phd music uk

Schools & departments

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Music

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Research profile

The Reid School of Music offers an exciting research environment that combines the theory, history, composition and practice of music with the scientific study of sound.

We engage with a broad range of genres and traditions, including:

classical and popular music
Western and non-Western music
professional and amateur music making
music for screen

Our research is highly interdisciplinary, with centres and groups spanning other colleges and departments within the University of Edinburgh, from physics and neuroscience to informatics, the humanities, divinity and the social sciences.

We have a large community of postgraduate students undertaking independent research in music.

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:

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about music

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.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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Undergraduate

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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Taking your Music PhD with us here in the heart of London means you are close to many of the capital’s world-class music venues and supervised by staff who passionately believe in the central role of music in today’s culture.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), the Department – along with the Department of Film Studies, as a joint submission – are 4th ranked institution in the UK.

Our research strengths include music and cultural history from the medieval period to the twenty-first century, composition and performance studies, opera, jazz and film music, the ethnomusicology of South Asia, Latin American and the Middle East.

Our weekly colloquia bring together leading musicologists and composers to discuss their work with our students. You’ll also be able to enjoy our student societies including King’s College London Symphony Orchestra, the Chapel Choir and GKT Music Society as well as our newly renovated music practice rooms.

Music Research

MPhil/PhD Music Research from King's College London, option of joint PhD with Hong Kong University.

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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.

Study locations

Highfield campus

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The Department of Music and Media is a highly respected authority in musical research and sound technology. Thanks to our renowned expertise in musicology, performance, and composition, and the prestige of the Institute of Sound Recording, we can count many household names in entertainment, audio technology and the recording industry among our partners, collaborators, and alumni.

Key course information

October 2024 - full-time, october 2024 - part-time, january 2025 - full-time, january 2025 - part-time, april 2025 - full-time, april 2025 - part-time, july 2025 - full-time, july 2025 - part-time, why choose this programme.

Our research in music brings together a broad range of interconnected subject areas, focused in our internationally acclaimed research centres, housed in state-of-the-art facilities.
The Department is highly collegiate, with a close-knit and supportive academic environment. Academic members of staff are well known internationally for their exceptionally strong research profiles.
We are home to the Digital World Research Centre , Institute of Austrian and German Music Research , Institute of Sound Recording and the International Guitar Research Centre .
We belong to TECHNE , an  Arts and Humanities Research Council  (AHRC)-funded doctoral training partnership, which provides access to comprehensive academic and professional training programmes, as well as the possibility of funding for your studies.

Fantastic graduate prospects

100% of our Department of Music and Media postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA)

2nd in the UK

2nd in the UK for music in the Guardian University Guide 2024

Research excellence

We are ranked in the top 20 for the quality of our research outputs - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Programme details Open

What you will study.

Our research degrees prepare you for success at each stage of your PhD project development. The structure of our Music PhD is designed to provide intensive graduate preparation for a future career and is suitable for either part-time or full-time candidates.

As a postgraduate researcher within our Department, you will conduct a research project within one of our areas of research strengths. Completion of the programme entails submission of a thesis, the submission of practice if undertaking a practice-based PhD, and an oral viva with external examiners.

PhD students on all programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences can expect three levels of research training: university-level, department-level and subject-specific.

University-level training is provided by the Postgraduate Skills Development Programme and the University Library including a PhD induction, workshops on writing skills and preparation for the confirmation and viva. There is also an annual student-led University postgraduate conference.

Department-level training is offered in the form of interdisciplinary seminars, reading groups, visiting speaker events and conferences.

You will also receive subject-specific training that will vary depending on your programme.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.

Research areas Open

Research themes.

Composition
20th-century concert music, especially Mahler and 20th-century English composers
Performance studies and techniques
Guitar history, practice, and composition
Popular music styles, particularly rock, jazz, electronic dance music
Aesthetics of sound and music
Contemporary music and its composition and performance
Critical musicology
Music for screen
Improvisation.

