Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance

The Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance is a four-year undergraduate degree program that aims to develop students' contemporary dance skills and knowledge of their dance practice. The program is designed to include other forms of artistic expression and to introduce students to various dance and performance approaches and scholarly traditions.

Key Information

• NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
• Course code: LM133
• Duration: 4 Years
• CAO points history: 453 (Audition required)
• Fees: See what fees may apply to students
• Subject area: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Course Director: Dr Grant McLay

About the Course

The BA Contemporary Dance programme is designed to develop your contemporary dance skills and knowledge of your dance practice, as well as to include other forms of artistic expression. As a student, you will be based at the world-class facilities of the Irish World Academy building, equipped to the highest standards with cutting-edge performance and rehearsal spaces and technological infrastructure.

What You Will Study

You will learn a range of Modern and Contemporary Dance Techniques, Choreography, Ballet, and movement awareness techniques such as Yoga, Pilates, and Feldenkrais. You will have the opportunity to engage with other dance practices such as Aerial Dance, Hip hop, Flamenco, and Irish traditional dance. You will gain the contextual understanding and the critical, analytical, and reflective skills which will inform your artistic practice.

Year 1

• Semester 1:
  • MD4101 - Performance 1A
  • MD4091 - Irish World Academy Practicum C1
  • MU4001 - Critical Encounters with Irish Music and Dance
  • MU4011 - Critical Encounters with World Music and Dance
  • Electives
• Semester 2:
  • MD4102 - Performance 2A
  • MD4111 - Irish World Academy Practicum C2
  • MU4012 - Critical Encounters with Western Art Music and Dance
  • MU4002 - Critical Encounters with Popular Music and Dance
  • Electives

Year 2

• Semester 3:
  • MD4103 - Performance 3A
  • MD4092 - Irish World Academy Practicum C3
  • MD4123 - Dance Studies 1
  • MD4113 - Performing Arts Technology
  • Electives
• Semester 4:
  • MD4124 - Performance 4A
  • MD4112 - Irish World Academy Practicum C4
  • MD4134 - Experiential Anatomy and Movement Analysis
  • MD4034 - Contextualising and Vocational Studies 3
  • Electives

Year 3

• Semester 5: Cooperative Education
• Semester 6 (Optional International Exchange available):
  • MD4106 - Performance 5A
  • MD4116 - Irish World Academy Practicum C5
  • MU4106 - Arts and Health
  • MU4013 - Research Skills: Ethnomusicology/ Ethnochoreology/ Arts Practice
  • Electives

Year 4

• Semester 7:
  • MD4137 - Performance 6A
  • MD4147 - Irish World Academy Practicum C6
  • MD4157 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 1
  • MU4007 - Professional Skills for the Performing Arts
  • Electives
• Semester 8:
  • MD4118 - Performance 7A
  • MD4128 - Irish World Academy Practicum C7
  • MD4138 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 2
  • MD4148 - Dance Pedagogy
  • Electives

Entry Requirements

• CAO points history: 453 (Audition required)
• Minimum grades: Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
• Additional considerations: Auditions will take place on 11th and 12th April 2026. A later audition date will be set for those who select the programme using the CAO change of mind function. Applicants must pass an interview/audition.

How to Apply

• Where are you applying from?
  • Ireland: Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO.
  • The UK: Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO.
  • The EU: EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO.
  • Non-EU country: If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and Funding

• Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy, and Tuition Fees.
• EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant:
  • HEA pays: Tuition Fees 4,762
  • SUSI pays: Student contribution 2,500
  • Student pays: Student Levy 104
  • Total: 7,366
• EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant:
  • HEA pays: Tuition Fees 4,762
  • Student pays: Student contribution 2,500
  • Student pays: Student Levy 104
  • Total: 7,366
• Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant:
  • Student pays: Tuition Fees 4,762
  • Student pays: Student contribution 2,500
  • Student pays: Student Levy 104
  • Total: 7,366
• Non-EU Students:
  • Student pays: Tuition Fees 22,596
  • Student pays: Student Levy 104
  • Total: 22,700

Your Future Career

• Dance Artist/Performer
• Further Study (MA, PhD)
• Movement Researcher
• Choreographer
• Dance Therapy
• Dance Film Maker
• Community Dance Practitioner
• Dance teacher
• Dance Science
• Arts administration
• Performance/Production management
• Work in cultural institutions and archives

Follow-on Study

• Master of Arts Irish Traditional Dance Performance
• Master of Arts Irish Traditional Music Performance
• Master of Arts Contemporary Dance Performance
• Master of Arts Irish Music Studies
• Master of Arts Irish Dance Studies
• MA Dance Studies
• Master of Arts Ethnochoreology
• Master of Arts Ethnomusicology
• Master of Arts Ritual Chant and Song
• Master of Arts Community Music
• Master of Arts Music Therapy
• Master of Arts Festive Arts
• Master of Arts Classical String Performance in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra
• Professional Master of Education in Music
• PhD Arts Practice
• PhD Research