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Music Performance Practice PhD/ MA by Research (On Campus or by Distance Learning)

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,786 full-time, £2,393 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

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Our postgraduate research programmes in Performance Practice are a unique opportunity for performers of proven ability to develop their work on historically-informed performances of western art music.

You will be assessed by performance supported by written work, which demonstrates a high level of ability in presenting, and reasoning from, historical evidence relating to performance practice. 

Virtual Open Day: Postgraduate opportunities in Music - 28 April 2020, 12:00-13:00

Take part in our online chat where Dr Luis-Manuel Garcia will be answering your questions about postgraduate study in Music at Birmingham.

Find out more and register

Music scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law is offering a number of scholarships for postgraduate research students in Music. Open to students pursuing any of our Music PhD/MA by Research pathways, the awards vary in value and applications are now open.

Find out more and apply now

AHRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C), offering Arts and Humanities Research Council PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. These include a number of Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunities. Each studentship includes research fees, a substantial maintenance grant and additional research training support. Applications are open until 12:00 (noon), 13 January 2021.

Find out more

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

The Department of Music offers two options for postgraduate research, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or to pursue Masters-level research following an undergraduate degree a related field.

The MA by Research in Performance Practice is examined by:

• A thesis of c.20,000 words
• A performance not exceeding 45 minutes actual performance time (30-35 minutes for wind and brass players) which illustrates, at least in part, ideas raised in the thesis
• A written programme note for, and detailed critical commentary on, the performance

The PhD in Performance Practice is examined in two stages. At the end of Year 2, you will give a live ‘Minor Performance’ of 30 minutes, together with a written programme note for, and critical commentary on, the performance. This performance is examined by two internal examiners and is followed immediately by a short viva focusing on issues of performance. You may be advised by the examiners not to proceed to the PhD in Performance Practice, but rather to transfer to a Musicology PhD.

At the end of Year 3, you will be examined by:

• A thesis of c.60,000 words
• A ‘Major’ performance of one hour’s actual performance time (40-50 minutes for wind and brass players)

The performance will be given as a standard live recital, of which a recording will be made and a copy on CD submitted with the library copy of the thesis. The recital element will be examined by three examiners (one external and two internal).

At Birmingham, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students also have the opportunity to learn graduate academic languages free of charge, to support your studies.

• Graduate School Language Skills

To find out more about this programme and make an enquiry you can  contact Ryan Latimer , your Admissions Tutor.

The facilities at the Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre (BEAST) are some of the best in the UK. My supervisors give me the freedom to have fun with my research portfolio and there are regular opportunities to get more involved with department events and teaching. Nikki

Why study this course?

• World-leading research : The University of Birmingham is ranked equal 10th in the UK amongst Russell Group universities in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 according to the Times Higher Education
• Excellent facilities : We are located in the Bramall Music Building at the heart of the University campus. It is home to the 450-seat Elgar Concert Hall and contains a suite dedicated to the study and performance of early music, five electroacoustic studios and a large rehearsal room. The internationally recognised Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre, or BEAST, is arguably the best system of its type in the world.
• Library collections : We have a range of specialist and general texts, journals, rare and early printed sources, manuscripts and electronic resources for the study of Music, with special collections focused on 20th-century English and Baroque music, including many manuscript and early printed sources, and an extensive microfilm collection.
• Scholarship opportunities : The Department has generous scholarship funding to cover fees and/or maintenance costs in cases of appropriate attainment. You can find out more on our College funding and scholarships page.

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,786 full-time; £2,393 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level 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 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Applications for the PhD programme need to be supported by a piece of academic writing of c3,000 words, as well as a recital comprising a diverse programme, relevant to your intended course, of c.30 mins. in duration. This can be provided via YouTube, Youku or DropBox. 

In contrast, for the Masters by Research, applicants need to supply a writing sample of at least 1,500 words, in addition to a bibliography and notes, as well as a 20-min. recital.

Application deadlines

Postgraduate research can start at any time during the year, but it is important to allow time for us to review your application and communicate a decision. If you wish to start in September 2024, we would recommend that you aim to submit your application and supporting documents by 1 June 2024.

If the programme has a Distance learning option then students will usually attend a residential visit in September or January, and those students wishing to attend the September residential are also encouraged to apply by 1 June 2024. The visit will take place at the end of September/beginning of October and you will receive further details once you have accepted your offer.

Six steps to apply for our Postgraduate Research courses

Do you have an idea for an interesting research project? You can follow our six easy steps to apply to study for our postgraduate research courses . These include guidance on identifying funding opportunities and writing your research proposal .

Please also see our additional guidance for  applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode .

Please note: While our PhD programmes are normally studied in three years full-time or six years part-time, and Masters-level research programmes one year full-time or two years part-time, many programmes have a longer length listed in course or funding applications. This is because the course length is defined as the maximum period of registration, which includes a period of supervised study plus a thesis awaited period. The maximum period of registration for a full-time PhD is four years (three years supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For a full-time Masters-level research programme, it is two years (one year supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For part-time programmes, the periods are double the full-time equivalent.

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Applications for the PhD programme need to be supported by a   piece of academic writing of c3,000 words, as well as a recital comprising a diverse programme, relevant to your intended course, of c.30 mins. in duration. This can be provided via YouTube, Youku or DropBox. 

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For the MA by Research programme, entry usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree in Music or a related subject, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK.
• If you are applying for a PhD then you will usually also need to hold a good Masters qualification in Music or a related subject.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you are applying for distance learning research programmes, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please contact the admissions tutor.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Bachiller, Licenciado, or Título Profesional with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Please contact a staff member working in your area of interest in the first instance. A summary of our key research areas, and staff working within those, can be found below.

• Musical Composition
• Musical Performance Practice

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report .

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: Music

Birmingham's Music postgraduates work in a wide range of careers within and beyond the music world. A postgraduate degree in Music develops a broad base of skills including general skills such as communication, problem solving and research, and also specific skills developed by practice and performance such as self-management, team work and presentation.

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Music Performance PhD

• Full-time: Up to four years
• Part-time: Up to eight years
• Start date: Multiple available
• UK fees: £4,712
• International fees: £20,500

Research overview

Through an agreed programme of original research you will:

• deepen critical engagement with, and understanding of, performance practice
• explore specific aspects of technique or repertoire.

There are many opportunities to perform both individually and as part of ensembles, on-campus and as part of the wider Nottingham musical scene.

Research areas

Our research strengths are grouped into four themes.

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

Housed in a purpose-built building our facilities provide an ideal environment for you to rehearse, record and perform.

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.

" I uncover real historical practices and ask how they might inform and enhance music tuition and performance today. This has resulted in a shift in core performance practices of a new generation of musicians and music teachers. "

Nicholas Baragwanath, Professor of Music

Course content

Normally taken full-time over three years or part-time over six years (with additional year(s) often taken for final writing up, submission and viva).

There are two main assessment options.

One full-length public recital or lecture-recital of approximately 90 minutes, which can also be presented as a “minor” recital of 30 minutes at the end of year two and a “major” recital of 60 minutes at the end of year three.

The recital must be accompanied by a dissertation of approximately 50,000 words on a related area or equivalent, to be followed by a viva.

The recital performance should:

• display an original and imaginative stance on the art of performance
• show an advanced level of creative ability and outstanding technical and interpretative mastery
• be worthy of a professional standard of performance

Normally two public recitals or lecture-recitals of approximately 60 minutes each, the first at the end of year two and the second at the end of year three.

The recitals must be accompanied by a 20,000-word commentary or equivalent, to be followed by a viva.

The recital or lecture-recital performances should:

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 modules are available in consultation with your supervisory team. These include music modules as well as ones to build your research skills. Examples include:

This module involves student performers, composers and music technologists working together to develop a new creative project, for performance in a venue in Nottingham. Improvisation will be fundamental to the developmental stages of the project. 

This module offers the opportunity for intensive development of ensemble performance skills. Students are required to pre-form small instrumental or vocal ensembles before the module commences, agreed with the Director of Performance. If students have a specific instrumental or vocal formation in mind that cannot be formed within the module, they may invite guest performers, normally up to one un-assessed member per ensemble. Please note that the department does not provide accompanists for this module. Collaborative pianists should be regarded as an integral part of an ensemble. They are required to participate fully in regular rehearsals and workshops within the framework of the module. Ensembles will remain intact for the duration of the module. Should any member of the ensemble be unable to continue, this should be confirmed before the module transfer deadline and the other members will be required to find a replacement. No changes to the ensemble are permitted after the module transfer deadline. Pianists will have the option to choose collaborative piano (accompanying) as their specialism within the module. Students will receive a weekly coaching workshop/rehearsal session as well as further individual coaching. Ensembles are encouraged to explore existing repertoire during weeks 1–3, and thereafter to work on their performance of the work(s) selected by the group. All ensembles are assessed by performance and must also complete a log documenting rehearsals.

