Program Overview

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Course Details

CAO Code:

DC014

Course Type:

Undergraduate

NFQ Level:

- Please see for further information

Delivery Modes

• Full-Time

Minimum Points

#328

Duration:

yr

Overview

The BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance at DCU is a four-year, full time Honours degree which trains you for a life as a professional performing musician. To take to the stage as a performer demands intensive training as well as talent. Our degree course can help you on your way to a career as a professional musician. You will also understand the context of the international music scene today, how the music business works and how you can make your mark in it.

Careers & Further Options

Careers

The BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance gives you access to a wide field of activities as a professional musician, and a wide portfolio of skills which you can apply to many areas. The programme will give you skills in the areas of composition, arranging, producing, session musician and of course as a professional performing musician in which you will have the skills to play in many different performance environments. The course is also in line with Teaching Council registration requirements if you decide to pursue a career teaching music. Our course meets the criteria for the Level 8 Bachelors degree (with Irish Trad module) only.

Career Prospects

• Professional Performing Musician
• Composer
• Arranger
• Music Teacher
• Music Producer
• Session Musician

Entry Requirements

General Entry Requirements

Applicants for the BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance [DC014] programme will be required to participate in an in-person performance audition and interview, that will take place on Saturday, 05th April 2025.

The audition and interview date for late CAO applicants and International applicants will be Friday, 18th July 2025.

Applicants will be sent full details of the audition and interview process, along with a form to complete to indicate their intention to participate.

Leaving Cert

There are no additional entry requirements for this programme apart from the general entry requirements for admission to the university. Applicants will be required to participate in a performance audition. Applicants who have made their application with the CAO by 1st February will be contacted in early March to complete an online form. Applicants who make an application after 1st February will be contacted in early July to complete the online form.

GCE A Level

There are no additional entry requirements for this programme apart from the general entry requirements for admission to the university. Applicants will be required to participate in a performance audition. Applicants who have made their application with the CAO by 1st February will be contacted in early March to complete an online form. Applicants who make an application after 1st February will be contacted in early July to complete the online form.

FET Level 5

Please visit our Admissions webpage for details on course requirements or how to apply to DCU.

Please visit our QQI FET webpage for details on DCU courses, open days, campus tours or school visits.

Mature Applicants

Mature entry is a competitive process. Applicants must demonstrate:

• a genuine interest in the programme(s) they are applying for
• academic experience and competency in their chosen field of study
• an ability to engage and succeed on the programme

All applicants must complete a statement of interest to be considered for the mature application route.

For further guidance on the mature application process please see the CAO Website

Advanced Entry

Applications are made via the CAO Advanced Entry route which will open on the 5th November to 1st July.

International Applications

International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. Click here for further information on international applications.

Course Structure

Overview

A diverse and rigorous course of study is organised throughout all four years of the course. The course has five principal areas of study:

1. Ensemble Studies
2. Instrumental Studies
3. Arranging and Composition Studies
4. Aural and Theoretical Studies
5. Contextual Studies

What Will I Study?

While content of the course may change over time, these modules are indicative of what you will be studying in each year.

Year 1

• Jazz Aural Training 1 and 2
• Jazz and Contemporary Harmony 1 and 2
• Improv Ensemble 1
• Instrumental/Vocal Labs 1
• Instrumental/Vocal Skills 1
• Keyboard Skills
• Project Ensemble
• Rhythm Studies 1
• Jazz Composition 1
• History of Western Music
• Music Technology 1

Year 2

• Arranging 1 and 2
• Approved Style Ensemble 1
• Jazz Aural Training 3 and 4
• Jazz and Contemporary Harmony 3 and 4
• Improv Ensemble 2
• Instrumental/Vocal Labs 2
• Instrumental/Vocal Skills 2
• Rhythm Studies 2
• Transcription 1
• Music Technology 2
• Music of the African Diaspora

