MA
Art Psychotherapy
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Why study MA Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths
This programme will provide you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of art psychotherapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work.
- The Masters enables you to practise as an art therapist in the NHS, Social Services, and educational establishments, and to become a practitioner registered with the British Association of Art Therapists.
- Your learning is underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy practised within the context of mental health care, and informed by contemporary art practice.
- Via theoretical studies, clinical work and experiential learning you will integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and others. The nature of the therapeutic relationship between the client, their artwork, and the art therapist is explored, and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through two 60-day placements that are supervised and supported in-depth.
- You are encouraged to develop your own art practice, and to situate your work in relationship to your development as a therapist, to contemporary art practice and to psychoanalytic theories. You're required to be in personal therapy throughout the programme (please note that this is at your own cost).
- Completing this Masters makes you eligible to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The programme follows standard university terms:
Term 1 – late September to early December
Term 2 – early January to late March
Term 3 – late April to early July
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Sophie Roberts.
Length
2 years full-time or 3 years part-time
Entry requirements
You will usually need a second class standard degree in visual arts/design, or in a related/relevant area, or a professional qualification, as well as at least one year's full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours. See below for full information.
Fees
Home - full-time: £11250
Home - part-time: £7500
International - full-time: £24350
Department
Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies
Graduates from this degree are eligible to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council
What you'll study
All students will complete the following compulsory modules on either a full-time or part-time basis:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 1 A | 15 credits |
| Clinical Placement 1 A | 15 credits |
| Experiential Learning 1 | 15 credits |
| Clinical Placement 1 B | 30 credits |
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 1 B | 30 credits |
| Clinical Placement 2 | 30 credits |
| Experiential Learning 2 A | 15 credits |
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 2 A | 15 credits |
| Experiential Learning 2 B | 15 credits |
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 2 B | 60 credits |
Assessment
Assessed by assignment, portfolio, case study, presentation, dissertation, reports and logs.
When you will study
Full-time mode
Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. Clinical placement days are usually Thursday and Friday. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible
Year 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days and these are negotiated with your placement. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups (Mondays and Tuesdays). One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Part-time mode
Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Year 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Year 3: Half a day in college on Tuesdays with some full-time Tuesdays (the yearly timetable will have details of which Tuesdays are half day or full day), plus, two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Most Mondays will run from 9am to 4pm; Tuesdays in Year 1 vary but can be from 9am to 7pm. Times at placement are arranged with the particular organisation.
The part-time programme allows trainees to continue with some paid work. However, the environment where such paid work is carried out cannot be used as a training placement, because of the inherent differences in role, expectations and responsibilities. Placements are arranged by art psychotherapy staff and placement allocation for both full and part-time students is made after discussion with staff.
Distance learning
A large proportion of the course is based upon experiential learning in groups, and so correspondence study or distance learning are not possible. However, for students living outside London, it may be possible to arrange the clinical placement part of the course in other areas, if local supervision is available.
Entry requirements
You'll need:
- At least one year's full-time, or the equivalent in part-time hours, 1,500 hours relevant work experience. Find out more about the work experience requirements. Please also complete the STaCS work experience form (Word) to indicate the hours you have worked.
- An undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in visual arts/design, or in a related/relevant area, or a professional qualification.
- An enhanced disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service. There is a fee to apply for a disclosure certificate. Further information about payment is sent with the offer of a place.
- To disclose any criminal record, disciplinary record, significant periods of time off work and significant health problems in writing after interview
We recognise that there may be some very able candidates who do not conform to traditional educational patterns, so a small number of 'special-entry' places are allocated each year to non-graduates.
Each special-entry application is assessed on individual merit, so it is essential to give full details of all educational achievements on application forms. Reasons for any interruptions or early terminations to courses of studies must be clearly outlined. If a non-graduate applicant has not undertaken any formal art education, the above-stated commitment to practice in the visual arts is expected and, again, examples of artwork must be sent with applications.
Personal therapy
Some experience of personal therapy can be useful prior to application but it is not a pre-course requirement. However, once you've enrolled you will be required to undertake personal therapy for the duration of your training.
Successful applicants are advised to commence therapy as soon as they receive the offer of a place on the course. In practice, many applicants have some experience of personal therapy before they apply and, whilst not mandatory, this is clearly advantageous.
Information regarding entering personal therapy may be obtained from the department's secretary. Applicants who are already in therapy but are unsure as to whether or not their situation meets course requirements should write in with full details for advice.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement and ensure that you include:
- Your reasons for wanting to study the degree
- What you feel you can offer to the profession of art therapy
- A brief summary of the rationale of your past and current art practice
- A short account of your experiences in relevant work experience
- Your thoughts about planning your course of study, with details of things such as time management, how you will secure any necessary study leave, and how you plan to fund your studies/support yourself financially
- A portfolio of art work showing evidence of a longstanding commitment to your own art practice (this should be uploaded electronically as part of your application) – see below for further guidance
- Experience of work in health, social services or education (equivalent to at least 1,500 hours) – your application will only be considered if it includes full details of all work experience, including exact hours worked. STaCS work experience form (Word)
- Experience of personal therapy (ideally)
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
The programme can be studied in two modes - full-time for two years or part-time for three years. A clear indication of the mode chosen should be stated on application forms.
Art portfolio
No specific guidelines are offered as to the content of this portfolio - it is up to you to present yourself as a practising artist in your own way, perhaps with a selection that includes both current and past work. If you have been engaged in art activities as part of your work experience you can also present examples of this.
If you're invited to interview you will be asked to discuss your portfolio during a 10-minute presentation. Bearing this time limit in mind - it's best to select a small representative selection of your work.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
Due to the number of applications that we receive, decisions usually take longer than for other programmes. The earlier we receive your application, the quicker we can process it.
Applications received after 31 March will only be considered if there are places remaining.
Selection process
After we've reviewed your application, we may invite you to attend a two-hour group interview.
The first stage of the interview involves a group discussion followed by a 10-minute presentation of your portfolio of personal art work. You may decide to bring actual art objects, or to use a computer-based presentation – please plan for this carefully in advance, and bring your own laptop if necessary. If any equipment such as slide projectors will be needed, please inform us well in advance. Large or three-dimensional work may be presented in photographic print form.
A short break follows during which you will write a brief reflective text on your experience of the interview. Each candidate will then be given a short individual interview by one of the interviewing staff.
Interviews are held from December onwards until all places are filled – usually no later than the end of May. Interviews are offered as applications are received, and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
If you're not invited for interview, it will usually because you haven't met our entry requirements, and some advice may be given about how these can be achieved so that you can re-apply in future.
Find out more about applying.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £11250
- Home - part-time: £7500
- International - full-time: £24350
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Scholarships and hardship bursaries of £500 each are being offered for this programme.
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There are other costs associated with the programme, including providing your own placement travel, and paying for your own personal therapy and occupational health checks.
Careers
Where this degree can take you
Completion of the programme provides eligibility for the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as an art psychotherapist.
Our graduates are invariably seen as offering a valuable and unique service to their clients and to the multidisciplinary teams in which they work – graduates have gone on to practice as art psychotherapists in the NHS, social services and in the education sector.
We regularly receive positive feedback from organisations that employ art therapists and/or accept trainees on placement.
Skills you'll gain
The MA will develop skills including:
- The ability to work with a range of client populations
- An understanding of psychodynamic concepts
- Development of your own art practice
