Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The Music Therapy Charity offers research grants to support music therapy research projects led by music therapists and research students. The programme aims to advance evidence-based practice in music therapy by funding small to medium-scale research initiatives.
The grants are awarded twice a year and are designed to support practical, clinically relevant, and academically rigorous research in the field of music therapy.
Programme Overview
The funding supports research projects that contribute to the development and understanding of music therapy across diverse contexts. It encourages both early-stage and ongoing research activities that strengthen the evidence base of the profession.
Key focus areas include:
- Music therapy research across all populations and settings
- Clinical and academic research development
- Evidence-based practice in music therapy
- Data collection, analysis, and interpretation
- Supervised research projects and academic collaboration
Funding Details
The programme offers two levels of funding:
Small grants:
- Up to £1,500 per project
- Suitable for smaller or pilot research studies
Medium grants:
- Up to £3,000 per project
- Suitable for more developed or extended research projects
Additional conditions:
- A maximum of three small grants per individual
- No more than one grant per applicant per call cycle
- Co-funded projects are encouraged
- Conference-only participation or attendance costs are not eligible
Eligible Costs
Funding may be used for:
- Part-time salary support for fixed periods
- Academic or clinical supervision costs
- Data collection activities
- Data analysis and research tools
- Other direct research-related expenses
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be:
- Qualified music therapists, or
- Research students in music therapy
Projects must:
- Be research-based in the field of music therapy
- Demonstrate clear aims and research questions
- Include appropriate methodology and supervision where required
Ineligible activities:
- Standalone conference attendance or participation costs
Application Requirements
Applicants are expected to provide clear research documentation including:
- Project aims and research questions
- Methodology and participant details
- Data collection and analysis approach
- Expected outcomes and benefits
- Financial breakdown of requested funding
- Long-term research plans related to the project
Reporting Requirements
Successful applicants must submit:
Progress reports (for longer projects):
- Submitted every six months
- Must include updates on aims, methods, participants, and findings
Final report:
- Summary of findings and outcomes
- Financial report of grant usage
- Evaluation of benefits and impact
- Future research directions
- Public-facing summary or video
Public-Facing Summary Requirements
The final report must include a short public summary or video explaining:
- The purpose and need for the research
- Who benefits from the work
- The impact on individuals and society
- Why the Music Therapy Charity is funding the project
Programme Objectives
The grant programme aims to:
- Strengthen the evidence base of music therapy
- Support early-career and established researchers
- Encourage clinically relevant research
- Improve therapeutic outcomes through evidence
- Promote dissemination of music therapy research
- Build research capacity within the profession
Expected Outcomes
- Increased high-quality music therapy research output
- Improved evidence-based clinical practice
- Greater understanding of therapeutic outcomes
- Enhanced professional development for music therapists
- Stronger integration of research into practice
- Broader dissemination of research findings
Why the Programme Matters
- Supports development of evidence-based music therapy practice
- Encourages small-scale but impactful research
- Strengthens academic and clinical collaboration
- Builds capacity among emerging researchers
- Improves understanding of therapeutic interventions
- Enhances public awareness of music therapy benefits
Conclusion
The Music Therapy Charity Research Grants Programme provides targeted funding for small and medium-scale research projects in music therapy. By supporting clinicians and research students, the programme strengthens the evidence base of the field and contributes to improved therapeutic practices and outcomes.
For more information, visit The Music Therapy Charity.