Creative and Therapeutic Arts
Discover how creativity can transform lives. This innovative degree explores the power of the arts to support health, wellbeing and inclusion. Through hands-on projects and real-world experience, you’ll develop the skills to make a meaningful impact across communities, cultures and care settings.
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UCAS Code
W190
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
104
UCAS Code
W191
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
104
UCAS Code
W191
Start Date
September 2026
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
104
Fees
Home students: £9,790*
International students: £17,200*
UCAS Code
W190
Start Date
September 2026
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
UCAS Points
104
Fees
Home students: £9,790*
International students: £17,200*
Course Overview
You’ll explore evidence-based creative practice while completing projects with experienced professionals in healthcare, education and community environments. From your first year, you’ll develop practical skills, confidence and independence, preparing you to work with diverse groups with a focus on improving wellbeing.
If you have a passion for helping people and want a career that will utilise your artistic skills, Creative and Therapeutic Arts is for you. This practical, inclusive degree will help you understand and apply the relationships between creativity and wellbeing. This is a great stepping stone to a fulfilling career in arts, health and wellbeing.
Why study this course?
What you'll study
In your first year, you’ll explore inclusive, socially engaged creative practice.
Through hands-on projects in community, public, and outdoor settings, you’ll develop artistic skills, facilitation techniques, and confidence in working with diverse participants.
You’ll explore how art can give voice to underrepresented people through hands-on creative projects. By working closely with participants and acting as an Artist-in-Residence, you’ll develop flexible, inclusive art methods while learning to represent identity and lived experience with care and confidence.
You’ll learn how to plan and lead safe, accessible creative workshops that support diverse needs. Through observation, practice and reflection, you’ll develop your own inclusive facilitation style grounded in care, ethics and wellbeing.
In this module, you’ll collaborate to create live art in public spaces, exploring how creativity can raise awareness and inspire change. Through research, teamwork and practice, you’ll develop socially engaged projects that support mental health and wellbeing, inclusion and community connection.
Through hands-on, site-specific projects in natural environments, you’ll explore how creativity supports wellbeing and environmental awareness. Working with children and local communities, you’ll develop collaborative skills and confidence in sustainable, outdoor creative practice.
In your second year, you’ll expand your creative and professional practice.
Through an individual placement, arts in health project, and studio exploration, you’ll refine your artistic voice, develop facilitation skills, and critically evaluate your impact.
Through experimental studio work and creative research, you’ll explore new techniques, take artistic risks and refine your personal style. Working collaboratively and preparing a public exhibition, you’ll build confidence, critical awareness and professional insight into contemporary art practice.
Engage with the growing field of arts in healthcare by designing and delivering creative sessions and artwork that supports patients, staff and visitors. Through real-world projects, you’ll explore compassionate, person-centred practice while developing your artistic voice in professional health settings.
Step into a professional placement where you’ll design and deliver creative arts projects in healthcare, education or community settings. You’ll develop facilitation skills, ethical practice and confidence while making a real impact and building a portfolio of meaningful work.
Continue your placement while reflecting critically on your creative practice. You’ll learn to assess impact, analyse outcomes ethically, and communicate findings, developing professional evaluation skills that prepare you for future practice or research.
Building on what you’ve learnt, your final year focuses on professional practice and impact.
Through research, accessible creative projects, and a community art trail, you’ll apply your skills and prepare for a sustainable creative career.
You’ll explore how art can make cultural spaces more inclusive, designing accessible exhibitions and resources. Through practical workshops and collaboration, you’ll develop creative strategies that remove barriers, promote equity, and support wellbeing.
You’ll develop critical research skills by exploring and analysing evidence in creative health. Through literature review, reflection, and innovative methods, you’ll strengthen your academic voice and build a solid foundation for future practice or research.
In this module, you’ll explore how to build a sustainable creative career. You’ll develop professional skills, deliver independent workshops, and define your artistic identity to confidently step into the arts, health, or wellbeing sectors.
In this module, you’ll create a community art trail, combining your artistic practice, research, and professional skills. You’ll engage real audiences, collaborate with stakeholders, and develop project management and exhibition experience.
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
You’ll learn by doing - through hands-on, project-based work that blends art making, professional practice, and wellbeing theory. Collaboration is key, with real-world projects, community partners, and site-specific work bringing your learning to life.
You’ll work in multiple settings from bespoke teaching areas and studios, to outdoor spaces, healthcare settings and galleries. Workshops in art-making, professional practice and applying wellbeing theory help you reflect on your experiences and think critically. Each year, projects grow in independence, culminating in a public-facing art trail. Inclusive, supportive teaching will help you develop creativity, confidence, and the skills to make a real impact.
Assessment is entirely coursework-based, with no exams. You’ll be assessed through a mix of creative practice, written work and reflective assignments that explore how art supports wellbeing. This includes portfolios, presentations, workshops and project work, as well as assessed placements in community, health or education settings. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on your personal development and professional practice throughout the course. Learning takes place through workshops, seminars and group activities, with regular feedback to support your progress. As you advance, you’ll take on more independent and socially engaged projects, preparing you for careers in creative, therapeutic and community-based roles.
