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CONTENTS

1. What’s Art Therapy?

2. What Art Therapy degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Art Therapy degree?

4. What are the Art Therapy postgraduate opportunities?

5. What topics does an Art Therapy postgraduate degree cover?

6. How will you be assessed?

7. Why study Art Therapy?

8. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Art Therapy?

9. What do Art Therapy graduates earn?

10. What jobs can you get as a Art Therapy graduate?

11. Similar subjects to Art Therapy

12. Have any questions?

What’s Art Therapy? 

Art Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses art to help explore social, emotional and mental health issues. 

Art therapists, or art psychotherapists, help people to use art to express their feelings as an alternative form of communication and explore experiences that might be difficult to put into words.

Art therapists work in a variety of places such as health, social care and educational settings, either with individuals or sometimes in group sessions. Some art therapists are self-employed while others might be employed by the NHS, private health care providers, schools or the prison service.  

What Art Therapy degrees can you study?

You’ll usually need an undergraduate art degree before you can do a specific Art Therapy qualification to become an art therapist or art psychotherapist.

If you have a degree in a related subject – such as psychology, social work, nursing or education – you may be also be considered, but you'll need a large portfolio of art work as well.

Examples of undergraduate art degrees on offer in the UK include: 

• Fine Art BA 
• Creative Expressive Arts BA 
• Graphic Design BA 
• Painting & Drawing BA 

Options may include an integrated foundation year, professional placement year or year abroad. 

What do you need to get onto an Art Therapy degree?

To do an Art Therapy qualification, you will usually need an undergraduate Art degree followed by a postgraduate Art Therapy qualification. 

Must have

Entry requirements for an Art degree at a university range from 64–165 UCAS points. This could include the qualifications below. 

• A Levels: AAA–C
• BTECs: DDD–MPP
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–BBC (Advanced Highers: AAB–B)
• International Baccalaureate: 38–24
• A portfolio of your art work

Good to have

• Art, design and essay-based subjects at A Level (or equivalent) 
• Developing your artistic skills and knowledge through extra courses or online learning – you may be able to find free online courses/MOOCs 
• Reading books or arts journals, going to galleries and exhibitions or using Google Arts & Culture or national gallery websites to find influential practitioners that inspire you, past and present 
• Online research into what Art Therapy involves, such as the NHS-run Health Careers website
• Work experience or shadowing related occupations looking to recruit Art Therapy services, such as a day centre manager
• Volunteering with an arts organisation, or involvement in workshops or clubs for children or families

What are the Art Therapy postgraduate opportunities?

Depending on your undergraduate degree, you will usually need to do further study to register as an art therapist with the HCPC. 

Examples of postgraduate courses available at universities in the UK: 

• Creative Arts and Mental Health MSc
• Art Psychotherapy MSc
• Art Therapy MA
• Art Psychotherapy Practice MA
• Arts, Health and Performance MA

What topics does an Art Therapy postgraduate degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Arts, culture and wellbeing
• Working creatively with groups
• Human development and play  
• Effective communication  
• Personal and professional practice  
• Research  
• Safeguarding and ethics

In addition to the course modules, you’ll usually be required to undertake a minimum of 40 hours of individual personal therapy.

How will you be assessed?

Depending on your modules, you could be assessed through: 

• Written coursework
• Dissertation
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Essays
• Group projects 
• Exams
• Practical placement

Why study Art Therapy?

Career-specific skills

• Skills and competences required as a registered art therapist 
• Artistic skills
• Understanding of evidence-based practice

Transferable skills

• Adaptability
• Communication
• Creativity and imagination
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Entrepreneurial skills
• Presentations

Professional accreditations

• Degrees in Art Therapy must be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), graduates will then be able to register with the HCPC and can work as an art therapist or art psychotherapist in the UK

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying an Art Therapy degree?

Some universities offer Art Therapy students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants so it’s worth checking if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers such as materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

What do Art Therapy graduates earn?

The amount you could earn as an art therapist or art psychotherapist will vary significantly depending on whether you’re employed or whether you set up as a self-employed private practitioner.

If you decide to work for the NHS, the entry salary is usually on band 6, which is currently £35,392. This could increase to around £42,618 depending on experience and leadership level.  

What jobs can you get as an Art Therapy graduate?

A qualification in Art Therapy is a specialised qualification and most graduates go on to practice as an art therapist or art psychotherapist.  

With experience you might decide to focus on a particular type of client, such as children, or you might have an interest in a certain area, like palliative care.

You might also consider supporting Art Therapy students or become a manager, leading a team in an arts therapy department.

Similar subjects to Art Therapy

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy
Drama, Dance and Cinematics
Philosophy
Psychology
Speech and Language Therapy

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.

We’ll be happy to hear from you!