Undergraduate Course

Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing

BA (Hons)

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: Up to 6 years

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

International fee

£14,900 per year (2024/25)

UCAS points

112-120 (September 2024 entry)104 (September 2025 entry)

UCAS code

W191

Start date

September

Location

Kedleston Road and Britannia Mill, Derby Campus

If you do not achieve the typical entry points required, you may want to consider studying this course with foundation year.

View with foundation year optionView with foundation year option

Learn how to use the arts as a tool to work with others in a positive and therapeutic way on this innovative course.

The course will give you the opportunity to develop a range of specific and transferable skills that are applicable in a wide range of settings where you will work with people using the arts; or in contexts where engaging with people is a focus; whether this is in employment or further study. You will learn with and from tutors who are experienced practitioners and researchers in the field; as well as our community partners, who will offer a real-world experience, helping you to develop your employability.

Top5for student satisfactionCounselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy subject area - Complete University Guide 2025
Top10for assessment and feedbackCounselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational - National Student Survey 2024
Top15for Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational TherapyComplete University Guide 2025

Take a tour of our facilities

Go beyond the classroom with the latest equipment, technology and study spaces to bring your learning to life. Have a look around our Therapeutic Arts facilities in our Virtual Open Day tour.

View Therapeutic Arts - virtual tour video transcript

If the arts have played a vital role in your own personal development, why not harness your creativity to make a difference in other people’s lives? Our pioneering BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing programme is the only course of its kind in the UK that allows you to apply your skills in art, dance, drama, and music towards making a difference to the lives of others.

This programme offers you opportunities to develop your skills and express yourself in the art form of your choice through specialist studio sessions, performances and exhibition work. Playful exploration of all art forms will empower you in applying the arts as a tool when working with others to promote physical and emotional wellbeing.

We explore how the arts and creativity can be applied therapeutically in community, voluntary, health, educational, and corporate settings. We also look at different therapeutic principles and the meanings of health and illness in the context of historical, societal, and cultural values, and the role of the arts in meeting personal and community goals and needs.

A smiling female with brown curly hair and red lipstick wearing red glasses

How Rachael is using music to help people

Find out why studying Therapeutic Arts at Derby was the right choice for Rachael who wanted to focus on the therapeutic and practical use of music.

Read Rachael's storyRead Rachael's story

Real-world learning in action

At every level of study, we offer exciting opportunities for you to put your skills into practice – and make more informed decisions about your future career path – through work placements and community projects.

At Level 6 of the course, you will undertake a placement thanks to our thriving partnerships where you could gain experience with arts groups, hospitals, hospices, schools, charities, or organisations supporting adults and children with disabilities. This is a fantastic opportunity to work creatively using multiple art forms to make a difference to the lives of your participants.

Many of our students take part in collaborative projects in the wider community and have devised and led drama sessions for prison inmates; run creative arts workshops for people with brain injuries; and toured schools with programmes aimed at tackling bullying and peer pressure.

Gain ‘career-ready’ skills

You will undertake a substantial amount of groupwork where you can reflect on your own personal development, awareness, and communication skills. You will also also gain experience of leadership, coaching, and group processes which will be invaluable in your future career.

There are opportunities for you to learn with, and from, students from other disciplines. This will prepare you to work in a multi-professional and multi-disciplinary teams after graduation, and ensure the best possible outcomes for your clients and service users.

An inspiring study experience

You will hone your skills in our superb facilities, including dedicated art, dance, drama, and music studios for therapeutic arts.

We offer guest lectures by leading professionals in the field, and you will also take part in environmental, site-specific arts workshops, as part of the ‘Big Wood’ project, based on the outskirts of Derby, to help you think beyond studio spaces.

Pursue your personal interests

Your course will culminate in an Independent study which allows you to explore areas of your own choosing within the applied arts & health subject area, whilst also offering a platform to demonstrate your academic and/or creative talents to potential employers.

