MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Year 2 Pathway
This course pathway only applies to applicants who already hold relevant qualifications
This Year 2 pathway is designed for experienced practitioners and prior learners who already hold relevant qualifications, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (PCI College or equivalent), or evidence of prior learning and professional experience in CBT practice. It enables you to join the MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the Postgraduate Diploma stage (Year 2) and complete the full Master’s award.
On this route you dive straight into advanced clinical skill development, specialised CBT applications and the research component of the MSc. The focus is on deepening your theoretical understanding while consolidating practice through supervised work and the dissertation.
Who is this course for?
Practitioners with:
- A Postgraduate Certificate in CBT (PCI College or equivalent)
- A professional background in counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, nursing, medicine or other CBT-related discipline
- Relevant clinical experience supported by a detailed career portfolio demonstrating prior learning and competencies
If you have significant prior experience but do not hold a formal Postgraduate Certificate, you can apply through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by submitting evidence of your knowledge, skills and professional practice.
What will you learn?
In Year 2, you enter at the Postgraduate Diploma level, where the curriculum builds on foundational CBT concepts and moves into deeper clinical and specialised areas:
- Expanded CBT models and contemporary applications
- Advanced practitioner competencies with supervised skills practice
- Clinical formulation and intervention strategies for complex presentations
Alongside these core areas, you begin the MSc research component, culminating in your dissertation, an independent piece of academic work that synthesises theory, research and clinical insights.
Year 2
Postgraduate Diploma – 60 credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits)
- CBT: The New Generation
- Theory, Skills & Research: CBT for Complex Disorders
- Contemporary Applications: CBT in Specialised Areas
- Practitioner Competencies: Teaching & Supervised Skills Practice for Anxiety, Depression and Complex Disorders
MSc Component – 60 credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS credits)
- Dissertation
Additional Course Requirements
- Students are required to attend a BABCP accredited external supervisor for a minimum of 40 hours of one-to-one supervision
- 20 hours of Personal Therapy is a requirement for all students
- Students must join the BABCP as student members whilst undergoing CBT training within the programme.
Assignments
There are no formal examinations, giving students more opportunities to concentrate on their assignments and their own self-exploration throughout their journey.
Eligibility Year 2
Students who hold a Postgraduate Certificate in CBT (PCI College or equivalent) may apply for entry to Year 2 of the course.
Students who do not meet these criteria may be eligible to enter Year 2 on the basis of prior learning and experience in the area. Students applying on the basis of prior learning must provide evidence of their knowledge, skill and ability to pursue this programme of study. This should be in the form of a career portfolio outlining and demonstrating your career path as is relevant to this course (including transcripts of any relevant results, statements of prior learning based on systematic reflection) and be must be submitted with your application. Please note that those interested in applying for BABCP accreditation post qualification and who do not have a BABCP recognised core profession will be required to apply to the BABCP for accreditation via a KSA portfolio application. This process is managed via BABCP and PCI College cannot guarantee eligibility.
For information about this accreditation route please click here.
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
To study this course, you must have a relevant core mental health profession or be able to demonstrate the equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes via a ‘KSA’ portfolio. In preparation to enrol, you must also consider your access to a clinical placement in which it is possible to carry out one -to -one, supervised CBT practice and audio/video record client sessions for assessment in the academic setting. You will be supported in securing an appropriate placement (PCI vetted placement), where you will complete your required 200 clinical practice hours. Garda Vetting procedure is also required.
To check if you are eligible to apply for training please see:
For more information or further clarification on requirements, please contact the Admissions team at enquiries@pcicollege.ie .
Language Requirements
All candidates are required to satisfy the English language requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English and who are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate may satisfy the requirement through the completion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) on the basis that they obtain a minimum band score of 6 at the undergraduate level and 6.5 at postgraduate level or an equivalent score of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or Cambridge, which denotes a very good skill level of English. Language certifications must have been issued within the last two years at the time of application. It should be noted that these are the minimum requirements in English and PCI College may set higher requirements in each case.