Discover more about our music and media research .

Research centres and institutes

Digital World Research Centre
Institute of Austrian and German Music Research
Institute of Sound Recording
International Guitar Research Centre

Academic staff Open

See a full list of all our music and media academic staff .

Support and facilities Open

Research support.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Facilities include industry-specification sound-recording studios, music-practice rooms, edit suites, and venues for concert performance and musical theatre.

We have doubled the facilities space for music and media. Our Performing Arts Technology Studios have been upgraded and complemented by a £1.7m investment in state-of-the-art production and media suites.

All studios, edit rooms and acoustic rooms in the new space are linked by a new Dante digital audio network, providing audio interconnection between each room, plus video interconnects for flexible configurations of the recording spaces and studios.

Hear from our students Open

Ali Afshari

Student - Music PhD

"I ultimately chose the University of Surrey due to its unique strengths and offerings that align seamlessly with the requirements of my research: specialised expertise, interdisciplinary environment, and PATS facilities make it the ideal institution."

Anne Marie Cundy

Student - Music (Musicology) PhD

Anne Marie's research explores a possible link between music performance anxiety and how performers relate to the music they are playing and engagement with multi-modal learning approaches in violin pedagogy. Multi-modal in this instance refers to aural learning, imitation, improvisation, analysis and historical knowledge.

Entry requirements Open

Select your country, international students in the united kingdom.

Applicants are expected to hold a good honours degree and usually an MA in a relevant arts subject or appropriate professional experience.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

Meeting the expected entry requirements
Being shortlisted through the application screening process
Completing a successful interview
Providing suitable references.

Fees and funding Open

Fees per year.

Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.

Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Application process

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our application guidance .

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Apply online

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

Select your course

Choose the course option you wish to apply for.

Create an account and sign into our application portal.

Full-time, October 2024

Part-time, October 2024

Full-time, January 2025

Part-time, January 2025

Full-time, April 2025

Part-time, April 2025

About the University of Surrey

Accommodation

We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).

Student life

At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

Next open day

Next campus tour, code of practice for research degrees.

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

First when we make an offer.
Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

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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.

Two female singers laughing during a recording session

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.

Click here for more information on 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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Important notes for applicants

* Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

** The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 - Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.

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

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

A student playing a cello with their music in the background

DPhil in Music

Entry requirements
Funding and costs

College preference

How to apply

About the course

This degree, with specialisation in musicology or composition, is awarded upon successful completion of a substantial original contribution to these fields prepared over the course of usually three or four years for full-time students, or seven or eight years for part-time students.

The DPhil in Music is intended to provide you with a wide range of research skills as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in your chosen field of research.

You are normally expected to have a master’s degree in music or equivalent before embarking on the DPhil, or you may first undertake one of the MSt programmes in music at Oxford.

Areas of research represented in the faculty include:

historical musicological topics from the Middle Ages to the present
music theory and analysis
composition
ethnomusicology
psychology of music
performance studies
aesthetics of music
popular music
critical and empirical musicology.

Part-time students are fully integrated into the research culture of the university and expected to attend the University on a regular basis for supervision, study, skills training and participation in some of the many research seminars. If you are in employment, you must provide a letter from your employer stating you may take time off if necessary to attend the University as required for the duration of the course. The faculty appreciates that part-time research students will have non-standard attendance and work patterns. Your supervisor and the Director of Graduate Studies will be available to advise you on access to research and training provision for part-time students.

As a part-time student you will be required to attend supervision meetings and other obligations in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year. There will be some flexibility in the dates and pattern of attendance. Attendance will normally be required each week during term-time, on dates to be determined by mutual agreement with your supervisor. You will have the opportunity to tailor your part-time study and skills training requirements in liaison with your supervisor and agree your pattern of attendance.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Music and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. In exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Music. This supervisor would share their supervisory role with a co-supervisor would from the Faculty of Music.

