Music Therapy MA - Therapeutic Arts

If you would like to register and go into practice as a music therapist, this inspirational new masters course is the ideal route to success.

Achieve your ambitions on the only course of its kind in the Midlands and North of England
Choose an innovative masters degree which places music and musicianship at the heart of your learning and focuses on an integrative approach to practice
Integrate theory with practical experience: you’ll spend a significant amount of your time on placement
Learn from our experienced and enthusiastic tutors who continue to practise professionally as music therapists
Broaden your perspectives through inter-professional learning with other arts therapists
Benefit from our flexible and convenient study modes so that you can balance your learning with your other commitments
Join a department with a longstanding reputation for high-quality training in therapeutic arts

Our new MA Music Therapy helps meet a growing demand for expert practitioners who can harness the power of music in health, social care and community settings.

Join a worthwhile profession

Music therapy can have a significant impact on quality of life for people with learning difficulties, disabilities, dementia and mental health issues. It can also play an important role in palliative care, adoption scenarios, forensic work and in a broad range of other interventions which promote inclusivity and wellbeing.

This course will equip you with the skills to use music in ways which stimulate creativity, problem-solving and positive change.

‌The title of Music Therapist is legally protected and you need a masters qualification to practise. Our MA Music Therapy is aligned to standards set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which acts as the regulatory body for music therapists.

Successful completion of the course means you can register with the HCPC to practise as a music therapist in the UK. When you embark on the MA, you can also apply to join the British Association for Music Therapists (BAMT) as a trainee and, on finishing your training, as a practitioner.

A course with broad appeal

Our course is ideal for aspiring music therapists with a first degree in subjects relating to therapeutic arts, music, education and health, as well as for professionals with experience in appropriate health and social care settings.

It has the advantage of being delivered at the heart of the country in Derby. The flexible study format means that you are expected to attend the University on only one full day each week, with the rest of the time dedicated to clinical placements and self-directed study.

Hone your skills on placement

Practical experience is a cornerstone of this course and essential for meeting HCPC standards. You’ll spend a significant proportion of your time on placement, working directly with a range of clients and learning to manage caseloads.

You could be placed with health, social care and community employers or with music therapists running their own practices. You’ll receive expert clinical supervision from a dedicated placement supervisor. Throughout the MA, you’ll also draw on real-world case study materials to ensure your learning is up to date and relevant.

Improve your musicianship

Our therapeutic arts courses are distinctive because they place the art form at the heart of practice. Music and performance, musicality and improvisation will be central to your learning. We will enhance your musicianship while developing your critical understanding of theory and research. You’ll also take part in a Music Therapy Experiential Group and complete an independent study into a musicianship theme of your choice.

An integrative approach

We work with an integrative approach to understanding the therapeutic relationship, considering person centred, music-centred and psychodynamic approaches. The focus is on helping clients to strengthen their inner resources so that they feel they can make positive changes in their lives.

Reflecting this ethos, you will be required to engage with personal therapy yourself for the full duration of the course.

Dynamic learning experiences

You’ll be taught by an enthusiastic, expert team experienced in all forms of arts therapy. The course includes reflective practice groups facilitated by registered music therapists and substantial practical work in our bespoke music studio with a wide range of instruments.

There are valuable opportunities for you to learn with – and from – students from other disciplines. This prepares you to work in a multi-professional team and achieve the best outcomes for your clients.

You’ll find our tutors are friendly, approachable and encouraging – they pride themselves on offering exceptional support to students.

An impressive track record

We have a strong reputation for excellence in therapeutic arts and have prepared hundreds of students for careers in education, health and community arts.

The MA builds on our expertise in offering a Music pathway on our popular BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing. It also complements our other masters degrees in Art Therapy, Dramatherapy and Dance Movement Psychotherapy. With Music Therapy joining our portfolio, we believe we are the only university in the country to offer such a comprehensive range of postgraduate courses in this field.

What you will study

You will study the below modules:

Postgraduate Certificate

Music and Musicianship in Practice (20 credits)
Music Therapy Clinical Placement 1 (20 credits)
Arts Therapies Theory and Research in Relation to Practice 1 (20redits)

Postgraduate Diploma

Music Therapy Experiential Group 1 (10 credits)
Arts Therapies Theory and Research in Relation to Practice 2 (20 credits)
Music Therapy Clinical Placement 2 (20 credits)
Music Therapy Experiential Group 2 (10 credits)

Arts Therapies Independent Scholarship: A Body of Work (60 credits)

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

How you will learn

You will engage in practical/experiential group learning, lectures, seminars and personal tutorials. Practical application is integrated with the theory you need to understand and develop your practice.

Music practice and performance, musicality and improvisation will be central to your learning and development throughout the programme. The theoretical content of the course will largely be delivered face to face, with some use of blended learning where appropriate.

How you'll be assessed

The assessment methods are all based on your coursework. This includes a variety of written essays, both academic and reflective; case studies, either written or presented; and live and recorded performance.

Who you'll meet

You will learn from a variety of tutors who are in practice, ensuring that the course content is current and relevant to the real world.

Careers

Music therapy is a rapidly evolving discipline and profession. Music making and shared musical experiences are increasingly recognised as valid ways of helping people to address social, emotional or physical difficulties.

Our new MA reflects the growing profile and status of the profession, enabling you to register and practise as a music therapist. It paves the way to rewarding careers in a wide range of health, social care and community settings. It could also give you a firm foundation if you would like to work on a self-employed or freelance basis.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the programme must hold a first degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject, or have significant relevant experience or equivalent qualifications.

They will also need to demonstrate sufficient experience of working in a setting which addresses the needs of individuals with, for example, emotional or mental distress, specific learning needs or developmental difficulties.

Additionally, they will need to demonstrate appropriate musical ability and skills in musicianship, together with the emotional robustness and intellectual capacity to cope with the demands of the programme.

All prospective candidates who meet the basic entry criteria will attend a selection day to assess their suitability for the programme and their preparedness for the intensive nature of the training.

If your first language is not English, you'll need to ensure that you have reached the required standards for English Language as recommended by the Health Professions Council. This is set at IELTS of at least 7.0 with 6.5 in each skills area or equivalent.

Interview Information

Admissions information

Please note that this course operates a pooled admissions approach and has a final application deadline of 3 March 2025. We may look to open another pool for our September 2025 intake, however, this cannot be guaranteed

Your portfolio

Following application submission, applicants will be asked to submit an online portfolio. Applicants who are invited to submit a portfolio will have two weeks to do so and will receive guidance information related to the completion of the portfolio.

The portfolio element of your application must be submitted and passed in order for you to be shortlisted for interview.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory virtual interview. Non-attendance may result in your application being withdrawn.

Fees and funding

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

Type	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£13,500 for the full course	N/A
International	£14,900 for the full course	N/A

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Type	Full-time	Part-time
UK	£13,950 for the full course	N/A
International	£16,900 for the full course	N/A

Additional costs and optional extras

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.

UK students

Apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

International students

Find your agent

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Guidance for international applicants applying for a postgraduate degree

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

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Music Therapy