Music Therapy master degree programme

Do you want to define your own career path in music therapy? Our part-time master programme is a response to the growing demand for independent registered music therapy practitioners.

Alongside the development of music therapy skills, the advanced study of research-led practice is a defining feature of the course. After completing this two-year programme, you will be ideally prepared for working in established and emerging fields of music therapy.

The degree programme

Our Music Therapy master programme is geared to providing music therapists with an academic education that equips them with professional and research skills. After completing this programme, you will meet all the legal requirements for becoming an independent registered music therapist (eigenverantwortliche Berufsausübung der Musiktherapie) in Austria.

The curriculum places a strong emphasis on research skills, the development of advanced therapeutic competences, as well as interdisciplinary cooperation with practitioners in other healthcare occupations. The content of our modular programme reflects international standards in music therapy. The Music Therapy master programme runs every two years, and the next degree starts in 2020.

Important: a qualification which entitles you to register as a music therapist is an entry requirement for the Music Therapy master programme.

Get the full programme details in German

" Our established position within the Department of Health Science’s interdisciplinary environment and links with international and multiprofessional research teams via the Josef Ressel Centre are what makes our master programme unique. "
Programme director Patrick Simon

Core topics

Professional skills and practice-driven research feature strongly on the curriculum, in addition to self-reflective practice, effective therapeutic communication and expertise in intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary work.

Direct contact with scientists and researchers

Our university has its own music therapy research centre – the Josef Ressel Centre for establishing principles of personalised music therapy.

It focuses on research into music therapy processes and relationships in selected areas of neurological rehabilitation. The goal is to record and analyse resonance experienced between therapists and their patients, which is often difficult to investigate scientifically.

Research assistants working at the Josef Ressel Centre will supervise work related to your master thesis from the first semester, and give you deeper insights into important scientific approaches and methods using practice-based examples.

Small groups provide a fertile environment for devising and enhancing distinctive research concepts. You will also have access to equipment for measuring psychophysiological parameters such as heart rate variability and skin conductance responses, as well as video analysis technology. This opens up opportunities for pursuing exciting master thesis research questions, which you can systematically investigate with professional support.

Self-reflection and therapeutic communication

The Reflection, Clinical Work and Therapeutic Communication modules prepare you for specific challenges in routine clinical work. Central to this are approaches to proximity and distance, and processing stressful clinical experiences.

You will reflect on and analyse your clinical work in small groups under the supervision of an experienced course tutor with reference to your selected therapy situations, sometimes with the help of video analysis. This will help you to identify your own perceptual and behavioural patterns in relation to music therapy practice, and, if necessary, modify them.

You will hone your communicative abilities in the therapeutic setting and practise leading intervision and supervision sessions with your fellow students.

A respectful attitude to the environment and yourself is crucial. Musical interactions are another focus. You will learn how to adapt your repertoire of musical interaction techniques to your clients and appropriately organise the therapeutic setting.

Interdisciplinary work in health sciences

This programme prepares you for interdisciplinary work in health sciences. Music therapy at IMC Krems benefits greatly from being firmly embedded in the multidisciplinary environment of the Department of Health Sciences.

We are surrounded by colleagues specialising in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, obstetrics, and general nursing. We also cooperate with our neighbours at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences to organise joint courses and enable students to complete multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary theses. Our aim is to promote knowledge of different fields in preparation for working in interdisciplinary clinical environments.

Career options for graduates of the Music Therapy master programme

As a university-educated music therapist you will play an important role in establishing the profession as an academic discipline.

After registering as a music therapist, you will be eligible to practise as an independent music therapist (eigenverantwortlich berufsberechtigte Musiktherapeutin) in accordance with the Musiktherapiegesetz (Austrian Music Therapy Act; Federal Law Gazette I No. 93/2008 as amended). Your options include opening your own practice or working on a freelance basis for a range of healthcare institutions.

You will also be in a position to continue your studies with a PhD.

The professional areas open to graduates include
Neonatology
Neurology and neurorehabilitation
Geriatrics
Psychosomatics
Psychiatry
Palliative care
Intensive care
Disability and developmental delay
Teaching and research

10 good reasons

What makes us special? We are more than happy to tell you about the aspects of our university, which we are especially proud of.

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Krems

Friendly and cosmopolitan: The city attracts students from all over the world, who come to study, research and work together.

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Service centers

Our university has removed a host of administrative hurdles, leaving you free to concentrate fully on your studies.

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Advisory Service

Do you have questions regarding our degree programmes or the application? Contact our Prospective Student Advisory Service.

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Our team

Get to know the core team of our master degree programme Music Therapy.