You will be supported by a supervisor or supervisors who will help you to develop a programme of research and writing. You will also benefit from the advice and support of other members of the faculty who will be involved in your progression through the stages of the degree, and you can draw on the expertise of scholars and colleagues throughout the faculty and University.

In the case of students who require specific help to adjust to acquire new skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

All students will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). Within a maximum of four terms as a PRS student (and normally by the third) you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. Part-time students are required to apply for transfer no later than their eighth term.

A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status will require either (A) or (B):

A. Candidates, who offer compositions as part of the final submission, will submit:

a portfolio of between three and six musical compositions, totalling between 50 and 80 minutes' duration, with at least one composition being of large scale (defined as for large-scale forces, such as orchestra, and/or of more than 30 minutes' duration). The portfolio will be prefaced by a critical writing submission situating the candidate’s portfolio submissions with respect to the field of contemporary music, and where appropriate to musicological studies or other academic fields/domains of the candidate’s choosing;
a separate dissertation.
a portfolio of between three and six musical compositions, totalling between 60 and 100 minutes' duration, with at least one composition being of large scale (defined as for large-scale forces, such as orchestra, and/or of more than 30 minutes' duration);
a dissertation situating the candidate’s portfolio submissions with respect to the field of contemporary music, and where appropriate to musicological studies or other academic fields/domains of the candidate’s choosing.

B. For all other candidates:

a literature review essay that provides a discursive review of the historical and/or theoretical literature relevant to the thesis topic and its field;
an essay on a focused topic relevant to the proposed thesis, and intended to constitute a part of it;
a stand-alone overview of the topic of the thesis; and
a provisional timetable for completion of the thesis.

Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status within eight terms of admission (sixteen if studying part-time), to show that your work continues to be on track.

Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and therefore provide important experience for the final oral examination.

You will be expected to submit an original thesis of up to 100,000 words after three or, at most, four years from the date of admission (after six, or at most, eight years if studying part-time). For those specialising in composition, your final submission will be a Portfolio of Compositions and Critical Writing within the same time frame. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Music you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

DPhil students go on into all manners of work and careers. Many seek postdoctoral positions in higher education all round the world. Others may become full-time performers or composers. Careers in concert and performance administration are also favoured and all manner of professions.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying.

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

a master's degree with a good pass or distinction grade in music or related fields; and
a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in music or related fields.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

Relevant professional experience may be considered as a substitute for academic attainment.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

Publications are not expected but any publications should be listed in your application.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

Shortlisted candidates will normally be interviewed in person or, if overseas, via Skype, with video, or telephone conference. Shortlisting will be based on an assessment of written work or composition by a qualified panel, and on the candidate's references. Interviews will involve a minimum of two interviewers from the Faculty of Music, and normally last around 30 minutes. Candidates will be asked to present their research plans and answer questions about them.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References and supporting documents submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about how applications are assessed .

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of the University’s pilot selection procedure and for scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about processing special category data for the purposes of positive action and using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions .

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The Faculty of Music is situated in specially adapted premises in St Aldates which include teaching and lecture rooms, offices, the faculty's library with listening, audio-visual and microfilm rooms, a dedicated Graduate Centre, a common room, the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, the multimedia resource centre (MRC), an electronic recording studio, computing facilities, an ensemble room, a rehearsal/lecture hall and a suite of practice rooms.

The University’s Bodleian Library, receives every important British musicological study, in addition to acquiring most major books and editions published elsewhere; it has particularly important collections of printed sources for early music theory and nineteenth-century sheet music. Its manuscript collection contains many important sources for early English and European music, as do several college libraries. Other significant research collections are held at the Taylorian Library (modern languages), the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library and the Maison Française. Oxford’s three important collections of musical instruments are the faculty’s Bate Collection, the Ashmolean Museum’s Hill Collection of old stringed and keyboard instruments, and the Pitt Rivers Museum’s extensive collection of ethnographic materials. The Music Faculty Library is the University’s main repository for sound recordings and holds DVD recordings of opera, film and classical music. The library’s multimedia resource centre has 11 stand-alone Mac-based composition and research workstations with Sibelius 7 notation software, Pro Tools 10 audio production platform and Max/MSP audio and video modular programming language installed as standard, as well as specialist software for video editing, noise-removal, sound design, graphics editing, audio digitisation and transcription.

