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BACHELOR OF MUSIC

Qualification : BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREE

Award Type and NFQ level : UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (8)

CAO/PAC code : MH103

CAO Points : 000

Closing Date : 01 February 2024

View QQI details

Studying Music at Maynooth offers unparalleled choice and expertise. Our programmes are designed to ensure a broad and firm grounding in practical, compositional and academic work, with expanded opportunities to specialise in areas that really interest you the most in your final year.

  • Exciting and varied programme of practical, compositional and academic work.
  • In your third year, you have the option to specialise in performance, composition or musicology. Some of the modules available include ‘Jazz Styles in the USA’, ‘Music and Entrepreneurship’, ‘Opera in Context’ and ‘Popular Music Studies’. Students also join ensembles such as the Chamber Choir, Choral Society and the Traditional Music Ensemble.
  • Develop 
    • performance skills through individual tuition and take an active part in one of the Department’s vocal or instrumental ensembles.
    • creative potential through studies of electroacoustic composition, Irish traditional music, ethnomusicology, jazz and popular music, music therapy, the classical repertoire.
    • critical and analytical skills through modules in analysis, musicology, and music history.

Entrance Scholarship for MH103 Music Applicant:
We are pleased to continue to offer our Entrance Scholarship for one entrant to MH103 Music for September 2024.  The top scoring applicant, based on the MH103 online video audition, will be offered the scholarship of €1,000. The successful applicant will be informed following registration.

Music is also available as a subject in the MH101 Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Duration: 3 years (4 years with optional Erasmus/Study Abroad)

A year of study is 60 credits.

1st year

  • 45 credits of Music
  • Choose 1 other Bachelor of Arts subject or Critical Skills from the 4 BA groups available (i.e. excluding groups 2 & 5). See BA groups table.

2nd & 3rd year

  • Concentrate on Music only
  • Optional 10 credit Elective in 2nd year

Students may apply to study overseas after 2nd year (on Erasmus or Study Abroad) and graduate with a BA (International) after 4 years. See the International Studies website for details.

Course Duration: 3 years (BMus) or 4 years (BMus International)

  • Music teacher, choral director, church organist/director of music, music librarian, orchestral/session musician, composer/arranger
  • Arts administration, multimedia, music industry, music journalism, music publicity and recording, radio production and presentation
  • Management consultancy and information technology

Postgraduate courses which may be offered by the Department include:
MA in Composition, MA in Creative Music Technologies, MA in Musicology, MA in Irish Traditional Music, MSc in Sound and Music Computing

The BMus meets the Teaching Council’s Curricular Subject Requirements for Music (Post-Primary) for those applying for registration as post-primary teachers on/after 1 January 2017.

Visit the Graduate Studies website for more information about postgraduate options.

This table displays the requirements for Leaving Certificate applicants.
Subject Required Ordinary Level Grade Higher Level Grade
Irish Yes O6 H7
English Yes O6 H7
Language Yes O6 H7
Math No N/A N/A
Science No N/A N/A

International & EU/EFTA Entry Requirements

Mature Students

Mature Applicants

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time degrees the mature age is 21. CAO restricted-application course.

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability 

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require examination support for any written tests that may be required, please submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2024 to the Access Office. 

Unfortunately we are unable to consider applications for alternative examination accommodation after this deadline. 

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

01 February 2024

Additional Information

Leaving Certificate Applicants 

Required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language.

MH103 is a CAO restricted-application course. Prospective students must complete an online video audition. Applicants must be able to demonstrate, during the audition, a minimum of Grade 6 standard (ABRSM, RIAM, Trinity College London) on a standard orchestral instrument (excluding percussion), piano, organ, classical guitar, voice or saxophone, or a minimum of Grade 6 standard (Rockschool, Trinity College London) on bass, drums, vocals, keyboard or guitar (electric or acoustic). Traditional Irish instrumentalists and musical theatre vocalists of a comparable fluency are also invited to audition. Please see further details on the Department of Music website. Applicants to MH103 will be sent full details on the assessment process in March annually by the Department of Music. Offers will be made to successful applicants in May, subject to students attaining matriculation requirements in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent examination.

Entrance Scholarship for MH103 Music Applicant:
We are pleased to continue to offer our Entrance Scholarship for one entrant to MH103 Music. The top scoring applicant, based on the online video audition will be offered the scholarship of €1,000. The successful applicant will be informed following registration. 

All BMus students:
All BMus students take individual tuition in their instrument or voice with an approved performance tutor. In the final year you have the chance to specialise in performance, composition or musicology. Group piano tuition is an option open to all levels from absolute beginner to advanced. Where possible, the Department of Music arranges instrumental/vocal tuition on campus. Students can also choose to have instrumental/vocal tuition (funded to a maximum amount by the Department) at either DIT or RIAM.

 

HEAR and DARE

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.

The Maynooth Education

Click here for details about optional Critical Skills courses, Electives and degree pathways. 

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are.

Leaving Certificate applicants are required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language. 

This is a CAO restricted-application course – apply before February 1st to the CAO (online video audition - applicants will be advised by the Music Department in March).

MH103 is a CAO restricted-application course. Prospective students must complete an online video audition. Applicants must be able to demonstrate, during the audition, a minimum of Grade 6 standard (ABRSM, RIAM, Trinity College London) on a standard orchestral instrument (excluding percussion), piano, organ, classical guitar, voice or saxophone, or a minimum of Grade 6 standard (Rockschool, Trinity College London) on bass, drums, vocals, keyboard or guitar (electric or acoustic). Traditional Irish instrumentalists and musical theatre vocalists of a comparable fluency are also invited to audition. Please see further details on the Department of Music website. Applicants to MH103 will be sent full details on the assessment process in March annually by the Department of Music. Offers will be made to successful applicants in May, subject to students attaining matriculation requirements in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent examination.

Categories of applicant:

  • School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
  • Mature students (23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University/part-time degrees the mature age is 21)
  • EU/EFTA/UK students
  • International students (outside the EU)
  • QQI (Further Education) students
  • Transferring students
  • Deferring students

Click here for all information about how to apply.

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