Graduates who have not reached the required standard at the BA (Hons) Degree Examination (and who have presented for the Examination in this University) may be permitted to proceed to a Masters Degree provided they sit (with the permission of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences) for a qualifying examination in the subject concerned and attain at least Second Class Honours standard therein. Candidates taking the Masters Qualifying Examination in their degree subject may not register for the qualifying examination until at least one year after they have obtained their primary degree. Graduates of UCC other than Arts graduates and other persons deemed equivalently qualified by the College/Faculty may be admitted to the Higher Diploma in Arts (attendance requirements and coursework to be determined by the relevant departments/schools). The approval of a candidate's application for permission to present for the Masters Qualifying Examination in a particular subject shall remain valid only for a period of two years dating from the commencement of the session in which the application is considered and approved. The examination may be taken once only.

Note: The Masters Qualifying Examination does not automatically provide access to a Master's programme, which in the first instance depends on the approval of the Department/School concerned.

Masters Qualifying Examination is available in the following areas: Archaeology, Béaloideas/ Folklore (Folklore, Béaloideas), Classics (Greek and Roman Civilisation), Early and Medieval Irish, English, French, Geography, German, Hispanic Studies, History (including History of Art), Italian, Modern Irish, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology.

Unless otherwise stated, the Masters Qualifying Examination shall consist of the following:

• Final Year modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken. In the case of students who have passed all available Final Year modules, modules from the Second Year of the programme may be allocated instead.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay in the form of a literature review, or specified equivalent (5 credits).

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (FRENCH)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in French shall consist of the following:

• Final Year modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken. In the case of students who have passed all available Final Year modules, modules from the Second Year of the programme may be allocated instead.
• An 8,000 -10,000 word dissertation or extended essay, on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay in the form of a literature review to be written in French (5 credits).

AN SCRÚDÚ CÁILIÚCHÁIN DON MHÁISTRÍOCHT (GAEILGE)

Céimithe sa Ghaeilge ar mhian leo céim Mháistríochta a bhaint amach i réimse na Nua-Ghaeilge féadfaidh siad an Scrúdú Onóracha BA a dhéanamh mar scrúdú cáiliúcháin (faoi réir na gcoinníollacha ginearálta atá luaithe thuas), agus caighdeán dara onóracha, ar a laghad, a bhaint amach sa scrúdú sin.

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (GERMAN)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in German shall consist of the following:

• Final Year modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken. In the case of students who have passed all available Final Year modules, modules from the Second Year of the programme may be allocated instead.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay or other assessment, to be written in German (5 credits).

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (GREEK AND ROMAN CIVILISATION)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in Greek and Roman Civilisation shall consist of the following:

• Modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken from GK6101 or LT6101 (15 credits per module).
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay in the form of a literature review or specified equivalent (5 credits).

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (HISPANIC STUDIES)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in Spanish shall consist of the following:

• Final Year modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken. In the case of students who have passed all available Final Year modules, modules from the Second Year of the programme may be allocated instead.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay, on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay in the form of a literature review or other agreed topic, written in the target language (5 credits).

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (ITALIAN)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in Italian shall consist of the following:

• Final Year modules to the value of 15 credits, or specified equivalent, which the student has not previously taken. In the case of students who have passed all available Final Year modules, modules from the Second Year of the programme may be allocated instead.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay, on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• A further essay in the form of a literature review, to be written in Italian (5 credits).

MASTERS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (MUSIC)

The Masters Qualifying Examination in Music will be one of the following:

MMus in Performance

• Modules to the value of 15 credits from the final years of the BA (Hons) and BMus (Hons) programmes which the candidate has not previously taken.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• Recital: a public performance lasting 25-30 minutes (10 credits).

MA in Composition

• Modules to the value of 15 credits from the final years of the BA (Hons) and BMus (Hons) programmes which the candidate has not previously taken.
• An 8,000-10,000 word dissertation or extended essay, on a topic not previously covered in the undergraduate programme (10 credits).
• Portfolio of original composition(s), normally of at least 15 minutes duration in total (10 credits).