Studio facilities

The faculty’s Electronic Music Recording Studio (EMS) includes a dedicated, acoustically-treated control room, with tie-lines that are connected to the Octaphonic Research and Composition Studio and the Denis Arnold Hall, allowing for recording anything from single instruments up to full-size orchestras. Software in the control room and music technology lab includes the latest versions of Pro Tools Sibelius, Max/MSP, Logic Pro, Composers Desktop Project and Soundloom. Plug-ins by Waves (Gold Bundle) and Native Instruments are also available. A dedicated AVID C|24 control surface and Miller Kriesel stereo monitoring completes the control room. The Octaphonic Research and Composition Studio (OSCaR) is a cutting-edge facility allowing the user to compose spatially using acousmatic technique, or perhaps explore possibilities of music perception and environment. It consists of eight speakers arranged in a diamond formation plus software, used to artificially simulate an acoustic environment. Software platforms in the room include Logic Pro, Soundloom and Max-MSP. There is also a Yamaha Disklavier piano with MIDI connectivity to the studio computer so performance can be captured digitally. The studio also functions as a 7.1, 5.1 and stereo mix room, allowing users to explore areas such as composition for media and film. The Ensemble Recording Suite, suitable for recording medium-sized ensembles, is a 16-input, multi-track recording studio, with full floating-room acoustic isolation, air conditioning and professional audio tie-lines into a large acoustically designed live room with natural daylight and a view of Christ Church gardens, also boasting a Yamaha Baby Grand Disklavier piano. The studio is built around a Universal Audio Apollo Quad interface with Audient ASP 880 microphone preamps and Neumann monitoring. There is a complimentary collection of professional microphones available to use also including an AEA R88 mk2 Stereo ribbon microphone and the DPA d:note classical recording kit.

Graduate Centre

There are listening facilities and a composition workstation available in the Graduate Centre, which includes vinyl, tape and CD playback, as well as the latest versions of Sibelius, Max/MSP, Logic Pro and Composers Desktop with a MOTU audio interface, M-Audio MIDI keyboard and controller, and laser printer (for printing scores).

The University of Oxford Music Faculty is one of the largest and perhaps liveliest music departments in the UK. It admits around 40 new graduate students every year from all over the world.

As a globally renowned centre of teaching and research in all aspects of music, it is an exciting and stimulating environment for work and study.

Students have the benefit of international experts to supervise research, access to outstanding libraries, and the stimulus of a committed group of like-minded students and scholars in a range of subjects.

Subject areas, approaches, and modes of study are very varied. Students may concentrate on, for example:

Western music history (from chant to the present day)
popular music studies
music psychology
music education
sound studies
source studies
music theory
aesthetics and criticism
composition and analysis
musical instruments
musical performance and interpretation.

Many individual research projects are unique in their blend of approaches. Frequently, these extend into other academic disciplines such as literature, art history, psychology, philosophy, anthropology or general history.

View all courses View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential.

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Full-time study.

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Part-time study

Information about course fees.

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Please note that you are required to attend in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year, and you may incur additional travel and accommodation expenses for this. Also, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur further additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

If you are studying part-time your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you must still ensure that you will have sufficient funding to meet these costs for the duration of your course.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs).

