Master of Music Therapy (M04AA)

Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: Mixed Attendance Mode (Southbank)

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Overview

Award titleMaster of Music Therapy
Year & campus2025 — Southbank
CRICOS code055550D
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level 9
Credit points200 credit points
Duration24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

For students who commenced the Master of Music Therapy prior to 2025, please navigate to the 2024 Handbook to view your course structure and subject options.

The Master of Music Therapy provides a course of study for those people who have completed a Bachelor's degree and also have a high level of formal music training. The course provides a thorough study of the theory and practice of music therapy.

Students undertake clinical placements of a minimum 80 days in total across the two years with an approved provider.

On satisfactory completion of the Master of Music Therapy, graduates will be eligible for Registration as Music Therapists (RMT) with the Australian Music Therapy Association (Inc.).

The Master of Music Therapy coursework degree is 2 years full-time. Part-time study may be undertaken only with the approval of the Course Coordinator.

The course is offered in two cohorts:

  • Melbourne based students a combination of on-campus and online subjects; or
  • Interstate or regional students a combination of online and on-campus intensives in Melbourne.

Melbourne-based students

Taught via a combination of online lectures, on-campus tutorials and online tutorials for students who live in the Melbourne area. You will also participate regularly in placements, amounting to a minimum of 640 hours across the two years.

The weekly timetable and intensive learning days exact dates will be confirmed by December of the preceding year.

Interstate or regional students

Taught via a combination of online lectures, online tutorials and on-campus intensive learning periods for students living Interstate or in regional areas, where approved work placement arrangements are available. Music therapy skills subjects and tutorials are workshop based, and so attendance at the intensive learning days is essential. You will also participate regularly in work placements, amounting to a minimum of 640 hours across the two years. Every effort will be made to arrange placements in your region, but if this is not possible, placements based in another city may be an alternative. For students living in QLD, please note that the University’s placement agreement with Queensland Health will be due for renewal in 2025. Therefore, we cannot guarantee placements with QLD Health beyond 2024.

The weekly timetable and intensive learning days exact dates will be confirmed by December of the preceding year.

Additional requirements

A valid Working With Children Check is required for students undertaking this course.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

  • an undergraduate degree or equivalent; and
  • 12.5 points of psychology studies at tertiary level, or MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) from the approved list; and
  • high level music skills equivalent to 8th grade practical and 5th grade theory AMEB; and
  • documented relevant work experience in community or health related fields; and
  • practice portfolio; and
  • an audition and interview (shortlisted applicants only).

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance; and
  • demonstrated music skills; and
  • relevant work experience; and
  • practice portfolio; and
  • the audition and interview (shortlisted applicants only).

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Notes:

  • Details for the practice portfolio, audition and interview can be found on the Fine Arts and Music Study website https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/study-with-us
  • Successful applicants with a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy from an approved course may be granted up to 50 points of advanced standing.
  • Successful applicants will be required to hold a current Working With Children Check and current police check.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to providing support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ 

Professional accreditation

Australian Music Therapy Association (Inc.)

Master of Music Therapy graduates are eligible for registration as Music Therapists (RMT) with the Australian Music Therapy Association (Inc.).

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates should be able to:

  • Identify, use and evaluate concepts and principles of music therapy and the various theories that underpin its practice
  • Employ advanced musical knowledge and skills to support creative music experiences in music therapy contexts
  • Plan music therapy programs, including assessment, design, facilitation and evaluation, for a diverse range of practice contexts
  • Apply knowledge of relevant disability and health conditions to the use of music to foster health, development and wellbeing
  • Carry out independent research and analysis into music therapy and think creatively about issues arising in their own practice
  • Work ethically and responsibly as a music therapist in diverse practice contexts
  • Employ music therapy to respond to individual needs, and enhance the wellbeing of clients.

Generic skills

On completion of this course, graduates should have:

  • Well-developed problem-solving abilities in the discipline area, characterised by flexibility of approach
  • Well-developed teamwork abilities
  • Well-developed consultation skills, including work with families and colleagues
  • Strong capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral presentations and written documents/reports
  • Strong capacity to advocate for improved access to therapy services for people in need
  • Ability to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.

Graduate attributes

University of Melbourne postgraduate coursework degrees seek to develop graduates who demonstrate a capacity for contemporary professional practice and/or specialist knowledge and theory. Postgraduate coursework degrees have multiple purposes. They are designed to provide students with the opportunity for advanced knowledge and understanding in a specialist area; to enhance professional knowledge and skills; and to engage with new and emerging fields of study.

Course structure

200-point program of compulsory subjects

Year 1

100 points compulsory subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
MUSI90032 Music Therapy Methods 1
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90036 Music Psychology Research
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90038 Music Therapy Practice 1
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90041 Theory for Music Therapists 1
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90033 Music Therapy Methods 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90037 Research in Music Therapy
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90039 Music Therapy Practice 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90042 Theory for Music Therapists 2
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5

Year 2

100 points compulsory subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
MUSI90034 Music Therapy Methods 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90040 Music Therapy Practice 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90043 Applications of Music in Therapy C
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90044 Objectivist Research in Music Therapy
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90035 Music Therapy Methods 4
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90045 Interpretivist Research in Music Therapy
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90187 Music Therapy Practice 4
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
MUSI90263 Theory for Music Therapists 4 Not available in 2025 12.5

Last updated: 21 February 2025