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Music

BA/BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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Whether it is a classical symphony from Vienna, a garage band in Dublin, a gamelan ensemble from Indonesia, or a curated playlist to share with friends, making music, listening to music, and thinking about music are fundamental parts of being human. At UCD, we equip students with the multiple tools necessary to understand a wide variety of musical practices as composers, producers, performers, and thinkers. Study music at UCD if you love creating, listening to, understanding, and talking about music.

About This Course

Whether it is a classical symphony from Vienna, a garage band in Dublin, a gamelan ensemble from Indonesia, or a curated playlist to share with friends, making music, listening to music, and thinking about music are fundamental parts of being human. At UCD, we equip students with the multiple tools necessary to understand a wide variety of musical practices as composers, producers, performers, and thinkers. Study music at UCD if you love creating, listening to, understanding, and talking about music.

You will develop your creativity and musicianship through classes in composition, performance, and theory. You will enrich your knowledge of the role that music has played in the past, and continues to play in societies around the world, through classes in history and culture. You will dive deeper into your own musical interests – whether as a composer, performer, or thinker – through research. You will find out and experience why music is so foundational to contemporary life.

BA Joint Honours (DN520)

Students who take Music as a joint-honours, three-year degree will study Music together with one other major subject, selected from the range listed under “How Will I Study?” below. Learn about and engage in the history, culture, and practice of music from Ireland, Europe, and across the world.

BA Humanities (DN530)

In this single-subject, four-year degree, the first two years offer a range of core and option modules that provide a thorough grounding in music, while broadening your horizons. In the third and fourth years, you choose modules that align with your developing interests and specialisms. You can also choose to incorporate an internship or to study abroad. In the final year, you will complete a major dissertation or applied project in creative practice, working one-on-one with an expert in your field.

First Year

Modules include: • Listening to Music • Writing about Music • Music, Culture & Society • Musicianship • Classical Music • Popular Music • A choice of performance ensembles

Second Year

Modules include: • Understanding Music • Music Theory • Music History since 1750 • Irish Music • Global Soundscapes • Music Industries • Film Music • Techniques of Songwriting • Performing Process • A choice of performance ensembles

Third and Fourth Year

Modules include: • Techniques of Composition • Blues & Jazz • Post-Truth, Politics & Music • Music & Philosophy • The Piano Concerto • Music, Sound & the Moving Image • Music & Theatre • Beyoncé and Tay: Race, Gender, and Celebrity • Introduction to Conducting • A choice of performance ensembles.

There are seven professionally-directed ensembles in UCD: Ad Astra Chamber Orchestra, UCD Choral Scholars, UCD Composition Ensemble, UCD Gamelan Orchestra, UCD Philharmonic Choir, UCD Symphony Orchestra, and the Traditional Music Practices group. These ensembles regularly perform in leading venues in Ireland and internationally, and often on radio and TV. Over forty performance scholarships are available each year for students joining the UCD Choral Scholars or the UCD Symphony Orchestra. UCD School of Music also has use of a professionally equipped black box theatre and media lab (the Trapdoor).

Study Music (BA Humanities) as a single subject.

Art History Irish/Gaeilge
Celtic Civilisation Irish Folklore
Drama Studies Irish Studies
English Italian
Film Studies Latin
French Linguistics
German Mathematics
Geography Philosophy
Greek & Roman Civilisation Spanish
Portuguese

Information & Communication Studies

We offer Erasmus exchange in Europe and study abroad in the USA, Canada, Japan and other countries.

Music graduates have a range of skills, including research, creative thinking, critical reasoning, and writing, that enable them to pursue careers in education, composition, production, performance, creative practice, the music industry, journalism, media, arts administration, and a diverse range of careers in business and industry.

UCD School of Music offers a taught MMus in Music & Culture, plus research-based MLitt and PhD programmes in Musicology, Ethnomusicology, and Composition. 

You can register for the UCD Arts and Humanities Open Evening (14 November) here and the School of Music Open Evening (27 January) here.



For any other enquiries, please email music@ucd.ie


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10150 Writing about Music Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10250 Understanding Music Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10270 Music in Human Life Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10220 Popular Music Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10120 Music, Culture and Society Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10190 Music Theory 1 Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10230 Classical Music: The Farewell Tour Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
MUS10260 Introduction to Composition Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS10210 Musicianship Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20340 UCD Symphony Orchestra Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20360 UCD Choral Scholars Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20730 Irish Traditional Music Practices Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20770 UCD Philharmonic Choir Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20800 UCD Composition Ensemble Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20820 UCD Gamelan Ensemble Autumn 2025-26 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS10240 Music in Ireland Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20350 UCD Symphony Orchestra Spring 2025-26 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20370 UCD Choral Scholars Spring 2025-26 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20740 Irish Traditional Music Practices Spring 2025-26 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20780 UCD Philharmonic Choir Spring 2025-26 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20810 UCD Composition Ensemble Spring 2025-26 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 3 of:
Choose a minimum of 3 modules from the following list. All students are strongly advised to balance their workload. This means 30 credits in autumn and 30 credits in spring.
Stage 1 elective modules are chosen and taken in the Spring trimester.
MUS20830 UCD Gamelan Ensemble Spring 2025-26 Spring  5

SDG4 SDG 5 SDG 10 SDG 11 SDG 16 SDG 17

 

By joining the UCD College of Arts and Humanities you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable, just and equitable future. Our courses are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen arts and humanities subjects. Our research and teaching and learning connect with many of the SDGs, most notably:

  • SDG 4: Quality Education -Promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

  • SDG 5: Gender Equality - Advances gender equality by addressing social norms, histories, and cultural practices that contribute to gender disparities.

  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Encourages understanding and action against social, economic, and political inequalities.

  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Enhances cultural understanding and heritage preservation, fostering sustainable communities.

  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions through critical inquiry into human rights, ethics, and governance.

  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Encourages global partnerships and collaboration by fostering international understanding and dialogue.

Our programmes equip students with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, essential for addressing complex global challenges.

Picking Music at UCD was a very easy choice for me. I have always been a very musical person, singing from a young age and teaching myself to play instruments through the years. I chose Music at UCD to further my music theory and culture education, and I have learned so much in my three years here. The broad variety of modules available has truly helped me become the musician I am today. Everyone at the UCD School of Music has been so helpful and supportive, and you really do feel at home here.

Isobel Jennings, Student

Picking Music at UCD was a very easy choice for me. I have always been a very musical person, singing from a young age and teaching myself to play instruments through the years. I chose Music at UCD to further my music theory and culture education, and I have learned so much in my three years here. The broad variety of modules available has truly helped me become the musician I am today. Everyone at the UCD School of Music has been so helpful and supportive, and you really do feel at home here.

Isobel Jennings, Student

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Music:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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MCS5
Music
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
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BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
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SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
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DN530
Music
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO
showAudience-audienceEU
DN520
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO
showAudience-audienceEU
DN700
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page