The qualification leads to an award that is recognised for professional registration purposes by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Career opportunities vary from work in the NHS, social services, the voluntary sector and increasingly in main stream education. Art Therapists frequently work on a sessional basis or part time in a range of settings. Students receive lectures and workshops on entrepreneurial skills such as fundraising, setting up new services and how to market themselves post-qualification.

2 Years PSW is applicable after the course.(Bachelors & Masters only)

Work Experience

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.

Work experience must be gained outside the confines of an applicant's own domestic circumstances, so tasks such as caring for children, friends or relatives, although obviously important as life experience, do not qualify for the purposes of entry requirements. Applicants should bear in mind that the purpose of relevant work experience is to give them some insight into the problems involved in working with people who are undergoing some form of emotional or psychological crisis or stress. With this in mind, direct work with such clients should be the main purpose of the applicant’s employment and not merely incidental to employment in another capacity. Teaching experience should include a substantial amount of specific special needs work and can include teaching or classroom assistant experience.

Portfolio of Artwork

The portfolio should contain a range of your work including:

1. A selection of images of significant works/designs (maximum of 5)
2. Images of sketchbook work (maximum of 5)
3. Images that show your development process (maximum of 5)

The portfolio should be clearly annotated with an indication of media used and size. Please visit our website for further information and guidance on how you may present your Portfolio. Further to the portfolio guidance on the website please note that we will be looking for evidence of the development of your art-making practice over a number of years, your emotional engagement with your work, and your capacity for personal expression through art. 

Additional Information for International Students Only

The Extended Personal Statement/Essay should be submitted separately as follows:

A 500-word essay titled 'What is Art therapy?' referenced with relevant UK literature on Art Therapy. Use the Harvard referencing system and also please include a bibliography. A concise personal statement (250 words) that addresses the following four points:

1. Why you wish to study MA Art Therapy
2. Why you wish to study at UH
3. Why you wish to study in the UK
4. What are your career goals and how does this course help you achieve them

After your initial application has been assessed we will contact you to arrange a VSee or Skype interview if you are not based in the UK.

Postgraduate taught

• Completion of a Bachelor degree in a relevant subject area with 55-65% or above depending on course
• IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 (depends on course) with no less than 5.5 in any band - some courses require higher
• Standard XII English with 70% will also be accepted