PhD, MMus, MPhil Music
The Department of Music is a centre of research excellence in both composition and musicology.
In composition, there is no particular house style, but we are well known for a number of areas, including:
- acoustic music, ranging from solo to symphonic scale;
- electro-acoustic, including acousmatic composition, live electronics, and mixed forms with instrument/voice;
- composition exploring the interface of Western and non-Western traditions.
The department also provides access to a wide network of opportunities for professional and amateur performance.
In musicology, research strengths include not only the Western art music tradition, but also screen media, non-Western (Turkey) and popular music. We have particular depth of expertise in the early Middle Ages (especially Spain), and in the 19th and 20th centuries (including the music of France, Britain, Germany, and Soviet Russia). We also have strengths in Anglophone vernacular traditions, including jazz and hip hop; opera, film music and the history and philosophy of technology; music and migration; and cultural and reception history more generally.
Programme structure
MPhil (Composition, Musicology): a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a portfolio of 25–35 minutes of music and an analytical/contextual commentary (c.4,000–5,000 words), or a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.
MMus (Composition): a standalone, two-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a portfolio of 50–70 minutes of music and an analytical/contextual commentary (c.8,000–10,000 words). Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if they are relevant to their research.
PhD (Composition, Musicology): a research project undertaken across three to four years, culminating in a portfolio of 75–120 minutes of music and an analytical/contextual commentary (c. 15,000 words), or an 80,000-word thesis, or a combination of musicological and compositional components as part of one coherent project (in flexible proportions, details to be discussed with the Department of Music). As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to assist on or teach units relevant to their research.
The PhD, MMus and MPhil can be studied via distance learning.
World-leading research
The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
MPhil (Musicology): An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
MPhil (Composition): An upper second-class degree or international equivalent, plus a portfolio of representative compositions. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
MMus (Composition): An upper second-class degree or international equivalent, plus a portfolio of representative compositions. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of a suitable level of professional accomplishment.
PhD (Musicology): A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.
PhD (Composition or Musicology): A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent) and/or can demonstrate evidence of a sustained and high level of professional accomplishment. Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.
In all cases, applications must be supported by a portfolio of representative compositions. Please note: applicants may be registered on the MPhil or the MMus degree in the first instance.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels .
Fees and funding
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support .
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount .
Funding for 2023/24
The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP), which will be offering studentships for September 2023. For information on other funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts funding pages .
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
A significant number of graduates from this programme develop careers in higher education or work on high-level research projects in the field of music; others take up careers as composers and musicians.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
Research is structured in several interlinked clusters :
- Composition - Contemporary vocal, instrumental and orchestral music; electro-acoustic music and live electronics; transcultural composition; music with film and mixed media; traditional media, such as brass band and choral work. Group members: Professor Michael Ellison, Professor Neal Farwell, Professor John Pickard
- Music, politics and society - Music and cultural transfer; transnationality and colonialism; migration and diasporas; reception studies; music, revolution and totalitarianism; medieval liturgical chant and orality. Group members: Professor Michael Ellison, Professor Pauline Fairclough, Dr Guido Heldt, Professor Sarah Hibberd, Professor Emma Hornby, Professor John Pickard, Dr Florian Scheding, Dr Justin Williams, Dr Kate Guthrie.
- Intermediality - Music in multi-medial cultural artefacts and practice, including: popular music, especially hip hop; opera, musicals; music for film and television; medieval music. Group members: Professor Michael Ellison, Professor Neal Farwell, Dr Guido Heldt, Professor Sarah Hibberd, Professor Emma Hornby, Dr Justin Williams.
- Music as performance - Historical performance practice; medieval oral transmission. Group members: Professor Emma Hornby.
- Old Hispanic Office Research Project - Medieval liturgical chant (primarily Western European); liturgy; theology; computer-assisted chant analysis; veneration of saints; processions. This research group is funded by the Leverhulme Trust/British Academy (until 2023), and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (until 2024). Project members: Professor Emma Hornby, Dr Maeve O'Donnell (postdoctoral research fellow), Paul Rouse (IT Specialist), Laura Lanceley (AHRC project administrator).
- Beyond East and West Research Project - Composition for western and traditional Turkish musicians; developing and documenting an evolving transcultural musical practice. Funded by the European Research Council (2015–23). Project members: Professor Michael Ellison, Professor Emeritus Simon Jones (Theatre), Dr Argun Çakır (post-doctoral fellow).
- Hip-Hop's Fifth Element: Knowledge, Pedagogy and Artist-Scholar Collaboration - An interdisciplinary study of hip-hop's 'fifth element': knowledge, supported by a collaboration between the AHRC and the German Research Foundation (until 2024). The project will consolidate issues around power structures of knowledge and education by creating a comprehensive theory of the fifth element, developing the research agenda of European hip-hop studies, and promoting a collaborative and participatory approach to art and education. Project members: Dr Justin Williams, Dr Sina Nitzsche (Dortmund), Oliver Kauty (University of Cologne).
How to apply
Apply via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.
January 2023 start: 1 December 2022 September 2023 start: 1 August 2023 January 2024 start: 1 December 2023
The deadlines for funding applications fall well in advance of these dates. Preliminary contact with staff from the department is welcome at any time of the year. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact us early, before submitting an application.
Faculty of Arts Admissions
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Course type
Qualification, university name, phd degrees in music studies.
62 degrees at 40 universities in the UK.
