Creative Expressive Arts and Health Practice

Learn how to use the arts as a tool to work with others in a positive and therapeutic way on this innovative course.

• Develop your skills in the applied arts as an Arts & Health Practitioner
• Develop professional and personal skills for fulfilling careers in a wide range of arts, health, social care, and educational settings
• Gain exciting practical experience through work-based learning and placements with our partner organisations in the community.

The course will give you the opportunity to develop a range of specific and transferable skills that are applicable in a wide range of settings where you will work with people using the arts; or in contexts where engaging with people is a focus; whether this is in employment or further study. You will learn with and from tutors who are experienced practitioners and researchers in the field; as well as our community partners, who will offer a real-world experience, helping you to develop your employability.

Through this integrated masters course you’ll progress towards autonomous working as a professional, as you undertake an individual piece of extended scholarship and a challenging, in-depth project in community. Both are supported through tutorials with academic members of staff at the University.

Your independent work in these areas will be underpinned by in-depth exploration of how approaches to research and research skills are applied in a range of contexts for arts and health practice. Additionally, you will develop skills in applying creative approaches in coaching and mentoring others and facilitating as well as participating in reflective practice.

Take a tour of our facilities

If the arts have played a vital role in your own personal development, why not harness your creativity to make a difference in other people’s lives? 

This programme offers you opportunities to develop your skills and express yourself in the art form of your choice through specialist studio sessions, performances and exhibition work. Playful exploration of all art forms will empower you in applying the arts as a tool when working with others to promote physical and emotional wellbeing.

We explore how the arts and creativity can be applied therapeutically in community, voluntary, health, educational, and corporate settings. We also look at different therapeutic principles and the meanings of health and illness in the context of historical, societal, and cultural values, and the role of the arts in meeting personal and community goals and needs.

Real-world learning in action

At every level of study, we offer exciting opportunities for you to put your skills into practice – and make more informed decisions about your future career path – through work placements and community projects.

Thanks to our thriving partnerships, you will have opportunities to work in our local community at every stage of study, with an extended period of placement at Level 7. You could gain experience with arts groups, hospitals, hospices, schools, charities, or organisations supporting adults and children with disabilities. This is a fantastic opportunity to work creatively using multiple art forms to make a difference to the lives of your participants.

Many of our students take part in collaborative projects in the wider community and have devised and led drama sessions for prison inmates; run creative arts workshops for people with brain injuries; and toured schools with programmes aimed at tackling bullying and peer pressure.

Gain ‘career-ready’ skills

You will undertake a substantial amount of groupwork where you can reflect on your own personal development, awareness, and communication skills. You will also also gain experience of leadership, coaching, and group processes which will be invaluable in your future career.

There are opportunities for you to learn with, and from, students from other disciplines. This will prepare you to work in a multi-professional and multi-disciplinary teams after graduation, and ensure the best possible outcomes for your clients and service users.

An inspiring study experience

You will hone your skills in our superb facilities, including dedicated art, dance, drama, and music studios for therapeutic arts.

We offer guest lectures by leading professionals in the field, and you will also take part in environmental, site-specific arts workshops, as part of the ‘Big Wood’ project, based on the outskirts of Derby, to help you think beyond studio spaces.

Pursue your personal interests

Your course will culminate in an Independent study which allows you to explore areas of your own choosing within the applied arts & health subject area, whilst also offering a platform to demonstrate your academic and/or creative talents to potential employers.

This will be a piece of empirical research (where you gather and analyse data) where you might choose to focus on a topic of interest in the community or to conduct a personal Body of Work.  

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.

The course balances classroom-based theory with practical sessions involving studio, performance and exhibition work. The focus is on developing your transferable skills so that you can adapt to varied and changing circumstances. 

Our diverse range of teaching and learning strategies are all intended to support you as a learner in developing your skills and understanding of the potential of the arts and creativity in promoting human lifelong development, health and wellbeing. Additionally, these approaches encourage you to refine and further develop your expertise as an artist, whilst applying and offering critical consideration of relevant theories.

The taught components of the curriculum are designed to allow you to take responsibility for your own learning; with self-awareness and reflection as central to your development. You are invited to participate in a range of learning activities that help you to develop your academic and practical skills, which you will then apply in a real-world context, working in community settings in placements. You are encouraged throughout to recognise and promote your skills and strengths, as well as exploring areas that you wish to develop. A diverse range of activities is on offer, to enable you in developing the wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding that you will need in order to adapt to the changing landscape of practice.

Throughout the course, you have access to guidance and advice from a personal tutor and will also benefit from academic skills sessions.

How you are assessed

You’ll be assessed in many ways to help you develop a compelling variety of skills. These include essays, exhibitions, performances, reflective journals and diaries, videos and production projects.

You will complete two extended pieces of critical writing. There is an option of reflective writing or a professional discussion, plus a critical report along with a research proposal.

We support you to view assessment as an additional learning opportunity, with assessments that are selected to reflect real-world practice and ensure you have adequate learning in working with people to be a safe and effective practitioner.

Who you will meet

You'll learn from highly experienced teachers who are committed to your success. All specialists in their field, they include active researchers, authors and industry practitioners with outstanding professional networks. We pride ourselves on offering a supportive and engaging learning environment.

The team includes Dave Home.

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Offers will be made initially based on your application, including predicted grades and/or grades you have already achieved. You may be given the opportunity, within your offer letter, to submit a portfolio. If you submit a strong portfolio we will make you an unconditional offer, to reflect the quality of your work and your potential.

Additional entry requirements

• Portfolio: Recommended - view portfolio details
• An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2024/25

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

This course is not currently accepting applications. Please check back at a later date. 

You’ll develop transferable skills which enable you to work creatively with people in a range of different settings, drawing on your knowledge of art, dance, drama or music.

Graduates from our BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing course have gone on to work in community arts, voluntary organisations, health, education and the corporate sector. Some have set up their own businesses.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

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.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Other courses you might like

• Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing BA (Hons)
• Art Therapy MA
• Dramatherapy MA
• Music Therapy MA
• Dance Movement Psychotherapy MA