Overview
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 is the leading communications and media studies department in Ireland and ranks among the top 150 out of nearly 4,500 universities globally in the field of communications (according to QS Subject Rankings).
DCU People
I am John O’Flynn and I teach on DCU’s MA in Music, Sound, Culture and Media.
Read more about John O'Flynn
Careers & Further Options
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.
Entry Requirements
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.
Programme Structure
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.
This programme will be delivered primarily online, with on-campus elements by way of study days (one Saturday per semester) and a summer school (held during May of each year).
While delivery over the two study days will provide options for on-campus or online attendance (the latter option primarily designed to facilitate international students), attendance at the MA summer school will be mandatory. (Non-EU students may require a short stay (C) visit (tourist) visa to facilitate attendance at the summer school.)
- Semester 1: Two core modules; select one optional module (30 credits)
- Semester 2: One core module; select one optional module (20 credits)
- Summer School (May): Select one optional module (10 credits) Year-long: Dissertation OR Practice-based portfolio (30 credits)
SEMESTER 1 (TWO core modules and ONE optional module)
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Music, Sound, Culture and Media (core module, 10 credits) Research Methods (core module, 10 credits)
- The Global Music Industries (optional module, 10 credits) Music, Sound and Screen Media (optional module, 10 credits)
SEMESTER 2 (ONE core module and ONE optional module)
- Audio-visual Media and Cultural Identities (core module, 10 credits)
- Policies and Infrastructures for the Arts (optional module, 10 credits)
- Practicum (optional module, 10 credits)
SUMMER SCHOOL (choose ONE optional module)
- Audio Production (optional module, 10 credits)
- Leadership in Music, Sound, Culture and Media (optional module, 10 credits)
YEAR-LONG (ONE core module)
Dissertation OR Practice-based Portfolio with Extended Essay (core module, 30 credits)
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Year 1, Semester 1: One core module; select one optional modules (20 credits)
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Year 1, Semester 2: One core module; select one optional module (20 credits)
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Year 1, Summer School (May): select one optional module (10 credits)
Year 2, Semester 1: One core module (10 credits)
Year 2, Year-long: Dissertation OR Practice-based portfolio (30 credits)
YEAR 1, SEMESTER 1 (ONE core module and ONE optional module)
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Music, Sound, Culture and Media (core module, 10 credits)
- The Global Music Industries (optional module, 10 credits)
- Music, Sound and Screen Media (optional module, 10 credits)
YEAR 1, SEMESTER 2 (ONE core module and ONE optional module)
- Audio-visual Media and Cultural Identities (core module, 10 credits)
- Policies and Infrastructures for the Arts (optional module, 10 credits)
- Practicum (optional module, 10 credits)
SUMMER SCHOOL (choose ONE optional module)
- Audio Production (optional module, 10 credits)
- Leadership in Music, Sound, Culture and Media (optional module, 10 credits)
YEAR 2, SEMESTER 1 (ONE core module)
- Research Methods (core module, 10 credits)
YEAR 2, YEAR-LONG (ONE core module)
- Dissertation OR Practice-based Portfolio with Extended Essay (core module, 30 credits)
The MA in Music, Sound, Media and Culture is designed for students who are curious about, and are eager to engage with and learn about interdisciplinary fields in sonic, media and creative studies and practices. They will encounter a range of interdisciplinary studies, while also integrating applied, creative and collaborative components. This includes options for practicum and creative-practice modules, alongside critical, interpretive, analytical and reflective components.
- Uniquely, this postgraduate degree programme is open to a broad spectrum of applicants, including, but not limited to;
- Graduates of a wide range of music, arts, social sciences, humanities and media programmes (particularly those programmes that have strong elements in one or more components across music, sound studies, cultural studies and media studies, while applications from other graduates with alternative pathways and/or prior exposure to these areas will also be considered.
- Current or aspiring professionals and leaders in fields of music production, sonic arts, audio and audio-visual production, broadcasting, and screen industries
- Current or aspiring professionals and leaders in arts/media development and infrastructure, cultural policy, and community development
- Cultural critics (current and aspiring) across print, digital and social media platforms
- Practitioners and potential leaders in arts education and media education
The programme will additionally provide clear pathways for those students with long-term objectives to pursue studies to doctoral level and beyond, in such areas as musicology, film music, sound design, ethnomusicology and a range of media studies and communications areas.
Accordingly, this programme accommodates a potential diversity of learners and provides a holistic environment in which students can learn from each other’s diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
The DCU schools delivering this programme make up a dynamic learning environment that encompasses both academic and practice-oriented studies.
The School of Communications is a national and international leader in media studies at graduate level, and uniquely includes staff members whose expertise intersects with studies of sound and music.
The School of Theology, Philosophy and Music includes national and international experts in cultural and applied musicology, creative practice, sociology of music and anthropology. Research seminars and cultural events are regularly held by both schools, and across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Fees and Funding
Fees
How To Apply
To apply for this programme:
All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal which is available here. Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application:
• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
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 1st July 2025.
- Closing date for EU applicants is 30th August 2025.
Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.
If you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
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-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
Commencement of Programme
The programme commences in September 2025
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.
