The School of Music is one of the leading centres for graduate musical study in Ireland and a QS World Top 100 Performing Arts department. Our graduate programmes give students the opportunity to work with scholars of international standing in the School's core disciplines of historical musicology, ethnomusicology and composition. The MMus (taught Master’s) degree furnishes students with the core intellectual tools for pursuing musical research and composition, while also encouraging independent scholarship. The PhD and MLitt (research Master’s) programmes afford the chance to complete a major research project under the supervision of an expert in the field, or alternatively a composition portfolio.
Our MMus taught postgraduate programme gives students the opportunity to work with scholars of international standing in the School’s core disciplines of historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and composition.
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The MLitt degree is a two year research degree, leading to the writing of a thesis of 40,000 to 50,000 words which will treat its subject in a systematic and independent way.
The PhD is a four year structured degree programme centred around the submission of a longer dissertation.
These programmes are primarily aimed at students who want to pursue independent musicological research.
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The School of Music at University College Dublin invites expressions of interest from potential doctoral researchers wishing to apply for Government of Ireland (GOI) Postgraduate Scholarships with a start date of Autumn 2026. The School offers bespoke support to selected applicants.
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