A variety of opportunities are available to those wishing to study Irish traditional music, song and dance at third level on the island of Ireland, both through taught and research programmes. Opportunities for the study of Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology are also available. Listed below is information on the following:

• Courses specialising in Irish traditional music, song and dance at Certificate, Higher National Diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels
• Courses offering Irish traditional music, song or dance as an option within more general music programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
• Options for studying Ethnomusicology, Ethnochoreology and Song/Voice
• Third level research opportunities in Ireland in Irish traditional music, song and dance, Ethnomusicology, Ethnochoreology etc.
• Options for PhD study in Irish traditional Irish music, song and dance, Ethnomusicology, Ethnochoreology etc.
• Funding Opportunities

Pre-Degree Level Courses

Several options are available to study Irish traditional music and dance at certificate and diploma level. These are typically one year, standalone courses but some may also serve as preparation to study music and dance at undergraduate level. Some courses are offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. These options as well as entry conditions vary from institution to institution – if you are interested in studying any of these courses please contact the institution directly for the full details.
Some of theses courses are dedicated to the study of Irish traditional music, song and dance (this is always explicit in the course title) while others include Irish traditional music studies as part of a more general music education programme.
The University of Limerick offers a Certificate in Music and Dance.
Ballyfermot College of Further Education offers a Higher National Diploma in Traditional Music Performance, NUI Galway offers a Diploma In Irish Music Studies, and University College Cork offers a Diploma in Irish Traditional Music.

Undergraduate Level

Various undergraduate qualifications are available through the study of music and dance. Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music (BMus) are perhaps the most common. Undergraduate degree course involve 3 or 4 years of full time study. Undergraduate courses involving a practical music and/or dance component generally require some kind of entrance exam and/or audition. Entry requirements and auditions processes vary from institution to institution – contact the institution directly for details.
Again, some of theses courses are dedicated to the study of Irish traditional music, song and dance (this is always explicit in the course title) while others include Irish traditional music studies as part of a more general music education programme.
For specialist study in Irish traditional, music song and dance, The University of Limerick offers a BA (Hons) Irish Music and Dance, which is a four-year undergraduate programme for the study and performance practice of Irish traditional music, song and dance. The Institute of Technology Tralee, in conjunction with Siamsa Tíre, offers a BA Performing Arts (Folk Theatre).
To study Irish traditional music, song and dance in a wider music education context University College Cork offers the Bachelor of Music (BMus) and BA (Hons) Arts with Music. University College Dublin offers both a BA and BMus. Waterford Institute of Technology offers a BA (Hons) in Music. Queen’s University Belfast offers a BMus and BSc Music Technology (see here for the Irish traditional music pathway on the BMus and BSc Music Technology programmes) and a BA (Joint) in Ethnomusicology and Music. The University of Ulster offers a BMus (Hons) at the Magee campus. The University of Limerick offers a BA Voice and Dance. Dundalk Institute of Technology offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Music

Postgraduate Level (Taught Programmes)

Postgraduate qualifications available in music and dance studies include the Diploma, Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Music (MMus). Some of the options below are available full-time and part-time, and the duration can vary from one to two years. Entry requirements vary. Contact the institution directly for details.
Again, some of theses courses are dedicated to the study of Irish traditional music, song and dance (this is always explicit in the course title) while others include Irish traditional music studies as part of a more general music education programme.
The University of Limerick offers an MA Irish Traditional Music Performance, and an MA Dance Performance: Irish Traditional Dance. Dundalk Institute of Technology offers an MA in Traditional Music.
Dublin Institute of Technology offers both a PGDip (Performance) and MMus (Performance). Griffith College, Dublin, in conjunction with Leinster School of Music and Drama, offers a Higher Diploma in Arts in Music Education. University College Cork offers the Higher Diploma in Arts (Music), Queen’s University Belfast offers the MA in Music, and University of Ulster offers the MMus. Trinity College Dublin offers the MPhil in Irish Film, Music and Theatre.

Postgraduate Level (Research Programmes)

The following institutions offer postgraduate research opportunities in Irish traditional music, song and dance, Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology in the form of Masters and PhD research programmes.
Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick
Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Dr. Catherine Foley, Dr. Colin Quigley, Dr. Aileen Dillane, Niall Keegan, Sandra Joyce, Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Mats Melin
School of Music, University College Cork
Dr. Juniper Hill, Mel Mercier, Kelly Boyle, Mary Mitchell-Ingoldsby
School of Music, University College Dublin
Professor Harry White, Professor Thérèse Smith
Department of Music, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Dr Adrian Scahill
University of Ulster
Dr Liz Doherty, Dr Anthony McCann
Waterford Institute of Technology
Dr Colette Moloney, Dr. Jimmy O’Brien Moran
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dr. Fintan Vallely

PhD in Irish traditional Irish music, song and dance

In addition to research PhDs, there is the option to study the Arts Practice PhD at the University of Limerick. The PhD Arts Practice is a four year, structured PhD programme, designed to meet the needs of professional performing artists who wish to engage in academic and practice-based reflection on their own artistic practice. The programme involves a combination of taught modules and independent research.
The University of Ulster offer the PhD in Performance, which will be of particular interest to conservatoire graduates and practising performers.

Ethnomusicology

Many students will choose to study Irish traditional music, song and dance in their broader cultural contexts through the disciplines of Ethnomusicology and Ethnochoreology.

• Undergraduate Level

Ethnomusicology is offered at undergraduate level at Queen’s University Belfast in the BA (Joint) Ethnomusicology and Music.
Postgraduate Level

• Ethnomusicology is offered at postgraduate level at Queen’s University Belfast in the Graduate Diploma in Ethnomusicology.

The University of Limerick offers both the MA Ethnomusicology and MA Ethnochoreology. .
University College Dublin offers the MMus Ethnomusicology, while University College Cork offers both an MA Ethnomusicology and MA Music and Cultural History.

Song and Dance Studies

Contemporary and world vocal cultures are explored through the Certificate in Music and Dance, BA Voice and Dance and MA Ritual Chant and Song programmes, offered at the University of Limerick. This option is also available in the BMus (Hons) programme offered at the University of Ulster.
Irish traditional dance studies are available through the BA (Hons) Irish Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, the BA Performing Arts (Folk Theatre) at the Institute of Technology Tralee, and the MA Dance Performance: Irish Traditional Dance at the University of Limerick. Contemporary dance and other world dance cultures are explored through the Certificate in Music and Dance, BA Voice and Dance and MA Dance Performance: Contemporary Dance, all offered at the University of Limerick, and the BA (Hons) Dance, BA (Hons) Dance with Music, and BA (Hons) Music with Dance at the University of Ulster.

Funding Opportunities

IRCHSS – For MA and PhD by research
Irish World Academy Scholarships, University of Limerick
MA Dance Performance: Irish Traditional Dance, University of Limerick. Trustees of Muckross House Scholarship

For funding (postgrad) at the University of Ulster see: http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/geninfo/postgrad-funding.html and
http://research.ulster.ac.uk/info/prospective/funding.html
www.icuf.ie Craig Dobbin Scholarships: Ireland Canada University Foundation

Fulbright Irish Citizens Awards

Information compiled by Francis Ward, PhD student, UL for ICTM (Ireland)