Music Therapy

Entry requirements

• You'll need a first degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject, or have significant relevant experience or equivalent qualifications
• You'll 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, you'll 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.

Months of entry

September

Course content

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.

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.

Why choose this course?

• 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.

How you'll learn

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.

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.

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.

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.

‌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.

Information for international students

If your first language is not English, you'll need to have achieved an IELTS of at least 6.5 or equivalent with no element below 6.0, as stipulated by the HCPC.

Fees and funding

Learn more at the funding page.