Music Therapy research November (2025)

The goal of the PhD course in Music Therapy research is to train doctoral students with theoretical, technical, methodological, and applied clinical research knowledge in the field of music therapy research in a way that assures scientific rigor. The 5 ECTS biannual courses includes a rich mixture of course work and aim to cover the following topics of learning: a) Reflexive methodology including data administration and data analysis, b) Objectivistic methodology including data administration and statistical analysis, c) Research ethics and reflexivity, d) Theory of science, and e) Academic writing and dissemination.

Teaching methods:

The working methods for the biannual courses consist of workshops, round table discussions, lectures, paper presentations from PhD students of research in progress with feedback from the professors and the peer group. The PhD courses are in English. Master’s level music therapy students are invited to guest teachers’ lectures. These presentations are marked with ► in the programme. The doctoral students’ presentations are only open to the group of doctoral researchers, professors, and invited guests. 

Pedagogically the doctoral program is informed by the principles of Problem Based Learning, offering strategies where the doctoral students learn through peer-reflections and collaborative peer learning and take the role for self-directed and self-regulated learning with problematization as an important driving force. By offering internal courses where the students work with the peer group, invited presenters and the supervisors, a cross-disciplinary and enriching learning community is created where ideas and problems are shared, and where learning has value at an academic as well as at a professional and personal level. The peer group consists of a majority of highly experienced music therapists, but also other professionals, and at all levels of their doctoral training. The newly enrolled students therefore learn from the peers who are at different stages of the research process.

• Hanne Mette Ridder
• Stine Lindahl Jacobsen
• Niels Hannibal
• Bolette Daniels Beck
• Charlotte Lindvang
• Ulla Holck
• Gustavo Gattino
• Jens Anderson-Ingstrup
• invited external lectures.

Description of assignment for the PhD course

After the course, it is required to submit a 5-page assignment to the course manager and PhD supervisor. The text format can be a reflexive journal including elements of free-writing and creative writing. It must include working title of the PhD research and research questions, and focus on how presentations, workshops, and discussions from the course are relevant for the participant’s research, and possibly how these elements align with article drafts or a draft for the linking text or the monograph.

Required:

Content

• Relate your own research project to insights from the PhD course
• Reflecting on presentations by PhD researchers or lectures or on literature presented at the course and suggesting what that brings perspectives to your reflections

Format

• 5 pages
• A title to the text
• Mail to course manager and your supervisor

TBA

If you are a student not enrolled at Department of Communication and Psychology you must contact Hanne Mette Ochsner Ridder on hmr@ikp.aau.dk regarding participation.

It is free for students enrolled at a Danish university. PhD students from abroad will be charged a fee.

Key literature:

TBA

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.