Year 3

• Arranging 3
• Approved Style Ensemble 2
• Jazz Composition 2
• Ensemble Performance 1
• Instrumental/Vocal Labs 3
• Instrumental/Vocal Skills 3
• Rhythm Studies 3
• Transcription 2
• Critical Listening
• Jazz History
• Performance Ear Training
• Harmonic Ear Training and Sight Singing

Year 4

• Approved Style Ensemble 3
• Jazz Composition 3
• Ensemble Performance 2
• Irish Composers’ Workshop
• Instrumental/Vocal Labs 4
• Instrumental/Vocal Skills 4
• Rhythm Studies 4
• Written Analysis Project
• Music Business

Options include:

• Advanced Harmony
• Jazz History, Ethos and Philosophy
• Jazz Performance Studies
• Irish Traditional Music

Fees and Funding

Fees

• Full time
  • Student Contribution: €3,043 per annum
  • EU Status Fee: €6,679 per annum
  • Non EU Fee: €16,400 per annum

How To Apply

Applicants presenting EU school leaving examinations (EU, EFTA & UK)

Apply through the Central Applications Office ( by 1st Feb and 1st May.

Applicants presenting examinations from outside the EU

To apply for this programme:
Candidates should apply directly here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application.

Please provide

• Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis up to 1st July. All Non-EU candidates are advised to apply early, as places are limited.

Mature Applicants

All mature applicants apply through the CAO by 1st February. For further information and for special application procedures click here

Advanced Entry

Applications are made via the CAO Advanced Entry route which will open on the 5th November to 1st July.

Life On Campus

Clubs & Societies

Be part of DCU’s music scene
If you are aiming high as a performer and are keen to take part in the lively music scene at DCU, you will enjoy taking on the challenge of this degree course. Playing and performing is an extensive part of this course and you’ll have a great opportunity to enjoy the social side of music. There are many fantastic clubs and societies to choose from at DCU but as a student on this degree, you might want to check out the DCU Music Ensemble, Gospel Choir, Trad Soc, the DJ Society, and weekly jam sessions with the Jazz Society naturally!

Life on Campus

At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.

DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.

They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.

Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.

Exceptional Facilities

DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.

These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.

We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.

Campus Life

Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.

There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.

For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all- weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.

FAQs

Programme FAQs

I am really passionate about music - What can your Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance (DC014) degree do for me?
Our BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance is a four-year, full time Honours degree which trains you for a life as a professional performing musician. The programme covers a wide range of musical techniques including performance, instrumental technique, improvisation, composition, computer music, aural training, arranging and pedagogical studies, giving the participants the skills necessary to operate in a wide area of contemporary music, not just jazz. We aim to train young musicians to the highest international standards and to be fully equipped to work in the world of contemporary music both here and abroad.

A key feature of this programme is an opportunity for students to transfer into Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of the most prestigious music schools in the world in the field of contemporary music.

Remember – there is an audition to qualify for this degree, so start practicing!

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance ?
In addition to general entry requirements for admission to DCU, applicants on this course will also take part in a performance/audition before registration. The auditions usually happen at the end March/early April and they also include a short interview. For late applicants and change of mind applicants, a second round of auditions usually takes place in early July. Exact dates to be confirmed.

What is required for the audition and interview process?
2 pieces should be prepared that best showcase your abilities. These do not need to be jazz or involve improvisation, though experience in these areas does help.

Do I need to play with a band or backing track?
You can play in whatever format best suits you. This can be a band with up to 2 other musicians or with a backing track or completely solo.

How long do the pieces need to be?
There is no set length but your pieces should be of sufficient length to give the auditioners a good sample of your ability. Anywhere upwards of 2 minutes, depending on the complexity and format of the audition piece.

Do you need to have received formal training or have done Leaving Cert music?
Prior formal training is not a requirement but it does help. We recognise the potential and ability of self taught musicians and the level of experience some applicants have acquired in their own studies.

Faculty FAQs

Is DCU all one campus?

DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.

Click here to see maps of all of our campuses

If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?

_Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of. _

Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?

We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.

Does DCU provide accommodation?

DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.