PGDip/GradDip Mental Health Practice in Education Settings (EMHP)
Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | Ability to study at degree level |
|---|---|
Why study PGDip/GradDip Mental Health Practice in Education Settings (EMHP) at Exeter?
- Develop the clinical competencies and knowledge needed in order to practice as an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).
- Develop clinical competency in the low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy clinical method and whole school approaches to mental health in education settings.
- Learn ways to adapt your clinical practice with children, young people and parents/carers to accommodate diversity and increase access to evidence-based psychological therapies.
- Study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
- Your learning experience will be enriched by innovative clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.
Clinical Education Development and Research (CEDAR)
This programme is delivered by Clinical Education, Development and Research (CEDAR): an applied psychological practice centre of excellence, focussed on training the new psychological therapies workforce of the future.
Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical teaching approaches
Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording
A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development
CEDAR is 1st in the sector for student satisfaction in three out of seven themes
National Student Survey 2025
Entry requirements
- Ability to study at degree level.
- Proven record of previous academic attainment.
- Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
- Ability to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods
- Computer literate
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives and negotiate pathways to achievement with supervisory teams.
Previous experience
- It is desirable that the applicant will have previous experience of working with children and young people.
Applicants without a degree
This programme is offered at both postgraduate level (PGDip) and at final year undergraduate degree level (GradDip). If you do not hold an undergraduate degree you may be eligible for enrolment on the GradDip programme. The topics you will study are the same for both programmes. Please contact the administrative team for more information.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Course content
The PGDip Mental Health Practice in Education Settings (EMHP) aims to:
- Provide you with a thorough grounding in the Department of Health curriculum for Education Mental Health Practitioners working within Mental Health Support Teams.
- Develop your understanding and clinical competency in the low intensity CBT clinical method and whole schools approaches to mental health and enable you to adapt your practice to work effectively with children and young people (CYP), their parents/carers and professionals with diverse needs.
- Provide you with the foundations to establish a commitment to continuing professional development and becoming an evidence-based practitioner.
- Provide you with a high quality and stimulating learning experience in a supportive environment that is enriched by an internationally-recognised research environment, nationally-recognised innovative clinical teaching approaches and current clinical practice.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
120 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Children and Young People's Mental Health Settings: Context and Values | 20 | |
| Fundamental Skills: Assessment and Engagement | 20 | |
| Evidence-Based Interventions for Common Mental Health Problems with Children and Young People (Theory and Skills) | 20 | |
| Working, Assessing and Engaging in Education Settings | 20 | |
| Common Problems and Processes in Education Settings | 20 | |
| Interventions for Emerging Mental Health Difficulties in Education Settings | 20 | |
PYCM079: Children and Young People's Mental Health Settings: Context and Values
This module will develop practitioners’ knowledge of the core principles of CYP Mental Health and enhance their skills when working with children, young people and their families/parents/carers. This module underpins modules 2 and 3, and will provide practitioners with the necessary knowledge, attitude and competence to operate effectively in an inclusive, values driven service and in the wider services context.
PYCM080: Fundamental Skills: Assessment and Engagement
This module will equip you with a good understanding of the incidence, prevalence and presentation of common mental health problems experienced by children and young people and evidenced-based treatment choices. Teaching skills will develop core competences in active listening, engagement, alliance building, patient-centred information gathering, information giving and shared decision-making. The module will develop your competency in assessing and identifying areas of difficulty (including risk) and establish main areas for change. It will support you to establish and maintain a working therapeutic alliance and engaging CYP to support them in self-management of recovery. It will also help you to navigate and signpost appropriate interventions and use routine outcome measures and standardised assessment tools effectively as part of the assessment and engagement process.
PYCM081: Evidence-Based Interventions for Common Mental Health Problems with Children and Young People (Theory and Skills)
This module will equip practitioners with a good understanding of the process of therapeutic support and the management of individual children and young people and parents / carers experiencing anxiety, low mood or behavioural difficulties, face to face or remotely. Skills teaching will develop general and disorder-defined ‘specific factor’ competencies in the delivery of low intensity treatments informed by cognitive-behavioural and social learning principles.
Practitioners aid clinical improvement through the provision of information and support for evidence-based low-intensity treatments. Psychological treatments place a greater emphasis on self-management and are designed to be less burdensome to the CYP undertaking them than traditional psychological treatments. The overall delivery of these interventions is informed by behaviour change models and strategies. Examples of interventions include providing support for a range of low-intensity self-help interventions (often with the use of written self-help materials) informed by cognitive-behavioural and social learning principles, such as behavioural activation, exposure, cognitive change methods (such as identifying and working with automatic anxious negative thoughts and suggesting behaviour experiments), problem solving, CBT-informed sleep management, parent training and computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) packages as well as supporting physical exercise.