Get a thorough introduction to the fundamental techniques and practical skills of instrumental, orchestral and choral conducting.

You'll explore the problems and challenges conducting poses from a variety of angles and gain practical experience both in class and in front of an ensemble.

Some of the topics examined will be:

• rehearsal techniques
• score literacy, knowledge and preparation
• interpretation
• psychology of conducting
• technical issues such as stance, movement, beating patterns and other relevant gestures

Through supportive workshops with your fellow students you'll practise specific pieces, with feedback coming from both group discussion and the tutor.

If you want to learn conducting this is an ideal introduction.

If you don't want to be a conductor this is a perfect way to understand more about what your conductor is doing and saying and so increase your understanding of what you are meant to be playing.

This module is worth 20 credits.

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 .

We encourage you to get in touch with Dr Rebecca Thrumpston about your research proposal before submitting an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support in finding funding.

Supervision

You will have a minimum of two supervisors who will offer expert guidance, support and feedback throughout your research.

Joint supervision and collaboration is available from partner universities and organisations for Midlands4Cities funded students.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

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.

Performance opportunities

There are numerous opportunities to get involved in performing 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, research excellence framework.

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, 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 02 May 2023 . 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.

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Find out more

• Research degrees
• Doctor of Philosophy
• AHRC Doctoral Training Studentships

Research at the RCM

• Tuition fees

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) enables the undertaking of a sustained original project in performance, composition, musicology, performance science, music education and music and material culture.

'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.'

Dr Sureshkumar P Sekar, recent Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduate

As a research student, you will work with at least two supervisors to either prepare a submission solely comprising a written thesis, or a submission that combines a shorter thesis or critical commentary with practical work in composition or performance.

If you are considering applying to undertake doctoral research, your first step is to identify a member of staff with relevant expertise to support your project and capacity to act as your supervisor. An initial enquiry with a potential supervisor, or with the relevant contact point, will help to establish if we can support your project.

Find a supervisor

Supplementing your individual supervision is an array of group classes and research events that will ensure you are fully embedded in the RCM’s diverse and supportive research community.

Recent PhD projects include:

• Sara Ascenso  (2022),  Musicians’ wellbeing: a cross-sectional investigation within the framework of Positive Psychology.
• Ellen Falconer  (2022),  The case for Casella: towards new methods of understanding and interpreting the Italian Modernist pianist-composer.
• David Keith Bowen  (2022),  The bass clarinet in bassoon form: its history, repertoire and acoustics.  

AHRC doctoral studentships through LAHP

The RCM is the only music 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.

Find out about the AHRC studentships and LAHP

Performance and composition opportunities

With a busy events calendar of more than 500 events every year, the RCM offers a vibrant environment for research staff and students.

Doctoral students are able to participate in the RCM’s performance programme (including access to coaching for chamber music) and to perform in the College’s public programme. Doctoral students may audition for orchestral and ensemble placements in induction week every year.

A proportion of supervision hours may be taken as lessons with a performance professor, where this tuition is integral to your project. This option should be discussed with your lead supervisor during the application process, who will explore the availability of a suitable professor with the relevant Head of Faculty. Involvement in other faculty activities is by permission of the relevant Head of Faculty.

Composition at the RCM fosters partnerships with the College's large body of gifted instrumentalists. Doctoral composers will have the opportunity to hear performances of their own works and benefit from a range of collaborations, both within the RCM and externally.

Resources, facilities and collections

The RCM is rich in both practical and intellectual resources. Our library and the Royal College of Music Museum manage outstanding collections of priceless musical instruments, composers’ manuscripts and historical documents, which are the subject of a number of staff and student research projects. 

These are complemented by our magnificent performance spaces and by RCM Studios , which provide advanced facilities for audio and video recording, super-fast video conferencing and technology-enhanced composition. Plus, we have the most important resource of all – supremely talented musicians eager to participate in bringing music to life.

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 a good Master’s 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 ability to design and define a viable project. There should be a good match between your intended project and the expertise of your proposed supervisor at the RCM.

Performance applicants should be performing at a level that matches the entry requirements for the Artist Diploma in Performance .

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.

Find out about English language requirements

How to apply

Before applying.

If you are considering applying to undertake doctoral research, use our Find a supervisor list to help you find a suitable supervisor. An initial enquiry with a potential supervisor or with the relevant contact point will help to establish if we can support your project. For more information about the programme, please contact our general enquiries below.

Our Admissions team can help you with advice on fees, visas, language requirements, the online application process and other application enquiries.

Application process

Finding an expert supervisor is essential for doctoral study, so explore and contact potential supervisors on the Find a supervisor page. They will be able to advise whether they have the right expertise to support your proposed project. If a supervisor is willing to support your project, they will read and offer advice on your research proposal, and advise whether your research proposal is sufficiently developed to submit before the application deadline. Applicants in composition and performance science should enquire with the relevant contact point (listed on the Find a supervisor page), who will put you in touch with a potential supervisor if your project is promising.

Please note that a supervisor's agreement to support your application does not guarantee offer of a place, which will be dependent upon supervisory capacity and performance at interview.

For guidance on the format and content of your research proposal , please consult the following document:

RCM application deadline for candidates considering LAHP funding is 28 November 2024.

Applications received by this deadline will be assessed first for admission to the RCM, through an interview with their chosen supervisor and another member of RCM staff. If you are offered a place at the RCM, your research proposal will then be considered for submission to the LAHP studentship competition.

Please note that LAHP funding is intensely competitive, and the RCM is only able to support the strongest applicants for this scheme: an internal RCM panel (including the Head of Doctoral Programmes) will select applicants to be taken forward to the LAHP competition, and these applicants will receive mentoring on their proposals during December and January to maximise their chances of success. Applicants admitted to the RCM but not entered into the LAHP competition can apply to the RCM bursary scheme in May.

RCM application deadline for other candidates is 14 March 2025.

Applications received between 1 December and 14 March will be considered as they are received. Applicants will be considered for the RCM Bursary scheme in May.

Submitting an application

You will need to:

• Create an account on the RCM online submission portal.
• Complete the Doctoral application form and upload your research proposal and your supporting documents. Please note that there is no requirement for video materials for doctoral applications.
• Pay the application fee of £100.
• Arrange for your referees to email their references direct to [email protected] .
• Promising applicants will be invited to interview, normally within two weeks of the application being received. Interviews normally take place online.

If you are interested in pursuing your research interests at the RCM, use our Find a supervisor list to help you find a suitable supervisor.

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 and Doctoral Programmes

[email protected]

Dr Sarah Whitfield

Doctoral Programmes Coordinator

Charlotte Rutherford

Doctoral Programmes Administrator

Doctoral Admissions and general enquiries

[email protected]

Fees & funding

Read the Royal College of Music's latest QAA review report

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PhD Music Research Programmes (W300)

The Music doctoral programme offers excellent research facilities and expert supervision in a wide variety of subjects, including musicology, composition and performance. Our range of staff expertise is among the broadest in the country, embracing repertories from medieval music to the twenty-first century.

Introducing your degree

Make a contribution to the world of music through an PhD Music Research Programme degree at the University of Southampton. You can select your research topic from a wide range, allowing you to develop advanced expertise in your area of choice. You will be supervised by our leading professionals, ensuring you gain the tools and knowledge to conduct your research to the best of your ability. Apply for the PhD Music Research Programme today and enhance your musical potential.

Programme Overview

Our PhD supervisors are specialists in music history from the Middle Ages to the present, global music history, opera studies, theory and analysis, music and gender, music and heritage studies, arts and cultural management, music technology (including Web Science and artificial intelligence), and ethnomusicology. We welcome PhD applications in performance studies (including critical editing, performance practice and reception theory) and all kinds of composition, including film music, electronic music and music-based performance art. See our staff pages for more information about individual supervisors and their expertise.

Career opportunities are wide ranging and varied.  Opportunities exist as a member of a research team in academia, leading to future leadership positions within an academic context.  The nature of the generic and discipline-specific skills obtained during your study make your experience and skills attractive to a range of organisations post qualification.

Doctoral Programme Director:

Dr Erin Johnson-Williams Email: [email protected]

www.southampton.ac.uk/music/

View the doctoral programme profile for this course

Application process and required supporting documents

• University online application including a personal statement
• research proposal
• 2 references
• English language (if relevant)
• 1 sample of written work – either a master’s thesis, or a substantial essay (this can include current coursework) of approximately 5000 words, and/or published work i.e. Journal article, book chapter, CD liner notes
• Performance PhD : As above, but in addition a sample of recorded solo or accompanied performance totalling 20-25 minutes.