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Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study
Related subjects:
- PhD Music Studies
- PhD Drama Studies
- PhD Music Arrangement
- PhD Music Composition
- PhD Music Performance and Playing
- PhD Music of Specific Kinds and Cultures
- PhD Musical Theatre
- PhD Musicology
- PhD Performing Arts
- PhD Performing and Dramatic Arts, Acting and Music Studies
- PhD Popular Music
- PhD Theatre Design
- PhD Theatre Production
- PhD Theatre Set Design
- PhD Theatre and Dramatic Arts
- Course title (A-Z)
- Course title (Z-A)
- Price: high - low
- Price: low - high
PhD/MPhil Music
City, university of london.
- 2 years Full time degree: 4,770 per year (UK)
- 3 years Part time degree: 2,390 per year (UK)
PhD in Music
Soas university of london.
- 3 years Full time degree: 4,670 per year (UK)
- 6 years Part time degree: 2,335 per year (UK)
Musicology PhD (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)
University of birmingham.
- 3 years Distance without attendance degree: 2,310 per year (UK)
- 3 years Full time degree: 4,620 per year (UK)
Music and Sound PhD
University of gloucestershire.
- 4 years Distance without attendance degree: 5,100 per year (UK)
- 6 years Distance without attendance degree: 3,400 per year (UK)
- 4 years Full time degree: 5,100 per year (UK)
- 6 years Part time degree: 3,400 per year (UK)
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Queen's university belfast.
- 3 years Full time degree: 4,596 per year (UK)
- 6 years Part time degree: 2,298 per year (UK)
University of Glasgow
- 5 years Part time degree: 2,298 per year (UK)
Music MPhil, PhD
Newcastle university.
- 36 months Full time degree: 4,500 per year (UK)
- 72 months Part time degree: 2,250 per year (UK)
University of Nottingham
- 4 years Full time degree: 4,625 per year (UK)
- 8 years Part time degree
PhD Computer Music
University of plymouth.
- 3 years Full time degree: 4,500 per year (UK)
- 4 years Part time degree: 3,030 per year (UK)
- Research Music- Core
- Research Skills in the Arts, Humanities & Business- Core
- GSRMUS2 Research Music- Core
- GSRMUS3 Research Music- Core
- GSRMUS4 Research Music- Core
- View all modules
University of Surrey
- 4 years Full time degree: 4,596 per year (UK)
- 8 years Part time degree: 2,298 per year (UK)
Bangor University
- 3 years Full time degree: 4,580 per year (UK)
- 5 years Part time degree: 2,290 per year (UK)
Music - PhD
University of kent, brunel university london.
- 6 years Part time degree: 2,295 per year (UK)
PhD (Music & Sound)
University of south wales, canterbury christ church university.
- 5 years Part time degree: 2,700 per year (UK)
PhD Postgraduate research in Music
University of wolverhampton, university of west london.
- 3 years Full time degree: 3,995 per year (UK)
- 5 years Part time degree: 2,000 per year (UK)
University of Chichester
- 48 months Full time degree: 4,635 per year (UK)
- 84 months Part time degree: 2,637 per year (UK)
PhD Music Research Programmes (W300)
University of southampton.
- 4 years Full time degree
- 7 years Part time degree
Musical Composition PhD (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)
1-20 of 62 courses
Course type:
- Distance learning PhD
- Full time PhD
- Part time PhD
Qualification:
Universities:.
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- University of Sussex
- University of Hull
- Royal Northern College of Music
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- King's College London, University of London
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of Oxford
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University of Cambridge
- The University of Edinburgh
- Abertay University
- University of Liverpool
- Cardiff University
- University of Bristol
- University of York
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Durham University
- Keele University
- University of Lincoln
Related Subjects:
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Discover more about music
PhD Music (Musicology) / Overview
Year of entry: 2023
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- A Bachelors (Honours) degree at 2:1 level or above (or its international equivalent) in a related subject; and
- A UK Master's degree with an overall average of 65% or higher, with a minimum of 65% in the dissertation/portfolio and with no mark below 55% (or its international equivalent) in Music or a related subject.
- Any strong, relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.
Full entry requirements
Apply online
Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered. A Personal Statement is NOT required to be submitted. You should select 'Supporting Statement is not required for this programme'.
Application Deadlines
Admission to studying for a PhD is highly competitive, so please allow as much time as possible to prepare your application, browse our research pages and academics' profiles, and familiarise yourself with the application process and any important deadlines.
To be considered for all funding sources, you need to apply far enough in advance of the relevant funding competition deadlines, which are usually much earlier than the programme deadline listed below. For studentships within the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (including AHRC NWCDTP and ESRC NWSSDTP), you must submit your completed programme application by Friday 13 January 2023 unless specfied otherwise in the funding competition information at www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/opportunities/
If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.
- For September 2023 entry: 30 June 2023
- For January 2024 entry: 30 September 2023
Programme options
Programme description.
Your supervised research will normally be related in some way to the research interests of a member of staff. These currently include but are not limited to:
* Early modern material culture and source studies * Early modern music theory and performing practices * Music and multimedia culture in early modern and Enlightenment England * Reception of early modern English music * Beethoven and his contemporaries * Music, politics and aesthetics in 19th-C Germany * Analysis and reception of 19th-C instrumental music * Music in 20th-century Russia and the Soviet Union * The 20th-century symphony * New music reception, historiography and methodology * Music in contemporary culture * Music of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora * Music of the Mediterranean, Balkans and Caucasus * Politics of world music * Music revivals in the 20th and 21st centuries * Theorising listening and listeners * Jazz performance and improvisation studies * Historical performance practice * Manuscript studies * Child composers
Our research across the department involves particular focus on eight core research areas , which are built around themes and topics that are of interest to a number of members of staff, who are able to bring contrasting perspectives and methodologies to solving shared problems within these themes because of their contrasting areas of specialism. These core research areas comprise:
* Creative and performing practices * Sound, space and interactive art * Politics, protest and power * Nationalism, mobility and identity * Historically and culturally informed analysis * Critical reception studies * Voice and vocality * Inter-cultural musicking
Musicologists and ethnomusicologists will produce an 80,000-word dissertation that presents independent and original research executed at a high standard.
