Higher Diploma in Music

Program Overview

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Music) provides non-music graduates with an intensive conversion course equivalent to a primary honours degree in music. It offers flexibility in module selection, allowing students to develop specializations in music scholarship, performance, or composition. The course features a major study option supervised by faculty, preparing students for postgraduate research. Upon successful completion, graduates are eligible for master's degrees in music and potential careers in music-related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Music) is designed for graduates in subjects other than music who wish to study music intensively at a level equivalent to a primary honours degree in music. It acts as a conversion course, enabling graduates in non-music subjects to become eligible for graduate courses in music at master’s and doctoral levels. The course is flexible and can be tailored to suit individual interests and aspirations for specialization in music. It is ideal for those who have prior music skills and want to advance them to professional levels, potentially leading to a career in music or further postgraduate study.

Outline:

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Music) is a 60-credit course that can be taken full-time over nine months (September to May) or part-time over two academic years (September to May in each year). The modules are selected from those designed for UCC's BMus and BA (Arts-Music) honours degree courses: 30 credits from level/year 2, and 30 credits from final year. This creates an environment for study and personal growth, enriched by collaboration with other music students in seminars and creative work (performance and/or composition). Students are offered a range of options, selected in consultation with the course coordinator and other staff. They are encouraged to choose options that build on existing interests in music and help them explore the subject further, developing a specialism in scholarship, music performance, or composition. A key feature of the course is that each student takes two modules that are essential components of the final year of an honours degree course: a seminar class and a major study option under the supervision of a Department staff member. This major study option, the most substantial requirement of the course, can take various forms: a dissertation, a portfolio of compositions, a public recital, a music-technology project, etc. This advanced work serves as a bridge to postgraduate study in music.

Assessment:

The Department of Music employs a variety of assessment methods, tailored to the nature and requirements of the course options. These include:

• Continuous assessment and practical examinations: for performance options
• Portfolio of written and/or audio-visual submissions: for composition options
• Written responses to set texts, seminars, and coursework: ranging from formal essays to learning journals
• Major study option: assessed by a panel of staff and the external examiner for the course

Teaching:

The course is taught by the Department of Music staff, whose details can be found on the Department of Music page. The part-time option is taught during weekday working hours over two years.

Careers:

The skill sets of HDip graduates vary depending on the modules chosen, the types of music studied, and areas of specialization. Generally, these areas fall into the broad categories of music scholarship and teaching, music performance, and music composition.

Other:

• All HDip students are encouraged to participate in the Department's Research Seminar series.
• Graduates must complete the Professional Master of Education teacher training programme to qualify as a secondary school teacher.
• The course is unique in Ireland for graduates in non-music subjects who want to qualify in music to degree level and beyond.
• Success in the course is considered equivalent to acquiring a degree in music.
• Many students have valued music from a young age and retained a deep interest in music while pursuing other degrees.
They are often highly motivated and become excellent postgraduate students in music programmes.