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Private universities in Germany offer around a dozen creative therapy programmes – spanning art therapy, music therapy and dance/theatre pedagogy. Four specialised universities teach these programmes: Alanus University, MSH Hamburg, SRH Heidelberg and HKS Ottersberg. All are NC-free. Almost all programmes are full-time and campus-based; one programme runs part-time. Study locations are Alfter near Bonn, Hamburg, Heidelberg and Ottersberg near Bremen – since almost all programmes are full-time on campus, you will need to live near your university. Admission requires an artistic portfolio – a unique feature among German degree programmes. One programme (SRH M.A. Music Therapy) is taught in English; all others require German at B2–C1 level. For independent practice in Germany, graduates need a Heilpraktiker licence for psychotherapy.
- Overview of all Courses
- How much does it cost to study art therapy at a private university?
- Are there English-taught art therapy programmes?
- Art therapy, music therapy or dance: which path?
- Professional recognition and the Heilpraktiker licence
- How to get in: admission and artistic portfolio
- Student visa, health insurance and working in Germany
- What do art therapists earn in Germany?
- Frequently asked questions
- Related programmes at private universities
Overview of all Courses
We have a total of 11 courses in the field of Art Therapy.
Art Therapy
- Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Alfter
- from 469 € monthly
- German
Music Therapy
- SRH University
- 4 Semester
- Heidelberg
- from 690 € monthly
- German
Music Therapy
- SRH University
- 7 Semester
- Heidelberg
- from 550 € monthly
- German
Dance and theatre in the social sphere. Dance pedagogy / theatre pedagogy
- University of applied sciences and arts in Ottersberg
- 7 Semester
- Ottersberg
- from 442 € monthly
- German
Art in the Social. art therapy
- University of applied sciences and arts in Ottersberg
- 8 Semester
- Ottersberg
- from 405 € monthly
- German
Art / Pedagogy / Therapy
- Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Alfter
- from 416 € monthly
- German
Music therapy
- Medical School Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- Hamburg
- from 550 € monthly
- German
Intermedia Art Therapy
- Medical School Hamburg
- 4 Semester
- Hamburg
- from 395 € monthly
- German
Music Therapy
- SRH University
- 4 Semester
- Heidelberg
- from 690 € monthly
- German and English
Art therapy - social art
- Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
- 8 Semester
- online
- from 416 € monthly
- German
Art therapy
- Medical School Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- Hamburg
- from 550 € monthly
- German
How much does it cost to study art therapy at a private university?
Tuition fees for art therapy at private universities in Germany range from €395 to €690 per month. Total costs range from around €10,900 to €23,100:
| Format | Monthly | Total |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus (full-time) | €395–690 | €10,900–23,102 |
| Part-time | €416 | €19,496 |
By international comparison, studying art therapy at a German private university is considerably cheaper than in the UK (£9,250/year), the US ($30,000–60,000/year for MA programmes) or Australia (AUD 25,000–45,000/year). German private tuition typically ranges from €2,700 to €5,800 per year – with no additional application fees.
Since almost all programmes are full-time, plan your financing early. EU/EEA students can apply for BAföG (up to €992/month, half as a grant). The KfW student loan (€650/month) is available regardless of parental income. Non-EU students typically finance through savings, scholarships or part-time work (up to 140 full days/year).
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intermedia Art Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | Medical School Hamburg | 4 Semester | from 10900 € total from 395 € monthly | |
| Art Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences | 4 Semester | from 11016 € total from 469 € monthly | |
| Art / Pedagogy / Therapy, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences | 6 Semester | from 14976 € total from 416 € monthly | |
| Music Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | SRH University | 4 Semester | from 17310 € total from 690 € monthly |
Are there English-taught art therapy programmes?
One programme is taught in English: the M.A. Music Therapy at SRH University Heidelberg (€690/month, 4 semesters, €17,310 total). All other programmes in this category are taught entirely in German. You will need German language skills at B2 to C1 level (CEFR) to follow lectures, complete assignments and participate in clinical placements.
If you are considering studying in Germany, we recommend starting German language courses early. Many universities accept language certificates from the Goethe-Institut, TestDaF or DSH. For international credentials: recognition via anabin or application through uni-assist.
| Course | University | Study site | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | SRH University | Heidelberg | 4 Semester | from 17310 € total from 690 € monthly |
Art therapy, music therapy or dance: which path?
Private universities in Germany offer three creative therapy directions. Your artistic medium determines your curriculum, career and target group:
| Criterion | Art Therapy | Music Therapy | Dance/Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Painting, drawing, sculpture | Instruments, voice, improvisation | Movement, dance, scenic play |
| Core subjects | Visual arts, psychology, diagnostics | Music psychology, neurotherapy | Dance pedagogy, body work |
| Settings | Psychiatry, psychosomatics, rehab | Neurology, paediatrics, palliative | Social work, inclusion, prevention |
Art therapy uses visual and plastic arts – painting, drawing, clay, stone – to stimulate and accompany psychological processes. Graduates work in psychiatric clinics, psychosomatic rehabilitation centres, addiction clinics and child/adolescent psychiatry. Alanus University (Bonn region) offers three art therapy programmes; MSH Hamburg and HKS Ottersberg each offer one.
