Higher Diploma in Arts (Music)

The Higher Diploma in Arts is provided at UCC for graduates who wish to study intensively for one year a subject other than the subject of their first degree. For instance: the Higher Diploma might be taken in Music by a graduate with, say, an Economics degree who has sufficient musical skills and interests to embark on the course but who does not have a degree in Music. In this way the Higher Diploma acts as an important conversion course between subject areas and enables graduates in non-Music subjects to seek to make themselves eligible for consideration for graduate programmes in Music at masters and doctoral levels.

Although it is a postgraduate qualification in that candidates for it are already graduates, the Higher Diploma in Arts is an undergraduate programme in that it involves undergraduate modules and the level of study required is equivalent to the final year of a primary degree. The programme involves fulltime (daytime) study over two semesters, from late September through to May, or may be taken part-time over two years. It consists of Music modules to the total 60 credits drawn from years 2-4 of our undergraduate degree programmes in Music (for BA or BMus). Students taking the programme share classes and examinations with our undergraduate students and are regarded as the equivalent of final-year students.

This is an extremely flexible programme of study that is tailored to suit the interests of the candidate and his/her aspirations for specialization in music. If you are interested in the programme but remain unsure if it is ideal for you, do not hesitate to seek our advice.

The entry process involves an interview with audition, held in late August. Application is made online through the Postgraduate Application Centre at www.pac.ie by 1 July: the relevant course-code is CKA20.

Programme regulations: see the entry in UCC’s Calendar