You will be assigned a research panel consisting of your supervisor, a co-supervisor and advisor who will meet with you on a regular basis to monitor your progress.
Postgraduate students are expected to take part in the academic community of the department and the University by participating in seminars and presenting their research at regular intervals.
Find out more about our Music research , our staff and what our current PhD postgraduate research students are working on.
Find out what it's like to study at Manchester by visiting us on one of our open days .
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2023, the tuition fees are as follows:
- PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): TBA International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,000
- PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): TBA
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.
Scholarships/sponsorships
We offer a limited number of bursaries and studentships on a competitive basis, details of which can be found via the links below.
Please note that while we do not have closing dates for programme applications, all funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.
You may also be eligible for a postgraduate loan from the government. Find out more about this and other sources of funding on the funding opportunities page.
- AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures 2023-24
- President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures 2023-24
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2023-24
- China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester Joint Scholarship for PhD Study in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures 2023-24
- Harry Clough Bursary 2023-24
- Myrtle McMyn Bursary 2023-24
Contact details
See: About us
Programmes in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .
- Staff & students
MPhil/PhD Music
Course information.
3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time
Course overview
Goldsmiths’ Department of Music has a lively and varied research base, large postgraduate community, active performing tradition, and offers proximity to London’s resources.
Staff research interests are correspondingly diverse and wide-ranging, and we offer research supervision in many different areas, from composition to performance, sonic arts to popular music.
Our MPhil/PhD programmes
- MPhil/PhD in Music : Written thesis of up to 100,000 words (MPhil: 60,000 words). We offer supervision in many areas of music studies.
- Practice-Based Research in Music : Examined by portfolio of practice, and a 30,000-60,000 word written element. Portfolios may include recordings of composition; documentation of performance; ethnographic film; web-based and digital humanities projects; documentation of installation; other practice-based research.
Research supervision
You are assigned members of staff qualified to supervise your research throughout your period of registration. Supervision involves regular meetings throughout the period of study and involves the development of an intensive intellectual relationship between you and your supervisor.
You can get in touch with potential supervisors via the contact on the relevant staff page below. It is recommended you do this as a first step towards securing your place.
You have access to Goldsmiths Graduate School, containing an open-access computer room, a student common room and seminar room for use by postgraduate research students.
Find out more about research degrees at Goldsmiths .
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Keith Negus .
You can study full-time or part-time. The programme normally begins in September, but applications for entry in January and April may be considered.
Supervision is available in any of the areas of specialism outlined above or covered by staff research interests .
Research students are strongly encouraged to contribute to the Department’s research culture. You will have regular opportunities to present papers at seminars and conferences.
Composers can have pieces performed or recorded by Goldsmiths ensembles, including the Sinfonia, or by the Ensembles-in-Residence.
Performers are encouraged to take part in departmental concerts, and may audition for concerto appearances.
Registration and study
Initially, you register for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme to train you in the research methods you will need to complete a PhD. You can apply to transfer to PhD registration when you have satisfactorily completed an agreed part of the research and training programme; this usually happens after approximately 18 months if you are studying full-time, or before 36 months if part-time.
You should aim to complete and submit your PhD thesis within an agreed period, usually three to four years for full-time students, and four to six years for part-time.
If you decide not to upgrade to PhD registration, you can submit your thesis for an MPhil after two years if you are studying full-time, or after three years if part-time. With the agreement of your supervisor, you can change your registration from full to part-time or vice versa.
North American applicants especially should note that the British system does not include preparatory taught classes or examinations as part of the MPhil/PhD programme, except for an initial course in research methods.
For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the programme changes page .
Entry requirements
You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a high pass in a taught Masters degree. In exceptional circumstances we will also consider applicants with an undergraduate degree and professional experience equivalent to a Masters degree.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification ) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .
Fees, funding & scholarships
Annual tuition fees.
These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2023/2024 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £TBC
- Home - part-time: £TBC
- International - full-time: £TBC
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments.
Funding opportunities
Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
Normally, you should begin by contacting either the programme contact listed above, or a staff member active in the relevant field in order to discuss their research project. Staff biographies and specialisms can be seen on our staff pages .
Once you have discussed and shaped your project, and the staff member concerned has provisionally agreed to supervise you, you should draft a formal research proposal and personal statement. The former should be about 1,500 words long, and should outline your project, describing your research questions, methods, and context – this part comprising a literature review, and a statement as to how your work will seek to make an original contribution to knowledge. The personal statement should outline the reasons you want to carry out the project, your longer-term plans as a researcher, and the ways that you see your work as fitting into and being supported by our Department.
Before submitting your application you'll need to have:
- Details of your education history , including the dates of all exams/assessments
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
- Contact details of a second referee
- A personal statement – t his can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
- If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
- Details of your research proposal
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified.
Selection process
Admission to many programmes is by interview.
Find out more about applying .
Please visit our Staff pages to find out more about who teaches in the Department .
Find out more about the MPhil/PhD projects that are currently taking place within the department .