Music therapy uses sound, rhythm and voice as therapeutic tools. The curriculum covers receptive and active music therapy, improvisation, music psychology and neuromusic therapy. Graduates work in neurological rehabilitation, palliative care, paediatrics and psychiatry. SRH Heidelberg offers three music therapy programmes (including one in English); MSH Hamburg offers one.
Dance and theatre pedagogy combines choreographic and scenic methods with social work. HKS Ottersberg offers the B.A. Dance and Theatre in the Social Sphere. Alanus complements this with the B.A. Art / Pedagogy / Therapy.
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences | 4 Semester | from 11016 € total from 469 € monthly | |
| Music Therapy, Master of Arts On-campus program | SRH University | 4 Semester | from 17310 € total from 690 € monthly | |
| Dance and theatre in the social sphere. Dance pedagogy / theatre pedagogy, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | University of applied sciences and arts in Ottersberg | 7 Semester | from 18564 € total from 442 € monthly | |
| Art in the Social. art therapy, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | University of applied sciences and arts in Ottersberg | 8 Semester | from 19440 € total from 405 € monthly |
Professional recognition and the Heilpraktiker licence
The professional title “art therapist” (Kunsttherapeut/in) is not legally protected in Germany – unlike physician or psychotherapist. A degree alone does not grant the right to practise psychotherapy independently.
For private practice (freelance work with patients), you need a Heilpraktiker licence for psychotherapy – an additional examination at the local health authority (Gesundheitsamt). Around 80–90 % of freelance art therapists in Germany hold this licence.
For employment in clinics and institutions (hospitals, rehabilitation centres, care homes), no Heilpraktiker licence is required – you work under the institution’s medical supervision.
The DFKGT (German Professional Association for Art and Design Therapy) is the largest professional body with over 1,200 members. It advocates for statutory recognition of art therapy as a healthcare profession and maintains a therapist directory.
How to get in: admission and artistic portfolio
Private universities in Germany do not apply a Numerus Clausus (NC) for art therapy. The central requirement – unique to this field – is an artistic portfolio:
- Bachelor: A secondary school qualification equivalent to the German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife, plus an artistic portfolio with original works (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography). Some universities require a motivational interview or aptitude test. For international credentials: recognition via anabin or application through uni-assist.
- Master: A completed first degree (min. 180 ECTS) in an artistic, pedagogical, psychological or medical field, plus a portfolio and often a master proposal (1–3 pages).
Student visa, health insurance and working in Germany
Non-EU students need a student visa and a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with at least €11,904 per year as proof of financial means. Health insurance is mandatory and costs around €120 per month for students under 30.
As a student, you may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year without a separate work permit. The Deutschlandticket (€63/month) provides unlimited access to local and regional public transport across Germany.
After graduation, you can apply for an 18-month job-seeking visa to find employment in Germany. Art therapists work in psychiatric clinics, rehabilitation centres and social institutions – demand for creative therapy approaches is growing.
What do art therapists earn in Germany?
Art and music therapists in Germany work in psychiatric clinics, psychosomatic rehabilitation centres, addiction clinics, child/adolescent psychiatry, palliative care, special education centres or in private practice.
| Career level | Monthly gross salary |
|---|---|
| Entry level (employed) | €2,929–3,280 |
| TVöD E9 level 1 | €2,964 |
| TVöD E9 level 6 (max.) | €4,800 |
| Freelance (hourly rate) | €60–120/h |
There is no specific collective bargaining agreement for art therapists. Professional associations recommend classification at TVöD E9 level. Salaries vary significantly by employer type, region and experience. Freelance therapists with a Heilpraktiker licence charge €60–120 per hour.
Sources: gehalt.de 2025, StepStone Salary Report 2025, German Federal Employment Agency (Entgeltatlas). All figures gross, before tax.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. All programmes require an artistic portfolio with original works. Formal art education is helpful but not mandatory. What matters is your individual expression and creative ability in visual or musical media.
No. No private university currently offers art therapy as a pure distance learning programme. Alanus University has one part-time programme (B.A. Art Therapy – Social Art, €416/month) that combines on-campus sessions with self-study. All other programmes are full-time.
Not for employment in clinics and institutions – you work under medical supervision there. For freelance practice with your own patients, you need a Heilpraktiker licence for psychotherapy (examination at the local health authority). Around 80–90 % of freelance art therapists hold this licence.
Related programmes at private universities
About the Author Marcus Schütz
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