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CONTENTS

1. What’s Music Therapy?

2. What Music Therapy degrees can you study?

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

4. What are the Music Therapy postgraduate opportunities?

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

6. How will you be assessed?

7. Why study Music Therapy?

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

9. What do Music Therapy graduates earn?

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

11. Similar subjects to Music Therapy

12. Have any questions?

What’s Music Therapy?

Music Therapy is often used to help people work through feelings that they cannot put into words.

A music therapist will work with an individual or in a group setting to enhance and improve people’s lives using a wide range of musical styles and techniques.

Music Therapy is often beneficial for people living with learning difficulties, mental health issues, autism, brain injuries and physical disabilities.

What Music Therapy degrees can you study?

You’ll usually need an undergraduate music degree before you can do a specific music therapy qualification to become a music therapist.

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

Music and Music Psychology BA

A combined honours is usually divided 50/50. In this case you’d spend half your time exploring the performance and composition of music across a broad range of topics and genres and the other half studying people, with a particular focus on individuals.

Search for Music and Music Psychology courses.

Music and Drama BA

You'll create performances, analyse texts, and bring a range of critical ideas to bear on both music and drama.

Find Music and Drama courses.

Musical Theatre BA

A Musical Theatre BA enables students to reflect critically on performance practices, while developing core practical production skills. You’ll learn from industry experts trained in music, theatre, and dance.

Explore Musical Theatre courses.

Childhood and Youth and Music BA

Childhood and Youth is an exciting, multidisciplinary subject in which you will explore a range of issues and challenges faced by children and young people in contemporary society, both here in the UK and on a global level. Students will also explore the performance and composition of music across a broad range of topics and genres such as popular, classical, jazz and electronic. 

See Childhood and Youth and Music courses.

Other options

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

What do you need to get onto a Music Therapy degree?

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

Must have 

Entry requirements for a Music undergraduate degree at a university are typically 64–165 UCAS points – but talented applicants who don’t meet the advertised requirements will be considered. Qualifications range from: 

• A Levels: AAA–C 
• BTECs: D*D*D*–MMP 
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–BBC (Advanced Highers: AA–AAB) 
• International Baccalaureate: 38–28 
• Universities usually ask for music at A Level (or equivalent) Associated Board/Trinity Grade 7 or 8 (performance and/or theory) may be accepted instead of music A Level 

You may be asked to audition or provide a sample of your work

Good to have 

• Online research into what’s involved in becoming a music therapist, such as the NHS-run Health Careers website
• Shadowing a music therapist or person in a professional caring role
• Performance-related experiences, from being in an orchestra to solo performances 
• Involvement in music competitions, music clubs or societies, student radio, or putting on events

What are the Music Therapy postgraduate opportunities?

To become a qualified music therapist, you will need to do a postgraduate qualification. Examples of postgraduate courses available at universities in the UK:

• Music Therapy MPhil
• Music Therapy MA

What topics does a Music Therapy postgraduate degree cover?

Typical postgraduate modules for courses in this subject include:

• Professional and personal awareness
• Musical resources
• Clinical practice and reflections
• Therapeutic and theoretical studies
• Research studies
• Working with adults
• Child development

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 postgraduate modules, you could be assessed through:

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

Why study Music Therapy?

Career-specific skills:

• Skills and competences required as a registered music therapist
• Performance skills 
• Creativity in performance, composition, or problem-solving 
• Understanding of evidence-based practice

Transferable skills:

• Communication
• Creativity and imagination
• Flexibility
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem solving
• Reflective and analytical reasoning
• Research
• Empathy
• Management

Professional accreditations:

• Degrees in music therapy must be approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), graduates will then be able to register with the HCPC and work as a music therapist in the UK

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a postgraduate Music Therapy degree?

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants. 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 Music Therapy graduates earn?

The amount you earn as a music therapist will vary significantly depending on whether you’re employed or whether you set up as a self-employed practitioner. Health, social care and education settings like hospitals, schools and day centres might want music therapy services.

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 a Music Therapy graduate?

A postgraduate qualification in music therapy is highly specialised and most postgraduates become practising music therapists. With experience, you might decide to focus on working with a particular type of client like adults or in a clinical area of interest such as mental health.

Experienced music therapists may get involved with supervision and training student practitioners.

Similar subjects to Music Therapy

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

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

Search postgraduate Music Therapy courses now!

Have any questions?

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

We’ll be happy to hear from you!