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During this programme, you will:  

• Build the core skills to become a qualified music therapist, combining your musical ability with therapeutic practice, cross-cultural awareness, and clinical skills across diverse client groups and settings. 

• Graduate ready to work as a music therapist or pursue further research. Many students also go on to work in healthcare, education, and social services. 

• Meet the growing demand for skilled, socially aware music therapists in Ireland and beyond by combining hands-on placement experience with academic and research training. 

• Prepare for a wide range of therapeutic and music-focused roles by contributing to the profession’s research base, developing practical skills through supervised placements, and gaining blended in-person and online training. 

• Engage in clinical work placements throughout training to ensure you are equipped to practice music therapy professionally on completion. 

Key Information:  

• Complete full-time over two years  

• Blended delivery – mix of online and on-campus 

• Modules taught during autumn (12 weeks) and spring (12 weeks) semesters 

Year 1:  

• Two days of classes per week, alternating between on-campus and online delivery. 

• Autumn semester: Lectures two days per week.  

• Spring semester: two days of classes and one day of placement per week. 

• Two days (or equivalent) of independent study each week. 

Year 2 (Schedule alternates weekly):  

• Autumn semester: Two days of classes per week alternating between on-campus and online delivery and one day of placement per week.  

• Spring semester: One day of classes per week alternating between on-campus and online delivery and two days of placement per week.   

• Two days (or equivalent) of independent study per week. 

• Submit research project at the end of the final semester 

• Full-time students take 3 core modules and 1 elective module each semester in Year 1 

• Graduates are eligible to join Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists as full members 

• Placements are assigned and cannot be tailored to specific populations (e.g. autism, hospice) 

• Placement locations are not guaranteed, but every effort is made to match students with therapists in their region. Students should expect at least one placement in Dublin throughout their training. 

• International students may apply to complete Semester 1 or 4 in their home country, dependent on assessment of specific requirements 

• See full list of  

Year 1  

Autumn Semester 

Core modules:  

• focuses on the development of practical music making skills related to music therapy practice, observational skills and assessment and treatment planning. 

• explores the role of the arts in health and well-being throughout history and the use of contemporary arts practices in healthcare contexts. 

• outlines technologies and applications suitable for music therapy and teaches students how to use them effectively in a standard music therapy session. 

Electives – choose 1: 

Spring Semester 

Core modules: 

• helps students develop music skills relevant to clinical engagement and facilitation in a range of therapeutic contexts. 

• enables students to develop skills in providing weekly regular clinical work alongside a qualified music therapy supervisor. 

• enables students to pursue self-directed learning of an academic or performance-based project. 

Electives – choose 1: 

Year 2  

Autumn Semester 

• enables students to develop music therapy research from idea to ethical clearance stage. 

• focuses on psychodynamic and psychosocial approaches within music therapy practice. 

• develops competencies in planning and leading sessions with music therapy clients. 

Spring Semester 

• develops music therapy skills in individual and group therapy contexts and for reflective practice. 

• develops competencies in programme development within an existing service, and in planning and leading sessions with music therapy clients. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s  

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree ( 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: 

• 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. 

EU - €TBC per annum* 

Non- EU - €18,000 per annum*

* Year 2 fees are subject to change 

Annual fees are billed by semester. Once registered, students may be eligible to apply for a monthly payment plan.  

Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie).   

 
Funding 

Find further information on funding and scholarships.

This course can lead to careers in the following sectors:  

• Health and social care
• Education
• Special schools
• Nursing homes
• Hospice services
• Residential services for adults with intellectual disability
• Work in specialist services for people with acquired brain injury. 

Clara Monahan graduated from the MA Music Therapy  

On graduating from the MA Music Therapy, Clara worked full time for two years with the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust. During her time there she worked with children and young adults with a range of disabilities in education and health settings. She set up a private practice in the Dublin region in 2011 providing music therapy services across a range of settings both in disability and older adult services. Clara has worked with St. Michael’s House, St. John of God’s and was involved in creating a permanent two-day Senior Music Therapy post in Tallaght University Hospital for Older Adult and Critical Care patients. She is currently in a four-day role as Senior Music Therapist at Highfield Healthcare mental health service in Dublin. As a singer songwriter, Clara Rose has independently released three albums and two E.Ps and performs regularly with her band across Ireland in music venues and at festivals. Clara recently qualified with an MSc in Psychotherapy from DCU and incorporates integrative psychotherapy with her music therapy approach.

James Burns graduated from the MA Music Therapy in 2022. 

Upon completion of the programme, he commenced a PhD under the supervision of Professor Hilary Moss, funded by Research Ireland. His doctoral research explored the use of music therapy to support language and communication rehabilitation in pre-verbal children following acquired brain injury. Alongside his research, James worked with Neurolinks Music Therapy, providing services to adults and children with neurological conditions and their families; Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street, working within the neurosciences and palliative care teams, and later joined the cardiology team in CHI at Crumlin in 2025. James is now Senior Music Therapist at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, where he is leading the development of the first paediatric outpatient music therapy service in Ireland. He continues to work at CHI and is engaged in postdoctoral research at the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ with Prof Moss. 

Lorraine Ní Bhriain graduated from the MA in Music Therapy

She works in Northern Ireland as part of a creative art therapy team in an organisation that provides counseling and creative arts therapy to children, young people and adults who are at risk of suicide, self harm, eating disorders, bereaved by suicide, who have suffered abuse and those who have trauma related difficulties. Lorraine also works with adults with acquired brain injury in a day centre in Belfast which provides services and support to survivors of brain injury in order to rebuild their lives. Along with this work, she provides group music therapy sessions in residential homes to older adults, many of whom have Dementia. Lorraine is a registered music therapist with the Health Professions Council in the UK and a member of the British Association of Music Therapists (BAMT).

Still Curious?  

The team regularly host and take part in webinars to support future students. If you would like to learn more or ask questions at an online information session, click below.     

Online Information Sessions