Program Overview

Art Psychotherapy - MSc

Overview

The MSc Art Psychotherapy course is a two-year part-time training programme approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulating body for the health and care professions in the UK.

About this course

The MSc Art Psychotherapy is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the statutory regulator of the profession of Art Therapy/Art Psychotherapy and other allied health and care professions in the UK. The MSc Art Psychotherapy is a pre-registration clinical training course run by the Belfast School of Art and validated by Ulster University. The course is recognised by the British Association of Art Therapists, the UK professional body, and also by the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists, the Irish professional body.

Attendance

MSc Art Psychotherapy is delivered in part-time mode over 2 years. The course is based in Belfast School of Art, Belfast campus.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Attendance and Independent Study

• The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
• Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
  • the relevant generic national Qualification Descriptor (opens in new window)
  • the applicable Subject Benchmark Statement (opens in new window)
  • the requirements of any professional, regulatory, statutory and accrediting bodies.

Assessment

• Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module.
• Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods.
• Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes.

Modules

Year one

• Art Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice
• Art Psychotherapy: Development of Theory and Practice
• Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 1
• Art Psychotherapy: Working with Diversity
• Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 2 (Part 1)

Year two

• Art Psychotherapy: Continuing Professional Responsibility
• Art Psychotherapy: Praxis and Research
• Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 3
• Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 2 (Part 2)

Standard entry conditions

• Criteria leading to selection for interview:
  • (a) A 2:2 degree or above in either visual arts, psychology, psychotherapy, social work, nursing, teaching, social care, or an allied profession.
  • (b) A commitment to reflective arts practices facilitating personal insight and an artistic repertoire of self enquiry.
  • (c) A 1000 hours of work experience in a helping capacity in either mental health, arts and health, social care, social work, special education, or a counselling setting.
  • (d) Applicants are requested to demonstrate self-awareness, psychological mindedness, emotional resilience, robustness, and the capacity to be empathetic.
  • (e) All applicants are asked to demonstrate a level of English necessary for the completion of academic assignments.

Careers & opportunities

• Art Psychotherapy graduates typically combine sessional, part time and full time employment.
• They work with people of all ages living with a wide range of emotional or physical conditions in the context of mental health, education, arts and health, community, and voluntary settings.

Professional Recognition

• Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as an arts therapist.

Fees and funding

• Northern Ireland, Great Britain and EU Fees: £6,270.00
• Additional mandatory costs:
  • Students must be prepared to enter personal therapy, with a university approved therapist for a minimum of 75 hours throughout their training.
  • Whilst students are covered by University insurance, students are strongly encouraged to take out their own additional professional indemnity cover and this may be required by some placements.
  • The additional cost of travel to and from placements and the University should be taken into account.
  • Studio fee for specialist art equipment may be required and is normally up to £100 and contributes to additional materials used by students.
  • Students purchase materials for their own coursework.