Music with Irish

Program Overview

---

Music with Irish - BA (Hons)

Overview

A course for the modern musician.

Summary

The undergraduate Music degree programme at Ulster University is based around four core elements: Performance, Composition, Musicology and Music Technology.

Year 1

• Designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of musical styles, genres and disciplines enabling them to develop existing skills and interests as well as acquire a range of new ones.
• As a Major student, you'll take modules in Musicology and Performance Studies.

Year 2

• Allows students the opportunity to begin specialising by introducing a number of optional modules.
• As a Major student, you'll take modules in Musicology and Performance Studies.

Year 3

• Enables students to focus their degree programme in one or more related areas of specialist interest with a broad range of advanced level modules.
• Placement presents students the opportunity to take part in an internship with a local music or arts organisation while the Project options allow students to pursue an independent course of research or practical work in a chosen field of musical study.

Irish as a Minor

• Available as a minor combination at Magee campus to supplement your major subject.
• Enables you to advance your knowledge of the modern language and to learn about a range of aspects of the Irish literary tradition both historical and contemporary.

About this course

About

The undergraduate Music degree programme is based around four core elements: Performance, Composition, Musicology and Music Technology.

Associate awards

• Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
• Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
• Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI

Attendance

• Three years full-time.
• Two 12 week semesters per academic year.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Attendance and Independent Study

• As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable.
• For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns.

Assessment

• Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module.
• Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods.
• Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes.

Modules

Year one

Labhairt agus Scríobh na Gaeilge 1

• This module takes students on the course from B2 (Vantage or upper intermediate) to C1 (Effective operational proficiency or advanced level).

Labhairt agus Scríobh na Gaeilge 2

• This module should consolidate the students' C1 level (Effective operational proficiency or advanced level) (CEFRL).

Musicology 1

• Musicology 1 introduces students to the nature of musicological enquiry.

Performance Studies 1

• This module introduces the student to a variety of approaches relating to the study of musical performance, promotes self-awareness and provides a broad context for further development.

Performance Studies 2

• This module builds on the skills acquired in MUS102, develops self-awareness, and encourages students to advance their understanding and appreciation of artistic qualities that characterise musical performances.

Musicology 2

• In this module students will be introduced to the study of Irish traditional music and the evolution of early jazz.

Year two

Inniúlacht i Labhairt agus i Scríobh na Gaeilge 1

• This module seeks to build on the language skills gained in previous modules.

Inniúlacht i Labhairt agus i Scríobh na Gaeilge 2

• This module builds on an Ghaeilge Scríofa 1 and covers the acquisition of written communicative skills.

Creative Computing

• This module is optional and designed for students who wish to develop their practice in interactive systems for live digital music or visual performance, software application prototype and/or installation work.

Musicology 3

• This module is optional and engages with a cross-section of musicological and performance-practice issues in the study of nineteenth-century Western Art Music and Contemporary Classical Music.

Electronic/Electroacoustic Composition

• This module is optional and introduces students to the key theoretical principles, creative practices and tools for electronic/electroacoustic music production.

Musicology 4

• This module is optional and builds on the perspectives established in Musicology 3, and provides students with both a broad appraisal of Irish traditional music, song and dance and specific explorations of music in a variety of styles.

Performance studies 3

• This module is optional and increases students' knowledge of repertoire and performance styles and develops a range of performance and performance-related skills.

Performance studies 4

• This module is optional and develops students' individual strengths in performance, their critical faculties and their awareness of the visual dimensions of performance.

Composition and Orchestration 3

• This module is optional and develops students' composing and orchestration skills, providing opportunities for them to engage with a range of contemporary scores and recordings.

Composition and Orchestration 4

• This module is optional and consolidates and develops composing and orchestrating skills as acquired in Composition and Orchestration 3.

Sound Recording and Production 1

• This module is optional and offers an in-depth exploration of the modern studio environment and its associated workflows.

Introduction to Music Business

• This module is optional and gives students an understanding of key working practices, skills and national and international organisations relevant to the music business.

Introduction to Music in the Community

• This module is optional and introduces the role of the musician in community arts, exploring skills which will equip students to participate in all aspects of community-based arts projects.

Music and Moving Image

• This module is optional and provides students with a historical, theoretical, stylistic and aesthetic study of music and moving image and the opportunity to compose for the screen.

Experimental Music

• This module is optional and introduces students to the key historical, practical, theoretical, and aesthetic themes associated with experimental music composition and performance.

Music and Sound Practices

• This module is optional and introduces students to the key creative, practical, theoretical, and aesthetic strategies associated with contemporary composition and performance which utilises timbre as the central tool for compositional exploration.

