The MA in Composition may be taken full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

In order to be permitted to proceed to the MA in Composition, a candidate must hold an Honours Bachelor's degree in Music, with a grade of Second Class Honours, Grade II or higher, and demonstrate experience in the creation of music; candidates with an Honours degree in another subject, Second Class Honours, Grade II or higher, and a demonstrable experience of composing music may also be eligible.
Applicants with an appropriate professional equivalent (e.g. professional musician or other artist of high standing, etc.) will also be considered. Final acceptance is subject to approval by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, UCC.
All applicants will be required to submit a portfolio of compositional work in whatever form is suitable (scores, recordings, videos, computer programmes, etc.) and may also be required to attend an interview with members of the programme team.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I
MU6030 Research Skills (5 credits)
MU6038 Noise (5 credits)
MU6039 Praxis 1(10 credits)
MU6040 Praxis 2 (10 credits)
MU6041 Agora (5 credits)
MU6031 Sound Studies and Musicology (5 credits)

Plus

20 credits of elective modules from the following list, or from elsewhere in the university, subject to the agreement of the programme co-ordinator.

MU6007 Digital Music and Media Composition and Orchestration I (10 credits)
MU6008 Digital Music and Media Composition and Orchestration II (10 credits)
MU6035 The Body in Creative Arts Practice (10 credits)
MU6036 Music and Popular Culture (10 credits)
MU6037 Music and Cinema (10 credits)
MU6034 Multidisciplinary Debates in Ethnomusicology and Musicology (5 credits)
MU6004 Performance Practice (15 credits)
MU6026 Performance Workshop (15 credits)

Part II
MU6024 Portfolio (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2017 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2016/2017.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MA in Composition (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate improved knowledge and understanding of many important trends in New Music;
• Exhibit comprehension of diverse compositional techniques;
• Show expansion, improvement and greater confidence in their compositional language;
• Demonstrate increased ability to discuss and critique their own and others' music.