Applying

Is the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT Suitable for you?

The programme is aimed at health care professionals from a variety of backgrounds including psychiatry, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, primary care and the third sector.

For entry on to the Certificate course, we require that candidates either have a Core Professions – BABCP in mental health, or demonstrate they have other mental health training and/or experience by completing a Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes – BABCP . In addition, we look for a minimum of at least 12 months clinical experience in a core profession, or non-core equivalent. 

Applicants who have not undertaken any individual clinical work, or equivalent, will be advised to gain experience of this for at least a year before taking part in the programme.

Prosepective applicants currently employed by NHS Scotland, please contact your health boards Psychological Therapies Training Coordinator (PTTC) regarding your intention to join our programme, before submitting an application.

Postgraduate Certificate in CBT

A part-time Postgraduate Certificate in CBT will commence in January 2026.

Download Application Form for PG Certificate

Postgraduate Diploma in CBT

A part-time Pg Diploma will commence in March 2026 for those who have already completed our PG Certificate (or equivalent BABCP Level 1 training in CBT).

Download Application Form for PG Diploma

Postgraduate Masters in CBT

Prospective Masters trainees should contact the Course Administrator at Loth.SoSCBTProgramme@nhs.scot for information on how to apply.

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Questions and Answers

Please see below a list of questions and answers to provide some more information regarding the South of Scotland CBT Programme.

Entry requirement

The entry requirements for PG Cert:

There are two pathways:

Pathway 1 – Core Mental Health Profession
Applicants must hold a core profession in mental health. To determine whether you meet this criteria, please complete the self-assessment available here: Core Professions List – BABCP

Pathway 2 – Non-Core Profession
Applicants who do not meet the core profession criteria must demonstrate relevant mental health training and / or experience by completing a Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes – BABCP portfolio. Further guidance on how to complete the KSA can be found here: KSA Portfolio Guidelines

In addition, we look for a minimum of 12 months clinical experience within a core profession, or non-core equivalent.

Direct Entry to PG Dip (in Exceptional Circumstances)

In exceptional cases, we may consider applications for direct entry to the PG Diploma. To be eligible, you must be able to demonstrate that you have successfully completed an equivalent Level 11, (Level 7 in England and Wales), BABCP Level 1 accredited Postgraduate Certificate at another institution.

If this criterion is met, your prior learning will then need to be formally assessed through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. More information on this can be found here: Recognition of Prior Learning | Queen Margaret University If your RPL application is successful, you may be permitted to join the programme at PG Dip level.

International Applicants

We welcome applications from international students, provided they meet the standard entry requirements and are residing in the UK for the duration of the programme. This is essential to ensure access to clinical placements and face-to-face teaching.

Please note: If any of these conditions cannot be met, we will be unable to offer you a place on the programme.

Entry to MSc

There are two pathways for entry to the MSc:

Pathway 1 – Internal Progression
Applicants who have completed both the PG Certificate and PG Diploma with us are eligible to progress directly to the MSc stage.

Pathway 2 – Direct Entry
We also accept applications for direct entry to the MSc. To be eligible, you must demonstrate that you have completed an equivalent Level 11 (England and Wales, level 7), BABCP Level 2 accredited Postgraduate Diploma at another institution.

If this criterion is met, your application must then be approved through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. More details can be found here: Recognition of Prior Learning | Queen Margaret University If successful, you will be required to complete two top-up modules before
joining the MSc stage of the programme.

Applications

The Applications are available on our website: Applying – South of Scotland Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Course

Certificate: Last Monday of January start

Diploma: Last Monday of March start

For The Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes (KSA) documents – please visit the BABCP website Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes – BABCP

The admissions process begins in mid-September and closes end of October each year, with interviews conducted in November.

• Applicants with a Core Profession will be asked to submit a completed application form to loth.soscbtprogramme@nhs.scot
• Candidates applying via the KSA Pathway will be asked to submit a completed application form to loth.soscbtprogramme@nhs.scot and will be asked to provide a first draft of their portfolio at least one week before their interview. The final draft is due by mid-December for assessment before acceptance into the programme.

