Overview
This course is part of the Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme which trains Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) for NHS employment.
The Department of Health’s IAPT programme is an innovative approach to mental health. You’ll train to become a practitioner who helps those experiencing depression and anxiety. You’ll do this through the use of evidence-based psychological therapies.
The Low Intensity Psychological Therapies programme trains Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners under the NHS England talking therapies initiative. Low intensity therapy constitutes part of the national institute of clinical excellence (NICE) guidelines for the evidenced based treatment of mild to moderate common mental health problems.
The emphasis of low intensity therapy is to help patients self-manage their symptoms of depression and anxiety, using primarily cognitive and behavioural interventions. The programme will equip Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner trainees with the clinical competence to provide low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy, usually within a public or third sector healthcare setting. Typically, when qualified, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners work in an NHS or public sector clinical setting, on band 5 and 6 (NHS or equivalent) salaries.
The programme directors are Laura Stevenson and Dr Claire Lomax.
The team lead is Karen Wilson.
Enquires to:Â Iapt.director@ncl.ac.uk
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Important information
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Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
You’ll learn through compulsory modules.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
How you’ll learn
Your teaching takes place on a Monday and Tuesday – 9.30am 4.30pm. This is scheduled as present in person teaching on university campus. The campus is located within Newcastle City Centre. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday trainees are on clinical placement with their service (service rather than employer).
Placements are currently provided around the North East of England. The placements are clinical services that treat individuals experiencing common mental health problems.
On completing this course you can work towards Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) accreditation.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Essay
- Observation of professional practice
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- Portfolio
- Report
- Written examination
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 150 for Psychology – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 200 for Psychology – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
- Top 90 for Life Sciences and Medicine – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
We have excellent general learning resources are available. They include access to the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here you’ll find all workshop and lecture slides, and programme and module handbooks.
The School of Psychology is in the Dame Margaret Barbour Building.
You’ll work in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is part of our city-centre campus.
The Faculty is also home to:
- dentistry
- medicine
- psychology
- pharmacy
It is on the same site as Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital. We are one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.
Our facilities include:
- individual research laboratories where students carry out their projects
- a dedicated medical library with a wide range of specialist books and journals
- hi-tech computer clusters and study spaces
- dedicated facilities for a range of key bioscience applications. This includes flow cytometry, bioinformatics, imaging, genomics and proteomics
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
An NQF 5, or international equivalent. You will not be required to submit a portfolio.
You will also require relevant experience, voluntary or paid, of working with individuals who experience mental health difficulties.
We expect you to have a high standard of:
- written ability
- computer literacy
- the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships
You also need to meet the trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) national person specification and be able to demonstrate good communication skills and other core requirements. The NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression website has examples of PWP specifications.
