Key information
For:
starting September 2026
UCAS code:
B943
Typical offer:
Level 3 Counselling skills qualification, English GCSE or equivalent at C and a maths GCSE or equivalent at D, and/or relevant A levels
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Do you have a background in counselling or psychology and a level 3 counselling qualification? Would you like to learn how to help people challenge negative thinking so they can approach situations more positively?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a technique used to treat depression, anxiety, stress and phobias by helping people to understand the way they perceive things that happen to them and around them. It seeks to identify and address negative thoughts that can lead to patterns of negative behaviour.
On this Cognitive Behavioural Therapy DipHE, you'll learn the practical knowledge and interpersonal skills you need to pursue a career as a cognitive behavioural therapist.
If you're in employment, this course can fit around your working week, with timetabled teaching taking place 1 day a week, workshops on 6 Saturdays throughout the course, and occasional events in the evenings and at weekends.
After the course, you could top up your diploma to a Bachelor's degree. You could also work as a cognitive behavioural therapist in areas such as education, the police service, the prison service and the voluntary sector.
South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus
This course takes place at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus.
While studying at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus, you can access the University's student support services and community, including study support, the Students’ Union and our library's online resources.
Find out more about higher education courses at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus in partnership with the University of Portsmouth on the South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus website.
Visit South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus
Course highlights
- Study modules that give you a strong foundation for your future career, covering topics including counselling theory and skills, CBT theory and skills, mental health issues, and counselling specific groups
- Learn from experienced, industry-trained staff who've worked in organisations or run their own private practices
- Apply your knowledge and skills with at least 100 hours of supervised counselling on a placement in the community
- Study at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus with access to support and services at the University of Portsmouth
- Apply for student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and get access to member resources including journal subscriptions, free courses and job boards while you study
Alternative counselling and therapy courses
Not sure this course is right for you? Take a look at our other counselling and therapy courses to compare your options
If you're interested in gaining a Level 5 counselling qualification with a specialism in Gestalt Counselling, take a look at our DipHE Gestalt Counselling course.
If you're interested in gaining a Level 5 counselling qualification with a specialism in Humanistic Counselling, take a look at our DipHE Humanistic Counselling course.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsClearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
Apply now through Clearing
If you have your results, you can apply directly to us now.
Clearing FAQs
Take a virtual tour
You can explore our subjects, city, facilities and more all virtually!
You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2025
Yes, we welcome Clearing applications from international students and you can apply in exactly the same way as UK students do.
The majority of UK students apply through Clearing once they receive their A level / T level results in August, so as an international student if you already have your exam results you can apply when Clearing opens on 5 July.
Make sure that you have time to get your visa, funding, and English language certification sorted out before the beginning of term.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office for advice.
After we make you an offer we'll send you a confirmation email. This email will let you know what you need to do next and it will tell you what you need to provide us. In some instances we may ask you to send us copies of certificates or other information.
If you've previously applied through UCAS you'll need to use your UCAS Hub to accept our offer by adding us as your Clearing choice.
If you're having issues, please contact us on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 or admissions@port.ac.uk
No, it's not too late and you should make your application for student finance as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for your results. You can make your application now and just amend it when you know where you're going to be.
If you've already applied for your student loan, you'll need to log into your account and update details about your new course/university. If you haven't applied for your student loan yet, don't panic. Apply today – it only takes 30 minutes.
Find out more in our Student finance for Clearing guide.
Entry requirements
DipHE Cognitive Behavioural Therapy entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- Level 3 Counselling skills qualification, English GCSE or equivalent at C and a maths GCSE or equivalent at D, however we welcome applications from A level students with A levels in Psychology, Psychotherapy or Sociology (112 UCAS points) and will consider on an individual basis subject to a successful interview and interpersonal skills role-play.
- A levels - BBC
- International Baccalaureate - 24
Selection process
- All applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting the course.
You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs – see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Careers and opportunities
CBT is a tool for helping people deal with difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, eating disorders and obsessions.
Increased awareness in society about mental health has increased the demand for counselling and therapy services. As a cognitive behavioural therapist, you can have a significant positive impact on people's health and wellbeing, and help take the pressure off other health services such as GPs and hospitals.
Public, private and charity sector settings you could work in after the course include:
- Education
- Alcohol and drug services
- Eating disorder services
- Mental health services
- GPs
- Police and prison services
You could also top-up your diploma to a Bachelor's degree on our BSc (Hons) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy top-up course.
When you complete the course successfully, you can sit the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Certificate of Proficiency to become a registered member of the BACP.
Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Careers and Employability Service to help you find your perfect role.
Supervised counselling placement
You'll complete 100 hours on a supervised counselling placement as part of your course.
Recent students have taken placements at CRUSE Bereavement Care, Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling (PARCS), Yellow Door (counselling for sexual and domestic abuse victims) and other counselling services.