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief introduction to the college system at Oxford and our advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students for full-time study on this course:

Blackfriars
Campion Hall
Christ Church
Hertford College
Jesus College
Lady Margaret Hall
Linacre College
Lincoln College
Magdalen College
Merton College
New College
Oriel College
The Queen's College
Regent's Park College
St Anne's College
St Catherine's College
St Cross College
St Hilda's College
St Hugh's College
St John's College
St Peter's College
Somerville College
Trinity College
University College
Wadham College
Wolfson College
Worcester College
Wycliffe Hall

The following colleges accept students for part-time study on this course:

Before you apply

Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

applicants from low-income countries;
refugees and displaced persons;
UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and
applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You are invited to make contact with an appropriate member of academic staff in the Faculty of Music before you apply if you wish, though this is not essential.

You may research the profiles of academics on the Faculty of Music website and then contact the academic directly via email.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

Under the 'Field and title of research project' please enter your proposed field or area of research if this is known. If the department has advertised a specific research project that you would like to be considered for, please enter the project title here instead.

You should not use this field to type out a full research proposal. You will be able to upload your research supporting materials separately if they are required (as described below).

Proposed supervisor

If known, under 'Proposed supervisor name' enter the name of the academic(s) who you would like to supervise your research. Otherwise, leave this field blank.

Referees Three overall, academic preferred

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

References should usually be academic. However, if you have had a significant break from studying immediately before you apply, one of your three references may be professional.

Your references will support intellectual, performance and compositional ability as relevant, academic achievement, motivation and research promise.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Research proposal: A maximum of 2,000 words

You should submit a detailed outline of your proposed research, written in English.

For composition, research proposals should be subdivided into:

a composition research proposal giving details of anticipated compositional projects of around 1,000 words, and
a proposal for critical writing submission, which may be musicological in nature or focus on your own compositions, of around 1,000 words.

The latter part should ideally note which other faculty postholder(s) you would be interested to seek co-supervision arrangements with in addition to your primary composition supervisor, who should be named elsewhere in your application.

The word count does not need to include any bibliography or footnotes.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

This will be assessed for:

what it tells the faculty about your reasons for applying
its coherence; the originality of the project
evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study or composition
the ability to present a reasoned case in English
the feasibility of successfully completing the project in the time available for the course
preliminary knowledge of research or compositional techniques.

It will be normal for your ideas subsequently to change in some ways as you investigate the evidence and develop your project. You should nevertheless make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources and method at this moment.

Written work: Two essays, a maximum of 2,000 words each

Academic essays or other writing samples from your most recent qualification, written in English, are required. Extracts of the requisite length from longer work are also permissible.

The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.

Writing samples will be assessed for understanding of the subject area; ability to construct and defend an argument; powers of analysis; and powers of expression.

Portfolio: Three to five compositions in score format (composition applicants only)

Compositions should be accompanied by recordings if possible, up to a maximum combined duration of 30 minutes.

Please submit both your score documents and mp3/mp4 recordings to Graduate Admissions via the document upload portal as it is not currently possible to send these file types via the application form.

Compositions will be assessed for their demonstration of invention, critical awareness of the field of contemporary classical composition, musicality, technical assurance, and for their clarity of presentation.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please refer to the requirements above and consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide Apply - Full time Apply - Part time

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the Faculty of Music

Course page on the faculty's website
Funding information from the faculty
Academic and research staff
Faculty research
Humanities Division
Residence requirements for full-time courses
Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 286264

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

Visa eligibility for part-time study

We are unable to sponsor student visas for part-time study on this course. Part-time students may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short blocks of time only (and leave after each visit) and will need to remain based outside the UK.

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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 Design
PhD Theatre Production
PhD Theatre Set Design
PhD Theatre and Dramatic Arts

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

PhD Music by Composition

University of hull.

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...

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

Bangor University

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

PhD in Music

Soas university of london.

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

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

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...

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)

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...

3 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
4 years Part time degree: £3,030 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)

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...

3 years Full time degree
6 years Part time degree

PhD (Music & Sound)

University of south wales.

A PhD is a doctoral degree based on a significant and original individual research project which culminates in an in-depth thesis (or Read more...