PYCM082: Working, Assessing and Engaging in Education Settings
This module consists of two main areas: the educational context and how it operates; and assessment and engagement of children, young people, and their families specific to supporting mental health within the educational setting. They have been designed as counterparts to modules 1 and 2. First, EMHPs will understand the education setting and the context in which they will be working, including legislative and policy frameworks, how schools / colleges are organised, and the challenges of working with mental health issues in an educational setting. EMHP will then learn assessment and engagement skills particular to educational settings. This includes engagement skills with Children and Young People, families and education staff, assessment, diagnosis and signposting skills and neurological development. It will also involve active exploration of the whole school approaches being used within local areas, and support to incorporate and develop these as part of the role and wider mental health support system.
PYCM083: Common Problems and Processes in Education Settings
In this module you will be taught to understand common problems and experiences (including common areas of adversity and disadvantage) and support education staff through training, implementing peer mentoring approaches and supporting classroom management in education settings. Underpinning your ability to understand and support these common problems and experiences are key common processes that underpin therapeutic and organisational work.
EMHPs provide support and interventions in schools and colleges that acknowledge the broad range of difficulties experienced by many children and young people and which have adverse effects on their well-being. These will include common adverse experiences, traumatic events and common problems occurring in education settings. You will work within a model of the child and young person that recognises both the effects of adversity on children and the limits of their autonomy. You will promote the well-being of children and young people by supporting their cognitive, emotional, social and physical development in the context of their family, school and other systems.
PYCM084: Interventions for Emerging Mental Health Difficulties in Education Settings
Within this module you will develop an awareness of emerging mental health difficulties in education settings. This will include home schooling and being able to intervene with parents / carer and school staff in these settings. Two key interventions will be taught in this module:
This module will equip you with a good understanding of the process of consultation and group work in schools and colleges in face to face and virtual settings. You will acquire a framework of key skills and knowledge through classroom teaching, experiential learning, role play, observation, and supervised practice.
You will be taught intervention skills in the delivery of training and psychological support to groups both face to face and digitally (of children and young people, parents and/or teachers). Key principles of working with groups (classes) will be addressed so that you are able to prepare appropriate materials, manage group processes, deliver training and/or support confidently, work in partnership with other professionals, and critically evaluate their own performance. You will need to evidence competency in one of these two intervention areas i.e. group work with children or young people OR/ group work with parents.
You will be expected to understand how to advise and support teachers and other school and college staff about the psychological effects of common problems in children and adolescents.
How to apply
In order to apply for this programme you will need to be selected as a Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EHMP) with one of our NHS/voluntary sector partner services. Please see the SW CYP IAPT website for a full list of services. The EHMP is a full-time job role funded at NHS Band 4 and will involve direct practice working across a range of educational settings as well as university-based training days. Upon completion of your training, you will remain employed within your service at a NHS Band 5 Pay Scale.
Jobs will be advertised on the NHS jobs website and on individual partner websites, as well as on our SW CYP IAPT website. Please note it is not possible to apply directly to the University of Exeter as you are required to be working within a service in order to participate in the course.
Fees
This course is funded by NHS England, so fees are not typically payable by candidates. You will be employed and paid by your service and will split your time between working clinically at your education setting and studying at the university.
If you work for a non-NHS employer and are interested in a self-funded place, please contact our Programme Administrator for more information.
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer the University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply.
Teaching and research
Our teaching team is committed to creating an engaging, interactive, and inclusive learning environment grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Teaching begins with an initial block of timetabled lectures, which gradually tapers to allow for more in-service days before transitioning to full-time in service. Learning activities include a mix live lectures, clinical skills practice, role-play, group work, and asynchronous individual learning.
Assessment methods include:
- Online exam
- Recorded clinical competency assessments
- Reflective commentaries
- Clinical reports
- Narrated presentations
- Practice Outcomes Document (POD)
- Professional portfolio
Careers
This programme is for people with experience of working in a mental health or education setting. It will provide you with an outstanding opportunity to develop your competencies and knowledge associated with low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy and whole school approaches to mental health in education settings.
A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development.
Advantages of the programme are that:
- You will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
- Your learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.
