Creative Musicianship

Overview

A flexible, practice-based course for musicians wishing to develop or refresh their professional expertise for work in the creative industries.



Summary

The MMus in Creative Musicianship at Ulster University is a series of linked postgraduate awards offered both full-time (1 year) and part-time (2 years). With a particular emphasis on a practice-based study the programme has been designed to appeal to musicians from a variety of backgrounds and genres, interesting in pursuing one of three named pathways:



- Performance Studies (classical, Irish traditional, jazz, rock or popular styles)



- Composition and Creative Audio (including the combination of acoustic and electronic sources, film music, interactive and mixed media)



- Music and Communities (including disability arts and traditional music communities)



Taught by a dedicated course team of leading professional musical practitioners and researchers and with further guidance from industry experts, the programme will enable you to refine your skills as a musician, while giving you the confidence to apply critical and practical approaches to the creation and performance of music across a range of creative environments.



About

The MMus in Creative Musicianship is a flexible postgraduate programme which aims to produce informed, skilled and insightful musical practitioners across a wide range of musical genres working in three practice-based fields: Performance, Composition & Creative Audio or Music and Communities. Whether opting to spend a short, focused period of study honing your musicianship skills as part of a PGCert or expanding your studies into a PGDip or Masters, this is the ideal programme for those who wish to develop, refine or refresh their professional expertise for work in the creative industries while also providing the perfect springboard for further postgraduate and/or PhD study.



Over the first two semesters, two complementary Specialism modules (20 credits each) familiarise students with the most important recent developments in their specialist pathway, training them in essential technical, research and communication skills while providing them with opportunities to put their expertise to practical use. The Practice module is devoted entirely to developing the individual's creative practice in their chosen field affording opportunities for one on one tuition. Meanwhile, the Seminar module provides a platform for contextual, aesthetic and theoretical study in their chosen discipline via group tutorial work and practice-based workshops.



In addition, modules in Music Technology and Society and Research Project provide opportunities for students to compliment their chosen pathway through project work both in and outside the university.



For those continuing their study to MMus level, the third semester Final Project (60 credits) allows the student to undertake a sustained period of self-directed, practice-based work related to their chosen specialism.



Work placement / study abroad

Work placements are available as an option within Research Project.

F/T and P/T Programme

All modules optional with the exception of Major Project (compulsory)

Semester 1

• Composition Seminar 1

• Composition and Creative Audio Practice 1

• Music and Communities Seminar 1

• Music and Communities in Practice 1

• Performance in Practice 1

• Performance Seminar 1

• Research Project 1

• Music, Technology and Society



Semester 2

• Music and Communities in Practice 2

• Composition and Creative Audio Practice 2

• Music and Communities Seminar 2

• Composition Seminar 2

• Performance in Practice 2

• Performance Seminar 2

• Research Project 2



Semester 3

• Major Project

Applicants must meet the University's minimum entrance requirements and, in addition, a) hold a second-class honours degree or better in music or another relevant discipline from a recognised institution, or b) an equivalent qualification or c) be able to provide other evidence of ability and experience appropriate to the course. International applicants whose first language is not English must attain either of the following English competency standards:



A written proposal outlining the intended area of individual study (i.e. the Specialism and, ideally, an idea of what the third-semester project might involve) should support the application; all applicants will be interviewed and/or auditioned.



The University will consider applications on the basis of experiential learning for those who do not hold the normal entry qualifications. The onus is on the applicant to evidence that they have relevant experience equating to degree study at the honours level.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

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.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Attendance

Full-time: three semesters (one calendar year in total) for MMus or two semesters for PGDip and PGCert



Currently timetabled as one contact day per week full-time, plus any relevant instrumental/vocal tuition and work in the library.



Part-time: six semesters (two calendar years in total).



Currently timetabled as one contact day per week, plus any relevant instrumental/vocal tuition and work in the library.

Start Date: September 2025.

Career options

- Professional work in the creative industries (performance, composition, creative technologies)

- Further academic or practical study

- Community-based education and/or creative work

- Technical positions in the music industry

- Teaching work