PGCert Primary Mental Health Care

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses. On this day, you will find out more about the course and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have. For more information, see Open days .

Trainee PWP vacancies will be advertised through NHS Talking Therapies services.  To apply for these vacancies check out NHS jobs websites or contact NHS Talking Therapies services.  Once successful at interview you should complete the  online application form  or request a printed form. You also need to complete an  employer support form .

This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and clinical competencies needed to build a rewarding career as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner within NHS Talking Therapies services.

You will develop the confidence to carry out focused, patient-centred assessments with people experiencing common mental health difficulties, strengthening your engagement and interpersonal skills to deliver compassionate, effective care.

Throughout the programme, you will learn to provide high-quality, evidence-based, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions while contributing to service improvements that support inclusive, accessible mental health care for individuals, families and communities.

Grounded in a bio-psychosocial framework, the course is closely aligned with real-world clinical practice. You will gain experience of delivering interventions across a range of formats, including face-to-face, telephone and digital approaches, preparing you for flexible and modern service delivery.

You will be supported by an experienced team of clinicians and researchers who bring their expertise in low-intensity practice to an engaging and enriching learning environment.

This PGCert meets the national competencies required to practise as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and can also be completed at graduate certificate level. Please contact us for further information.

For trainees on the two-year route, there may also be an opportunity to complete the programme in 18 months, subject to meeting the required criteria.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health. You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

The course aims to develop your competencies to undertake a patient-centred problem-focused assessment, and support patients to use evidence-based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy interventions outlined in the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's guidelines for people experiencing common mental health problems in face to face, telephone, group and CBT formats.

You will develop your knowledge and skills in adapting interventions for diverse groups and understand the importance of respecting and valuing individual difference.

The course is delivered using a blended format, with 50% taught face-to-face in class and 50% taught online. This format mirrors the Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner role in practice.

You will participate in a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, small group work, student-led seminars, tutorials, problem-based learning scenarios, skills practice and clinical simulations. There is a strong emphasis on skills development through the use of role play, experiential exercises and analysis.

Supervised practice and clinical hours are essential to achieve practical skills outcomes for the course. In addition, you will undertake independent study to further develop and consolidate your learning.

The course involves sessions by users and/or carers who are seen as essential contributors to student learning as experts by experience.

You will be required to attend university on campus for part of the week and the rest is spent in clinical practice.

The course is part-time but you can choose to complete over one or two years depending on the length of the placement.

• 1 year route: 2 days in university and 3 days in service for the first 5 months and then 1 day in university and 4 days in service for the remaining programme.
• 2 year route: 2 days in university and 1-2 days in service for the first 5 months, then 1 day in university and 2-3 days in service for the remaining programme.There is an option to complete in 18 months should you meet the course requirements.

Students on both routes will engage in taught content at the same time. However, students on the 2-year route will have extended assessment deadlines and will complete the course within two years, opposed to the usual one year, due to the reduced clinical time in service. Part-time students will have a further opportunity to engage in clinical skills practice in Year 2, as well as additional tutorials.

You are required to identify a suitable practice supervisor/mentor to oversee and assess the clinical and/or practice work required for the programme and pathway. Student trainees working within an NHS Talking Therapies service are expected to receive supervision from supervisors who have completed NHS Talking Therapies PWP Supervisor Training. This is an accredited five-day training programme currently provided by the University.

We use a variety of assessments within each course unit and across the course as a whole, including clinical simulations, real life recordings, essays, multiple choice exam, presentation and a practice assessment document.

This course is for trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (as part of the NHS Talking Therapies workforce) who are employed in the NHS, as well as other statutory/voluntary services that have been commissioned to provide NHS Talking Therapies services.