Candidates are advised to contact prospective supervisors with the subject of their proposed research prior to application.

Contact for postgraduate enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 7433 [email protected] www.southampton.ac.uk/music

Duration: Up to 4 years (full-time); up to 7 years (part-time)

Start date: Normally September and January each year

Closing date: 3 months before start date (also dependent on funding body deadlines); an application decision cannot be guaranteed in time for programme commencement unless a complete application is received in good time - students requiring a visa to study should also allow extra time for visa processes; informal enquiries welcome at any time

Other University of Southampton sites

• Music research
• Music staff

Entry Requirements

Typical entry requirements.

Academic entry requirements : First or upper second class honours degree and normally Masters at Merit* level, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University in Music.

(*Merit 60%-69%, Distinction 70%+)

Equivalent Qualifications: We will also consider candidates who do not have a Masters degree if they can demonstrate; outstanding undergraduate performance including evidence of preparedness for research (e.g. first class honours and 75% or more in the dissertation in a relevant subject); or appropriate professional experience which may include performance and composition and be able to demonstrate advanced writing skills; or other appropriate qualifications.

English language entry requirements: PhD in Musicology: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components, PhD in Composition or Performance: IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component., or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University.

Selection process

Selection process: Online application and interview

Applications will be assessed under the following

• Evidence of general academic aptitude
• Preparedness or promise for doctoral research
• Quality of the research project proposal
• Fit with Southampton's research expertise

Applicant Quality: Your application will be judged against the following criteria:

• it provides evidence that you meet our entry requirements
• it demonstrates your personal suitability and commitment to undertake Doctoral study
• it provides supportive references that indicate your suitability to undertake a PhD
• it presents a well-focused and high quality research proposal which indicates potential to contribute original research to the discipline
• it demonstrates critical awareness of the scholarly field to which the research will contribute, and appropriate methods to carry out this work
• it may strengthen your application if you can demonstrate genuine interest in working with a named academic in the department

Personal Statement: Use your Personal Statement to provide additional information relevant to your application. This should include the following:

• outline your reasons for wishing to conduct postgraduate research in your chosen area
• explain how your proposed research matches the research environment and supervisory expertise offered by Music at Southampton
• reflect on how your education, skills, and experience will equip you for PhD study and to undertake your planned research
• indicate details of any other achievements/interests
• indicate any special circumstances pertaining to the academic record
• tell us what you hope to get from the programme

This page contains specific entry requirements for this course. Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country.

Programme Structure

Typical course content.

We have an active research community with about 40 postgraduate students. There is a dedicated Music Postgraduate Room in the department, to which all postgraduates have 24-hour access. This provides study spaces for up to 20 students at any one time, networked computers with standard office and specialist music software, printing and scanning facilities, and storage space. Our computing laboratory and electronic studios are also available for postgraduate use. Students find a supportive and friendly research environment, and we encourage you to take part in the academic community within the University and in the broader context of the discipline, both nationally and internationally.

The PhD by Research programme has no modules per semester. Instead, it is an entirely research-oriented programme in which students conduct original research under the guidance of their supervisors. We also supply a range of training programmes, aimed at helping you to complete your thesis or composition portfolio and developing skills for presenting and publishing your work. Our regular research seminars and presentations, including the Hartley Residency series, provide opportunities to meet other researchers and enrich your thinking.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees.

Fees for postgraduate research degrees vary across the University. All fees are listed for UK, EU and international full-time and part-time students alphabetically by course name.

Please be aware that UK/EU column only apply to UK students.

Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.

Learning & Teaching

A postgraduate research degree from Humanities at Southampton offers you the wide and varied experience you should expect from a leading research university. We are committed to providing a relevant, modern and above all enjoyable environment in which to undertake your research project, along with the opportunity to gain the additional skills and understanding you need to start a career in any number of areas including academia.

How will you learn?

On a postgraduate research programme is led by academic staff, allowing you to engage with, and contribute to, the world-leading research carried out in Humanities at Southampton. Independent learning is the main element of undertaking postgraduate research, but we will guide you through the research experience by providing not only a dedicated supervisory team who will be on hand to help you to shape and direct your research project, but also a programme of research and transferrable skills training to prepare you not only for the project, but also for the career path you may wish to follow after its completion. If there are gaps in your knowledge when you start with us, you can join our taught masters’ students on one of their courses to provide you with the additional grounding you need.

We view our doctoral candidates as early stage researchers, so expect you to get involved with the wider research environment within, and external to, the university. Our disciplines have many unique and exciting additional opportunities for you engage with: such as visiting Chawton House Library, the former home of Jane Austen; studying the Broadlands Archive, containing the papers of Palmerston and Mountbatten; being part of one of our student-led interdisciplinary reading groups; and the chance to hear from visiting speakers from international universities who are frequent part of our Research Centre-led lecture and seminar series. You will have many opportunities to give papers and presentations, receiving feedback from peers and colleagues on how you can improve your work, maximise its effectiveness and gain recognition for your efforts.

Students on the Distance Learning pathway have electronic access to learning resources (e.g. Blackboard; VLE; EAP Toolkit, an online English for Academic Purposes self-access resource) as well as additional support from the learning technologists based in the Faculty’s eLanguages unit. The Hartley Library offers an extensive and growing collection of e-books and electronic articles (JSTORE).

The goal of a PhD is a final thesis of 75,000 words. Assessment methods for progress relating to your research thesis will include oral presentations, written assignments, research proposal and progression reviews including Confirmation of PhD Registration. Summative assessment of the research thesis will include a viva voce examination with internal and external examiners.

Professional development

A PhD will enable you to further develop the key skills employers seek such as: time management; problem solving; team work; deadline and project management; cultural awareness; working independently; using your initiative; relationship-building; critical thinking and research analysis. Above all, you will learn to communicate your ideas and enthusiasm for your research to a wide range of audiences.

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The PhD in Music is available as a full-time programme lasting three years, or a part-time programme lasting five years. It is available in all areas in which we can offer supervision, including historical musicology, analysis, ethnomusicology, sound studies, music cognition, composition and practice-based research in performance.

The majority of postgraduate students in the Faculty undertake research that is directly connected with the particular research interests of specific Faculty members. If you are planning an application, we recommend that you initially get in touch with the member of staff whose interests seem most in line with yours. Our  Research Themes page gives an overview of the principal areas of the Faculty’s research and the academic staff who work in these areas.

Because of the diversity of research topics pursued, the PhD programme in music at Cambridge does not involve a core taught component. There are a variety of skills training opportunities, and some incoming research students audit courses offered within our MPhil programme, but in general you will be working primarily with your individual supervisor. Your formal studies will be complemented by attendance at Faculty colloquia and seminars, while membership of a college will enable you to socialise with students and others from a wide variety of disciplines. Studying for a PhD at Cambridge gives you access to facilities and a range of  Research Resources  that compare favourably with anywhere in the world.

Recorded performances may now be included within a doctoral submission, along with an academic thesis of the standard length. Students who wish to pursue this possibility are encouraged to make contact with the member of staff most relevant to their particular performance-related interests.

We realise that for many potential applicants, funding is a major issue; see  Funding Postgraduate Study  for information on costs and funding options. Applicants whose proposals involve fieldwork, performance tuition, or other substantial additional expenses should include an indication of approximate total costs as part of their application.  While small grants may be available for research and travel purposes, these should not be expected to cover funding for your case studies, performance tuition or major fieldwork expenses. Some support for doctoral students undertaking fieldwork is also available from the School of Arts and Humanities.

The PhD programme is available on a part-time basis over five years, but please note that this is not a distance learning course and you will be expected to attend supervisions and participate in other Faculty activities in person, even if you don't live in Cambridge. If you come from outside the EU, please note that it is not possible to obtain a student visa for part-time study. See the University’s Graduate Admissions pages for further details on part-time study .

Further details of postgraduate life at Cambridge may be found on Cambridge Students webpages.

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PhD Music (Musicology) / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of  65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

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. 

Application Deadlines 

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  12 January 2024. 

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 below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed. 

• For September 2024 entry:  30 June 2024 
• For January 2025 entry:  30 September 2024 

Programme options

Programme overview

• The UK's Number 1 Department for Music (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024).
• Develop your research at one of the UK's leading research centres for Music Studies, with expertise spanning historical musicology, ethnomusicology, jazz, popular music, and performance studies.
• Benefit from access to experts in a range of research areas in Musicology and related interdisciplinary fields.

We will be conducting our Humanities PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts. 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393

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

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 12 January 2024. 

All external 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.  

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Harry Clough Bursary (Music) 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Myrtle McMyn Bursary (Music) 2024 Entry
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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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 .

