The course offers intensive jazz and contemporary music education within a focused, supportive learning environment. It is designed to provide a balance of “traditional” jazz techniques alongside contemporary approaches to improvisation, so that students can experience the full breadth of the contemporary music world and develop into creative, versatile and employable musicians. The degree focuses on giving students the practical skills they must acquire in order to function well in the professional milieu of contemporary jazz, and other musical settings. Due to its very broad nature, jazz is an ideal training for contemporary musicians and students experience the practical benefits of the various techniques undertaken throughout the programme. A diverse and rigorous programme of study is organized throughout all four years of the programme. The course is concerned with five principal areas of study: ensemble studies, instrumental studies, arranging and composition studies, aural and theoretical studies, contextual studies.

A minimum of six Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade 06/H7, to include the subjects English OR Irish AND the subject Mathematics. In addition, applicants must present at least two subjects at grade H5. Applicants will be expected to take an audition/performance pre-registration audition. An aural/theory test is not required. The auditions for DC014 applicants will take place from 9am to 6pm, in the Ensemble rooms, St Patrick's Campus on either Saturday 23rd March or Saturday 6th April. Applicants will be contacted and advised of the time and date of their audition.