Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) provides comprehensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The programme is offered part-time over two years. The course is aligned with the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). Individuals who meet the criteria for core profession and successfully complete this programme will have met the minimum training standards and can apply for individual accreditation here.



Following successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma, students can progress to the MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. It is also possible to exit after completing the first year with an award of Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (although this will not meet all the requirements to be accredited as a CBT Therapist).



The Postgraduate Diploma in CBT will provide comprehensive training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. At the end of the programme students will be competent in the delivery of CBT. Theoretical principles and competencies are covered as well as Clinical Supervision of practice with clients experiencing mental health difficulties.

Year 1 (30 credits)



MH6001 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Core Competencies I (5 credits)

MH6000 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Core Competencies II (5 credits)

MH6139 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Supervised Practice 1 (5 credits)

MH6137 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) models of Anxiety Disorders (10 credits)

MH6136 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Behavioural Activation for Depression (5 credits)



Year 2 (30 credits)



MH6003 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Supervised Practice II (5 credits)

NU6005 Evidence Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits) (Blended learning module)

MH6134 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression and Comorbidity (5 credits)

MH6133 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Complex Cases (10credits)

If you successfully complete the PG Diploma you can register for the Masters programme in Year 3 (30 credits).



Year 3 MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (30 credits)



MH6004 Dissertation in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (20 credits)

MH6014 Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will normally meet the following conditions:



1. Have a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or an equivalent qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. Nursing, Medicine, Social Work, Clinical Therapies, or other allied disciplines).



2. Be a practising professional in a recognised Core Profession* as follows:



Arts Therapists – Registered with appropriate body.

Counselling – Accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), National Counselling Society (NCS), Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA), OR Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals’ National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (FDAP NCAC)



Medicine – Psychiatrist or General Practitioner, MBChB or MBBS, and usually PG training with membership of ICGP/ MRCGP, College of Psychiatrists/ MRCP or MRCPsych



Occupational Therapy – BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, MSc Occupational Therapy, OR Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists (DipCOT) and CORU Registered

Psychotherapy/ Psychotherapeutic Counselling – Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) or United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered



Registered Nurse – Mental Health (RPN), or Learning Disability registered with the NMBI



Social Work – Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW), Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), MA Social Work, or BA/BSc Hons Social Work. Registered in Ireland with CORU or in the UK with one of four UK regulators -

Social Work England (SWE), Social Care Wales (SCW), Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)



Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology - accredited by the Irish or British Psychological Society (BPS) and Registered as Practitioner Psychologist



Educational Psychology - Doctorate or Qualification in Educational Psychology Stage 2 (QEPS) - must have PSI Ireland/ BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist



Health Psychology – Qualification in Health Psychology Stage 2 (QHP) - must have PSI Ireland/ BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist



Forensic Psychology – Qualification in Forensic Psychology Stage 2 (QFP) - must have PSI Ireland/ BPS Chartership (CPsychol) and HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist



3. Applicants must provide evidence of current registration with the relevant professional regulatory body as detailed above (e.g. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Irish Medical Council, the Health & Social Care Professions Council or be eligible for such registration).



4. Have a minimum of 36 months post registration experience working within a health care or education setting.



5. All applicants for the postgraduate diploma programme must provide the name and contact details of two referees; at least one of these must be from a work source, either voluntary or paid, who is familiar with their work practice with regards to their suitability for undertaking this programme. The other referee can be from a service user or an employer.



In cases where the number of suitably qualified applicants exceeds the number of places available, selection will be made by interview.



*Core Professions are those recognized by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP). For a full list please see here.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

2 years part-time.

Start Date August 31 2026

Skills and Careers Information

If you are a caring professional who would like to develop expertise in evidence based therapy, this course is for you. This programme will enable you to become a reflective practitioner and increase your awareness and theoretical understanding of cognitive behavioural therapy. It will encourage you to adopt an informed and critical approach to the professionalisation of therapy. It will further increase your theoretical understanding and practical application of CBT by enhancing your clinical and professional skills thereby allowing you to work towards practicing as a cognitive behavioural therapist.