Bachelor of Arts Music

at National University of Ireland Galway

Year 1

 In year one you study Music along with two other Arts subjects.

Music modules include: 

• Traditional Music in Ireland: 1792 to the New Millennium 
• Music Theory and Critical Listening 
• Introduction to Music History 
• Music Practice 1 
   

Year 2

In Year Two you study Music along with one other Arts subject. 
 

Music modules include: 

• Harmony and Keyboard Harmony 
• Introduction to Composition 
• Music History 2 
• Introduction to Sound Technology 
• Choose 2 from the following optional modules:
• Music Practice 2 
• Musical Theatre 
• Power, Hierarchies and Irish Traditional Music Practice 
• Popular Music, Culture and Identities in Ireland 
   

Year 3

This year is fully dedicated to Music. 
 

In Semester 1 students take three modules from the following:

• Editing and Transcription 
• Counterpoint 
• Scoring and Arranging 
• Musical Theatre: History and Performance 
   

In semester 2, students do ONE of the following:

• Music Project 
• Music Study Abroad 
• Music Work Placement 
   

 Year 4

In Year Four you study Music along with one other Arts subject. 
 

Music modules include: 

• Music Extended Essay OR Composition Portfolio 
• Music History 3 
• Writing about Music Performance Analysis 
• Choose 2 from the following optional modules.
• Irish Traditional Music Performance
• Opera 
• Music Practice 3 
• Women in Pop 

Undergraduate and mature students can satisfy matriculation registration requirements for NUI Galway by achieving certain grades in the following examinations. 
 

Leaving certificate (for EU and non-EU)

You need a pass in at least six subjects in the Leaving Certificate in accordance with College requirements with:

• Minimum Grade H5 (Higher Level) in two subjects 

• Passes in the remaining four subjects at O6/ H7 
   

You should pick your subjects based on the requirements for entry to your desired course.
 

All subjects of the Leaving Certificate are accepted for matriculation registration purposes, with the exception of Gaeilge Bonnleibhéal (Irish Foundation Level), Mathematics (Ordinary Alternative/Foundation Level and; Home Economics (General), which is recognised only for St. Angela's College, Sligo.
 

GCE and GSCE
 

You need a pass in at least six subjects in accordance with College requirements with at least:

• GCE Advanced Level: Grade C in two recognised subjects and

• GCSE Level: Grade C in four recognised subjects.
   

You should pick your subjects based on the requirements for entry to your desired course.

English Language Requirement:

IELTS :- 6.5

TOEFL :- 88

Fees: EU
€6,416 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition
€3,276 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student Contribution
€3,000 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Non EU
€18,140 p.a. 2022/23
 

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140.  **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  Further detail here.

Career Opportunities

Music graduates typically go on to careers in such fields as performance, teaching, composition, academia, sound engineering, music therapy, arts administration, journalism, broadcasting, publishing, librarianship and archivism. In some cases, this may require a further vocational qualification or postgraduate study. 
 

The BA Arts Music programme has been designed to meet the requirement of the Irish Teaching Council, so graduates will be qualified to use music as a teaching subject as part of their study for a postgraduate degree in post-primary education. 
 

Students will also have opportunities to avail of NUI Galway’s unique offerings in creative arts management and business, ensuring they have real-world skills that will be directly relevant to the creative arts industry in Ireland and internationally. 
 

Music BA graduates have transferable skills in such areas as public presentations, teamwork, research, and written and verbal communication. These skills are highly attractive to employers in a wide range of fields beyond music.  
 

Students can combine the study of music with subjects such as Psychology, Legal Studies, Information Technology or Languages, all of which open up career opportunities in those areas.