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Whether as a stand-alone degree or a stepping stone towards MLitt and PhD research degrees, the MA in Musicology offers you the opportunity to develop as a researcher, deepen your critical and communication abilities, and apply these skills to the study of music history, music and culture, and analysis. The programme is delivered by staff with strong international research reputations, active as scholars, performers, and composers. Their diverse expertise includes areas such as: music and film; opera studies; source studies; European art music in the nineteenth and twentieth century’s; music in Ireland; ethnomusicology; popular music; music, gender, and sexuality; analysis; and more. Beyond the modules, seminars, and showcase outlined in the Course Structure, MA in Musicology students may also attend conferences, concerts, and other events that Music Department staffs regularly organise. Students also benefit from a first-rate library, access to the University’s language courses, and close proximity to Dublin, enabling access to a further range of research libraries and archives.

Career Options

MA Musicology students develop a portfolio of critical, analytical, and communication skills, while the programme also trains students to work independently and manage their time effectively. These skills serve graduates well in a wide range of employment situations, including areas specific to music such as arts administration and events management. The MA in Musicology is also an excellent option for those considering further postgraduate study.

Course Structure:

The programme comprises seven modules in total: six group-seminar modules (three per semester) and a year-round thesis module for which students are allocated individual supervisors. You will encounter a rich spectrum of musicological topics, themes and approaches in the programme, which reflects the variety of faculty research interests. In addition, a year-round research seminar series provides an opportunity to hear guest lectures by visiting musicologists, composers and performers. Students also present their work in progress during the Research Seminars and Colloquia.

You will take 90 credits in total: Thesis (30 credits, submitted at the end of August) and six 10-credit modules in Semesters 1 and 2: (1) Research Methods (including Work Placement in Sem. 2); (2) Writing About Music; (3) Music in Ireland; (4) Music and Gender; (5) Music and Screen Media; and (6) Sound, Images, Spaces.

Students benefit from small-group teaching in seminars and one-on-one tuition with thesis and project supervisors. Through dedicated, welcoming postgraduate research colloquia, MA Musicology students benefit from the opportunity to share research in progress with peers and academics in the Department. Our strong ties with associations such as the Society for Musicology in Ireland creates further networking opportunities and supports for students. Maynooth is home to a thriving music research community. We regularly host conferences and symposia that attract international attention. In recent years, these events have explored diverse interests, including Med-Ren (Medieval Renaissance Music), Schubert, Dukas, Kylie Minogue, Music and Visual Cultures, and Sound Design in Film. In addition to a varied menu of compulsory and optional modules, the Music Department hosts a Research Seminar series, featuring guest speakers from Ireland and abroad. The library holds extensive music collections and digital database subscriptions. Maynooth's location facilitates access to further libraries and archives in Dublin and beyond.