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Music MPhil, PhD

Our MPhil and PhD in Music programmes enable you to pursue advanced research in the areas of classical, popular, world, contemporary, early, folk and traditional music through a range of approaches.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

Practice-based research focuses on composition, performance, improvisation and other forms of multi-media work.

Areas of musicological and theoretical inquiry can include the following approaches:

• cultural and critical
• historiographic
• ethnomusicological
• music analytical
• philosophical and aesthetic

Hear from our graduates about their Newcastle experience

Applications are welcome from students with academic or practice-based research interests in any field that we are able to supervise.

To view the staff areas of expertise please visit:

• our music research pages
• individual staff pages

You'll join a wider community of fellow postgraduate students working in the International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS), and more widely in the School of Arts and Cultures and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences . ICMuS also holds regular PhD/MPhil forums for students to discuss their research.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

How you'll learn

These programmes are delivered remotely or in the Armstrong Building. You'll be assigned a principal supervisor, supported by a wider supervisory team of one or more additional supervisors.

In the first year, you'll complete the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Doctoral Research Training Programme.

Beyond this, study is based on one to one tutorials with your supervisors, which can be flexibly scheduled. A blended approach of in-person and web-based supervision can also be negotiated for students studying remotely.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the master's thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

If you choose to engage in academic research you are normally assessed by a thesis of no more than 100,000 words for PhD and 50,000 words for MPhil. If you choose to undertake practice-based research you will normally submit a portfolio (eg of scores, sound files, video files, other forms of documentation or some combination of these). This is supplemented by a related dissertation to explain the larger, practice-based component.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Professional skills.

PhD students may be given the opportunity to undertake some undergraduate teaching, with appropriate mentoring, at a suitable point in their study.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

We have outstanding specialist music facilities . Our £4.5m purpose-built Music Studios were designed with performance, multimedia and studio-based work in mind.

Additional facilities include:

• two professional-grade recording studios
• a large student common room, including a work area with PCs featuring specialist music software
• a range of recently refurbished rehearsal spaces
• a full range of recently refurbished teaching facilities, including a 100-seat lecture theatre, two 50 seat lecture theatres and three 25-seater seminar rooms
• 12 practice rooms with integrated recording facilities
• a dedicated postgraduate workspace
• a project room equipped with 5.1 mixing system

The University Library provides access to

• extensive music collections (including a number of important manuscript and microfilm collections)
• subscriptions to many specialist music journals
• a significant body of online resources

The library is widely recognised for the supportive service it offers students and staff.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year), home fees for research degree students.

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Dr Bennett Hogg School of Arts and Cultures Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3509 Email: [email protected]

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

Chat to a student

Chat online with current students with our Unibuddy platform.

Social media

Get involved with the Music social media. 

• How You'll Learn
• Your Development
• Your Future
• Quality and Ranking
• Fees and Funding
• Entry Requirements
• Open days & events

• Schools & departments

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Music

Discovery Day

Join us online on 21st August to learn more about postgraduate study at Edinburgh.

Find out more and register

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.

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.

Programme structure

The PhD programme comprises three years of full-time (six years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic within music. This period of research culminates in a supervised thesis of up to a maximum of 100,000 words.

Regular individual meetings with your supervisor provide guidance and focus for the course of research you are undertaking.

You will be encouraged to attend research methods courses at the beginning of your research studies.

For every year you are enrolled on programme you will be required to complete an annual progression review.

Training and support

All of our research students benefit from Edinburgh College of Art's interdisciplinary approach, and you will be assigned at least two research supervisors.

Your first/ lead supervisor would normally be based in the same subject area as your degree programme. Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within ECA or elsewhere within the University of Edinburgh, according to the expertise required. On occasion more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.

Our research culture is supported by seminars and public lecture programmes and discussion groups.

Tutoring opportunities will be advertised to the postgraduate research community, which you can apply for should you wish to gain some teaching experience during your studies. But you are not normally advised to undertake tutoring work in the first year of your research studies, while your main focus should be on establishing the direction of your research.

You are encouraged to attend courses at the Institute for Academic Development ( IAD ), where all staff and students at the University of Edinburgh are supported through a range of training opportunities, including:

• short courses in compiling literature reviews
• writing in a second language
• preparing for your viva

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities ( SGSAH ) offers further opportunities for development. You will also be encouraged to refer to the Vitae research development framework as you grow into a professional researcher.

You will have access to study space (some of which are 24-hour access), studios and workshops at Edinburgh College of Art’s campus, as well as University wide resources. There are several bookable spaces for the development of exhibitions, workshops or seminars. And you will have access to well-equipped multimedia laboratories, photography and exhibition facilities, shared recording space, access to recording equipment available through Bookit the equipment loan booking system.

You will have access to high quality library facilities. Within the University of Edinburgh, there are three libraries:

• the Main Library
• the ECA library
• the Art and Architecture Library

The Centre for Research Collections which holds the University of Edinburgh’s historic collections is also located in the Main Library.

The Talbot Rice Gallery is a public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh and part of Edinburgh College of Art, which is committed to exploring what the University of Edinburgh can contribute to contemporary art practice today and into the future. You will also have access to the extraordinary range and quality of exhibitions and events associated with a leading college of art situated within a world-class research-intensive university.

St Cecilia’s Hall, which is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall, also houses the Music Museum which holds one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world.

In addition to the University’s facilities you will also be able to access wider resources within the City of Edinburgh. These include:

• National Library of Scotland
• Scottish Studies Library and Digital Archives
• City of Edinburgh Libraries
• Historic Environment Scotland
• the National Trust for Scotland

You will also benefit from the University of Edinburgh’s extensive range of student support facilities provided, including:

• student societies
• accommodation
• wellbeing and support services

PhD by Distance option

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

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.

• PhD by Distance at ECA

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

Normally a UK Masters degree or its international equivalent. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of relevant professional experience.

You must also submit a research proposal; see How to Apply section for guidance.

If your research is practice-based a portfolio should also be submitted; see How to Apply section for guidance.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

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. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• 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 five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

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 Research Team Student and Academic Support Service
• Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5741
• Contact: [email protected]
• Postgraduate Research Director, Music, Dr Benedict Taylor
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4155
• Contact: [email protected]
• The University of Edinburgh
• Evolution House, 78 West Port
• 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.

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

One of your references must be an academic reference and preferably from your most recent studies.

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)

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

School of Arts and Creative Technologies

PhD and MPhil in Music

Combine creativity and innovation with academic study to develop key skills for your future career in the field, academia or research.

If your passion lies in research, our doctoral degrees provide the opportunity to combine academia with creativity and innovation. Study with us and receive expert research guidance from our supportive staff, who will encourage you to achieve your full potential.

Your research

Research in Music at the University of York is wide ranging. We have specialists in historical, cultural and critical musicology, composition (acoustic and electronic), performance (especially contemporary performance practices and historical informed practice), music analysis, music education, music psychology and cognition, music AI, and new audio technologies. Many projects are interdisciplinary, involving collaboration with researchers beyond Music.

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 325220

Related links

• Research degree funding
• Accommodation
• International students
• Life at York
• How to apply

These perspectives are embedded within our three Research Clusters: the Contemporary Music Research Cluster, the Musical Cultures and Communities Research Cluster and the Music, Science and Technology Research Cluster. 

Discover more about staff research and expertise

MPhil or PhD projects can use theoretical or experimental methods, can take place through performance, composition, or improvisation, or can involve a comvination of approaches/

Postgraduate research provides opportunities to develop your academic, creative and practical skills. You'll work independently in an academic environment where creativity and scholarship are equally balanced. 

You'll meet regularly with your research supervisor and will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting range of research events.

This PhD programme is aimed at individuals:

• seeking to reach a professional standard of academic research and to pursue a career in either Higher Education or areas of professional practice;
• working professionally in any field of music and wishing to make a career move into teaching and research in Higher Education;
• working in any field of music and wishing to develop their careers with the production of a substantial piece of original research.

A PhD or MPhil by Performance allows you to develop original, innovative, creative research projects.

• The programme has a full-time and a part-time route. The full-time route comprises three years’ study for a PhD, two for an MPhil, both with one optional ‘continuation’ year for completion. The part-time route comprises six years’ study for a PhD, or four for an MPhil, again with the additional ‘continuation’ year for completion, as necessary.
• You will work under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic. As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP) , which includes an additional academic staff member (not your supervisor).
• As either a PhD or MPhil student, you will submit a portfolio of performance projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings. The portfolio is to be accompanied by critical writing that draws out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the performance processes and situating the work in a research context. The number and scale of the performance projects, and the length of the written submission, will be negotiated with your supervisor and agreed with your TAP. This will be in relation to the nature of the work and the programme for which you are registered (PhD or MPhil).

