Taught Masters in Music (MA) Composition

Application Deadline: May 31st each year. Apply here.

Late applications may be accepted until 15 September, subject to available resources.

Programme Overview

A full-time, 120 ECTS-credits, taught course for composers.

Students receive weekly individual lessons and supervised readings, performances and recording sessions.

Composers will be examined primarily through the submission of a portfolio of compositions in three instalments. The third portfolio takes the form of a collaborative project with a practitioner from another discipline of the student’s choice. The programme will include opportunities to participate in masterclasses with international artists as well as workshops with professionals operating in the international cultural sector.

During the first semester, all students are required to submit a Planning Portfolio exploring planning issues, artistic research and preparation of compositions. Students will also benefit from training in recording technology and interact with peers from the Taught Masters in Music (MA) Performance and Taught MA/MSc in Music and Technology courses. Using the School’s state-of-the-art facilities, students will be able to obtain high-quality recordings of their compositions as well as producing demo recordings. A free choice module is also taken during the first year. Students can select from electives in other courses, including pedagogy, entrepreneurship in the arts or a different discipline such as visual arts and media.

All students take a common Professional Studies course over the first two semesters dealing with entrepreneurial, organisational, presentational, and technological issues common to all composers and performers, and (during the second semester) each student delivers a case study arising from the lecture material to the cohort of postgraduate students and leads the ensuing seminar. In the final semester, candidates are required to submit a Reflective Portfolio for examination, critically reflecting upon their learning experiences throughout the programme.  

Established professional performers and composers are entitled to apply for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) in respect of the assessment requirements by submitting scores/recordings for assessment. Students may also avail of the Erasmus programme to earn credit through study at a partner institution.

See below images from recent Composition Projects