Art Therapy

Entry requirements

An honours degree in Art and Design. This means any art and design discipline; Fine Art, Textiles, Ceramics, Film etc.

All candidates will be expected to provide evidence of a minimum of 1000 hours of relevant work experience in order to be eligible for the course. These hours need to have been accrued by the date of application and do not include hours within the period of acceptance and the start of the academic year. This work may be paid employment and/or voluntary work, gained in the UK or abroad. The work should provide experience of working with the kinds of vulnerable and special needs clients a student may encounter on clinical placement during the MA training. The work should take place in health, education or community settings.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

• The MA Art Therapy is approved by The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is situated in the postgraduate area of The School of Creative Arts. The programme places a strong emphasis on developing the student’s artistic identity in tandem with their understanding of the skills and knowledge required for safe therapeutic practice
• Contemporary visual art practices that link to psychodynamic processes are taught across the curriculum. Students learn how research is a cross-discipline mode of enquiry while developing knowledge of how theory underpins and informs art therapy practice with a range of vulnerable people
• Students attend placements throughout the course and develop themselves professionally through supervision, reflection and by articulating their practice in writing, research and presentations.
• The programme guides students toward achieving employment in health care, education and/or voluntary organisations. Focusing on the public sector these range from adult and child mental health, palliative care, learning disability, prisons, main stream and special schools etc.
• Take a look at our MA Art Therapy leaflet.

Why choose this course?

MA Art Therapy places particular emphasis on the relationship art therapy has with other art forms such as fine art, ceramics, design, film and digital image making, on a theoretical and practical level. Experiential learning is regarded as a key experience with time and space given to the continuing development of the student's artistic identity.The programme area also offers a range of pre and post qualification opportunities such an Arts Therapy Foundation programme, Introductory and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) short courses and research opportunities up to PhD.

The MA Art Therapy course has links with the Faculty for Health and Human Sciences and European universities and organisations e.g ECArTE. The University is within easy reach of London by rail, road and air.

The core staff team have an excellent reputation in terms of teaching quality and research in their fields. The programme also employs other professionals such as psychotherapists and arts therapists who continue to conduct clinical practice with a range of client groups.

You have access to a state of the art Learning Resources Centre which contains a wealth of material on related disciplines, maintained by specialist staff who provide support and advice when need. Personal Therapy for the duration of the training is a requirement of all students.

Information for international students

In addition to fees, it is necessary to budget for personal therapy. (See ‘Personal Therapy’ section below). Travel expenses to placements are also the responsibility of trainees. Wherever possible, placements are arranged within a reasonable distance of the trainee’s home in order to minimise costs.

Fees and funding