Music - Ethnomusicology

Our Ethnomusicology programme embraces global musical traditions—old and new, sacred and secular, professional and amateur—and places strong emphasis on musical performance, extended fieldwork, and community engagement.



Learning is grounded in building relationships with musical communities and in hands-on music-making. Students explore performance as research, and applied ethnomusicology encourages advocacy and public engagement.



The programme combines scholarly depth with practical training, including ensemble and individual performance, ethnographic methods, and interdisciplinary research.



Final research projects may take the form of dissertations, performance-led enquiries, audiovisual work, or educational resources.



The MA in Ethnomusicology may be taken full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme.



Part-time: The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over two years. The course structure for part-time students is subject to agreement with the Department of Music.



Postgraduate Diploma in Ethnomusicology (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)

Candidates who pass at least 60 credits of taught modules may elect to exit the programme and be awarded a postgraduate Diploma in Ethnomusicology.

The MA consists of 90 credits as follows:



Part I (60 credits)

MU6050 Performance Studies (10 credits)

MU6004 Performance Practice (15 credits)

MU6030 Research Skills (5 credits)

MU6034 Multidisciplinary Debates in Musicology and Ethnomusicology (5 credits)

MU6042 Ethnography of Music (10 credits)

MU6043 History and Theory of Ethnomusicology (10 credits)

MU6047 Music Cognition and Perception in Culture (5 credits)



Part II

MU6006 Research Project (30 credits)

You will have a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours Arts degree (NFQ, Level 8), or equivalent, in music or a related subject (e.g. anthropology, folklore, cultural studies). Applicants with an appropriate professional equivalent (e.g. professional musicians of high standing, music media professionals) will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). All applicants will be required to attend an interview with members of the programme team and may be required to pass a qualifying test.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.

Closing Date

Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.



Non-EU Closing Date

Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date 7 September 2026

Skills and Careers Information



Graduates go on to careers across the creative arts, cultural heritage, education, and media sectors.



Many continue to doctoral research in Ireland or internationally.



Others work as professional musicians, arts educators, curators, community facilitators, or arts administrators.



Some graduates have also transferred the world music performance skills developed on the programme into tutoring roles with younger or emerging musicians.



The programme cultivates research fluency, performance expertise, intercultural communication, and academic and professional adaptability.