Cognitive Therapy

Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (part-time)

Course Code | 000025 

This course provides an intensive one-year, part-time post-qualification course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which is widely recognised as a major method of psychological treatment.

The course covers fundamental concepts and methods of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and their application to common mental health problems (anxiety, depression and eating disorders) and to more severe and complex difficulties including personality disorder and severe mental illness.

• Length of programme: One year, part-time study one day per week over three twelve-week terms
• Core and optional courses: The Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is awarded on the basis of regular attendance at the appropriate classroom-based courses, including workshops and small group supervision, and upon the successful completion of various forms of assessment. These include:
  • supervised treatment of at least three patients by cognitive therapy;
  • six audio or videotape presentations of therapy sessions;
  • three written case presentations of up to 4,000 words;
  • a dissertation of no more than 10,000 words.
• Programme specification
• The department reserves the right not to run all or part of the programme if the number of successful applicants falls below a minimum threshold

Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychological Trauma (part-time)

Course Code | 000096

The course is designed to offer in depth training and supervision in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for traumatized populations and is aimed at healthcare professionals who have basic Cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills and require specialist training in working with psychological trauma. 

The 16 days of training are spread over an academic year in intensive four-day teaching blocks, and provide a strong grounding in current theories and the up to date evidence base. 

Details of the generic impact of psychological trauma on brain function, memory and psychological development are covered as well as techniques for working effectively with developmental and adult trauma and a range of trauma populations. 

• Length of programme: One year, part-time study in four-day teaching blocks over three twelve-week terms
• Core and optional courses: The Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychological Trauma is awarded on the basis of regular attendance at the appropriate classroom-based courses, which included workshops and small group supervision, and upon the successful completion of various forms of assessment, including:
  • one written case presentation of no more than 6,000 words;
  • one essay of no more than 4,000 words;
  • one audio or videotape presentation of a therapy session..
• Programme specification
• The department reserves the right not to run all or part of the programme if the number of successful applicants falls below a minimum threshold

MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (part-time)

Course Code | 000011

The MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy offers graduates of either the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Cognitive Therapy Studies (ACTS) an opportunity to progress to the MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Over the course of three terms, students will carry out a relevant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy research project of their own design, under supervision, and will submit an MSc dissertation in the form of a publishable research paper with an accompanying critique, up to a maximum of 15,000 words.

• Length of programme: Eleven months, part-time

MSt in Mindfulfess-Based Cognitive Therapy (part-time)

Course Code | 003850 

This course offers experienced clinicians from a range of professional backgrounds a unique opportunity to develop in-depth specialist knowledge and skills in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

The aim of the course is to foster a community of practitioners with the expertise to deliver high quality MBCT to patients, and to contribute to the development and dissemination of this innovative approach to mental and physical healthcare.

The course is offered by the Oxford Mindfulness Centre at the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.

• Length of programme: Two years, part-time
• Core and optional courses: Ten three-day teaching blocks (held in Oxford) and two residential training retreats (five days in Year I and seven days in Year II) are required. In addition to the taught component, students will need to set aside six to seven hours per week for private study, personal practice of MBCT, completion of written assignments, etc.
• Programme specification
• The department reserves the right not to run all or part of the programme if the number of successful applicants falls below a minimum threshold.

The department has a library of cognitive therapy books, papers and training tapes available to students

Information on academic staff profiles

College affiliation is not required for students studying for the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma

Students who complete the course are normally already working in clinical roles within health service contexts, and continue to do so after completing the course. They may go on to take on roles involving training and supervising in Cognitive Therapy.