Prof.(FH) Dr. Patrick Simon
Programme Director Music Therapy
Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
+43 2732 802 385
[email protected]
IMC Gozzoburg
Psychophysiology
Action research
Self-experience
Musiktherapie
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Musiktherapie
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Josef-Ressel-Zentrum für Grundlegung einer personalisierten Musiktherapie: Aspekte personalisierter Musiktherapie in der Neurorehabilitation
Department of Health Sciences
The Right Moment - Pilotstudie zur Darstellung circa- und ultradianer Rhythmen von Patienten in Phase C der Neurorehabilitation mittels Herzratenvariabilität
Department of Health Sciences
Pilotprojekt zur Messung von Empathie der Kombination psychometrischer und biometrischer Verfahren
Department of Health Sciences
Pilotstudie: Positronenemissionstomografie (PET) und Musiktherapie
Department of Health Sciences
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Heine, A., Fachner, J., Maidhof, C. (2023): Shared moments and right periods in music therapy in neurorehabilitation. In Leandertz, M., Ala-Ruona, E. (Hrsg.), NMTC 2022. Helsinki: ISBN 978-951-39-9552-2 (PDF).
Heine, A., Zoderer, I., Simon, P., Tucek, G. (2023): Personalised music therapy in neurorehabilitation after stroke. In Mikaela Leandertz, Esa Ala-Ruona (Hrsg.), NMTC 2022. Helsinki: ISBN 978-951-39-9552-2 (PDF).
Dür, M., Wenzel, C., Simon, P., Tucek, G. (2022): Patients’ and professionals’ perspectives on the consideration of patients’ convenient therapy periods as part of personalised rehabilitation: a focus group study with patients and therapists from inpatient neurological rehabilitation. BMC Health Services Research, 22(372).
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07755-3
Tucek, G., Heine, A., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M. (2021): Das Kremser Konzept der Musiktherapie - Zur Bedeutung personalisierter Therapie und Forschung. Musiktherapeutische Umschau, 42(3): 315-324.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.13109/muum.2021.42.3.315
Janssen, J., Zenzmaier, C., Yap, S., Österreicher, P., Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Kaufmann, P., Perkhofer, S., Tucek, G. (2020): Validation of an Empathy Film with Health Care Students. Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine, 6: 125.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.24966/ACIM-7562/100125
Dür, M., Wenzel, C., Österreicher, P., Yap, S., Simon, P., Tucek, G. (2019): Entwicklung eines Messinstruments zur Erfassung günstiger Therapiezeiträume: Teilprojekt des Josef Ressel Zentrums zur Grundlegung personalisierter Musiktherapie. In Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt (Hrsg.), Online Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2019 (FFH2019_152). Wiener Neustadt: FHK.
Hörmann, M., Tucek, G., Zoderer, I., Simon, P. (2018): Videographie in der Musiktherapie und ihre datenschutzrechtlichen Implikationen. In Moritz, C., Corsten, M. (Hrsg.), Handbuch Qualitative Videoanalyse (471-484). Wiesbaden: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-15894-1_25
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Mainhof, C., Wenzel, C., Dür, M., Heine, A., Vogl, J., Zoderer, I., Österreicher, P., Perkhofer, S., Fachner, J. (2018): Josef Ressel Zentrum für die Grundlegung einer personalisierten Musiktherapie. In Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH (Hrsg.), Online-Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2018 (eFFH2018-T1-02). Salzburg: FHK.
Dür, M., Wenzel, C., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Vogl, J., Österreicher, P., Tucek, G. (2017): Die Erfassung günstiger Therapiezeiträume als Grundlage für personalisierte Therapie. In IMC Fachhochschule Krems GmbH (Hrsg.), Online Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2017 (271-275). Krems: FHK.
Wenzel, C., Zoderer I., Pammer, P., Simon, P., Tucek, G. (2017): The potential of video analysis for recognising ergotropic and trophotropic phases of patients during music and occupational therapy. In BMC (Hrsg.), BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine: World Congress Integrative Medicine & Health 2017: part one (322). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1782-4
Simon, P., Hörmann, M. & Tucek, G. (2016): Videography in the area of conflict between data protection and practicability. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 25(sup1): 69-69.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2016.1179991
Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Pammer, P. Tucek, G. (2016): Darstellbarkeit circa- und ultradianer Rhythmen mit Hilfe der Herzratenvariabilität bei Patientinnen und Patienten in der Neurorehabilitation. In Fachhochschule des BFI Wien (Hrsg.), Tagungsband 10. Forschungsforum der Österreichischen Fachhochschulen 2016 (eFFH2016-107a-5). Wien: FHK.
Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Pammer, P., Tucek, G. (2016): Darstellbarkeit circa- und ultradianer Rhythmen mit Hilfe der Herzratenvariabilität bei Patienten und Patientinnen in der Neurorehabilitation. In Fachhochschule des BFI Wien (Hrsg.), Online Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2016 (FFH2016-107a-5). Wien: FHK.
Wenzel, C., Simon, P., Pammer, P., Tucek, G. (2016): Erkennung von Leistungs- und Erholungsphasen von Patientinnen und Patienten durch systematische Videoanalyse am Beispiel von Musik- und Ergotherapieeinheiten. In Fachhochschule des BFI Wien (Hrsg.), Online Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2016 (eFFH2016-107a-7). Wien: FHK.
Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., Tucek, G. (2015): Musiktherapie als Regulationstherapie. Musik-, Tanz- und Kunsttherapie, , 26(3): 145-154.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1026/0933-6885/a000174
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2015): Musiktherapie: Musik und Gesang bei Komapatienten. In Bernatzky, G., Kreutz, G. (Hrsg.), Musik und Medizin. Chancen für Therapie, Prävention und Bildung (177-178). Wien: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1599-2
Tucek, G., Zoderer, I., Simon, P., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2014): Grundideen des "Kremser Modells der Musiktherapie" im Spiegel der Feldpartitur. In Moritz, C. (Hrsg.), Transkription von Video- und Filmdaten in der Qualitativen Sozialforschung. Multidisziplinäre Annäherungen an einen komplexen Datentypus (23-249). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-00879-6
Sobotka, M., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Tucek, G., & Wenzel, C. (2013): "Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht " - Musiktherapie in Palliative Care. Die Hospizzeitschrift, 57(3): 22-26.
Prof.(FH) Dr. Patrick Simon
Programme Director Music Therapy
Programme Director Music Therapy
Prof.(FH) Dr. Patrick Simon
Core Competencies
- Psychophysiology
- Action research
- Self-experience

