Higher Diploma in Arts - Music in Cork Ireland | University College Cork

The Higher Diploma in Arts (Music) is designed for graduates from non-music disciplines who wish to pursue intensive music studies at a level comparable to an undergraduate honors degree. Serving as a valuable conversion program, it allows non-music graduates to qualify for advanced music studies at master's or doctoral levels.

This highly adaptable program can be customized to align with your musical interests and career goals. It's particularly suitable for individuals with prior musical training who seek to enhance their skills to professional standards, whether for career advancement or further academic pursuits.

This 60-credit program offers flexible study options: a full-time nine-month track (September to May) or a part-time two-year option. Students select modules from UCC's BMus and BA (Arts-Music) programs, combining 30 credits from second-year and 30 from final-year offerings. HDip students attend classes alongside undergraduate music majors, following identical module requirements, fostering a collaborative learning environment through seminars and creative projects in performance or composition.

Admitted students work with the course coordinator to choose options that both develop their existing musical interests and facilitate specialization in academic research, performance, or composition.

A distinctive aspect of the program includes two key final-year components: a seminar class and a major supervised project. This capstone requirement, which can take various forms such as a dissertation, composition portfolio, public recital, or music technology project, serves as excellent preparation for postgraduate music studies.