MSc Art Psychotherapy: University of East London

About the programme

The MSc Art Psychotherapy aims to enable participants to undertake the effective clinical practice of Art Psychotherapy in which the process of art-making plays a central role within a psychotherapeutic relationship. The programme also aims to develop participants’ knowledge, skills, professional responsibility and ethical approach sufficiently so that they meet the requirements for the academic award and the HPC Standards of Proficiency.

Career opportunities

Graduates from an HPC approved MSc Art Psychotherapy programme will be eligible to apply to the HPC for registration to use the legally protected titles of either “Art Psychotherapist” or “Art Therapist” and thus practise art psychotherapy / art therapy.

Employment of Art Psychotherapists / Art Therapists is growing locally and throughout the UK and the programme has further stimulated this. New posts and sessional work have arisen as a result of interest generated by student placements. Some individuals are enabled by employers to train as art therapists and are subsequently employed as art therapists in their place of work. Some find part-time or sessional work in specialist areas. Some combine art therapy sessional work with other kinds of employment. Some state a preference of maintaining their identity as professional artists and working sessionally as an Art Therapist. Some return to the country of origin and set up services there.

Admission requirments

• an honours degree or equivalent qualification (normally in the visual arts, psychology, education, nursing or social work etc).
• demonstration of a substantial and active experience in art-making (especially important where the degree is not in the visual arts).
• at least one year full time professional experience in a professionally relevant context (e.g. health, educational or social services), or its equivalent.
• for non-native speakers of English, IELTs 7.0 or equivalent is required.