Mag.(FH) Florian Ruhdorfer
Head of Corporate Relations
Corporate Relations
+43 2732 802 368
[email protected]
IMC Campus KremsIMC Campus Trakt U, UC
Career Services
Entrepreneurship
Business Developement
Musiktherapie
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
UniLab - Von der Universität zum Arbeitsmarkt im 21. Jahrhundert: ein Schritt vorwärts in der Vermittlung von Praktikumsplätzen
Department of Science & Technology
Scale(up) Alps - Beschleunigung und Förderung des Alpinen Start-up Ökosystems
Department of Business
Mag.(FH) Florian Ruhdorfer
Head of Corporate Relations
Prof.(FH) Claudia Oblasser, PhD, MA
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
+43 2732 802 138
[email protected]
IMC Campus KremsIMC Campus Trakt G1
Advanced Nursing Practice
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Angewandte Gesundheitswissenschaften
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Musiktherapie
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Musiktherapie
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Hebammen
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / full-time
Physiotherapie
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / full-time
Entwicklung und Evaluierung zweier digitaler/hybrider Lerntools zu interpersoneller Gewalt in der beruflichen Praxis von Hebammen, Ergo-, Musik- und Physiotherapeut*innen in Niederösterreich
Project Leader, Department of Health Sciences
Interpersonelle Gewalt in der beruflichen Praxis von Hebammen und Therapeut*innen in Niederösterreich: Machbarkeitsstudie über eine digitale Lernintervention
Project Leader, Department of Health Sciences
Prof.(FH) Claudia Oblasser, PhD, MA
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
Prof.(FH) Mag. Marlies Sobotka
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
+43 2732 802 393
[email protected]
IMC Gozzoburg
Musiktherapie
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Musiktherapie
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Tucek, G., Heine, A., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M. (2021): Das Kremser Konzept der Musiktherapie - Zur Bedeutung personalisierter Therapie und Forschung. Musiktherapeutische Umschau, 42(3): 315-324.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.13109/muum.2021.42.3.315
Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., Tucek, G. (2015): Musiktherapie als Regulationstherapie. Musik-, Tanz- und Kunsttherapie, , 26(3): 145-154.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1026/0933-6885/a000174
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2015): Musiktherapie: Musik und Gesang bei Komapatienten. In Bernatzky, G., Kreutz, G. (Hrsg.), Musik und Medizin. Chancen für Therapie, Prävention und Bildung (177-178). Wien: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1599-2
Tucek, G., Zoderer, I., Simon, P., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2014): Grundideen des "Kremser Modells der Musiktherapie" im Spiegel der Feldpartitur. In Moritz, C. (Hrsg.), Transkription von Video- und Filmdaten in der Qualitativen Sozialforschung. Multidisziplinäre Annäherungen an einen komplexen Datentypus (23-249). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-00879-6
Sobotka, M., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Tucek, G., & Wenzel, C. (2013): "Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht " - Musiktherapie in Palliative Care. Die Hospizzeitschrift, 57(3): 22-26.
Prof.(FH) Mag. Marlies Sobotka
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
Prof.(FH) Iris Zoderer, MA
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences
+43 2732 802 558
[email protected]
IMC Gozzoburg
video analysis
music therapy - focus on Palliativ Care and Oncology
Musiktherapie
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Musiktherapie
Master of Science in Health Studies / part-time
Josef-Ressel-Zentrum für Grundlegung einer personalisierten Musiktherapie: Aspekte personalisierter Musiktherapie in der Neurorehabilitation
Department of Health Sciences
The Right Moment - Pilotstudie zur Darstellung circa- und ultradianer Rhythmen von Patienten in Phase C der Neurorehabilitation mittels Herzratenvariabilität
