The different requirements for music therapy master’s degree applications can be confusing. When I applied, I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. I made sure to carefully adhere to the information provided by each university. However, applying to multiple universities at the same time, all with different demands, had me at risk of losing sight. To stay on top of my progress, I created a table for my applications, which I want to share with you. First, I want to give a brief overview of the general requirements for a music therapy master’s. I will outline the different steps of the application prior to the interview and audition – personal statement, references, and portfolio – at the following universities: Anglia Ruskin University, UK; University of Derby, UK; University of South Wales, UK; University of the West of England, UK; Queen Margaret University, UK; University of Limerick, Ireland; and SRH University Heidelberg, Germany. The structure of the article can also assist you in organising information concerning your application for a university which wasn’t covered.
Journey To Music Therapy is dedicated to sharing comprehensive information on music therapy training, while also taking the opportunity to reflect on my personal experiences of becoming a music therapist. I hope this blog inspires you to explore the possibilities of music therapy, guiding you in finding the right path for you.
General Requirements
The academic requirement for a postgraduate degree in music therapy is usually a good undergraduate degree in music, psychology, social work, education, or in another relevant field (SRH, n.d.). Some universities might prefer a degree in music over other subjects (Guildhall, n.d.). However, most universities are open to considering equivalent qualifications and/or relevant experience instead of an undergraduate degree (USW, n.d.).
Musically, the universities expect the applicants to show a high standard of musicianship on at least one instrument (ARU, n.d. a). Sometimes, skills in vocals, piano, and guitar are mandatory (UL, n.d.). The readiness to improvise is another important factor (ibid.), while other courses require knowledge in music theory (SRH, n.d.). Musical skills are tested through an audition, and in some cases through an audio or video portfolio prior to the interview/audition stage of the application.
Some universities will also require applicants to have work experience within a relevant field or with relevant client groups. For example, Anglia Ruskin University (n.d. a) demands one year “of relevant experience with adults and/or children who have additional needs, preferably undertaken following completion of undergraduate studies.” For some programmes, the amount of prior work experience is not specified, but should be “significant” (USW, n.d.) or “sufficient” (UD, n.d.). It can be presumed that one year will meet the criteria in these cases, as my voluntary social year was sufficient for the University of Derby. However, the SRH University Heidelberg (n.d.) suggests a pre-study internship of four to six weeks before pursuing the master’s degree. Since the work experience requirement varies from university to university, I have included this in the table below.
Additionally, applicants need to demonstrate appropriate motivation, self-reflection, and emotional maturity (ARU, n.d. a). These qualities will be assessed based on the personal statement and the interview. If English is not your first language, you will be asked to provide proof of proficient skills in English, e.g. IELTS (total score of 7.0, with no individual score below 6.5) (ibid.).
Table
This table gives an overview of what you need to prepare in order to progress in the applications for the above-mentioned universities in the UK, Ireland, and Germany.
Please note that the information is subject to change. Although I have updated the fees for the academic year of 2025/26, most of my information stems from the application process for the autumn intake of 2024. Please let me now if you come across any updates.
Personal Statement
There are different terms for this task of the application process: it’s a letter of motivation at SRH University Heidelberg, a supporting statement at the University of Limerick, and a personal statement at the remaining universities. Attaching a personal statement to your online application is obligatory for all the above-mentioned programmes. The central purpose is to outline your motivation for studying the course, and to present arguments for your suitability. Some universities would also like to know your motivation for studying the course at this time in your life, for studying at their institution, and for studying in the UK, specifically (ARU, n.d. a; QMU, n.d.). When it comes to your suitability, you can discuss both your academic and musical background as well as biographical experiences and personality traits (SRH, n.d.; UD, n.d.; USW, n.d.). Work experience is also a topic which should be addressed (ARU, n.d. a; UL, n.d.; QMU, n.d.). Most of the time, you are asked to relate the programme to your career aspirations (ARU, n.d. a; SRH, n.d.; UD, n.d.; USW, n.d.; UWE, n.d.). For some universities, it’s important to read about what you hope to gain through the programme (SRH, n.d.; UWE, n.d.). Few universities require you to include an outline of reading or other resources on the subject of music therapy (UWE, n.d.; QMU, n.d.). The table displays the content of the personal statement for each university in detail.
