteer. This needs to be in place prior to commencement on the course. Work based assurance letters will be required as evidence this is the case, detailing the number of cases the student will have access to and the problems will be single episode common mental health problems. Cases that present with complex symptoms are not advised. The part time route would ideally suit organisations wishing to second their staff for training or self funding students who already work in a psychological therapy setting, with access to people seeking help for common mental health problems (e.g. an IAPT service or self employment as a therapist trained in a different therapeutic modality).