We'll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You'll get mentoring and support throughout, including regular supervision and skills clinics every other week. You'll enter into a written contract with the placement provider and South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus and your practical counselling skills will be assessed by case study and a coursework portfolio.
All placements provided are evaluated to ensure the setting provides a suitable learning environment for you.
Modules
On this course, you'll study modules worth 240 credits.
What you'll study
- Counselling theory - 30 credits
- Counselling Skills - 30 credits
- Diversity, Ethics and Professional Practice - 30 credits
- Personal and Professional Development 1 - 30 credits
- Introduction to research - 15 credits
- Applied Counselling Practice: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - 30 credits
- Diverse Client Groups - 15 credits
- Working With Mental Health Conditions - 30 credits
- Personal and Professional Development 2 - 30 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed. This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.
Teaching
In year 1, you'll develop foundational counselling skills and explore all the counselling approaches available to practitioners, including gestalt and humanistic counselling.
In your second year, you'll focus on developing the practical skills you need as a cognitive behavioural therapist. This includes putting what you learn into practice by conducting 100 hours of supervised therapy. You'll also develop skills you need to work with different types of clients and learn about mental health issues.
You'll gain skills, knowledge and competence through learning methods that include:
- Work-based learning
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Saturday workshops
- Skills clinics
- Personal development groups
- Tutorials
- Module handbooks
- A virtual learning environment (VLE)
You'll also complete a minimum of 30-hours personal therapy. You'll demonstrate your personal learning and awareness from this process in a learning journal. We recommend you budget £750–£1500 a year for your personal therapy.
Teaching staff include experienced experts who have industry experience in paid counselling roles in organisations, or who run their own private practice.
How you're assessed
On this counselling diploma, you'll be assessed through:
- Essays
- Live skills assessments (role play scenarios)
- Individual and group presentations
- Portfolios of evidence
- Case studies
- Personal learning journals
- Professional requirements (a 'Fitness to Practice' assessment)
- Supervised work-based learning
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
Feedback is central to this course. You'll get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future, as well as on your application for the 'Fitness to Practice' assessment. You'll also practice giving feedback during live skills assessments, where you'll receive feedback from your peers, as well as the assessment tutor.
How you'll spend your time
We recommend you spend at least 28 hours a week studying for your DipHE:
- In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as workshops and tutorials for 1 day a week. You'll spend about 20 hours a week on independent study such as research into areas of specific interests, maintaining your learning journal, personal therapy, and on placement.
- In your second year you'll spend about 12–15 hours a week on independent study and have less scheduled teaching, but this can vary.
Teaching days and times
Timetabled teaching takes place 1 day a week. You may occasionally have to attend additional sessions and workshops at the college or university in the evenings and at weekends.
Term times
The academic year runs from September to May with breaks at Christmas and Easter.
September start
- September to December – teaching block 1
- February to May – teaching block 2
February start
- February to May – teaching block 1
- September to December – teaching block 2
You can find more detailed information about this course including start dates on the South Hampshire College Group course webpage.
Supporting you
Even though you'll study at one of our partner colleges, you'll still be a student of the University of Portsmouth.
You'll have access to support via video, phone and face-to-face from University teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following University services:
Types of support
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need, your partner college should be your first point of contact for arranging reasonable adjustments.
However, our University specialist team is also available to offer advice and guidance if needed. We can help you:
-
Explore reasonable adjustments in collaboration with your partner college
-
Liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
-
Connect with external services where appropriate
-
Provide advice and support on accessing the Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)
There may be support available on this course through the partner college it is delivered by, for skills such as note taking, referencing and presentation skills. Please contact student services at the college for more information about accessing this type of support.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from librarians who specialise in your subject.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
You can access information on the personal, emotional and mental health support available to you from your college. They can help you understand the support available locally, as well as other support that might be available to you to help you engage with your studies and improve your wellbeing.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £6,525 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
- EU residents – £10,300 a year (including EU Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
- International students – £19,950 a year (may be subject to annual increase)
Funding your studies
Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget around £40 a year for photocopying, printing charges, binding and specialist printing - while we try to keep files and content electronic, there may be some paper and printing to be undertaken.
You'll need to become a student member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Student membership costs £82 a year.
You need to attend 30-hours of personal therapy on this course. We recommend you budget £750–£1500 a year for your personal therapy.
You'll do at least 100 hours of supervised work placement, so we recommend you budget for travel expenses to and from the placement.
Contact our Housing Support Team if you need help and advice about accommodation.
- Telephone: +44 (0)23 9284 3214
- Email: student.housing@port.ac.uk
Apply
Ready to apply?
You can start your application now and submit it later if you want.
Applying through UCAS
To apply through UCAS, you'll need:
- the UCAS course code – B943
- our institution code – P80
- the campus name – South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus
- the campus code – T
Apply now through UCAS (September 2026)
Applying directly
To apply directly, use our online form:
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.