Garda Vetting
Students will be requested to participate in Garda Vetting procedures in relation to programme and accreditation requirements.
IT Skills
Students require sufficient IT skills to complete the course
Additional Entry Requirements
Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application. Students can expect to be provided with advice and support concerning any learning difficulties that they may encounter. Any diagnosed learning difficulty, e.g. dyslexia, must be noted on the application.
To maintain alignment with BABCP Level 2 accreditation standards, the MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy enforces a rigorous attendance policy. Trainees must complete 200 taught hours. Our Catch-up Policy ensures that any unavoidable absence is mitigated through guided independent study and competency-based tasks, ensuring no gaps remain in the fundamentals of CBT theory or practice.
Fees
Applicants should complete the online application form including the initial application fee of €80. This application fee is separate from the tuition fees, should your application be successful. This application fee is non-refundable if it has been longer than 14 days after the application has been received, or if you have been interviewed and deemed to be an unsuitable candidate for the programme you applied for.
Please note that there is an additional charge of €20 for the Garda vetting process which is required prior to course entry and it is not included in the above fees.
Course Fees – Republic of Ireland
Course Total
Payment Plan
Pay in 18 monthly instalments, through the monthly payment plan. Please note that this plan will operate by direct debit only and is inclusive of a €100.00 administration fee. Each student must pass the progression board to enable them to move into the next year of study and the payment schedule outlined below.
Additional Course Costs
Course fees do not cover costs associated with additional course requirements (personal therapy and supervision). Fees for supervision and personal therapy are decided by negotiation between you and your supervisor and therapist. The average cost of supervision is approximately €80. Personal therapy may also average about €60 per session.
Career Path
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is in demand as the treatment of choice, across a wide variety of settings, from private practice, HSE, addiction, E.A.P. and general mental health settings. In order to practice as an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in Ireland, an individual must hold a Masters level qualification with accreditation in this highly desirable area. As the population’s needs increase, so does the demand for qualified and accredited CBT therapists by organisations and stakeholders.
On successful completion of this programme, graduates can decide on the course of action most appropriate to their needs and ambitions. The following avenues are open to them:
Avenue 1
Graduates may choose to continue working in employment settings where CBT skills are essential if they are to serve their clients in a more truly comprehensive way.
Avenue 2
Graduates may gain employment in Government-funded agencies and other organisations that prize CBT as a method of counselling and psychotherapy, for example, HSE settings, NHS, GP referrals, EAP organisations, etc.
Avenue 3
Graduates may increase their existing private practice services as psychotherapists who specialise in the area of CBT.
Avenue 4
Graduates may pursue supervision status with BABCP or other accredited organisations.
Avenue 5
A number of graduates choose to use their learning from this programme as a stepping-stone to further study in counselling and psychotherapy or the social sciences and participate in practice only insofar as they need to fulfil requirements in more advanced for example doctoral studies.
Please note that this course is a supplementary qualification. On its own, the course won’t enable you to work as a counsellor. If you seek a professional qualification as a counsellor and/or accreditation, we would advise you to first complete our BSc (Honours) Degree Counselling & Psychotherapy. After completing the degree course, you could then specialise in an area of interest with this MSc course. On the other hand, you could enrol in this course, if eligible, and incorporate what you have learnt into your daily working life.
If it is your intention to become a professional counsellor/psychotherapist, accredited by the IACP, please see our BSc (Honours) Degree Counselling & Psychotherapy course for more details.
Application Process
Year 2 applicants should complete the online application form within the comparison course table, including the application fee of €100.
Intake interviews will be arranged for suitable applicants. Applicants who are offered a place will be required to confirm acceptance accompanied by an Acceptance Deposit of €1270. When an Applicant has accepted a place all tuition fees, including deposits, shall be fully non-refundable in all personal circumstances.