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Awards: PhD
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
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Programme website: Music
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Research profile
The Reid School of Music offers an exciting research environment that combines the theory, history, composition and practice of music with the scientific study of sound.
We engage with a broad range of genres and traditions, including:
- classical and popular music
- Western and non-Western music
- professional and amateur music making
- music for screen
Our research is highly interdisciplinary, with centres and groups spanning other Colleges and Departments within the University of Edinburgh, from Physics and Neuroscience to Informatics, the Humanities, Divinity and the Social Sciences.
We have a large community of postgraduate students undertaking independent research in music.
If you are interested in undertaking a small independent research project in music, the 12-month MSc by Research is ideal. This programme is offered in any area served by the expertise of our music staff. In consultation with your supervisor, you will develop an individual programme of coursework and research training over two semesters. You will submit a dissertation or portfolio of projects equivalent to 30,000 words.
Candidates for larger-scale, doctoral research are normally admitted as probationary students for the first year of study, and on satisfactory completion of this first year are approved for registration for PhD (maximum four years full-time, dissertation of 80,000–100,000 words).
Our research degrees can be studied part-time (for example, MSc by Research can be studied part-time over two years).
Staff have a wide range of research interests, engaging in research clustered around four main themes:
- History, Theory, and Sociology of Music, including 19th- and 20th-century music, popular music, aesthetics and sociology
- Music and the Human Sciences, including music psychology and cognition, and music in the community
- Musical Practice, including composition (electroacoustic, algorithmic, computer music and music for screen), and historical and contemporary performance research
- Music, Sound and Technology, including musical acoustics and organology
Some of our current hubs of research activity include:
- Acoustics and Audio Group
- ECA Digitals
- Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments
- Institute for Music in Human and Social Development
Please consult our staff profiles on the programme website to see interests and availability; you may propose projects in any area for consideration.
Training and support
All of our research students benefit from ECA ’s interdisciplinary approach and all are assigned two research supervisors.
Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within ECA , or from somewhere else within the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences or elsewhere within the University, according to the expertise required.
On occasion, more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.
PhD by Distance option
The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes:
- History of Art
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
The PhD by Distance allows students who do not wish to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in an ECA subject area from their home country or city.
There is no expectation that students studying for an ECA PhD by Distance study mode should visit Edinburgh during their period of study. However, short-term visits for particular activities could be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For further information on the PhD by Distance please see the ECA website:
- PhD by Distance at ECA
Entry requirements
These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.
Normally a UK masters degree or its international equivalent. If you are applying for a research degree within Music that involves Composition or Creative Music Practice you must submit a portfolio containing three pieces of composition or examples of work related to your proposed field of study. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
- Entry requirements by country
- English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
- UKVI list of majority English speaking countries
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
- Approved universities in non-MESC
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Fees and costs
Additional programme costs.
No additional costs
Tuition fees
Scholarships and funding, featured funding.
- Edinburgh College of Art scholarships
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK's governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
- UK government and other external funding
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Search for funding
Further information
- Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5739
- Contact: [email protected]
- Postgraduate Research Director, Music, Dr Benedict Taylor
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2423
- Contact: [email protected]
- The University of Edinburgh
- Evolution House, Grassmarket
- Central Campus
- Programme: Music
- School: Edinburgh College of Art
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Music - 3 Years (Full-time)
Phd music - 6 years (part-time), phd music by distance - 3 years (full-time), phd music by distance - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
- How to apply
You must submit two references with your application.
You should submit a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome. Read the application guidance before you apply:
- Preparing your application - postgraduate research degrees (PDF)
If you are applying for a research degree within Music that involves Composition or Creative Music Practice, you must submit a portfolio as part of your application. You won't be able to submit your portfolio immediately, but you'll receive an email prompt within a few days of submitting your application that will explain how to upload your portfolio.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
PhD/MPhil Music
Postgraduate research degree
The Music PhD/MPhil gives you the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in your chosen field. The submission requirements for our highly regarded PhD are flexible, as are the final submission regulations
Research centres and groups
- Sound Practice and Research at City
Key information
Music postgraduate research degrees phd/mphil course overview.
You will shape your own experience of the Music PhD/MPhil with excellent support along the way. You will be allocated a principal supervisor who is a world-leading researcher.
Supervision will involve regular meetings for feedback on your work, methodological and theoretical guidance and the opportunity to explore deep research questions in the subject of Music .
The Department of Performing Arts has a vibrant research culture, and you will benefit from weekly research seminars and seminars by distinguished guest academics as well as concerts and a postgraduate conference.
For instrumental and vocal composers the Department has three ensembles in residence. EXAUDI vocal ensemble, Plus Minus and the City Pierrot Ensemble play an integral part of the wider performance culture, allowing composers to have works performed by our own and visiting ensembles.
Research students follow individually supervised programmes leading either to the submission of a thesis (musicology, ethnomusicology), or a portfolio of practice-based work (instrumental and vocal composition, studio-based digital or electroacoustic work, performances, recordings, software, etc.). This is accompanied by a smaller component of written work.
Please note: the thesis for the latter option is not a commentary on the student's practical work but a dissertation on an area of research related to the student's practice-based interests.
Initially students are registered for the MPhil degree. Transfer to PhD status occurs once good progress has been made on the initial stages of the research.
The PhD will normally be completed after three years of full-time research (five years part-time). Then followed by a one-year period of 'writing-up' during which the final preparation of the thesis or portfolio takes place.
Students intending to complete the MPhil will carry out two years of full-time research (or three years part-time), plus the period of 'writing-up'.