This could take the form of either a  scholarly, theory-led dissertation, or a practice-led body of work such as drama, dance, or music performance(s) or an art exhibition, together with supportive written work.

Dancers in colourful costumes perform abstract movements

Mindfulness movement

Senior Lecturer Dave Home travelled around the work enriching lives beyond the classroom.

Follow Dave's journeyFollow Dave's journey
Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

Discover your campusDiscover your campus

What you will study

You'll study modules such as:

  • The Healthy Practitioner
  • Human Development and Play
  • Working Creatively with Groups
  • Arts, Culture and Wellbeing
  • The Creative Self
  • The Developing Practitioner
  • Concept of Self
  • Arts for Health Research Methods
  • Arts for Health
  • Group Work for Diverse Population
  • The Emerging Practitioner
  • The Professional Self
  • Group Work in Community Extended Placement
  • Independent Scholarship

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your Undergraduate Open DayBook your Undergraduate Open Day

How you will learn

The course balances classroom-based theory with practical sessions involving studio, performance and exhibition work. The focus is on developing your transferable skills so that you can adapt to varied and changing circumstances. 

Our diverse range of teaching and learning strategies are all intended to support you as a learner in developing your skills and understanding of the potential of the arts and creativity in promoting human lifelong development, health and wellbeing. Additionally, these approaches encourage you to refine and further develop your expertise as an artist, whilst applying and offering critical consideration of relevant theories.

The taught components of the curriculum are designed to allow you to take responsibility for your own learning; with self-awareness and reflection as central to your development. You are invited to participate in a range of learning activities that help you to develop your academic and practical skills, which you will then apply in a real-world context, working in community settings in placements. You are encouraged throughout to recognise and promote your skills and strengths, as well as exploring areas that you wish to develop. A diverse range of activities is on offer, to enable you in developing the wide range of skills, knowledge and understanding that you will need in order to adapt to the changing landscape of practice.

Throughout the course, you have access to guidance and advice from a personal tutor and will also benefit from academic skills sessions.

How you are assessed

You’ll be assessed in many ways to help you develop a compelling variety of skills. These include essays, exhibitions, performances, reflective journals and diaries, videos and production projects.

We support you to view assessment as an additional learning opportunity, with assessments that are selected to reflect real-world practice.

Who you will meet

You'll learn from highly experienced teachers who are committed to your success. All specialists in their field, they include active researchers, authors and industry practitioners with outstanding professional networks. We pride ourselves on offering a supportive and engaging learning environment.

The team includes Dave Home (D.Home@derby.ac.uk)

Personal academic tutoring

Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.

Find out more about personal academic tutoring

Entry requirements

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points112-120
A LevelBBB-BBC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6

Offers will be made initially based on your application, including predicted grades and/or grades you have already achieved. You may be given the opportunity, within your offer letter, to submit a portfolio. If you submit a strong portfolio we will make you an unconditional offer, to reflect the quality of your work and your potential.

Additional entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points104
A LevelBCC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6

Offers will be made initially based on your application, including predicted grades and/or grades you have already achieved. You may be given the opportunity, within your offer letter, to submit a portfolio. If you submit a strong portfolio we will make you an unconditional offer, to reflect the quality of your work and your potential.

Additional entry requirements

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2024/25

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

£1,155 per 20 credit module

International

£14,900 per year

N/A

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

You’ll develop transferable skills which enable you to work creatively with people in a range of different settings, drawing on your knowledge of art, dance, drama or music.

Our graduates have gone on to work in community arts, voluntary organisations, health, education and the corporate sector. Some have set up their own businesses.

Ongoing careers support

Our Careers and Employment Service will provide you with help, guidance and support from day one of your course – and for up to three years after you’ve completed your studies.

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

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96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Contact us Contact us

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Minimum numbers

Please note that this course is subject to minimum numbers in order to run.

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Full-time

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