Placements are an important part of this degree, and you’ll graduate with a CV full of relevant experience from a diverse range of settings. You will have the opportunity to work with and have access to more than 50 partner organisations in the community and creative arts sector through projects, group and individual placements.
Most teaching takes place in our flexible, multipurpose spaces, perfect for messy experimentation and workshops. You’ll also have access to dedicated studios, tutorial rooms, and the Innovation Hub for focused project work. The course also includes on-site and community placements, supported by USW Placement Officers. These spaces and partnerships give you the freedom to explore, experiment, and apply your learning in real-world settings while developing professional skills in inspiring environments.
Course Leader
Heloise Godfrey-Talbot
Heloise Godfrey-Talbot is Course Leader for BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts. An experienced educator, researcher, filmmaker, and artist, Heloise is passionate about creativity, community, and wellbeing. With expertise in applied therapeutic theory and arts-based research, she creates supportive learning environments that help students flourish through creative practice.
Heloise has over 20 years' experience facilitating creative workshops with people of all ages, both nationally and internationally. Her research and collaborative practice focus on amplifying underrepresented voices, giving students the opportunity to explore innovative approaches to creativity, wellbeing, and the human experience.
Entry Requirements
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
How to applyContextual admissions policyAsk us a question104 UCAS points or above
UCAS points: 104 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: BCC to exclude General Studies and normally include A Level Art, an Art & Design Foundation Diploma or a relevant background.
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit and normally include an Art subject or an Art & Design Foundation Diploma or a relevant background.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C/B and BC - CC at A Level, to exclude General Studies, and normally include A Level Art, an Art & Design Foundation Diploma or a relevant background.
- Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points in an Art related Access or hold an Art & Design Foundation Diploma or a relevant background.
- T Level: Pass (C and above)
Additional requirements include:
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
You will be required to produce a portfolio of work, which should be no less than 20 pages, demonstrating your art practice. If you have not previously studied art in a formal education setting, it is recommended that you consider pursuing art classes, night school and/or independent studio practice to strengthen your portfolio and application.
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
International studentsPre-Sessional EnglishEnglish language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Fees and Funding
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Kit (uniform and equipment)
Art materials for projects. Cost varies depending on individual projects
Cost: £250 - £1000
Field Trips
Occasionally students will take trips to regional galleries and creative health settings which incur a small travel cost.
Cost: Variable
DBS and Update service
An enhanced DBS is required. The update service is recommended.
Cost: £64.74 annually for enhanced DBS and £16 for the update service.
Portfolio
For graduate exhibition
Cost: £80 - £100
Placement
Students undertaking placement as part of professional practice modules may incur costs associated with travel to placement and placement responsibilities e.g. materials and resources.
Cost: Variable
Studio practice
Students arrive with some basic art supplies for their studies. As they follow their own specialist interest, they may need specific materials for outside lectures. The course teaches and encourages economical and sustainable art practices using recycled and re-purposed materials.
Cost: Variable
Art workbooks/printing/placement files
You will need to pay for your work books and printing costs.
Cost: £25 - £100
Site visits
Visits to community settings, undertaken as part of taught modules, where students engage in their assessed project activities.
Cost: £10 - £30
Public Liability insurance (possible cost)
Some Placement providers will require individual students to have Public Liability Insurance.
Cost: Variable
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Kit (uniform and equipment)
Art materials for projects. Cost varies depending on individual projects
Cost: £250 - £1000
Field Trips
Occasionally students will take trips to regional galleries and creative health settings which incur a small travel cost.
Cost: Variable
DBS and Update service
An enhanced DBS is required. The update service is recommended.
Cost: £64.74 annually for enhanced DBS and £16 for the update service.
Portfolio
For graduate exhibition
Cost: £80 - £100
Placement
Students undertaking placement as part of professional practice modules may incur costs associated with travel to placement and placement responsibilities e.g. materials and resources.
Cost: Variable
Studio practice
Students arrive with some basic art supplies for their studies. As they follow their own specialist interest, they may need specific materials for outside lectures. The course teaches and encourages economical and sustainable art practices using recycled and re-purposed materials.
Cost: Variable
Art workbooks/printing/placement files
You will need to pay for your work books and printing costs.
Cost: £25 - £100
Site visits
Visits to community settings, undertaken as part of taught modules, where students engage in their assessed project activities.
Cost: £10 - £30
Public Liability insurance (possible cost)
Some Placement providers will require individual students to have Public Liability Insurance.
Cost: Variable
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS
You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
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Apply direct
Creative and Therapeutic Arts
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Full-time, 3 years
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September
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Pontypridd
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Apply direct
Creative and Therapeutic Arts
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Sandwich, 4 years
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September
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Pontypridd
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Apply direct
Creative and Therapeutic Arts
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Full-time, 3 years
-
September
-
Pontypridd
-
-
Apply direct
Creative and Therapeutic Arts
-
Sandwich, 4 years
-
September
-
Pontypridd
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If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
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