Scholarship
- Archival research for historical musicology
- Byzantine and Modern Greek art music
- Choral music of the Slavic Orthodox churches
- Church music
- Critical Issues in Musicology
- Diaspora Studies
- Ethnicity, Identity and Music
- Ethnographic approaches to music research, including auto-ethnography
- Ethnomusicology of Western musics
- Gender and sexuality and their representation in music
- Greek song and other musical traditions
- Historiography of Music
- Historical performance practice, especially for Medieval, early Renaissance, 19th and early 20th music
- Improvisation
- Middle Eastern Music, traditional and contemporary
- Modernism in music and other art forms
- Music Analysis, including the Analysis of Performance
- Music and cinema, including Middle Eastern cinema
- Music and creative processes in global contexts
- Music and globalisation
- Musical notation and written musical cultures
- Music in social, historical and geographical context, especially issues of ideology and representation
- Music videos and music for television and video games
- Music in cultural history
- Music in 19th-century Russia and the Soviet Union
- Music in 20th-century Germany, including the Third Reich
- Music and Technology
- Musical representation in contemporary media
- Nineteenth-century music, especially that of Liszt and Brahms
- Performance Studies
- Popular music studies
- Practice-as-Research and associated debates
- Reception history
- Sound Studies
- Studies of musical performance, both live and recorded
- The Frankfurt School, Theodor Adorno and Marxist aesthetics
- The study of musical instruments and techniques
- Twentieth-century and contemporary music, musical practice and aesthetics
- Urban Ethnomusicology
- Western and Eastern Chant
- Analysis and aesthetics of composition
- Composition for film, television and videogames
- Composition for Improvisers
- Composition for instruments and Interactive electronics
- Computer-assisted composition and machine learning for music
- Early Vocal Performance
- Guitar Performance
- Historically-informed performance
- Improvisation and Free Jazz
- Instrumental and vocal composition
- Live electronic performance
- Piano Performance
- Popular Music Performance
- Recording techniques
- Sonic Practice and Sonic Art
- Sound installation and site-specific performance
- Studio composition
- Techniques and aesthetics for the performance of new music
- Trombone Performance
For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students .
Requirements
Applicants should normally hold a Masters-level degree in music or an area cognate to their area of research.
English requirements
For students whose first language is not English, the following qualifications will meet the English language requirement for entry to a postgraduate course of study:
- A first degree from a UK university or from the CNAA.
- A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from
- institutions in Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
- GCE O-level/GCSE English language or English literature, grade C minimum.
- An overall IELTS score of 7.0, including 7.0 in writing, with no component score below 6.0. (Please note, IELTS test scores are valid for a maximum period of 2 years from the time at which the test was taken).
- Other evidence of proficiency in the English language which satisfies the board of studies concerned.
For more information see our main entry requirements page.
Visa requirements
If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than six months
- Students on courses of less than six months
- Students on a pre-sessional English language course
For more information see our main Visa page .
Fees and funding
Full-time UK: £4,770 per year
Part-time UK: £2,390 per year
Full-time Overseas/EU: £12,730 per year
Part-time Overseas/EU: £6,360 per year
Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination. Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration. You pay the above fees (which usually increase each year in line with inflation) annually until you are ready to go into 'writing up' status, whereby you are no longer researching your research topic and are solely writing up your thesis for examination.
You will not be required to pay further tuition fees but you will be charged the writing-up fee of £300 which will cover you for the duration of the writing-up period (a maximum of 12 months for full-time and 18 months for part-time students). If a student fails to submit their thesis within the maximum writing-up period, they will be reverted to full registration (full-time or part-time depending on their status before moving to writing up) and will be required to pay the full fees.
Students will only be expected to pay for the time taken to complete the thesis and once the thesis has been submitted the remaining proportional fees will be refunded to the student. Fees are payable upon registration. Details of methods of the payment of tuition fees can be found on our fees and funding pages .
Support for PhD study
Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:
- Research Council studentship awards , if available.
Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.
Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.
Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.
Postgraduate Doctoral Loans
The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.
This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.
A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.
For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page .
Additional expenses
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses .
Academic support
City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research .
Supervision
Each student is assigned a supervisor whose role is to:
- Ensure that the student develops a detailed research plan and has clear targets
- Assess research training needs
- Enable access to necessary resources
- Encourage and support initiative and motivation
- Provide regular feedback on work.
City runs an induction programme, covering training in research methods, computer and library facilities, and discussion of research students' needs.
All research students present their work in progress in the Department's annual Research Seminar Series which acts as a regular meeting point for research students. There are also occasional postgraduate seminars in specialist areas, including a postgraduate composers' listening group.
Find out more information on the central provision for doctoral students in the City Doctoral College .
Research Environment
We have strong links between research and postgraduate teaching. Research students benefit from the Department of Performing Arts' integration of Western and non-Western music, and an interdisciplinary approach that encourages studies related to popular culture and contemporary creative practice, performance, technology, aural culture and world music.
Research students are studying areas as diverse as London-based Klezmer music, 18th-century publishing practices and the nature of collaboration in live electroacoustic performance.
All students benefit from participation in a weekly research seminar series, attended by both staff and student researchers across the Department. Other events held throughout each term include public concert series, specialist seminars and student performances.
Research Excellence Framework (REF)
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 rated 87% of our research as either 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*).
This included 100% of our research impact being considered 'outstanding' (4*) or 'very considerable' (3*) and a research environment that was similarly assessed at 100% in being 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) for its vitality and sustainability.
The department was placed 11th out of 84 submissions for the proportion of 4*+3* activity and is in the top 25% of all submissions nationally for Grade Point Average (GPA).