3 years Full time degree: £4,716 per year (UK)
5 years Part time degree: £2,358 per year (UK)

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...

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

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: £2,389 per year (UK)
3 years Full time degree: £4,778 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)

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...

PhD Computer Music

Studying PhD Computer Music at the University of Plymouth will immerse you in a world of cutting-edge research under the umbrella of the 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
Anglia Ruskin University
Keele University
University of Manchester
University of York
University of Liverpool
Queen's University Belfast
University of Cambridge
University of Northampton
University of Bristol
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Abertay University

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International

Mphil/phd music, course information.

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

Course overview

Goldsmiths’ Department of Music has a lively and varied research base, large postgraduate community, active performing tradition, and offers proximity to London’s resources.

Staff research interests are correspondingly diverse and wide-ranging, and we offer research supervision in many different areas, from composition to performance, sonic arts to popular music.

Our MPhil/PhD programmes

MPhil/PhD in Music : Written thesis of up to 100,000 words (MPhil: 60,000 words). We offer supervision in many areas of music studies.
Practice-Based Research in Music : Examined by portfolio of practice, and a 30,000-60,000 word written element. Portfolios may include recordings of composition; documentation of performance; ethnographic film; web-based and digital humanities projects; documentation of installation; other practice-based research.

Research supervision

You are assigned members of staff qualified to supervise your research throughout your period of registration. Supervision involves regular meetings throughout the period of study and involves the development of an intensive intellectual relationship between you and your supervisor.

You can get in touch with potential supervisors via the contact on the relevant staff page below. It is recommended you do this as a first step towards securing your place.

You have access to Goldsmiths Graduate School, containing an open-access computer room, a student common room and seminar room for use by postgraduate research students.

Find out more about research degrees at Goldsmiths .

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Keith Negus .

You can study full-time or part-time. The programme normally begins in September, but applications for entry in January and April may be considered.

Supervision is available in any of the areas of specialism outlined above or covered by staff research interests .

Research students are strongly encouraged to contribute to the Department’s research culture. You will have regular opportunities to present papers at seminars and conferences.

Composers can have pieces performed or recorded by Goldsmiths ensembles, including the Sinfonia, or by the Ensembles-in-Residence.

Performers are encouraged to take part in departmental concerts, and may audition for concerto appearances.

Registration and study

Initially, you register for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme to train you in the research methods you will need to complete a PhD. You can apply to transfer to PhD registration when you have satisfactorily completed an agreed part of the research and training programme; this usually happens after approximately 18 months if you are studying full-time, or before 36 months if part-time.

You should aim to complete and submit your PhD thesis within an agreed period, usually three to four years for full-time students, and four to six years for part-time.

If you decide not to upgrade to PhD registration, you can submit your thesis for an MPhil after two years if you are studying full-time, or after three years if part-time. With the agreement of your supervisor, you can change your registration from full to part-time or vice versa.

North American applicants especially should note that the British system does not include preparatory taught classes or examinations as part of the MPhil/PhD programme, except for an initial course in research methods.

Entry requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a high pass in a taught Masters degree. In exceptional circumstances we will also consider applicants with an undergraduate degree and professional experience equivalent to a Masters degree.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification ) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees.

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

Home - full-time: £TBC
Home - part-time: £TBC
International - full-time: £TBC

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

Normally, you should begin by contacting either the programme contact listed above, or a staff member active in the relevant field in order to discuss their research project. Staff biographies and specialisms can be seen on our staff pages .

Once you have discussed and shaped your project, and the staff member concerned has provisionally agreed to supervise you, you should draft a formal research proposal and personal statement. The former should be about 1,500 words long, and should outline your project, describing your research questions, methods, and context – this part comprising a literature review, and a statement as to how your work will seek to make an original contribution to knowledge. The personal statement should outline the reasons you want to carry out the project, your longer-term plans as a researcher, and the ways that you see your work as fitting into and being supported by our Department.