Department of Health Sciences
Heine, A., Zoderer, I., Simon, P., Tucek, G. (2023): Personalised music therapy in neurorehabilitation after stroke. In Mikaela Leandertz, Esa Ala-Ruona (Hrsg.), NMTC 2022. Helsinki: ISBN 978-951-39-9552-2 (PDF).
Tucek, G., Heine, A., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M. (2021): Das Kremser Konzept der Musiktherapie - Zur Bedeutung personalisierter Therapie und Forschung. Musiktherapeutische Umschau, 42(3): 315-324.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.13109/muum.2021.42.3.315
Hörmann, M., Tucek, G., Zoderer, I., Simon, P. (2018): Videographie in der Musiktherapie und ihre datenschutzrechtlichen Implikationen. In Moritz, C., Corsten, M. (Hrsg.), Handbuch Qualitative Videoanalyse (471-484). Wiesbaden: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-15894-1_25
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Mainhof, C., Wenzel, C., Dür, M., Heine, A., Vogl, J., Zoderer, I., Österreicher, P., Perkhofer, S., Fachner, J. (2018): Josef Ressel Zentrum für die Grundlegung einer personalisierten Musiktherapie. In Fachhochschule Salzburg GmbH (Hrsg.), Online-Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2018 (eFFH2018-T1-02). Salzburg: FHK.
Dür, M., Wenzel, C., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Vogl, J., Österreicher, P., Tucek, G. (2017): Die Erfassung günstiger Therapiezeiträume als Grundlage für personalisierte Therapie. In IMC Fachhochschule Krems GmbH (Hrsg.), Online Tagungsband FHK Forschungsforum 2017 (271-275). Krems: FHK.
Simon, P., Wenzel, C., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., Tucek, G. (2015): Musiktherapie als Regulationstherapie. Musik-, Tanz- und Kunsttherapie, , 26(3): 145-154.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1026/0933-6885/a000174
Tucek, G., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2015): Musiktherapie: Musik und Gesang bei Komapatienten. In Bernatzky, G., Kreutz, G. (Hrsg.), Musik und Medizin. Chancen für Therapie, Prävention und Bildung (177-178). Wien: Springer.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1599-2
Tucek, G., Zoderer, I., Simon, P., Sobotka, M., & Wenzel, C. (2014): Grundideen des "Kremser Modells der Musiktherapie" im Spiegel der Feldpartitur. In Moritz, C. (Hrsg.), Transkription von Video- und Filmdaten in der Qualitativen Sozialforschung. Multidisziplinäre Annäherungen an einen komplexen Datentypus (23-249). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-00879-6
Sobotka, M., Simon, P., Zoderer, I., Tucek, G., & Wenzel, C. (2013): "Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht " - Musiktherapie in Palliative Care. Die Hospizzeitschrift, 57(3): 22-26.
Prof.(FH) Iris Zoderer, MA
Professor (FH) Institute Therapeutic and Midwifery Sciences

Questions about the degree programme?

Prospective Student Advisory Service

Do you have questions regarding the entry requirements, the admission procedure and more? Our Prospective Student Advisory Service is happy to help.

+432732802222

[email protected]

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Ask Mario

Would you like first-hand information about the Musiktherapie degree programme? Contact Mario directly, he will be happy to answer all your questions about the study programme.

[email protected]

Music Therapy master degree programme

Do you want to define your own career path in music therapy? Our part-time master programme is a response to the growing demand for independent registered music therapy practitioners.

The degree programme

Core topics

Direct contact with scientists and researchers

Self-reflection and therapeutic communication

Interdisciplinary work in health sciences

Career options for graduates of the Music Therapy master programme

Our team

Prof.(FH) Dr. Patrick Simon

Programme Director Music Therapy

Core Competencies

Mag.(FH) Florian Ruhdorfer

Prof.(FH) Claudia Oblasser, PhD, MA

Prof.(FH) Mag. Marlies Sobotka

Prof.(FH) Iris Zoderer, MA

Questions about the degree programme?

Prospective Student Advisory Service

Ask a Student

Ask Mario