How to apply
Preliminary enquiries.
To be considered for the MPhil/PhD programme, one of our staff must be willing to supervise your research.
Students are encouraged to contact a staff member from the School of Communication & Creativity whose research interests accord with your own prior to making an application. Their profiles can be found here .
See here for more information on Sound Practice and Research at City .
We accept applications on an ongoing basis for entry in late September and early February. There is no formal application deadline, but it is advisable to apply as early as possible due to the limited availability of supervisors.
To apply online, you will need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A full curriculum vitae specifying academic qualifications, and experience or achievements relevant to the application and the research proposal.
- A research proposal, giving as much details as possible about the research area, and the reasons for carrying out the research.
- An account of the ideal resources - hardware, software and supervisory support - needed to enable the work to be carried out.
- An example of written work which demonstrates writing skills and intellectual ability.
- Compositions: composers should submit a folio of recent compositions with recordings if possible. Electroacoustic composers should submit digital recordings.
- Copies of your degree certificates and transcripts.
- Official work e-mail addresses (not private ones) for two academic referees (or one academic and one professional referee where appropriate)
- Proof of your English language proficiency (if applicable).
When this information is received the application will be assessed by the relevant academic staff.
Further information or an interview may be required. The outcome will be reported to the applicant as soon as is practicable.
Please contact Newton Armstrong or Richard Thornbury for further information
Writing Your Research Proposal
Please limit your proposal to no more than 4 sides of A4 (excluding bibliography).
Your research proposal should include an abstract setting out the central questions of the proposed research and situating it within a broader context of existing work in the area.
You should include discussion of relevant literature and the ways in which your research will contribute to knowledge in the field.
The proposal should include a section on methodology and an initial plan and timeline to indicate how you will complete the research within the period of study.
See here for guidance on how to prepare your research proposal .
- Full-time 30 th Sep 2023
- 30 th Sep 2023
Potential PhD projects
Sonic tehran.
Sonic Tehran is an interdisciplinary project exploring Tehran as a sounded space and funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The project asks how sound shapes, and is shaped by, the urban environment.
Research centre: Sound Practice and Research at City
Academic: Professor Laudan Nooshin
Status: Ongoing project
View case study site
Find a supervisor
See our full list of academic staff and potential supervisors in Department of Performing Arts.
Professor Laudan Nooshin
Professor of Music
- Department of Performing Arts
Dr Aaron Einbond
Reader in Music
Dr Claudia Molitor
Senior Lecturer in Music
Professor Ian Pace
Useful links.
- Doctoral College
- School of Communication & Creativity
- Student wellbeing
- Terms and conditions
Contact details
School of communication & creativity.
[email protected]
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- Full-time: Up to 4 years
- Part-time: Up to 8 years
- Start date: Multiple available
- UK fees: £4,850
- International fees: £20,500
Research overview
Invest your time and follow your passion to create original research. We know the commitment you will making so you'll get expert supervision from our internationally recognised researchers. We encourage you to identify a potential supervisor to discuss your proposal with as early as possible.
Research areas
We have particular strengths in four core areas.
Music, space and place
- Music and musical culture in a specific time and place
- Transnational and transcultural exchange
- Urban geographies and mobility
Music-text-image
- How music interacts with other art forms
- Applying and developing methodologies from other disciplines
Musical creativity and community
- Musical creativity
- Development of communities and networks
Music, politics and identity
- How music has contributed to local, national and international political change
- How music shapes individual identities
Explore all our research themes and projects in detail
Performance opportunities
There's plenty of opportunities to play and perform :
- individually and as part of ensembles
- on-campus and as part of the wider Nottingham musical scene
Your department
- Department of Music website
- The department was ranked 7th among the Russell Group universities for research outputs in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
" The music I grew up with and enjoy listening to was not part of the music history I was studying. So when I did a PhD, I decided to move away from opera (which I also like) and focus on musicals. "
Hannah Robbins, Assistant Professor in Popular Music and Director of Black Studies
Course content
Normally taken full-time over three years or part-time over six years (with an optional extra year for writing up, submission and viva).
- complete a written thesis of up to 100,000 words, with expert support and advice from your academic supervisors
- take a verbal examination (viva voce) where you explain your project in depth to an examination panel.
Example recent theses in the department
Their Dreams and Ours: Britten, Film, and 'The Turn of the Screw' - Peter Auker
Intermezzo under Hapsburg rule (1707-1734): new theories of composition and musical meaning - Eric Boaro
Changing the record: reassessing effectiveness and value in prison music projects - Sarah Doxat-Pratt
A critical and reflective commentary on a portfolio of compositions (audio) - Angela Slater
A range of optional music modules are available in consultation with your supervisory team. Examples include:
Explore a range of musical cultures beyond the traditional canon of Western art music.
Introduce the fields of ethnomusicology and popular music studies. You'll look at different:
- theories of music
from a diverse range of cultures and communities.
We delve into musical traditions and popular culture from around the world, including case studies from Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific.
As well as ethnomusicological theory and method you'll get an overview of key issues and debates in Anglophone popular music. You will also develop critical skills for the analysis of musical practice in diverse contexts.
This module is worth 10 credits.
This module centres on participation in primary school music teaching in partnership with the Nottingham Music Hub. Students attend weekly in-school sessions throughout the autumn and spring semesters, assisting with Nottingham First Access mentoring (In Harmony and/or Whole Class Ensemble) or contributing to the direction of post-first-access ensembles. In the spring semester, fortnightly classes will supplement the in-school experience with sessions on topics such as: the national music plan and music hubs; different teaching and learning styles; Musical Futures; musical inclusion and teaching in inner-city schools; and special educational needs.