References
References aim to provide an outside perspective on your suitability for the programme. They can either be included in the online application form, or they can be asked for at the next step of the application. While some universities ask for one reference (UD, n.d.; UWE, n.d.; QMU, n.d.), two can also be expected (ARU, n.d.; UL, n.d.; USW, n.d.). Most universities require at least one academic reference, i.e. a reference from a professor at your former university, focusing on your academic suitability for the master’s programme (ARU, n.d.; UD, n.d.; UL, n.d.; USW, n.d.; UWE, n.d.; QMU, n.d.). Work-related references or professional references are also common (ARU, n.d.; UD, n.d.; UL, n.d.). A reference pertaining to music is only preferred by the University of South Wales (n.d.). Of the selected universities, only SRH University Heidelberg (n.d.) doesn’t need any references. The amount and kind of references for each university can be looked up in the table. In my experience, the people you approach for a reference are generally happy to write one. And don’t worry if you don’t know which information the reference should contain: the universities usually prompt the information which should be addressed.
Portfolio
The portfolio refers to an audio or video recording showcasing your musical abilities. The portfolio can either be part of the initial application or it should be submitted at the next step of the application process. In most cases, the latter option allows for two weeks to hand in the portfolio (ARU, n.d. b; UD, n.d.; UL, n.d.). Universities ask for a recording of a few minutes up to fifteen minutes. Provided the required recording is long enough for multiple pieces, you should choose varying music, thereby demonstrating different instruments and styles (ARU, n.d. b; UD, n.d.; UL, n.d.). Some universities specify the instruments and styles covered (ARU, n.d. b; UD, n.d.; UL, n.d.; USW, n.d.). For example, playing your main instrument and accompanying your singing on a harmony instrument can be expected (UL, n.d.). Sometimes, improvisation can be a mandatory aspect of the portfolio (UL, n.d.). To my knowledge, only the University of the West of England (n.d.) and Queen Margaret University (n.d.) don’t include a portfolio in their application process. The detailed requirements for the portfolio can be extracted from the table.
You can access the video portfolios which I submitted for my applications at Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Derby, the University of Limerick, and SRH University Heidelberg here (based on the video portfolio, I progressed to the interview stage in all cases):
Continue The Journey
I hope my article was able to give you some clarity on the application process of the selected master’s degree programmes in music therapy. Let me know if you have any questions about the application, and feel free to comment any topic suggestions for the future – I would be happy to take them into account. In next month’s article, I want to give you an insight into the preparation for the interview and audition for a master’s degree in music therapy.
Sources
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) (n.d.). Music Therapy MA. Available online: https://www.aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/music-therapy. 2024-12-23.
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) (n.d.). Music Therapy portfolio, interview and audition. Available online: https://www.aru.ac.uk/arts-humanities-education-and-social-sciences/portfolios-and-auditions/auditions/music-therapy. 2024-12-23.
Guildhall School of Music & Drama (Guildhall) (n.d.). MA in Music Therapy. Available online: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/ma-in-music-therapy. 2024-12-24.
SRH University Heidelberg (SRH) (n.d.). Music Therapy. Available online: https://www.srh-university.de/en/master/music-therapy/t/. 2024-12-23.
University of Derby (UD) (n.d.). Music Therapy MA. Available online: https://www.derby.ac.uk/postgraduate/therapeutic-practice-courses/music-therapy-ma/. 2024-12-23.
University of Limerick (UL) (n.d.). Music Therapy MA. Available online: https://www.ul.ie/gps/course/music-therapy-ma. 2024-12-23.
University of South Wales (USW) (n.d.). Music Therapy MA. Available online: https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/ma-music-therapy/. 2024-12-23.
University of the West of England (UWE) (n.d.). Music Therapy MA. Available online: https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/B99942/music-therapy. 2024-12-23.
Queen Margaret University (QMU) (n.d.). Music Therapy MSc. Available online: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/postgraduate-study/2025/msc-music-therapy. 2024-12-24.
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