Year three

Léann agus Scileanna an Aistriúcháin

• This module introduces students to the study of grammar, syntax and phonology in Irish translation.

Oilteacht i Labhairt agus i Scríobh na Gaeilge

• This module seeks to build on the language skills gained in all previous modules.

Industrial Placement

• This module is optional and provides students with the opportunity to experience life as a professional in the creative industries as a paid employee of a company.

Year four

Interactive Music Systems

• This module is optional and designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in interactive media systems for installation and/or performance applications.

Sound Theory/Sound Practice

• This module is optional and develops the learner's understanding of the key role the `forgotten' medium of sound has in contemporary media and in our everyday lived experience.

Project 1

• This module is optional and allows students to develop the skills necessary to undertake and complete a research project.

Project 2

• This module is optional and allows students to develop the skills necessary to undertake and complete a research project.

Jazz in the United States

• This module is optional and explores the development of Jazz in the United States in the twentieth century using a range of critical and analytical techniques.

Double Project

• This module is optional and allows students to develop the skills necessary to undertake and complete a research project.

Music and Moving Image

• This module is optional and provides students with a historical, theoretical, stylistic and aesthetic study of music and moving image and the opportunity to compose for the screen.

Performance Studies 5

• This module is optional and allows students to focus on repertoire/styles in which they have demonstrated particular strengths.

Performance Studies 6

• This module is optional and is designed for students who have displayed the potential to pursue performance to a level of artistic excellence.

Conversations in Irish Traditional Music

• This module is optional and provides students with an overview of the sounds, conversation, communities and contexts of traditional musics in Ireland.

Composition Portfolio 1

• This module is optional and is intended to encourage and empower the student to compose medium scale (6-10 minute) works demonstrating a variety of creative approaches and skills.

Composition Portfolio 2

• This module is optional and is geared towards developing compositional skills the student has acquired in MUS517 Composition Portfolio 1.

Advanced Audio Production

• This module is optional and is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in audio production.

Placement 1

• This module is optional and allows students to spend a period of time working outside the university in a suitable music or arts organisation.

Placement 2

• This module is optional and allows students to spend a period of time working outside the university in a suitable music or arts organisation.

Teaching Music in the Community

• This module is optional and introduces students to the practice of teaching music outside the formal school environment.

Standard entry conditions

A level

• Grades CCC
• Applicants may satisfy the requirement for the final A level grade in the above grade profiles by substituting a combination of alternative qualifications to the same standard as defined by the University.

Applied General Qualifications

• QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2012 Suite)
  • Award profile of DMM
• RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma (2016 Suite)
  • Award profile of MMM
• QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (2012 Suite)
  • Award profile of DM plus A Level Grade C
• RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma (2016 Suite)
  • Award profile of MM plus A Level Grade C
• QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Introductory Diploma (2012 Suite)
  • Award profile of Merit plus A Level Grades CC
• RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/ OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Certificate (2016 Suite)
  • Award profile of Merit plus A Level Grades CC

Irish Leaving Certificate

• 96 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.

Scottish Highers

• CCCCC

Scottish Advanced Highers

• DDD

International Baccalaureate

• Overall International Baccalaureate profile is minimum 24 points (including 12 at higher level).

Access to Higher Education (HE)

• Overall profile of 55% (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access course)
• Overall profile of 45 credits at Merit (60 credit Access course) (GB Access course)

GCSE

• Please refer to the University’s general entrance requirements.

English Language Requirements

• The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5.
• Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Additional Entry Requirements

• HND - Overall Merit with distinctions in 15 Level 5 credits entry to Year 1.
• HNC - Overall Merit with distinctions in 45 Level 4 credits for entry to Year 1.
• Foundation Degree - an overall mark of 40% in Level 5 modules for Year 1 entry.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

• Studying music at Ulster prepares graduates for a range of careers both inside and outside of the music industry.
• Our students have been successful in establishing careers as composers and performers, studio engineers, teachers, community music leaders and many progress to postgraduate study at the Ulster University and other domestic and international institutions.

Fees and funding

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees

• £4,855.00

England, Scotland, Wales and the Islands Fees

• £9,535.00

International Fees

• £17,010.00

Annual Increase Disclaimer

• Fees illustrated are based on academic year 25/26 entry and are subject to an annual increase.

Additional mandatory costs

• Students visit the Gaeltacht for a week in the Autumn and in the Spring each year.
• The cost of each course is circa £125 to cover travel, accommodation, food, activities, excursions and classes.