A PhD or MPhil by Composition allows you to develop original, innovative, creative research projects.

• You will work under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic. As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP) , which includes an additional academic staff member (not your supervisor).
• As either a PhD or MPhil student, you will submit a portfolio of composition projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings and/or scores, as appropriate. The portfolio is to be accompanied by critical writing that draws out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the composition processes and situating the work in a research context. The number and scale of the compositions, and the length of the written submission, will be negotiated with your supervisor and agreed with your TAP. This will be in relation to the nature of the work and the programme for which you are registered (PhD or MPhil).

Our PhD and MPhil by written thesis allows you to develop an original and innovative research project.

• The programme has a full-time and a part-time route. The full-time route comprises three years’ study for a PhD, two for an MPhil, both with one optional ‘continuation’ year for completion. The part-time route comprises six years’ study for a PhD, or four for an MPhil, again with the additional ‘continuation’ year for completion, as necessary.
• You will work independently on a project of your choosing, guided by your supervisor, honing your scholarship and research skills. Word limits for theses are not fixed but, as a guide, when a thesis is the sole submission it is usually expected to be 30,000-50,000 words for a MPhil, and 70,000-100,000 words for a PhD.

If you have started a PhD in Music and find that you need to relocate, you will have the option of transferring to a PhD in Music by distance learning, giving you the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world, with supervision and progression meetings taking place online. For further information, email [email protected] .

UNESCO certified Creative City of Media Arts

York as a city is recognised as a hotbed of creative talent, acting as a gateway to international markets. For two millennia York has been the meeting point for ideas and creativity. Today it is nicknamed the 'City of Festivals'.

Variety of ensembles

Immerse yourself in music and join one of our many staff-conducted or student-led ensembles. From gospel choir to Gamelan to musical theatre societies, York has ample opportunities for you to perform with like-minded people. We also hold a vibrant weekly concert programme.

Explore Arts and Creative Technologies funding for PhD/MPhil researchers and wider postgraduate support.

Supervision

We'll help match your research interests to our supervisory expertise. You'll have a weekly or fortnightly meeting with your supervisor during semester time.

Fantastic facilities

You’ll have access to the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall and the Rymer Auditorium, as well as five recording studios, fantastic practice facilities and our large collection of historical and world instruments.

Research excellence

We are rated in the UK Top 30 for music research according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (REF 2021).

Course location

This course is run by the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

You will be based mostly on  Campus West . Most of your training and supervision meetings will take place here. Some of our facilities are based on  Campus East , and your research may take you further afield.

Entry requirements

An MA degree with the equivalent of a distinction or very high merit, or equivalent experience.

For the composition pathway, you should have an MA in Composition and be able to evidence a high level of ability and originality in composition.

For the performance pathway, you should be able to demonstrate sustained professional experience as a performer.

If you have any questions about the suitability of your qualifications, please contact a member of staff. 

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

Apply for the PhD in Music

Apply for the MPhil in Music

Take a look at the  supporting documents  you may need for your application.

Find out more about how to apply .

Identify a supervisor

You should identify a potential supervisor in our faculty whose area of research overlaps with yours. We encourage you to contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply.

You should note your preferred supervisor in your application.

Supporting documents

We require you to submit the following documents:

• If you wish to specialise in composition, supply two examples of scores you have composed and, if available, recordings of performances of your compositions.
• If you wish to specialise in performance, you will be required to play or sing if you are invited to an interview, and you should bring with you to the interview an essay of about 3,000 words on a topic related to performance practice. If you are unable to attend an interview then you should send a certified recording of a recent performance and an essay of about 3,000 words on a topic related to performance practice.
• If you wish to specialise in another area, eg musicology, analysis, ethnomusicology or music education, supply an essay of 3,000 to 5,000 words on a topic related to your proposed field of study.

Submit your application

You can apply and send all your documentation electronically through our online system. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start, save, and finish it later.

We will respond to your application in four to six weeks. You may track the status of your application and view any official correspondence online.

Careers and skills

Your PhD or MPhil will help to extend your qualifications, giving you the ability to use analysis-based research for application within music including in contemporary music, musical cultures and communities and music, science and technology. You will become equipped with transferable skills in using creativity to solve problems, critical analysis and composition, presentation and performance. Ultimately, your PhD will help to open the door to various creative, technical, analytical, research and managerial roles in your chosen field within this growing industry.

Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.

Discover York

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Meet us online or on campus

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Scholarships

Find scholarships to support your studies

• Current students
• New students
• Returning students
• Support for students
• Semester and term dates
• Policies and regulations
• Online learning tools
• Your feedback
• Studying off campus
• Results and graduation
• Student Portal
• Student handbook
• Student news

Course detail

Entry requirements.

• Fees & funding
• Study & career progression

Our PhDs are supported by staff who are engaged in a range of specialisms that combine practice-led research and advanced professional practice with theoretical and technical analysis.

We have expert supervisory capability across a wide variety of topics and issues. We welcome applications for doctoral research in both traditional and progressive disciplines including:

• audio technology
• cultural studies
• composition
• festival studies
• gender, diversity and creativity within musical areas
• historical studies
• musical aesthetics and analysis
• music pedagogy
• music performance
• record production and mixing
• theatre and performance practice.

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise in the 'Supervisors' section lower down this page.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Music with us?

What our students say…

A strong supervisory team, who were critical yet building, together with ample support from administrative staff got me through this rewarding journey - combined with an overall a sense of camaraderie with fellow doctoral students.

World-leading Research

The University of West London has been recognised by the Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) for its exceptional research work.

Research Repository -Music

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

You will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser. 

Your research will be judged through the presentation of a thesis or artefact and a viva voce for academic assessment. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from: 

• peer feedback and discussion   
• a series of master-classes and lectures from industry figures   
• support by a supervisor and second supervisor suited to your project. 

About PhD study

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.

We offer theoretical PhDs and in addition – requiring submission of a significant practical artefact – both practice-oriented PhDs, and a practice-based DMus pathway designed for candidates with existing professional experience. 

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement.  You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Our research record

LCM has delivered numerous funding-council projects and staff have founded and led several global research networks for two decades. In REF2021, nearly 70% of our submissions were graded as ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’. LCM also hosts the incredible Pete Townshend vintage synthesizer collection.

Also see individual staff profiles.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the the capital or further afield - ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

Got a question?

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, you can contact Professor David Osbon .

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

We provide structured research training, expert supervision, and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

• Our specialist Music Technology Facilities include 18 professionally designed studios, nine live rooms, 10 analogue consoles, five professional-standard live-room recording spaces, and a comprehensive range of microphones, backlines and more.
• Performance spaces: Our fully equipped performance spaces include Lawrence Hall, a 200-seat black box studio theatre.
• Production studios: We have four black box production rooms featuring performance dance floors, ballet barres, wall mirrors and ¾ drapes.
• One-to-one teaching pods: We have five acoustically isolated teaching pods featuring Roland and Korg digital pianos and mirrors.
• Music performance rooms: All music performance rooms feature drums and backline plus PA support.
• Basement practice rooms: 12 instrumental practice rooms with Steinway pianos. Three percussion practice and teaching rooms. Percussion rooms feature Pearl kits with recording and playback systems.
• Media Resource Centre: At our Media Resource Centre you'll find extensive portable audio recording systems, including up to 24-track digital HD recording and portable Focusrite RedNet systems.
• The Paul Hamlyn Library: The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces. Find out more about what the  Paul Hamlyn Library has to offer .

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.

We look for students with:

• a passion for their chosen subject.

You will also have a well thought through and persuasive proposal.

• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).

Fees & funding

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher Education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).

Find out more about funding opportunities. Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website , (with the exception of funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

Bursaries and scholarships

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships , scholarships and bursaries .

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (eg The Ministry / Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the Sources of funding for international students guide.

Supervisors

Professor robert sholl.

Dr Giselle Garcia

Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas

Dr Cathy Sloan

Associate Professor Gavin Baker

Dr Litha Efthymiou

Dr Danny Hagan

Dr Isla Hall

Dr Tim Hughes

Dr Remy Martin

Dr Sara McGuinness

Professor Nicholas McKay

Professor David Osbon

Professor Justin Paterson

Dr Liz Pipe

Dr Alejandro Postigo

Dr Daniel Pratt

Dr Angela Shepherd

Dr Simone Spagnolo

Dr Paula Wolfe

Study & career progression

A PhD degree in Music  - the highest academic qualification, based on the advanced study and independent research, opens up an array of career opportunities both in academia and within  the music industries. 

Many students go on to pursue an academic career, following the PhD with postdoctoral study, then a fellowship or lectureship.

During your PhD, you will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

• written and oral communication
• research and information management
• public speaking   
• project management
• critical thinking
• collaboration
• analysis and problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• negotiation.

