The MA in Sound and Music allows for specialised study in diverse music disciplines including composition, instrument design, musicology, performance and recording, while bringing together students across these areas (and more) to explore a broad range of topics through collaboration and individual research. The ethos of the course is based on the understanding that the practice and study of music is necessarily social, and that advancements in music inform, and are informed by, wider cultural, critical and technical practices. This course aims to connect students in adjacent subjects through access to elective modules from outside Music, as well as via participation in research seminars, ensembles, workshops, concerts and festivals delivered by SARC, QUB’s internationally-recognised centre for interdisciplinary research in sound and music.

The programme is delivered by SARC researchers across a wide range of expertise. To get to know the SARC research community please visit www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/sarc/people/.

The programme offers practitioners a unique opportunity to expand their career horizons and deepen their expertise by integrating creative practice with academic inquiry and professional development.

World Class Facilities
The SARC building is home to unique facilities, including the Sonic Lab, the most advanced music venue on the island of Ireland, as well as professional quality audio recording and broadcast production studios, fabrication facilities and a multipurpose interaction lab.

The equipment and facilities in the SARC building are complemented by the nearby Music building, including the Harty Room, an oak hammer-beam vaulted roof concert hall housing two full-concert Steinway grand pianos, a double-manual harpsichord and several other specialist instruments, as well as recently upgraded AV playback facilities.

Industry Links
MA students will benefit from regular contact with visiting artists and academics through the Music @ QUB events series, which features weekly concerts, seminars, workshops and masterclasses.

Career Development
Students will form part of an international network of alumni that has continued to grow over the 75+ years that Music has been running at Queen’s.

Bursaries
Three Douglas C Harrison bursaries of £3,000 each are available and will be allocated to the top applicants for the MA Sound and Music to offset tuition fees. All eligible students who have applied through the QUB portal for the MA Sound and Music by the deadline stated on the School website will be automatically considered for this award.  No late applications will be considered. The awards shall be made as payment towards postgraduate fees in September/October. 

For more information and to apply please visit: www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/sound-music-ma/.

For enquires please contact programme convenor Dr Miguel Ortiz [m.ortiz@qub.ac.uk].