Who is the Master's Degree in Intermedial Art Therapy Suitable For?
The Master's degree in Intermedial Art Therapy is aimed at graduates with a strong interest in artistic, psychological, and social issues. The target group includes individuals who wish to further develop art therapeutic skills in clinical, educational, special education, or social practice fields. Particularly addressed are professionals from social occupations, teachers, psychologists, therapists, graduates of artistic subjects, as well as specialists from nursing, medicine, special education, and related disciplines who want to qualify for working in interprofessional teams.
What are the Academic Requirements for Admission?
For admission, you need a first professional university degree (at least a Bachelor with 180 ECTS) in one of the following subject areas:
- Psychology
- Special Education
- Social Work
- Educational Science
- Medicine
- Nursing Science
- Theology or related disciplines
- Art, Music or Design
- Artistic Bachelor's degree programme
In addition, a personal admission interview is mandatory, during which your personal motivation and artistic aptitude will be assessed. An international degree may be recognised on a case-by-case basis.
You should possess creative expressive ability and a strong interest in artistic processes. Communication skills, empathy, and willingness for self-reflection are essential for working with individuals and groups. Experience with visual, musical, or design media is advantageous, as artistic practice and interdisciplinary collaboration are central to the course. Resilience and openness to clinical, social, and educational fields support your success in the programme.
What content does the Master’s in Intermedial Art Therapy at MSH convey?
In the Master’s programme Intermedial Art Therapy (M.A.), you acquire comprehensive expert knowledge in art therapeutic theory and practice with a focus on intermedial approaches. The course combines artistic, psychological, medical and social perspectives. Central to this is the work with pictorial and intermedial techniques to therapeutically support individual and social development processes.
- Intermedial image practice: You learn to therapeutically apply various artistic media (e.g. painting, plastic design, digital media).
- Art therapeutic methods and procedures: Teaching of intervention techniques in clinical, educational and social fields of action.
- Art and media theory: Linking artistic practice with current scientific concepts.
- Interdisciplinary work: Cooperation with professionals from psychology, medicine, social and educational sciences.
- Medical and psychological basics: Acquisition of knowledge about diagnostics, therapy concepts and working in interprofessional teams.
- Practical skills: Implementation of art therapeutic interventions and reflection on one’s own artistic processes.
During the course of study, at least two art therapy internships in different fields of action are required. One of these must be completed in the clinical field. The internships comprise a total of 670 hours and are based on the standards of the German professional association for art and design therapy (DFKGT).
How is the structure and organisation of the Master’s set up?
The Master’s in Intermedial Art Therapy at MSH is designed as a full-time course with a standard period of study of four semesters. Teaching takes place on site in face-to-face format. The start of studies is possible annually on the 1st of October.
- Study form: on-campus study, full-time, 4 semesters
- Scope: 120 ECTS credits
- Teaching methods: seminars, lectures, practical exercises, artistic workshop work
- Practice component: two extensive internships (at least one in a clinical context)
- Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.), university of applied sciences degree
The organisational integration is in the Department »Arts Therapies and Social Work«. The courses are supervised by interdisciplinary teams from art, psychology, medicine and social sciences.
What professional benefits do graduates have?
With the degree, you qualify for responsible activities in various art therapeutic fields. The Master’s is recognised by the German professional association for art and design therapy (DFKGT) and complies with its professional legal standards.
- Clinical fields: psychosomatic medicine, psychiatry, rehabilitation, oncology, palliative medicine, paediatrics
- Social fields: social work, hospices, penal system, work with people with dementia
- Pedagogy and special education: aesthetic education, support for people with disabilities, work with children and adolescents, intercultural projects
Typical places of employment are hospitals, rehab clinics, psychosocial institutions, schools as well as projects for child and youth welfare. You often work in interdisciplinary teams and independently design art therapeutic offers for different target groups.
Where is the course conducted and how is the campus designed?
The Master’s programme takes place at the MSH Campus »Arts and Social Change« in the Harburg inland port in Hamburg (address: Schellerdamm 22-24, 21079 Hamburg). The premises are located in a former soap factory with modern studios, spacious seminar rooms as well as a psychotherapeutic university outpatient clinic. The campus atmosphere combines the industrial charm of the building with a modern learning environment.
You benefit from a creative, practice-oriented and interdisciplinary learning environment in the centre of Hamburg.
What costs should you expect for the art therapy studies at MSH?
The tuition fees for the Master’s in Intermedial Art Therapy amount to 395 euros per month. The entire course (4 semesters) thus costs 10,900 euros. In addition, a one-off enrolment fee of 100 euros is charged.
- Tuition fee per month: 395 euros
- Total costs: 10,900 euros (for 4 semesters)
- Enrolment fee: one-off 100 euros
Financing is possible via installment payments. You can also check various funding options such as BAföG, scholarships or education loans. MSH offers support in finding suitable financing options.
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