Music Therapy - MA Entry requirements

Requirements

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree (NFQ Level 8) with at least a second-class honour, grade 2 (2:2).
• You should demonstrate a high level of music skills.
• Applicants should be able to play guitar, piano and to sing competently. They should demonstrate the ability to improvise on their primary instrument.
• Applicants should have relevant work experience (paid or voluntary) of working with populations in health or social care settings.
• Shortlisted candidates will undergo an online interview/audition to perform pieces on their first instrument and sing at least one song accompanying themselves on piano and guitar.
• Garda clearance is required. 

Other entry considerations

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements, as long as you can show that you have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for the programme. 

At UL, we value all kinds of learning and support different ways to qualify through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. 

International students  

• For details on country-specific qualifications visit postgraduate entry requirements for international students. 

Checklist of documents

• *Academic transcripts and certificates
  • UL graduates only need to provide their student ID.
• Copy of your birth certificate or passport
• Copy of your CV
• 2 reference letters
• A supporting statement (maximum 1 x A4 page) outlining
  • Why you wish to undertake the MA in Music Therapy
  • Relevant work or voluntary experience you believe is relevant to your application
  • Musical experience and
  • Any other information you feel supports your application.
• A short audio-visual recording (max 6 minutes) of yourself with 3 musical excerpts
  • Playing your primary instrument (this can be voice, approx. 1 minute)
  • Singing a song accompanied by piano and one song accompanied on guitar, one verse and one chorus will suffice (approx. 1 minute each)
  • Singing one verse and one chorus of the well-known song ‘Let it Be’ by the Beatles accompanying yourself on guitar or piano (approx. 1 minute), then extemporising/improvising the song (approx. 1 minute) before returning to the original composed melody for a final verse and chorus (approx. 1 minute). During this extemporisation/improvisation you may decide to alter the song’s melody, rhythm, tempo, lyrics, tonality or play in a different musical style (reggae, jazz, country etc.), be as creative as you wish. Recordings should be saved to an online sharing platform (such as YouTube or Vimeo), with the links included in a separate document entitled 'Music Links' OR at the end of the supporting statement. 

Interview applicants will be required to play both piano and guitar. One instrument may be at beginner level while competent skills on the other instrument are required. Also note that accompanists are not provided for the audition. Should an accompanist be required then it is up to the candidate to arrange and fund this themselves.   

English language requirements

• English Language Competency certificate
• For details on accepted language qualifications visit English Language Requirements 

Guidelines on completing your application   

• To make sure we can review your application quickly, please:
  • Upload all documents. Your application can’t be reviewed until we have all the documents on the checklist. 
  • Title the documents you are uploading. For example, "Personal Statement", "Undergraduate Transcript", "Postgraduate Transcript", "English Language Certificate" etc. 
• Upload the audio-visual recording to a music sharing platform and ensure this link is included at the 'Personal Statement'. We must see you playing and singing on this video, audio-only recordings are not accepted.
• *If you are waiting to graduate, submit your application with the documents you have to date, you don’t need to have finished final exams before applying.