Dramatherapy - MSc

Structure and exit awards

You must complete the full MSc (200 credits) to be eligible to register with the HCPC and to work as a dramatherapist. Single module study is not available, but we do offer an Introduction to Dramatherapy short course (non-credited).

Teaching, learning and assessment

As a student on this course, you will be engaged in a range of theoretical and practical, campus-based learning opportunities and pedagogical approaches, which include:

• experiential studio work within your dramatherapy cohort; 
• theoretical studies;  
• practice based learning (placements); 
• onterdisciplinary learning (with other arts therapies peers); 
• peer-assisted learning; 
• process group; and
• independent Study 

The course engages learners in a range of assessment methods, including: assessed facilitation; theoretical essays; presentations/vivas; placement-based assessment; arts-based reflections; autobiographical performance; and an independent research project .

 A small cohort ensures that you will receive excellent, individualised support, while also benefiting from sharing your experiences with classmates and giving/receiving feedback at various times throughout the year. The approach to feedback is collaborative and dialogic, which involves you offering your own reflections on your development.  

Placements

Placements are vital to your learning process. It is your opportunity to facilitate for others the creative and therapeutic skills, structures and qualities that you are developing and engaged in on the course. You will undertake two supervised practice placements, each spread over two semesters. In Year One, this will be one day per week and in Year Two it is two days per week. Your placements could be in various settings throughout Scotland, including education, voluntary and healthcare environments. 

Please note that there are additional costs associated with placements. Please see the ‘Other fees’ section under the ‘Entry requirements’ tab for more details.

Personal therapy

It is a requirement of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) that all students undertaking an arts therapies course attend regular, individual personal therapy throughout the duration of the course. This supports and acknowledges the importance of personal and professional growth and facilitates resilience. You will be required to undertake personal therapy throughout the course, beginning in the first Semester and by the time you are engaged in clinical work on placement. This may be with an HCPC registered Dramatherapist or Arts Therapist working in another modality, or another psychodynamically-informed Psychotherapist.   

Teaching hours and attendance

Typically, in-person classes in Year One take place at QMU across two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday) and in Year Two across one day per week (Thursday). You will attend practice placements throughout the course. All students will be required to carry out independent learning.

Class sizes

The Dramatherapy learning cohort each year is approximately 10-15 students. Some modules have larger class sizes due to shared learning with MSc Music Therapy and MSc Art Psychotherapy students.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff information is subject to change.

Year One

You will study the following modules:

• Dramatherapy Practice and Resources (30 credits): This module focuses on the core skills, experiential work and practice of dramatherapy. Delivery is through a range of approaches, with the main focus on experiential, studio-based workshops within the MSc Dramatherapy cohort (around 15 persons). Through diving into the work and play of dramatherapy, you will learn through doing, experiencing and reflecting on the core processes and structures of dramatic and therapeutic work. This includes work with story and myth, role, dramatic enactment and improvisation, ritual, embodiment, and therapeutic theatre. Assessment is through one peer facilitation and one essay.
• Arts Therapies Studies 1 (30 credits): This module introduces those in Art, Drama and Music Therapy to developmental, person centred and psychological theories that have informed the practice of the arts therapies. You will also learn about different research methodologies and understand the applicability of different research methods in practice. The learning experience will include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups and peer-assisted learning. These will be tutors across all three arts therapies courses, students and experts by experience. Assessment is through one essay.
• Practice-based Learning (Placement) 1 (40 credits): This module aims to prepare and support you for practice that adheres to the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Arts Therapists (Dramatherapy). For one day per week, across two semesters, you will attend a practice context such as in education, healthcare, or the voluntary sector. You will develop your competencies by facilitating creative therapeutic sessions with the guidance of a Practice Educator. You may deliver in a pair with a peer from the cohort, and this is likely to involve working with groups of people, and potentially individuals. For your practice-based learning you will have regular support from your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will also be your group supervision tutor at QMU, as well as support from your peers on the course. Learning is supported by seminar sessions and practice facilitation opportunities with peers, and assessment is through practice on placement and a viva presentation.