See our BA Music year two and three modules for more examples of modules available to you.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2023 entry.
Meeting our English language requirements
If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.
If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.
For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.
Visa restrictions
International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.
We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.
We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.
If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us .
Your application should include a 1000-3000 word research proposal , containing a proposed title, an aim, objectives, methods, summary of content and outline bibliography.
We encourage you to get in touch with Dr Nick Baragwanath about your research proposal before submitting an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support in finding funding.
Supervisors
You will have a minimum of two supervisors who will offer expert guidance, support and feedback throughout your research.
Joint supervision and collaboration may be available from partner universities for Midlands4Cities funded students.
Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.
Additional information for UK/Home students
For UK postgraduate research students, the university fee level of £4,850 is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2023. We will let you know the fee as soon as we have been made aware however given the current global economic crisis the fee is likely to increase.
Additional information for international students
If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .
These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).
Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Programme
Midlands4Cities (M4C) PhD students benefit from a high quality package of:
- enhanced support and training
- expert supervision
- excellent networking opportunities
You must apply for a place at Nottingham before submitting your M4C application.
Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and partners we sometimes have specific funding available for Music postgraduate students.
There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.
Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.
The department's lively research culture offers the chance to hear visiting scholars from elsewhere in the UK and from overseas. Events include:
- regular research seminars
- professional concerts
- conferences
Research in progress
These sessions for staff and postgraduates give you the space to present your developing work in a friendly and constructive environment. They also allow you to broaden your knowledge of the subject and gain a better sense of how research develops as part of an interactive process.
There are numerous opportunities to play and perform for both players and singers including:
- University-wide orchestra and choir
- Over 20 dedicated ensembles covering all types of music
- A lively and wide-ranging musical culture in the city of Nottingham.
Find out more about performance opportunities
Research centres
The department hosts two research centres that you are encouraged to get involved in. They offer opportunities for research, performance and event support.
Nottingham Forum for Artistic Research (NottFAR)
NottFAR features performances and composers from our staff and high profile guests from around the UK and abroad. Performances take part both on-campus and at major venues in Nottingham such as the Royal Concert Hall and Rough Trade .
Centre for Music on Stage and Screen (MOSS)
Promotes the interaction of history, theory and practice in the study of opera, ballet, melodrama, film, video and other multi-media performance genres. It encourages multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration.
Midlands4Cities students
If you are funded through the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership you will complete a portfolio of research training, devised in consultation with your supervisors and Head of Postgraduate Studies.
Language learning
You can make full use of the Language Centre facilities for both research-specific learning and personal interest.
Find out more about our postgraduate support and community .
Researcher training and development
The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.
Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.
Graduate centres
Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.
Each space has areas for:
- socialising
- computer work
- kitchen facilities
Student support
You will have access to a range of support services , including:
- academic and disability support
- childcare services
- counselling service
- faith support
- financial support
- mental health and wellbeing support
- visa and immigration advice
- welfare support
Students' Union
Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer .
There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:
- international students
- black and minority ethnic students
- students who identify as women
- students with disabilities
- LGBT+ students
SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.
Where you will learn
University park campus.
University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.
Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.
You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.
Record, compose, research and experiment
- Djanogly Recital Hall – acoustically designed, 200-seat hall
- Rehearsal Hall – performances, workshops and teaching
- Recording studio - industry standard with adjacent live room
- Digital composition studio – iMacs and specialist technology
- Practice rooms - 13 purpose-built rooms with pianos
- Denis Arnold music library - specialist collections
We also have strong links with venues and spaces in the rest of Nottingham.
Lakeside Arts
The on-campus Lakeside Arts Centre has an exciting and diverse programme of performances including classical, choral, jazz, folk, 'global', dance, and many other excursions into sound!
Discount tickets available to all students along with work experience and volunteering opportunities.
Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.
International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route . Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.
Our graduates go on to many different careers. Examples include:
- Music management
- Programme controller
- Civil Service Fast Stream
- Accountancy
- Airline pilot
Our recent PhD students have gone on to academic positions at the following universities:
- Pavia (Italy)
- Open University
50% of postgraduates from SCHOOL/COURSE NAME secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £25,000.*
*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022 . The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.
The Department enjoys a close relationship with a number of performance venues in the local area, providing opportunities for public engagement and real world experience.
Related courses
Music composition phd, music performance phd, research excellence framework.
We are ranked 7th in the UK for research power (2021), according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
- 7th among the Russell Group universities for research outputs
- 80% of our publications, compositions and recordings rated as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'
- 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
- 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
- 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**
*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.
This content was last updated on 03 November 2022 . Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.
New website!
Find out more
- Research degrees
- Doctor of Music
- Doctor of Philosophy
AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership
Research at the RCM
- Tuition fees
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research degree focuses on musicological and scientific approaches to performance and composition.
'The cohort of PhD students comprises music practitioners from all corners of the world. Our conversations and camaraderie, both in the classroom and outside, made me feel part of a community.'
Sureshkumar P. Sekar, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
'I am incredibly fortunate to have supervisors who are fonts of knowledge, and are genuinely interested in my doctoral research.'
Sasha Kaye, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
'The multicultural background and the variety of research topics of the RCM research community has significantly enriched my perspective of musical research.'
Arianna Rigamonti, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The RCM research community currently includes approximately 50 doctoral students working in all of its key areas. The RCM’s doctoral awards are specialist research degrees that particularly encourage research in the areas of performance, composition, musicology and performance science.