Placement And Supervision

Our programme does not provide placements; it is the student’s responsibility to secure an appropriate placement in a primary care setting with access to a caseload involving mild to moderate anxiety and depression cases. A total of 100 clinical patient hours needs to be demonstrated in both the Certificate and Diploma years (200 hours over the 2 years).

Certificate year teaching: Mild to moderate clinical severity. Fundamentals of CBT, depression, GAD, social anxiety and phobias

Diploma year teaching: Moderate to severe clinical severity -chronic depression, PTSD, low self esteem, health anxiety, OCD, addictions, EUPD, Psychosis, eating disorders, peri natal – those in italics, there is no need to seek out these cases, these are introductions lectures and trainees would only be expected to treat these cases if these were typical presentations in the
service they work in.

Trainees will also need an individual placement supervisor who is either BABCP accredited CBT therapist or a clinical/counselling psychologist using CBT as their primary modality and who will commit to deliver supervision for 1.5 hours every 2 weeks as a minimum throughout the course.

The course provides 40 hours of accredited supervision (20 hours in each year) as group supervision.

Is there any support available for Trainees with Learning Needs

Please discuss any support you might require at your interview.

Course Fees

CBT Course Fees

• Post Graduate Certificate: £4,600 (Modules 1-3)
• Post Graduate Diploma: £9,200 (Modules 1-6)
• Post Graduate MSc: £3,600 (Modules 7-10)

If you are an NHS employee, please contact your trust Psychological Training Co-ordinator. The course also accepts students that wish to self fund.

Assessment Methods

Certificate

Diploma

Teaching structure

Our course is delivered through a blend of 50% face-to-face teaching at Queen Margaret University and 50% online learning. All sessions must be attended in their scheduled format.

Currently, Pg Cert teaching occurs three days per month throughout the entire year, except the 2 Induction weeks.

• Week 1 starts at the last Monday of January with a block of 5 in person days of teaching
• Week 2 starts the last week of February with a block of 4 in person days of teaching.

Pg Dip Induction is delivered over 1 week. It starts last Monday of March with a block of 4 in person days. Subsequent teaching will be delivered either online or F2F three days per month throughout the entire year thereafter.

Each in-person teaching week takes place over two consecutive days (Monday and Tuesday) at Queen Margaret University, followed by an online group supervision session (provided by the programme) on Wednesday.

It takes 2 years to become fully accredited. 1 year certificate course (Level 1 Accreditation) and then a further 1 year for diploma (Level 2 Accreditation).

We are a BABCP level 2 accredited course, which means that once you have finished your diploma year, you are eligible for BABCP full accreditation.

BABCP level 1 and 2

Our Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has three exit points allowing you to exit with:

• Postgraduate Certificate – PgCert (Level 1 accreditation)
• Postgraduate Diploma – PgDip (with BABCP level 2 (full) accreditation)
• Masters in CBT- MSc (with BABCP accreditation, based on completing the PGDip)

Certificate- Level 1

All level 1 accredited courses will meet the BABCP’s quality of training criteria ie. the quality of the training delivered and CBT qualifications of the trainers. This means that graduates of Level 1 courses will have met some but not all of the MTS. When a graduate from a level 1 course applies for accreditation, The BABCP will know (according to the specific course undertaken) which components of the MTS have been completed. The applicant will then need to provide additional evidence to demonstrate meeting the remaining criteria. On application, these applicants will also need to declare their commitment to CBT practice, receiving appropriate CBT supervision of this work, and engagement in appropriate CBT CPD and that they will adhere to the BABCP Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.

Diploma- Level 2

The Postgraduate Diploma is formally recognised as a Level 2 accredited programme by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). A level 2 course provides all the necessary training so that on graduation from Level 2 courses, individuals will have received the training required to fulfil all the BABCP’s Minimum Training Standards (MTS).

Level 2 course graduates do not need to be in clinical practice at the time of application as they can apply as soon as they have successfully completed their course and the University has informed BABCP they have passed. However, it is expected that they are intending to start an appropriately supervised CBT practice in accordance with the BABCP Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics within six months of their application