Music Therapy
Master of Arts / Part-time

The focus of the Master’s degree program in Music Therapy is understanding the effectiveness of music. This understanding is developed from personal experience (phenomenologically) as well as through research and is related to anthropology. During the program, you will practice playing therapeutic instruments and learn how to use them in practice. Another focus is the intensive exploration of the individual elements of music: tones, intervals, harmonies, rhythms, and tonal systems. You will engage deeply with their qualities and effects.

The Master’s degree is divided into 16 modules and concludes with an academic Master’s thesis. Content from theory, practice, and research is continuously linked throughout the program. Cooperation with two anthroposophic teaching hospitals – Filderklinik, Filderstadt, and Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe, Berlin – is intended to ensure practical relevance throughout the entire course of study. Some module sessions take place there. The content is divided into the following areas:

Theoretical foundations and methods

• Music therapy in the context of art, culture, and science
• Introduction to academic work and research in music therapy
• Professional studies, professional ethics, and professional law

Basic medical knowledge and medical-psychological/psychotherapeutic specialist knowledge

• Anthropological foundations of health and illness
• Embryology, anatomy and physiology – special pathology – psychiatry and psychosomatics – child and adolescent psychiatry – developmental psychology and developmental disorders
• Foundations of human biography
• Psychotherapeutic treatment methods

Foundations of music therapy

• Therapeutic instruments – singing voice – eurythmy
• Diversity of the arts
• Methodology of phenomenology – phenomenological studies
• Therapeutic improvisation (instrumental, vocal)

Music therapy practice

• Transformation of artistic means into therapeutic means
• Music therapy diagnostics – treatment planning and implementation – documentation
• Active and receptive music therapy
• Theory and practice of group music therapy
• Fields of practice in music therapy – forms and methods of music therapy
• 2 five-week internships

Self-reflective skills

• Biographical work
• Group music therapy as self-experience
• Supervision and intervision

Module overview

Module overview Master’s degree program in Music Therapy (pending accreditation)

• University degree or equivalent German or international degree in a musical-artistic discipline or in the humanities, social sciences, education, or health sciences.
• Applicants without successful completion of a first professionally qualifying university degree may be admitted if they can demonstrate special subject-related aptitude for the degree program or special artistic talent.
• Several years of prior musical training on an instrument and/or in singing.
• One year of professional experience in a study-relevant field. In justified individual cases, professional practical activities completed during the degree program may also be taken into account
• Observation placement (12 hours) with a music therapist in a clinic or a special education institution
• A successfully passed entrance examination.
• Sufficient German language skills, spoken and written, for international applicants (e.g. TestDaF4/DSH2)

Application procedure

You will need the following documents for your application:

• Letter of motivation (PDF)
• CV including a description of practical experience in making music (instrument or voice, musical styles, number of years) (PDF)
• Certificates
• Proof of an observation placement* (12 hours) with a music therapist in a clinic or a special education institution. (PDF)
• Passport photo (PDF, JPG)
• For international students: proof of sufficient German language skills (through TestDaF 4, DSH or an equivalent certificate) (PDF)

*The observation placement may, if necessary, be completed during the 1st semester.

Please apply here.

Applications are possible at any time.

Please submit your application documents by email or by post:

• By email to the MA Music Therapy program: ma.musiktherapie@alanus.edu
• By post to: Alanus University, Campus II
  Department of Artistic Therapies and Therapy Sciences
  MA Music Therapy
  Villestraße 3
  53347 Alfter

Selection procedure

If your application is successful, we will invite you to the entrance examination at Alanus University, which includes a musical audition. In addition to an interview, you will perform and/or sing three pieces from different stylistic periods of your choice. Afterwards, there will be a short music listening test covering intervals, rhythm, and intonation (not required for applicants who have completed a degree in music). No later than one week after your interview, we will inform you whether your application was successful.

After completing the Master’s degree in Music Therapy, you can work as a music therapist in clinical contexts, for example in oncology, palliative medicine, psychosomatics, psychiatry, special education, rehabilitation, outpatient therapeutic work, as well as in health prevention and in social contexts.

Individual advising

Are you interested in the Master’s degree program in Music Therapy? We would be happy to advise you personally! Simply contact us via our contact form, by phone at 02222 9321-1535 or by email at ma.musiktherapie@alanus.edu and ask for Marta Küzmös-Degener.

An overview of all information events can be found here. 

Entrance examinations (45 min. per appointment) take place at Campus II – Villestraße. Appointments can be arranged individually.

The Master’s degree program in Music Therapy starts in March 2026. The duration is three years or six semesters. Each semester consists of five extended weekends (four days each, Thursday to Sunday) and one block week (seven days, Saturday to Friday).

Some modules take place at two cooperating clinics: Filderklinik near Stuttgart and Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Havelhöhe in Berlin.

Master Music Therapy Spring Semester 2026

Master Music Therapy Autumn Semester 2026

Master Music Therapy Spring Semester 2027