Find out about staff and students in our research community
As a doctoral student, you will work with at least two supervisors in addition to attending group tutorials and seminars relevant to your particular area of research. In addition, you will be expected to take an active role within the research life of the Royal College of Music.
The RCM’s doctoral programme offers both a DMus and PhD pathway, and it is possible during the degree to move between pathways depending on how your individual research project evolves.
PhD students submit a written dissertation of between 80,000 and 100,000 words, which may include supporting practical work if appropriate to the topic.
Royal College of Music courses are internationally recognised as full degree courses with successful students awarded their qualifications under the RCM's Royal Charter.
Performance opportunities
With a busy events calendar of more than 500 events every year, the RCM offers a vibrant performance and composition environment. A wide variety of performance opportunities including orchestral and choral projects, chamber music and solo opportunities, performance in jazz and historical instrument ensembles form a regular part of the taught Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes.
Doctoral students are encouraged to engage with students and staff in performances as much as possible by sitting in on faculty-based performance activities. These activities include chamber music and duo performance coaching, orchestral training, performance classes, acting and language classes (for singers), music technology (for composers), reed making (for double reed players) and improvisation (for organists). Active participation in formal classes is at the Head of Faculty’s discretion and there is much opportunity for self-directed performance activity which may be supported through our extensive chamber music coaching scheme.
Composition at the RCM fosters partnerships with the College's large body of gifted instrumentalists. Composers will hear performances of their own works in a variety of contexts and have the opportunity to benefit from a range of collaborations, which we host regularly with artistic organisations in London and beyond.
Find out more about performance opportunities
The Royal College of Music is proud to offer its students fantastic practice and performance facilities with resources to support teaching and learning. We continually improve our facilities to ensure RCM students have the best opportunities.
Explore our facilities with a video tour of the RCM
Key facilities at the RCM include:
- The Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall - our primary performance venue for orchestras and large ensembles.
- Our 400-seat Britten Theatre, home to the RCM’s thriving International Opera School .
- A new Performance Hall, offering an alternative space for ensembles, with a retractable stage, Fazioli grand piano and variable acoustics.
- Intimate spaces for solo and chamber performance in our Performance Studio and Parry Rooms.
- Sound-proofed Amadeus Music Pods for private practice.
- A purpose-built percussion suite – you can watch a video tour on YouTube .
- Over 160 pianos, including 60 grand pianos and 20 early keyboards, as well as organ rooms.
- A Blüthner Practice Suite which holds ten Blüthner Model A upright pianos.
- Instrument surgeries including luthier services.
- RCM Studios : a commercial-grade facility, enabling live broadcasts around the world.
- Digital Innovation Lab: a state of the art recording and mixing suite.
- RCM Library with more than 200,000 scores, books and recordings in its lending collection, as well as access to more than 400 music journals.
- Recently refurbished RCM Museum , holding more than 14,000 instruments, portraits and images, as well as a climate-controlled performance space and dedicated research facility.
Find out more about RCM facilities
Career development
The RCM’s Creative Careers Centre, which is recognised internationally for its innovative approach to supporting young musicians, provides an unparalleled service to current students and recent alumni. The dedicated team partners with leading consultants, reputable arts organisations and local communities, delivering unique career-building opportunities and a direct route to the music industry.
The work of the Creative Careers Centre allows students to discover their professional identity, gain hands-on experience and new skills, develop an entrepreneurial mind-set and build a fulfilling professional portfolio.
Extensive performance and teaching opportunities are available, as well as valuable guidance on CV and biography writing, concert programming, communication skills, project management, marketing and publicity, online promotion, financial matters and how to develop a business idea.
Find out more about the Creative Careers Centre
Entry requirements
To be admitted onto the programme, you will normally need to have a good Masters degree, the ability to demonstrate a close familiarity with existing theoretical and practical aspects of your topic area, a developed awareness of fundamental research skills, and some ability to design and define a viable project.
There should also be a good match between your intended project and expertise of staff at the RCM.
The RCM welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and alternative qualifications may be considered. If your qualifications are not listed here, please contact our Admissions team , who will be happy to discuss your suitability for the programme.
English language requirements
All applicants must be able to demonstrate that their level of English language ability meets the Royal College of Music’s minimum requirements in order for their application to be accepted.
If you require a visa to study at the RCM, you must meet the English language requirements before the RCM is permitted to sponsor your visa application.
How to apply
The application deadline for 2023 has now passed but late applications may still be considered. Please contact [email protected] to enquire before applying.
You must complete all four steps below by the deadline for your application to be considered.
How to submit your application
Applications are made via the RCM’s online portal. Please note, there is one application form for both the PhD and DMus programmes.
There are four steps to submitting your application:
- Create an account on the RCM online submission portal
- Complete the Doctoral application form and upload your research proposal and your supporting documents
- Pay the application fee of £100
- Arrange for your referees to email their references direct to [email protected]
Next stages
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews normally take place in person at the Royal College of Music, and are usually held in November. All applicants will be notified of the outcome in mid-December.
The RCM is the only conservatoire in London to be part of an AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership, with full studentships awarded to exceptional applicants through the London Arts and Humanities Partnership.
If you are interested in pursuing your research interests at the RCM please contact our Head of Research for a discussion about your project ideas.
If you have any questions about the admissions process please contact our Admissions team, who will be happy to help you.
Professor Robert Adlington
Head of Research
[email protected]
Admissions and general audition enquiries
+44 (0)20 7591 4362
[email protected]
Fees & funding
Read the Royal College of Music's latest QAA review report
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Please contact [email protected] to enquire before applying.