Music Sound Culture & Media

The MA in Music, Sound, Culture and Media is delivered jointly by the School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music and the School of Communications, both of whom are recognised leaders in their respective disciplinary fields, both nationally and internationally.



Taught by staff with internationally distinguished records in research and teaching, this is the first Master’s degree programme in Ireland with a major music/sound component that is open to prospective students coming from a broad range of undergraduate degree routes as well as professionals with established expertise in audio/sound/music production. While not addressing any single profession, it presents a coherent programme that will deepen knowledge of, and engagement with, an increasingly evolving field.



A particular strength of this DCU programme is that it brings together wide expertise and experience from two schools within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences that are themselves interdisciplinary in composition.



The School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music is a dynamic and creative learning and research environment with a strong commitment to social and cultural engagement, world-class research, and teaching that promotes critical thinking in students through a wide range of interesting courses.



The School of Communications, ranked among the top 200 globally in the QS Subject Rankings 2024, is the leading communications and media studies department in Ireland.



The MA in Music, Sound, Media and Culture is offered on a full-time (one year) or part-time (two year) basis. As such, the MA in Music, Sound, Culture and Media is accessible to those currently in employment, and to those based outside Dublin and Ireland.

For admission to the MA in Music, Sound, Culture and Media, successful applicants will have:



A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or international equivalent



Recognition of prior professional experience in the production and curation of music/sound/media/arts and culture will be considered at entry stage, in accordance with standard DCU policies.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here.



International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.

Application Deadlines



Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:



Closing date for non EU applicants is 01st July2026.

Closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2026.

Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.



All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.



Application Queries



For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie



For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-… or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

The programme commences in September 2024

Careers

Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career grounded in interdisciplinary studies, enhancing your ability to take on leadership roles in sonic and media arts or progressing to doctoral research, the MA in Music, Sound, Culture and Media can accommodate your goals.



Career Prospects

- Music production, sonic arts, audio and audiovisual production, broadcasting, and screen industries

- Arts/media development and infrastructure, cultural policy, and community development

- Cultural commentators/critics across print, digital and social media platforms

- Arts education and media education

- Research