By the end of your research degree you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

How to apply

• How to apply: UK
• How to apply: International

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form. You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline (5000 words maximum)
• transcript of your highest qualification.

The research proposal outline, or statement of research interests, enables us to assess your suitability for higher degree work including:

• viability of the topic as a research study
• the most appropriate supervisor(s) to be appointed.

Learn more about applying for a PhD.

Apply for this course

Next steps after making your application.

We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.

In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an  open day  or join a campus tour .

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Visit us and see for yourself

Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.

We're here to help

Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on [email protected].

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form.  You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline

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MPhil/PhD Music

Content navigation menu, why study mphil/phd music at goldsmiths.

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. Supervision is available in any of the areas of specialism outlined above or covered by  staff research interests .
• 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 study full-time or part-time. The programme normally begins in September, but applications for entry in January and April may be considered.
• 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.
• 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 John Drever .

3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time

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.

Home - full-time: £4786 Home - part-time: £2393 International - full-time: £17690

You'll research

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.

Find out more about the  MPhil/PhD projects that are currently taking place within the department and the staff supervising them .

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.

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 .

How to apply

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  – this 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.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees.

These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £4786
• Home - part-time: £2393
• International - full-time: £17690

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 .

Funding opportunities

Leverhulme trust aural diversity (laura) doctoral studentships.

Goldsmiths is proud to be a partner of the Aural Diversity Doctoral Research Hub (LAURA), funded by the Leverhulme Trust and led by the University of Salford.

Other funding

Please check the Goldsmiths Scholarship Finder for other funding that you may be eligible to apply for. 

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.

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Similar programmes.

MA Music (Audiovisual Cultures)

The MA Music (Audiovisual Cultures) offers you a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on music and the moving image.

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Develop a distinctive, original and trans-disciplinary creative practice in (or related to) music through this programme.

MMus Creative Practice

This flexible Masters is an inclusive, forward-thinking composition and creative practice degree, open to broad conceptions of composition, and multi-disciplinary approaches to practice.

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The MMus Popular Music centres creative artists in a stimulating and supportive environment where critical enquiry, and testing songs, compositions, performance and experimentation in practice can lead to a portfolio of new work.

Music (PhD) Postgraduate Research - 2024 Entry

Course details.

• Qualification PhD
• Duration 2-6 years

About This Course

Research areas.

Music with specialisations in:

• Composition
• Welsh Music
• Performance

Normally the research project will be limited to any one area. Performers, however, will follow, in addition to their practical studies (60%), an agreed programme of original research into historical study, performance practice, editing or analysis, focusing on aspects related or central to repertoire performed (40%).

Programme Structure

As a research programme, the course does not have a modular outline. Each student receives close supervision on an individual and original project, which has the potential to make a new and substantial contribution to the field.

Each student has a supervisory committee, led by the main supervisor, assisted by two other staff members with relevant expertise.

Research students have regular meetings with their supervisor and are entitled to consult other members of their committee as appropriate. They are also encouraged to present reports on their work in seminars and colloquia during each of their period of study.

Final assessment will be through viva voce examination through an appointed panel. The panel consists of one internal examiner from within the University/School (not identical with members of the supervisory committee), one external examiner, who is an expert in the field, and a chair.

• Historical Musicology / Editorial Musicology: Thesis of 100,000 words or equivalent
• Composition: Portfolio of compositions, consisting of around 120 minutes of music (depending on complexity); accompanying essay of 7,000-10,000 words on style, technique and aesthetic which contextualises the submitted portfolio
• Performance: (i) two full-length public recitals (40-50 mins) and one CD (40-50 mins), featuring different repertoire (60%); (ii) dissertation on a related area (40,000 words) or a composition of comparable length for the instrument in question (40%)

Programme Length

Registration period (excluding write-up year) – PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time; MPhil: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time.

Entry Requirements

• Degree at British Master’s standard: normally merit degree or equivalent.
• English proficiency (for non-native English or Welsh speakers): IELTS overall result of 6.5 with no individual score lower than 6.0.
• Proposal of a project, appropriate to the duration and academic level of the course.
• Performers will have to audition or, alternatively, submit a recent unedited recorded video performance, featuring contrasting repertoire (45-60 minutes).
• Musicologists and composers may be asked to submit samples of their work.

Postgraduate degrees by research are suitable for candidates who already have some experience at postgraduate level (normally evinced through a Master’s degree). Apart from these formal requirements, candidates will be accepted on the strength of their research proposal.

A postgraduate research degree is the highest attainable study qualification. During the programme, students will make a significant and original contribution to their subject area and become a leading expert in this field. The learning process, although supervised, is independent, self-motivated and self-directed. Together with their subject-specific expertise, this qualifies graduates for managerial positions, professional research roles, high-level creative occupations, and academic careers.

Explore More in Music

Our research degrees may be undertaken by musicologists, composers or performers. You will be supervised by world-renowned musicologists, composers and practitioners, and will enjoy intellectual stimulation from visiting speakers and artists.

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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 Home/UK: £5,110 per year

Part-time Home/UK: £2,560 per year

Full-time International: £13,630 per year

Part-time International: £6,810 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. Where applicable, fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each academic year of study commencing in September . Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study .

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 2024
• 1 st Feb 2025
• 30 th Sep 2024

For further application enquiries please contact our PGR enquiries team .

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

Reader Performing Arts(E&R)

Professor Ian Pace

Professor of Music, Culture and Society

Department of Sociology and Criminology

Useful links

• Doctoral College
• School of Communication & Creativity
• Student wellbeing
• Terms and conditions

Contact details

School of communication & creativity.

[email protected]

King's College London

Music research mphil/phd.

Key information

The department has an international reputation for music research in history, theory, anthropology/ethnography, composition, and creative practice. We are particularly strong in film music, jazz, opera, performance studies, Western music from the 12 th century to the present, and the music of Latin America, the Middle East, South and South East Asia, and West Africa.

For 2024/25 entry, the Music Department is only accepting applications for PhDs in Eighteenth-Century Music History and Composition .

For 2025/26 entry, we will be welcoming applications for PhDs in all supervisory areas.

PhDs can be co-supervised with other arts & humanities or social sciences departments at King's, or with a department at another of our London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP) partners ( www.lahp.ac.uk ).

As a department, we believe in the complete equality of all areas of music research, and welcome students from all backgrounds, especially those who are currently under-represented in musicology, ethnomusicology, performance, and composition.

Department of Music – jointly ranked 4th in the UK with Film (REF 2021). 100% per cent of the research impact and research environment was rated either ‘world leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*).

Current number of academic staff: 14.

Current number of research students: 19 FT and 15 PT.

Recent publications:

• Picture a Day Like This [opera] (George Benjamin).
• The Influence of Technology on Performance: Classical Perspectives (Amy Blier-Carruthers).
• The Sense of Sound: Musical Meaning in France, 1260-1330 (Emma Dillon).
• Thinking on our Feet: A Somatic Enquiry into a Haydn Minuet (Joseph Fort).
• Paris Blues: African American Music and French Popular Culture, 1920–1960 (Andy Fry).
• Sovereign Feminine: Music and Gender in Eighteenth-Century Germany (Matthew Head).
• That Man Stephen Ward [chamber opera] (Thomas Hyde).
• Contemporary Carioca: Technologies of Mixing in a Brazilian Music Scene (Frederick Moehn).
• Songs of Sorrow, for baritone and piano (Edward Nesbit).
• Music and Musicians in Late Mughal India: Histories of the Ephemeral, 1748–1858 (Katherine Schofield).
• Music and Citizenship (Martin Stokes).
• Listening for Realism in Charpentier’s Louise (Flora Willson).

Current research projects:

UKRI Major Research Projects:

• Beyond 1932—Rethinking Musical Modernity in the Middle East and North Africa;
• Musical Lives—Towards an Historical Anthropology of French Song, 1100–1300;
• Dissemination, Ownership, and Reading of Music in Early Modern Europe.

British Academy:

• Sonic Diasporas —Technology and Selfhood in New York Musical Imaginaries, c. 1935–41.
• The Invention of Lightness, Or, Musical Politics of 1920s Italy

Joint PhDs available: opportunities exist to gain a joint PhD with Hong Kong University.

