Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (M.Sc.)

Admission Requirements

This course is offered as specialised post-qualification course that builds on relevant knowledge and skills already possessed by prospective candidates. Suitable candidates for the course will:
have achieved a recognised third level qualification in a health profession (e.g. as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, Psychiatric Nurse, Social Worker, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist or Occupational Therapist), and;
hold a postgraduate diploma in a cognitive or behavioural psychotherapy or an equivalent training qualification in a cognitive or behavioural psychotherapy, and;
have in addition conducted a further 40 hours of supervised cognitive or behavioural psychotherapy since completion of their diploma course or equivalent qualification, and;
be able to demonstrate a fluent command of the English language, and;
It is desirable that applicants are accredited members of a recognised CBT organisation such as Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy Ireland or the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
Non-EU applicants will be expected to hold equivalent qualifications.
The Master of Science curriculum emphasizes a deeper knowledge of cognitive behavioural models, concepts and methods; competence in developing cognitive case formulations; devising and implementing individual treatment programmes for a range of emotional disorders and evaluating their effects; understanding the links between cognitive therapy and developmental and cognitive psychology; ethical issues in practising psychotherapy. The development of critical appraisal of research in this area and conducting a research project further deepen students' knowledge of the field. Students are supervised treating a minimum of 12 cases. Formal teaching takes place one full day per week (Friday) during the semesters. In the second year there will be less formal teaching with a focus on supervised research. In addition, students will be expected to take up a part-time CBT clinical placement within a psychotherapy service or within the student’s own workplace for a full academic year. Assessment is based on evaluation of the student's clinical performance using the Cognitive Therapy Scale-Revised (CTS-R). Students will submit a research dissertation (circa 12,000 words) at the end of Hilary Term in their second year. Students who satisfy all the requirements of the Master of Science course will be awarded the Master of Science in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy.

Students will be required to undergo Garda Vetting, see https://www.tcd.ie/students/orientation/undergraduates/garda-vetting.php for further details.