Year Two

You will study the following modules:

• Practice-based Learning (Placement) 2 (40 credits): This module continues to support you in further developing practice that adheres to the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Arts Therapists (Dramatherapy).For two days per week, across two semesters, you will attend a practice context that will deepen and enhance your learning. Placements will be allocated alongside learners based on factors such as your particular learning needs and interests. Still with the guidance of a Practice Educator, this practice placement will encourage more independent practice including involvement in multi-disciplinary meetings, assessment and evaluation processes. You will work with an external dramatherapy supervisor who may hold expertise in the field of the practice setting. Learning is also supported by experiential seminar and workshop sessions at QMU. Assessment is through practice on placement and a viva presentation.
• Arts Therapies Studies 2 (20 credits): Working alongside Art and Music Therapy learners, this module will encourage you to engage in critical evaluation of the impact of environmental, social, political, individual and relational factors on health and wellbeing. You will be encouraged to develop as reflexive practitioners, able to examine the role of the arts therapies within varied multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary contexts, with an awareness of the wider influences on practice and on your own values and assumptions. Learning is through lectures and workshops with course tutors, visiting lecturers and experts by experience. You will also engage in disciplinary and cross-disciplinary peer-assisted learning. There is an emphasis on creative reflection and arts-based inquiry, and assessment is through a written service proposal. 
• Independent Academic Project (40 credits): This aims to enable you to develop and apply the skills of research and enquiry to a self-selected topic. With the support of a project supervisor, you will select and research a question that interests you regarding dramatherapy, utilising one of a broad range of research pathways; including practice-based research, review of existing literature, and arts-based inquiry. You will engage in a study which demands a professional approach, academic rigour, independence, criticality, leadership and self-direction; and which prepares you for research in the arts therapies after graduating. 

You will gain the knowledge, creative resources and practical confidence to start (and create) work as a dramatherapist, largely due to the thoughtful blend of experiential, practice-based and research elements of the course. Becoming a dramatherapist has the potential to lead to a dynamic, meaningful, satisfying and exciting career. Dramatherapists work with a wide range of clients and communities, individually and with groups, within the public and private sectors. You could work in Scotland and throughout the UK, or travel and use your skills to make a difference much further afield.

Entry requirements

UK honours degree or equivalent in a related field. This may be (but will not necessarily be) in drama or theatre; applicants may also come from education, psychology, other allied health professions, social work or other backgrounds. A level of creative and drama-based competencies and experience will be needed to fully engage in the experiential learning of the course and will be considered at interview (see below).

Normally a minimum of one year’s experience (or part-time equivalent, around 1000 hours) of work in a caring, facilitating, teaching, support, or equivalent capacity. Relevant work includes nursing assistant, project worker, arts-based facilitator, care work in a community setting, drama teaching. Some experience of having been engaged in psychotherapy/counselling, or experiential workshops in creative therapies is desirable.

International students: You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 7.0 with no individual component score less than 6.5.

Other requirements

A satisfactory criminal records check from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, an occupational health check and personal indemnity insurance are required.

Other costs

• The cost of the PVG check and the cost of professional indemnity insurance is the responsibility of the student. For more information on this, visit the PG 2027 fees page on our website.
• The additional costs associated with placement travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. 

Admissions day/interview 

UK-based applicants who meet the course entry requirements will be invited to attend an admissions day at QMU. These will usually be held monthly from February to June, and invitations to admissions days are made on a first come, first served basis to qualified candidates. The admissions day will involve a creative group workshop and an individual interview. Interviews for international students and applicants based outside of the UK will be conducted using an online platform, with the invitation to make a creative presentation. Offers are made on an ongoing basis following each admissions day or group of interviews. 

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. The MSc Dramatherapy is a challenging course that aims to support learners to prepare for the multifaceted nature of practice as an Arts Therapist across different settings, engaging with learning in a variety of cognitive, emotional, embodied and interpersonal ways, and we recognise each individual’s support needs through this journey may be different. If you would like to know more about how you can be supported in relation to your study and in moving into practice under HCPC guidelines, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Application deadline

The course will remain open until capacity has been reached, and this is usually around May each year. However, with an intentionally small cohort, this is a competitive course and early application is highly recommended.

Contact the Dramatherapy team or contact Admissions

More information on our forthcoming open events

• The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2027/28 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).
• The information outlined here is correct at the time of posting (October 2026) but it subject to change. In the event that the course does change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students. Please check back here for updates.