Our department forms part of the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP), which offers Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) studentships ( www.lahp.ac.uk )

Head of Department: Dr Katherine Schofield

Head of PhD Programme: Dr Flora Willson

• How to apply
• Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2023/24

Full time tuition fees:

£5,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

£5,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research with University of Hong Kong)

Part time tuition fees: £2,910 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

International Tuition Fees 2023/24

£22,900 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

£22,900 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research with University of Hong Kong)

Part time tuition fees: £11,450 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

£6,168 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

£6,168 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research with University of Hong Kong)

Part time tuition fees: £3,084 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

£24,786 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

£24,786 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research with University of Hong Kong)

Part time tuition fees: £12,393 per year (MPhil/PhD, Music Research)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

• Study environment

Base campus

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

The department has an international reputation for music research in the areas of history, theory, anthropology/ethnography, composition, and creative practice. We are particularly strong in film music, jazz, opera, performance studies, Western music from the 12 th century to the present, and the music of Latin America, the Middle East, South and South East Asia, and West Africa. In our PhD programmes in Music Research you will write a thesis of max. 100,000 words; in Creative Practice write a thesis of c. 50,000 words alongside a creative practice portfolio; and in Composition create a portfolio of compositions with technical commentary.

Please note that King’s does not have a doctoral pathway purely in performance (e.g. a DMA); performers should consider whether the creative practice pathway might suit their abilities and interests.

Prospective students are welcome to contact any academic member of staff whose field of research interests them. Alternatively, applicants may discuss their plans in the first instance with the Head of department Dr Katherine Schofield or the PhD programme lead Dr Flora Willson.

Joint PhD Opportunities

The joint PhD in Music with Hong Kong University affords students the opportunity to work with leaders in the fields of Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Composition. We invite applications on any area of research represented by faculty interests. We also draw your attention to areas of overlapping interest among faculty in the departments of Music at King's College London and University of Hong Kong: composition; 19th-century music studies; music and film. Students in the joint PhD programme will benefit from one-to-one supervision with a number of scholars working in their field. The programme also offers them access to the lively intellectual communities in these two world-class centres for music research, as well as to all the cultural riches on offer in the cities of London and Hong Kong.

Postgraduate training

The London Arts and Humanities Partnership offers a full and varied programme of training events to King's students, whether or not they are recipients of LAHP doctoral scholarships.

• Entry requirements

Find a supervisor

Search through a list of available supervisors.

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PhD in Music

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Primary tabs

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• How To Apply

Course closed:

Music is no longer accepting new applications.

Postgraduate research in the Faculty of Music is centred on individual scholarly activity in fields such as historical musicology, analysis, ethnomusicology, performance studies, music and science, and composition. Doctoral students work in close contact with one or more leading researchers in their field as well as participating in programmes of skills training and research colloquia; there are also opportunities to gain experience in teaching. The overwhelming majority of postgraduate students in the Faculty undertake research that is directly connected with the special research interests of members of the Faculty. Intending applicants are strongly advised to make contact with a prospective supervisor prior to making a formal application in order to discuss the feasibility of their proposed research.

The principal educational aim of the PhD programme is to assist each student to acquire the research techniques, skills and knowledge that will enable them to make an original and significant contribution to scholarship, research or artistic practice in the discipline that is the focus of each individual's thesis. Given the focus of the programme on individual research excellence, it is necessarily tailored to the research interests of the student and the expertise of their supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme students should have acquired:

• knowledge of and expertise in the techniques and methods appropriate to their chosen subject of study;
• the ability to engage with both teaching and research at the highest level in the contemporary academic environment; and
• a clear understanding of the scope and applicability of their research in broader contexts.

Students wishing to continue from the MPhil in Music to the PhD in Music must have achieved an overall mark of at least 70 per cent, and a mark of distinction in the most extended, relevant piece of work.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, faculty of music, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024 (closed), funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Music MPhil

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in music studies.

59 degrees at 38 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Music Studies
• PhD Drama Studies
• PhD Ethnomusicology
• 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 Production
• PhD Theatre and Dramatic Arts

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

PhD in Music

Soas university of london.

Staff and students of the Department of Music pursue research on a wide range of subjects, mainly but not exclusively focused on the music Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,860 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,430 per year (UK)

Music MPhil, PhD

Newcastle university.

Our Music PhD programmes enable you to pursue advanced research in the areas of classical, popular, world, contemporary, early, folk and Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Musicology PhD

Anglia ruskin university.

PhD research programmes in Cambridge will allow you to explore your own interests in musicology, supported by the expertise of our staff. Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,392 per year (UK)
• 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,392 per year (UK)

Royal Holloway, University of London

About us The Department of Music is consistently rated as one of the top research departments in the UK with an international reputation Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)

Music and Sound PhD

University of gloucestershire.

What is Music and Sound A research degree in Music and Sound offers you the opportunity to engage in an extended piece of academic Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

University of Glasgow

Music at Glasgow has a dynamic, supportive but rigorous research culture with a strong sense of community linked by ideas and Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

PhD Music by Composition

University of hull.

Develop a portfolio of original compositions of up to 90 minutes for the PhD with supporting research documentation of 25,000 words, or Read more...

Music Composition PhD

University of nottingham.

A superb opportunity to develop your own portfolio of compositions in a professional and supportive environment. We welcome a broad range Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree

PhD Brain-Computer Music Interfacing

University of plymouth.

The PhD Brain-Computer Music Interface programme is delivered through the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR) in Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £3,180 per year (UK)

University of Surrey

Why choose this programme The Department of Music and Media is a respected authority in musical research and sound technology. Thanks to Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Bangor University

Research Areas Music with specialisations in Musicology Composition Welsh Music Performance Normally the research project will be Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Brunel University London

Research profile Music research at Brunel focuses on composition and musicology, and with the practice-based work in music, it is Read more...

PhD Artificial Intelligence and Music

Queen mary university of london.

The UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence and Music (AIM) is a leading PhD research programme aimed at the Read more...

University of West London

Our PhDs are supported by staff who are engaged in a range of specialisms that combine practice-led research and advanced professional Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £3,995 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,000 per year (UK)

University of Southampton

We welcome PhD applications in areas such as performance, musicology (including opera, critical editing, domestic music), composition Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree

Musical Composition PhD (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

University of birmingham.

Our research degree in composition aims to foster your skills as you navigate an exciting new musical world, which combines tradition and Read more...

• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

PhD/MPhil Music

City, university of london.

The Music PhD/MPhil gives you the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in your chosen field. The submission requirements for our Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £5,110 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,560 per year (UK)

Music Therapy PhD

PhD Our Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research is an international centre for research into music therapy, putting you at the Read more...

Research and advance your knowledge in a chosen area of musicology that culminates in a thesis of 100,000 words or equivalent for the Read more...

Invest your time and follow your passion to create original research. We know the commitment you will making so you'll get expert Read more...

1-20 of 59 courses

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• Royal Northern College of Music
• Durham University
• Cardiff University
• The University of Edinburgh
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Sussex
• King's College London, University of London
• University of Lincoln
• University of Oxford
• Keele University
• University of York
• University of Manchester
• Queen's University Belfast
• University of Liverpool
• University of Cambridge
• University of South Wales
• University of Northampton
• University of Bristol
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• Abertay University

Related Subjects:

• Postgraduate study
• Postgraduate taught courses

Music Performance Studies

Explore this course:.

Applications for 2024 entry are now open. Apply now or register your interest to hear about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.

Department of Music, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Course description

This course is designed to help you build the stylistic awareness and advanced techniques to perform classical music at concert level.

Through workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one lessons with specialist tutors, you will hone your abilities as both a solo and ensemble performer, culminating in a public recital at the end of your course. You can either choose to take a piano performance pathway or instrumental performance pathway.

You will have the opportunity to engage in modules that develop your understanding of performance as a research informed discipline, whilst also having the opportunity to collaborate on creative projects with students from other programmes.

The department plays an important role in Sheffield's thriving cultural life, and students have frequent opportunities to perform for the University of Sheffield Concerts, a concert series that hosts varied performances from world-wide professional musicians throughout the year.

Sheffield is celebrated as one of the UK's leading music cities, with dozens of major venues. The city benefits from regular visits from the Halle and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras, the nationally important Music in the Round chamber music organisation, and a rich programme of musicals, ballets and operas at the Crucible and Lyceum theatres. Sheffield is particularly known for its folk scene. Our students regularly take part in gigs at smaller venues across the city, as well as the Yellow Arch Studios.

How to apply

You can choose to take a piano performance pathway or an instrumental performance pathway . Please select the relevant course when you apply:

• MA Music Performance Studies (Piano) MUST73
• MA Music Performance Studies MUST64

You'll need to  provide a portfolio with your application .

Accreditation

We are an All-Steinway School.

An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

You may also be able to pre-book a department/school visit as part of a campus tour. Open days and campus tours

• 1 year full-time
• 2 years part-time

The course is taught through lectures, workshops and tutorials. These are combined with departmental study days and extracurricular individual instrumental or vocal tuition, professional workshops, and performance opportunities, all of which makes for a stimulating and supportive study environment.

Department of Music students study at the heart of the campus in our Jessop Building, Soundhouse and performance facilities. We timetable teaching across the whole of our campus.

