Key dates

• Application deadline: Friday 29 January 2027. We will only consider applications received after the deadline if places remain unfilled after auditions. Therefore, we strongly advise you to meet this initial deadline.
• Auditions (selected applicants): February/ March 2027
• Course start: September 2027 (Manchester and Newcastle)

Academic timetable for the MMT

Unlike most institutions, we see each MMT cohort through their entire two-year course before recruiting the next one, giving them the dedicated attention of tutorial staff.

Each intake starts in September and finishes in July. To maximise your placement experience, our terms are slightly longer than at most universities.

Our training bases are in London, Manchester and Newcastle.

• Manchester: we are now recruiting for a September 2027 start. Start your application here.
• Newcastle: we are now recruiting for a September 2027 start. Start your application here.
• London: our September 2026 cohort is now full and underway. The next recruitment round opens in September 2027 to start in September 2028.

How to apply

1. Prepare your documents

• Video recordings: You will need to record yourself playing and singing and submit these recordings as part of your online application. See our video recordings guidance document to find out what you’ll need to prepare.
• References: You will need to provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees (one professional and one personal) as part of your online application. We will contact your referees if you are selected to audition. Referees cannot be members of your family, partners etc.
• English language requirements: Even if English is your first language, you will need to confirm that you have taken one of the required English language qualifications. You will be required to bring evidence of these qualifications with you if you are called to audition. See section 6 of the application form for more information.
• Medical report: Download the medical report and ask your GP to complete this. The time this takes to be delivered will differ from surgery to surgery, so make sure you give them plenty of notice. You can submit your application before having your completed medical report.

2. Complete the online application form

• There is no fee for applying.
• Complete all sections of the online application form, giving as much detail as possible about your relevant experience. Use what you know of music therapy to demonstrate how this programme would enable you to flourish and why you’d be an asset to the profession. View our reading list here for articles that will get you thinking.
• Submit the online application form through our website.
• Important: Your application will not be considered by the panel until we’ve received both your online application form and your recordings.

3. Send us your medical report

Send us your completed medical report separately, or ask your GP to send it directly. You can do this either by post or email it as an image or PDF to [email protected]. Please note that some doctors charge for this service.

4. Receive acknowledgement

Every applicant will receive an acknowledgement. Please contact us at [email protected] if this doesn’t arrive.

How applications are assessed

A panel of tutors looks at ALL complete applications, including the video footage supplied by applicants. They then rank applications based on their perceptions of:

• Evidence of musical readiness for the training
• Evidence of academic readiness for the training
• Evidence of relevant experience which has informed your decision to apply
• Evidence of knowledge and understanding of the Nordoff Robbins approach to music therapy

What happens next

Individual audition/ interview

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an individual audition and interview, where you’ll be asked to demonstrate your musicianship and your capacity for working with people. No specific preparation is required.

During the individual audition and interview you will be asked to:

• Play your pieces (you can play/ sing the same pieces that you submitted recordings of as part of your application if you wish to do so)
• Accompany yourself (this needs to be without using sheet music, but you may bring the chord symbols and/ or the lyrics)
• Undertake various musical tasks, including improvising with us
• Discuss your application
• Provide the evidence (the original and a photocopy) of your English Language qualification

We deliberately don’t tell you in more detail what will be required of you within the audition because we want to see how you cope with the unexpected. We also want to find out what it feels like to improvise with you.

The music-making audition will be followed by an interview, when the panel will discuss your application with you. We strongly recommend that you prepare for this by reading around music therapy, and in particular the Nordoff Robbins approach to music therapy, and being ready to talk about any relevant experience you may have. We expect you to be able to think with us about whether this particular programme would suit you, and why.

After the audition/interview, we will ask you to complete a short written task. This is not intended to test your knowledge of music therapy, but simply your ability to write coherently in English. You can spend as long as you want doing this, but we would expect it to take around 30 minutes.

Group audition

After the individual audition, applicants who move on to the next stage will be invited to attend a group audition. Beforehand, we’ll send out details of what this will involve, including instructions for preparing a task of your choice.

When attending the group audition you will need to bring:

• Degree certificate(s), both the original(s) and a photocopy of each
• Passport, the original and a photocopy of the personal details page
• Music certificates, e.g. Associated Board exam certificates, are not required

Offers

Offers will be made after the group audition. These are conditional on satisfactory references and a criminal record check (a DBS, or the equivalent from countries where you’ve worked outside the UK). This check will be undertaken at your own expense.