Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The MSt in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a two-year, part-time taught course blending academic and experiential learning to train professionals in teaching MBCT with skill, compassion and ethical awareness.

This is a two-year part-time course offered jointly by Oxford Lifelong Learning and the Department of Psychiatry. The course is aligned with internationally recognised MBCT training standards and cultivates the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for skilful and ethical teaching of the MBCT family of curricula, and for contributing to the development and dissemination of MBCT.

The course is designed for professionals who would like to bring evidence-based mindfulness teaching into their work. It is best suited to those in fields such as mental or physical healthcare, education, skills training, stress reduction, wellness, or other contexts that involve working with individuals and groups in supportive ways.

In learning to be a mindfulness teacher, personal and professional development are closely intertwined. Personal mindfulness practice is essential for cultivating the self-awareness, understanding and attitudes needed to teach mindfulness to others. This course provides strong support for students’ development of mindfulness practice. It combines academic and professional rigour with the attitudes of kindness, compassion and friendly curiosity that are fundamental to mindfulness. The atmosphere of the course is warm, respectful, and supportive, and provides space to experiment and to grow as a mindfulness teacher.

Successful completion of the course leads to the award of a Master of Studies by the University of Oxford.

Course structure
The course combines in-person and online learning.

In-person teaching blocks of 3-5 days occur twice each year in Oxford. In addition, one in-person retreat of 5-6 days is held each year at a residential retreat centre in the UK.

Online teaching days (9am – 5pm UK time) occur at weekly or other intervals.

Each student is assigned a tutor (one of the teaching staff) for individual or small group meetings throughout the course. Tutoring meetings support the development of knowledge and skills and provide an opportunity for discussion of questions, concerns, or topics of interest.

Students should plan to devote 6-7 hours per week to independent reading and study, personal mindfulness practice, and completion of written assignments.

Most teaching is provided by the director and tutor team, with invited guest teachers for specialist areas.

The course covers several main topic areas and includes a variety of teaching and learning methods.

Year 1 develops all of the main topic areas, with emphasis on teaching skills, experiential understanding, and theoretical and empirical foundations. Year 2 further hones all knowledge and skills, with emphasis on teaching two 8-week MBCT courses and on completing a dissertation.