Changes to the teaching staff on the programme are possible, but are likely to include:

Dr Sarah K Watts

Dr Maria Stratigou

Instrumental tutors

You'll be assessed through practical, experiential and theoretical methods that include performances, presentations and essays. You will work towards a final recital at the end of the course, and written essays will assess your knowledge of a broad range of current artistic practices along with your skills in evaluation, analysis and criticism, information organisation and writing.

Your career

Many of our graduates have found success in the music profession as performers, while a large number have gone onto teach or establish their own music freelance business. Others have stayed to continue their studies at PhD level, or taken up offers to study further at leading music conservatoires.

Department of Music

Our department ethos combines high achievement with a sense of community and a shared passion for music. Our internationally recognised research informs our high-quality teaching and our student experience is collaborative, supportive and inspiring.

Sheffield is celebrated as one of the UK's leading music cities, with dozens of major venues from the City Hall and Crucible to Yellow Arch Studios and the Foundry, covering all music genres. This brings with it a host of opportunities for our students to get involved in professional music-making of the highest quality.

We work closely with the University's Concerts Series and oversee ensembles such as the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, the Chamber Choir and the Folk Group, so our MA students have the opportunity to perform and develop ensemble skills with their peers.

Student profiles

Studying a performance-based masters in a university where there are experts in other areas is a great opportunity. Being able to address my performance with new perspectives as a result of cross-specialisation input has brought new ideas and freshness to my own approach as a musician. Alison York MA Music Performance Studies

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in music or a combined degree with a substantial music component.

We may accept other undergraduate degrees in a related subject, depending on your experience.

Provide a portfolio with your application

When you apply you'll need to provide a portfolio in the form of a video. It must include two contrasting pieces of different styles and eras that demonstrate your expressive and technical flexibility. Classical singers should choose works in two different languages. The portfolio should be approximately 20 minutes and can be uploaded in separate videos.

To submit your portfolio, you should do one of the following:

• Upload your video recordings with your postgraduate online application.
• Provide an online link to your performance portfolio in your postgraduate online application.

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College . This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department .

Fees and funding

University funding and scholarships opportunities are available each year. Please check the department funding webpages for music specific scholarships. Department scholarships details are released in the January prior to the start of your course.

Funding information on the Department of Music website

You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

More information

[email protected] +44 114 222 0495

Phd-Study-In-Uk

• Applying for a PhD in the UK

Written by Mark Bennett

Planning on applying for a PhD in the UK? This guide covers what’s required to get onto a UK PhD programme and how to submit your application.

UK universities

There are over 150 universities in the UK. The vast majority are public universities , meaning that they receive funding (including budgets for PhD studentships) from the UK Government. All British universities are free to pursue their own research objectives, but the amount of funding each institution receives is partly based on regular assessments of its performance as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) .

A small number of private universities also operate in the UK. They tend to specialise in specific subjects, such as Business or Law.

UK countries

The four parts of the UK each have slightly different higher education systems:

• England is home to the majority of the UK's universities, including the two oldest ( Oxford and Cambridge )
• Scotland is home to 15 of the UK's universities, including four 'ancient universities' ( St Andrews , Glasgow , Aberdeen and Edinburgh ) dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
• Wales has eight universities, all of which are public institutions, dating from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
• Northern Ireland has two universities, each of which operates multiple campuses

The governments of each part of the UK have powers to decide on higher education policy, including fees and funding. But, in practice, PhD research works pretty similarly across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The country that's best for you will depend on the research opportunities available at specific universities.

UK university groups

Some UK universities are organised – officially or unofficially – into different groups. Here are some of the more common ones you may come across, together with what they mean:

• The Russell Group is an association of 24 universities across the UK. The group is self-selecting (it decides on its own members) and positions itself as representing the country's leading research universities. In practice this is broadly accurate as the Russell Group includes some of the best ranked British universities and – perhaps more importantly – awards the majority of UK PhDs.
• The ancient universities are a group of seven institutions that date from the sixteenth century or earlier, including Oxford , Cambridge , St Andrews , Glasgow , Aberdeen and Edinburgh as well as Trinity College Dublin (in Ireland ). 'Membership' of this group isn't based on anything other than chronology (unsurprisingly, new universities can't join) and the ancient universities don't collaborate as such, though some are members of the Russell Group. Of more importance is the fact that some ancient universities award their doctorates as a DPhil rather than a PhD. The degree and its recognition are fundamentally the same.
• The red brick universities are another informal grouping based on history rather than collective organisation. They include nine civic universities founded during the nineteenth-century industrial revolution with the aim of providing education and training for their cities. In contrast to the medieval buildings of the ancient universities, their campuses were built largely from red brick – hence the name.
• The term 'post-92' is sometimes used to describe universities that were originally polytechnics (higher education institutions focussing on teaching and training rather than research) before being granted full university status in 1992. Many of these 'ex-poly' universities actually have long and proud histories and are now some of the UK's most innovative research centres.

There are a few other formal and informal groups, including 'plate glass' universities (founded in the 1960s – the UK has a thing for associating universities with building materials) as well as membership organisations for newer universities such as MillionPlus and GuildHE.

You don't generally need to worry about which group your prospective university is or isn't part of. It's true that some groupings confer a degree of prestige, but universities are invited into the Russell Group because of their research performance and reputation, not the other way around. There are also many excellent universities which haven't chosen to join particular associations.

Accreditation and research quality

The UK takes quality assurance for universities very seriously, with several levels of official recognition and accreditation.

The right to use a university title is protected by law in the UK and can be granted by royal charter, Act of Parliament or similarly official means.

The right to award degrees is also protected. A university must either be a 'recognised body', in which case it can award its own degrees. Or it must be a 'listed body' in which case a recognised body must award degrees on its behalf (listed bodies are often newer universities or specialist colleges with qualifications accredited by more established neighbouring universities).

You can use the UK Government website to quickly check if a university is officially recognised .

UK universities' research quality is separately monitored through an exercise known as the Research Excellence Framework (REF) . This examines the research a university is producing as well as its impact on society in general. The environment and support provided for PhD students is also considered as part of this process. The most recent REF results were published in 2021.

UK university cities

There are excellent universities located across the UK, from London and the South of England to the Scottish Highlands and Islands . With that said, here are a few of the UK's most popular student cities:

• Study in London
• Study in Edinburgh
• Study in Manchester
• Study in Cardiff
• Study in Birmingham
• Study in Sheffield

How to apply for a PhD in the UK

You should apply directly to a university for a place on a UK PhD project or programme. There are two ways to do this:

• Some PhD projects are advertised by universities with set aims and objectives. These are most common in STEM subjects and often have funding attached. You can browse UK PhD adverts here on FindAPhD.
• Other PhD projects are designed by students who put forward a research proposal for the work they would like to do. These are more common in Arts, Humanities and some Social Science subjects. You can browse UK PhD programmes to apply within here on FindAPhD.

It's often a good idea to contact a prospective PhD supervisor before applying, but this isn't usually a necessary step. Universities will usually pair students with the most appropriate supervisor for their project.

We’ve written dedicated guides to applying for a PhD in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences , as well as STEM subjects.

Admissions requirements

You will normally need the following to be accepted for a PhD in the UK:

• A suitable undergraduate degree (equivalent to a UK 2.1 or higher). A Masters may also be required in some subject areas.
• Evidence of language proficiency (if English is not your first language).
• Evidence that you possess the necessary materials to gain a UK student visa (for international students).
• Other application materials including a research proposal , personal statement or references .

Actual requirements vary between projects and programmes.

Not all UK PhD applications require a formal interview , but this is more common for funded positions or programmes with limited space.

Interviews can often be conducted online. You may be asked to answer some questions about your application and / or give a short presentation on your intended research.

Inidan qualifications in the UK

In July 2022, the UK and Indian governments signed a memoradum agreeing to automatically recognise undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in each other's countries. This means that if you studied your Bachelors or Masters in India and are now applying for a UK PhD, your qualifications will recognised as equivalent to British ones.

It also means that it will be easier for you to seek work in India with a PhD from a UK university!

Find a PhD in the UK

Why not get started browsing some UK PhDs ? Alternatively, you can look at our other guides to studying a PhD abroad .

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

You may also like....

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

Our guide explains the best ways to fund international PhD study in the UK, with information on all the main scholarships available to you.

Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) or Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) provide UK Research Council funded PhD studentships to postgraduate students

The Graduate Route allows international students to stay in the UK for at least two years after graduating. This guide covers everything you need to know, including who is eligible and how to apply.

The Turing Scheme recently replaced the Erasmus programme, but is it any different? Let’s examine the Turing Scheme vs Erasmus debate in detail.

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