Overview
Catalyst’s MA in Applied Creative Psychology empowers you to combine personal creative practice with evidence-based insights from psychology, neuroscience, and positive human development. Grounded in research and driven by hands-on experimentation, this interdisciplinary programme explores the intersection of art, wellbeing, and psychological growth.
Through our MA in Applied Creative Psychology you’ll deepen your scientific understanding of how creativity enhances personal wellbeing, while gaining practical tools to lead and support transformative initiatives across your personal, professional, and community contexts. From expressive arts therapy to peak performance and creative leadership, you’ll develop real-world skills in creativity coaching and interdisciplinary psychology.
- Evidence-based & interdisciplinary: Blend artistic practice with Positive Psychology, Flow Science, Physiology, and Neuroscience to explore creativity through both scientific and expressive lenses.
- Designed for purpose-driven creatives: Supportive for artists, educators, coaches, and community leaders wishing to harness creativity for personal growth, wellbeing, and social impact.
- Expressive arts for wellbeing: Use diverse art forms such as music, movement, and storytelling and visual arts, for emotional expression, identity work, and mental health support.
- Practice-based & professionally oriented: Develop real-world skills through live projects, community engagement, and mentorship, building a portfolio that reflects your creative and psychological insight.
Europe’s first MA dedicated to the psychology of creativity, personal development, and wellbeing.
Our interdisciplinary MA in Applied Creative Psychology is one of Europe’s first Master's programme dedicated to the psychology of creativity, personal development, and wellbeing. It responds to a growing global demand for practitioners who can integrate artistic practice with psychological insight to support mental health, lifelong learning, and social connection.
Course structure
Framework
The MA in Applied Creative Psychology is a full-time, one-year Master's programme awarded by Plymouth Marjon University and delivered at Catalyst Institute for Creative Arts and Technology in Berlin. Taught in English and housed within the School of Creative Human Development, the programme combines scientific research with creative practice to explore the psychological dimensions of creativity and human development.
Course Content & Modules
The MA in Applied Creative Psychology is structured across three semesters and built around five core modules. These combine theory, hands-on practice, and real-world application to equip you with a deep understanding of creative psychology and its use in personal, professional, and community contexts.
Semester A
You begin by laying the foundation for understanding creativity and human development through two complementary modules:
- Creative Lifespan Development
Explore how creativity unfolds across different stages of life. This module introduces key psychological frameworks, theories of development, and how they intersect with creative expression, identity, and purpose. You’ll learn to apply these insights to your own practice and to support others in creative growth. - Expressive Arts, Health & Wellbeing
This module explores the healing and transformative power of the arts. You’ll engage with creative modalities such as music, movement, visual arts, and storytelling as tools for emotional expression, mental wellbeing, and personal discovery—grounded in therapeutic and psychological insight.
Is this programme for me?
You’ll find this course suitable if you’re interested in:
- You’re interested in how creativity connects with psychology, wellbeing, and emotional expression.
- You want to use photography to create meaningful change—whether in communities, classrooms, or through activism.
- You’re looking to build a portfolio that reflects your growth, purpose, and creative identity.
- You’re curious about how to support others through visual storytelling—as a facilitator, coach, or educator.
- You’re excited to live and learn in Berlin, surrounded by a diverse creative community from over 75 countries.
Download the course guide for the full syllabus, tuition plans and more!
Progression and careers
Career opportunities Graduates of the MA in Applied Creative Psychology are equipped for dynamic roles that combine creativity, wellbeing, leadership, and personal development. Whether working independently or within institutions, you’ll be prepared to create impact across multiple sectors. Some professional pathways/roles upon graduation include:
Independent Creative & Artistic Practice
- Artist
- Artist in Residence
- Creative Director
- Entrepreneur
“You can express your dreams with a film. It's like writing a book, but bringing to life what you saw in your head. It's really free as an expression, without limits.”
