Become a qualified dramatherapist and learn the theory and practice of ritual and drama to facilitate healing and positive change in your clients.
Duration
2 years (full-time)
Number of Credits
180 (subject to validation)
Degree Type
MA
Modules
Why this course
Approved by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and leads to a nationally recognised professional qualification as a dramatherapist.
Undertake an original piece of research into dramatherapy practice.
Taught by experienced clinical practitioners and authors of dramatherapy publications, including former editor of The Dramatherapy Journal.
Our School of Psychology is the only one in Europe to offer training in all of the arts and play therapies, including dramatherapy, art and dance movement psychotherapy, music and play therapy.
Gain from unique opportunities to learn and connect with students across all arts and play therapies.
Your curriculum
The MA Dramatherapy programme at Roehampton offers a ritual theatre form of dramatherapy. Influenced by key theatrical figures and explored from anthropological, political, psychological perspectives, the programme offers a clearly structured developmental learning process mirroring the clinical application of dramatherapy at various levels.
The programme offers theatre skills, movement, working with stories and myths, Grotowski’s paratheatrical techniques, crafting theatres of the psyche, working with our own internal dramas and the use of ‘rites of passage’ within ritual theatre. There are opportunities to work with other art forms and to learn different theoretical perspectives through embodied learning.
An advanced understanding of Dramatherapy
On this programme, you will learn to facilitate an in-depth therapeutic process for a range of client groups, and devise therapeutic performances and workshops. You will also undertake an original piece of research into dramatherapy practice. The course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and leads to a nationally-recognised professional qualification.
How you'll learn
The programme consists of three stages, which offers a clearly structured developmental process for the clinical application of dramatherapy. In Stage One, you will be introduced to basic theatre skills and use these creatively to work with established stories and characters. This progresses into an exploration of the personal identifications that we have with stories and myths, and an understanding of the deep foundations within many cultural traditions of using ritual, drama and performance for the enhancement of health.
In Stage Two, the focus moves on to employing drama and theatre processes as vehicles for exploring our own inter-personal and internal ‘dramas’.
Stage Three is where you will conduct your own piece of practical investigation or research into the literature and theory-base of dramatherapy practice. The Dramatherapy programme will provide you with a broad range of skills enabling you to pursue your own research interests across a wide spectrum of dramatherapy practice and theory.
Alongside the experiential focus of the training, the programme also aims to develop the necessary understanding and reflective capacity required to practice as a professional dramatherapist. This is achieved through workshops, lecture series and clinical application seminars, as well as through assessed clinical placements.
Upcoming Events:
Career options
Dramatherapists are employed across the spectrum of health and social care, education and forensic services. Dramatherapists may also operate in private therapy, training and consultancy practice.
How our careers service supports you
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. We will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers.
Application Info
How to apply
Postgraduate programmes
You can now apply for any programme for any entry point in 2023.
All postgraduate taught applications can be made via our online application form.
- Check our application deadlines
- View our entry requirements for postgraduate programmes
- View our general entry criteria and application FAQs below
If you need any help or advice with your application, or just want to ask us a question before you apply, please do not hesitate to contact us.
International students
Please note that most international applicants have to pay a deposit before securing their place.
- See our Finance pages for more details
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Tuition fees and funding
September 2023 entry tuition fees
| Full-time (2 years) | |
| UK | EU and International |
| Total fees for the course £20,000 |
Total fees for the course £33,000 |
| Part-time (3 years) | |
| UK | EU and International |
| Total fees for the course £20,000 |
Total fees for the course £33,000 |
2023/24 entry funding
Specific Entry Requirements
Graduate level professional qualifications in appropriate disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Probation or Social Work are also accepted.
- A minimum of one year prior clinical experience.
- A sustained engagement with drama and theatre and competent theatrical skills
- Appropriate personal qualities such as emotional literacy and an ability to be self-aware and open
- Two references; normally one of these should be able to comment on the applicant’s academic suitability and the other the applicant’s professional/personal suitability for the programme
- Evidence of experience, maturity and personal robustness
- We also offer 20 week evening foundation courses which provide a broad oultine and introduction in the arts and play therapies.
Validation and curriculum review
What is validation?
Validation is a formal process through which the University approves a programme (content, teaching, learning and assessment) as being of appropriate standard and quality. This is a normal process used throughout the university sector.
The University expects to publish details of the validated programme in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.
What is curriculum review?
Curriculum review is the regular and systematic monitoring and reviewing of programmes. It is a normal process in the sector and it is the way by which the university ensures that your course remains up-to-date and relevant. The process may result in changes to the content, structure and/or assessment of the programme.
The University expects to publish details of the re-validated programme by 31 March in the academic year prior to the start date of the programme. You are advised to check the University website at that time to ensure that you have up-to-date information. In the meantime, if you require information you should contact 0208 392 3232.
Need help before you apply?
Course Facilities
Our Research
For an overview of the research carried out by psychology academics within the School of Psychology, please visit the departmental research pages.
