If you would like to register and go into practice as a music therapist, this vocational master's course is the ideal route to success.
- Achieve your ambitions on the only course of its kind in the Midlands and North of England
- Our inclusive admissions criteria, based on experience, welcomes a diverse cohort of trainee Music Therapists
- Choose an innovative master's degree which focuses on contemporary Music Therapy theory and current research to enhance your knowledge
- 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 and researchers
- Broaden your perspectives through inter-professional learning with other arts therapists
- Join a department with a longstanding reputation for high-quality music therapy training, global research and partnerships
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 master's 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 qualifications 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 and vocational skills are the 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.
Performer to Therapist
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to translate your musicianship skills into supportive, musical ways for self expression - for the benefit of you and your future clients. 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 module, linking theory, research and your Music Therapy skills into one final project.
A strong foundation
To ensure that the clients we work with can strengthen their inner resources through meaning therapeutic relationships, we work with an a pluralistic approach. On the MA course, you will consider our four theoretical cornerstones: attachment theory, psychodynamic theory, social justice theory and the importance of music as a tool for positive chan
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 Music Therapy - practical and research-based. The course includes reflective practice groups 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 – and are all trained therapists. The team 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. 100% of our graduates go on to find employment after completing the Music Therapy course at Derby.
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 master's degrees in Art Therapy, Dramatherapy and Dance Movement Psychotherapy.
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.
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.
Connecting musicality, relevant theory and research with clinical skills gained on placement will ensure you gain the vocational skills you need for a meaningful career in Music Therapy. 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. We regularly have guest speakers from clinical practice, regulatory bodies and alumni to enhance your knowledge of the Music Therapy profession.
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 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 combination of opportunities provided on the course ensure that graduates are ready for work and highly employable.
Applicants for the programme are expected to have an undergraduate qualification in a relevant subject, or have significant relevant experience.
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 be expected to provide a recorded portfolio of musical performance, leading to an online interview.
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 this course operates a pooled admissions approach and the initial application deadline is 12th June 2026. We may look to open another pool for our September 2026 intake, however this cannot be guaranteed.
Your portfolio
Following application submission, applicants will be asked to submit an online portfolio - the portfolio must be a visual video recording. 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.
(August 2026 - July 2027)
| Type | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| UK | £14,490 for the full course | N/A |
| International | £20,520 for the full course | |
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.
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
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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