– Leonardo Greco, director and Creative Production (Film) alumnus
An international learning community
Our Master of Arts in Applied Creative Psychology brings together a diverse and global cohort of artists, educators, coaches, and change-makers at Catalyst’s creative campus in Berlin’s iconic Funkhaus. This international setting fosters rich dialogue across cultures, disciplines, and perspectives, making it an ideal environment to explore the psychological and social dimensions of creativity.
Student experience
Beyond seminars, extracurricular life is an important part of your experience at Catalyst: arts festivals, creative meetups, Guest Sessions, listening parties, showcases and Etikett Radio opportunities to share your work with the world. You can collaborate across schools and with partners in Berlin and beyond, building a network that supports your goals and journey.
Wellbeing support, 1:1 coaching and workshops for creative flourishing provide practical tools for sustainable creativity. Specialist workshops and resources help you test ideas, manage workflow and stay resilient.
Postgraduate Symposium
Catalyst's MA Symposium is an annual two-day event where our Master’s students present their artistic research alongside international artists and academics. It’s a dynamic platform for sharing research, performance, film, sound, installation and experimental work developed during their MA journey.
For students, it’s a unique chance to showcase their research publicly, engage in critical dialogue and connect with a global creative network. It marks a powerful moment of reflection, visibility and growth — and highlights how artistic research can shape not just art, but society.
Your programme lead
Cordele Glass is a US-born educator, creative facilitator and researcher with an academic background in Positive Developmental Psychology, Sound Design and Music Production. As Programme Lead for the MA in Applied Creative Psychology at Catalyst, they bring an interdisciplinary approach to exploring how creativity supports personal growth, resilience and wellbeing.
Admissions
Entry requirements
Applicants will be asked to provide: personal and educational information, documentation of their education experience, a detailed project proposal, sample of research/academic writing and a portfolio. Visit our How To Apply page for more detail.
MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Standard entry: Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline, with an Honours grade (e.g. 2:1 in the UK university system).
- Non-standard entry: We recognise that not all education happens in the classroom and it may be possible to admit you through a non-standard access route. If you do not possess the required formal qualification, but have acquired relevant professional or life experience, please contact our Admissions team.
- Language: The language of instruction in all our courses is English and applicants must demonstrate a level equal to IELTS 6 (equivalent to B2 in Germany and other EU countries). You can either submit a language certificate or can take our free 90 min online test.
The most important prerequisite for attending any course at Catalyst is that you must be passionate about building and developing your skills as a filmmaking specialist, audiovisual artist or storyteller.
For more information, please contact our Admissions team and we’d be happy to discuss your opportunities to come study with us.
Course dates and application deadlines
Course start: Mid-September 2026
Applications open: Mid-October 2025
Application deadlines
Visa-required applicants
Applicants from countries requiring a visa before entering Germany:
- Priority deadline: 28 February 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus and visa support)
- General deadline: 30 April 2026 (subject to visa processing time)
EU/visa-exempt or post-arrival applicants:
Applicants from EU/EEA, Switzerland, or countries allowing visa-free entry (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea):
- Priority deadline: 31 March 2026 (includes early enrolment bonus & guaranteed spot)
- General deadline: 5 June 2026
- Late applications: Until 28 August 2026 (subject to availability)
Priority deadlines & early enrolment bonus
Apply by the priority deadline to secure your place and receive a €1,000 tuition discount.
Early enrolment gives you early access to our visa support service and allows us to plan group sizes and resources in advance.
What does “visa” or “visa-exempt” mean?
- Visa-required: If you require a visa before entering Germany (e.g. citizens of India, Brazil, Mexico, China, Turkey), you must apply at a German embassy before arrival. Our Visa Support Service (included in the enrolment fee) supports you with paperwork, appointments and timelines. Visa processing can take 3–6 months, so early application is essential.
- Post-arrival visa: If you're from a country that allows visa-free entry (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea), you can enter Germany without a visa and apply for your student residence permit after arrival.
- Visa-exempt (EU/EEA/Switzerland): If you're a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you don't need a visa or residence permit to study in Germany.
You can check your visa requirements here.
Tuition fees - From €3,885 per semester
We believe that access to creative education should not be limited by financial barriers. That’s why we offer transparent, flexible tuition payment models designed to support a wide range of financial situations.
Payment options*
- Per semestre: €3,885 (3 semestre in total)
- Annual payment: €11,305 per year (3% discount)
- Flexible plans: Monthly and extended payment options available
*Enrolment fee: €895 per study year (non-refundable, due before each academic year begins). Visa support is included as part of the enrolment fee.
Scholarships & financial support
- Eligible for BAföG and other national funding schemes you can check here
- €2,000 scholarships available
- With scholarships and extended payment plans, tuition can be reduced to as low as €462/month, spread across two years (including one year post-graduation)
Apply by the priority deadline and save €1,000 of your total tuition
Early enrolment secures your place, helps us plan group sizes and facilities, and gives you more time to prepare for your move to Berlin.
- Visa-required students: Apply by 28 February 2026
- EU & visa-exempt students: Apply by 31 March 2026
Note: early enrolment bonuses cannot be combined with scholarships.
Multiple-course bonus:
If you decide to enrol in both a 4-week Summer Short Course and a degree course with us in within two years, you will receive a discount of 500€ on the total tuition.
Funding opportunities
As an officially accredited higher education institute based in Berlin, Catalyst offers access to a range of national funding opportunities for eligible students, such as BAföG.
Visit our funding guide to explore the most common options available to our students, both in Germany and across Europe.
Open days, Q&As and taster workshops
Get a feel for Catalyst and our courses at a range of both online and in-person events. Join us at a Virtual Open Day or an Open Day at our campus in Berlin, chat to our programme leads at Meet The Tutor, or try a taster workshop.
Funding opportunities
As an officially accredited higher education institute based in Berlin, Catalyst offers access to a range of national funding opportunities for eligible students, including BAföG and other public financial aid schemes available across Germany and the EU.
In addition to public funding, Catalyst offers a variety of scholarships designed to support diversity, equity, and access in the creative arts. These include:
- General and school-specific scholarships across all Bachelor's and Master's programmes
- Up to €2,000 in tuition support for Master's students
- Relocation support scholarships for international students moving to Berlin
To learn more about these opportunities and how to apply, visit our full Funding Your Studies guide.
€2,000 scholarships
We offer a range of €2,000 scholarships for this Master’s programme, applied as a full €2,000 reduction for the one-year course, or €1,000 per year for the part-time option. These scholarships can be combined with other funding opportunities, where eligible.
1. Community Healers Scholarship
This scholarship is for students who have worked in grassroots mental health or community wellness and are bringing this experience into their academic and creative practice.
Who it’s for:
Applicants with verifiable experience in mental health support, peer-to-peer care, or community wellness initiatives.
Eligibility criteria:
- Documented work or volunteer experience in mental health or community support
- A clear motivation to integrate these experiences into your studies
- Interest in combining psychological and creative approaches to healing
- Evidence of reflective practice and commitment to community care
- Desire to develop a professional or research-based path in this field
2. Perspectives in Psychology Scholarship
This scholarship is for students integrating lived experience of identity and marginalisation (including queer perspectives) into their psychological or creative practice.
Who it’s for:
Applicants whose work engages with identity, equity, or alternative approaches to psychology.
Eligibility criteria:
- Personal or professional experience connected to the perspective you wish to develop
- A commitment to bringing diverse voices into psychological practice or research
- An interest in connecting psychological study with creative or social work
- Evidence of critical thinking about representation in psychology
- Motivation to make an impact in the field through inclusive practice
3. Lifework Reimagined Scholarship (Career Switchers)
For students who are transitioning into psychology from another career and want to merge their past experiences with future impact — through mental health, creativity, or community-based work.
Who it’s for:
Applicants with a previous degree or professional background in another area (e.g. business, education, public service, law, tech) who are now making a purposeful transition into the field of applied creative psychology.
Eligibility criteria:
- Completion of a degree or equivalent work experience in a different field
- Demonstrated motivation to shift into psychology and human development
- Clear intention to integrate prior experience into future practice
- A strong personal commitment to personal growth, care work, or community service
Behind the scenes
Stories from our creative community