Before submitting your application you'll need to have:

Details of your education history , including the dates of all exams/assessments
The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
Contact details of a second referee
A personal statement – t his can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online

Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
Details of your research proposal

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September.

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified.

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview.

Find out more about applying .

Please visit our Staff pages to find out more about who teaches in the Department .

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

Similar programmes

MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy: Music Pathway

This programme builds on London's position as one of the most important musical centres in the world, with a diverse range of concert halls, theatres, cultural institutions and arts events that reflect its cosmopolitan and multicultural society.

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.

MMus Creative Practice

This flexible Masters is an opportunity to investigate and combine strategies for developing new creative work. This is an inclusive, forward-thinking composition and creative practice degree, open to broad conceptions of composition, and multi-disciplinary approaches to creative practice.

MMus Popular Music

The MMus Popular Music builds upon our international reputation in the popular music field established by our ground-breaking undergraduate degree.

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Music Technologies PhD

Key information.

At Sussex, we define music technologies in the widest sense – from instrument making, to studio production, to development of new musical forms in new media such as augmented realities or virtual worlds . If you’re interested in the study, development and performance of new musical technologies, this is the place for you .

You’ll:

produce a portfolio of original creative work that advances practice and knowledge of music technologies
write a 20,000-40,000-word dissertation demonstrating original research. Your dissertation will highlight ways in which your practice makes a substantial contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field, and acknowledges existing scholarship and artistic practices .

Research in the technologies of music is very interesting to me as it exists at the borders of many different disciplines – one day I might be working on mathematics for signal processing, the next day I might be building a new instrument.” Dr Chris Kiefer Senior Lecturer in Music Technology

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Masters and P h D events

Meet us on campus or online

Book your place

Entry requirements

UK requirements
International requirements

Please select your country from the list.

Philippines

Saudi arabia, south africa, south korea, switzerland, united arab emirates, my country is not listed.

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

English language requirements

Ielts (academic).

High level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests, cambridge advanced certificate in english (cae).

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

High level (International ESOL SELT B2 with a minimum of 39 in each component)

LanguageCert International ESOL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres. We do not accept the online version.

Pearson PTE Academic

High level (62 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills)

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

High level 88 overall, including at least 20 Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, 23 in Writing.

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

As/a-level (gce).

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70%

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

Select to see the list of exempt english-speaking countries.

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
The British Overseas Territories
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

Visas and immigration

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

How to apply

If you’d like to join us as a research student, there are two main routes:

browse funded projects in this subject area
browse our potential supervisors and propose your own research project.

Find out how to apply for a PhD at Sussex

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to work on your research full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. For details about part-time study, contact us at [email protected]

PhD or MPhil?

You can choose to study for a PhD or an MPhil. PhD and MPhil degrees differ in duration and in the extent of your research work.

For a PhD, your research work makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field.
For an MPhil, your work is an independent piece of research but in less depth than for a PhD. You’ll graduate with the degree title Master of Philosophy. You might be able to change to a PhD while you study for an MPhil.

Our supervisors

Prof David Berry

Professor of Digital Humanities

[email protected]

View profile of David Berry

Dr Danny Bright

Senior Lecturer in Music and Music Technology

[email protected]

View profile of Danny Bright

Prof Michael Bull

Professor Of Sound Studies

[email protected]

View profile of Michael Bull

Dr Cecile CHEVALIER

Senior Lecturer in Media Practice

[email protected]

View profile of Cecile CHEVALIER

Prof Alice Eldridge

Professor of Sonic Systems

[email protected]

View profile of Alice Eldridge

Dr Beatrice Fazi

Reader in Digital Humanities

[email protected]

View profile of Beatrice Fazi

Prof Evelyn Ficarra

Professor of Interdisciplinary Composition

[email protected]

View profile of Evelyn Ficarra

Mr Tim Hopkins

Senior Research Fellow

[email protected]

View profile of Tim Hopkins

Dr Chris Kiefer

Senior Lecturer in Music Technology

[email protected]

View profile of Chris Kiefer

Prof Thor Magnusson

Professor of Future Music

[email protected]

View profile of Thor Magnusson

Dr Ben Roberts

Senior Lecturer In Digital Humanities

[email protected]

View profile of Ben Roberts

Mr Joseph Watson

Lecturer in Music

[email protected]

View profile of Joseph Watson

Dr Lee Westwood

[email protected]

View profile of Lee Westwood

Funding and fees

How can i fund my course, funded projects and scholarships.

Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals. Don’t miss out on scholarships – check the specific application deadlines for funding opportunities. Note that funded projects aren’t available for all our PhDs.

£3,000 scholarships available to environmental influencers bringing about real-world behaviour change

Find out more

£800 scholarship available to reward talented organ player studying on any course at Sussex.

Scholarships of £800 are available to reward talented musicians studying on any course at Sussex

Cash scholarships available for students who have demonstrated sporting excellence

University of Sussex Stuart Hall Doctoral Scholarship

Applying for USA Federal Student Aid?

If any part of your funding, at any time, is through USA federal Direct Loan funds, you will be registered on a separate version of this degree which does not include the possibility of distance learning which is prohibited under USA federal regulations. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid .

Part-time work

We advertise around 2,500 part-time jobs a year so you can make money and gain work experience. We have a special scheme to employ students on campus, wherever possible.

Find out more about careers and employability

How much does it cost?

Fees for self-funding students.

Home students: £4,786 per year for full-time students

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £4,786 per year for full-time students

International students: £21,500 per year for full-time students

Home PhD student fees are set at the level recommended by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) annually, rising in line with inflation. Overseas fees are subject to an annual increase - see details on our tuition fees page

Additional costs

Note about additional costs.

Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life .

Empirical research costs

On top of your PhD fees and living costs, you may also need to cover some research and training costs, relevant to your research project. These costs will depend on your research topic and training needs, but may include: - travel (to archives, collections or scientific facilities) - a laptop - overseas fieldwork costs (travel and accommodation, and language training) - conference costs (travel, registration fees and accommodation) - laboratory consumables and workshop materials - participant costs - transcription or translation costs - open-access publication costs. If you have a scholarship from one of the UK Research Councils, your scholarship should cover these types of costs. You'll receive details of how to claim this additional funding. If you're self funded, or if your scholarship doesn’t cover these costs, check with the Research and Enterprise Co-ordinator in your School for details of School or Doctoral School funding that may be available.

Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Explore our campus

Experience Sussex life in our virtual tour.

Start your virtual tour

PhD Information Sessions

Visit campus and chat to staff and students. Book your place

Online PhD Sessions

Join a live webchat. Book your place

International

Meet us in your country

Course enquiries

+44 (0)1273 876787

Send us a message

Admissions enquiries

If you haven’t applied yet:

+44 (0)1273 678001 mah-pgr@sussex.ac.uk

Find out about the School of Media, Arts and Humanities

After you’ve applied:

+44 (0)1273 877773 [email protected]

Find out how to apply

What do you want to do next?

Courses Browse our courses by subject area
Sussex Life Find out about life at Sussex
Visit Come to a PhD Open Evening
Apply Find out how to apply

Recommended pages

Undergraduate open days
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Sport and fitness

Join our Postgraduate Open Day - Saturday 22 June

Musicology PhD/ MA by Research (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

Visit an Open Day
Request a prospectus
Course details
Entry Requirements
Employability

Carry out your postgraduate research in one of the most dynamic institutions in Britain, with supervision from world-leading academics and access to outstanding facilities in our Bramall Music Building .

Our staff include composers, performers and scholars with research expertise that covers popular music, electronic music, Western Art Music (Medieval, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th and 21st Century), music analysis, music psychology, critical theory, British music, ethnomusicology, and sound studies.

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

We offer two postgraduate research-only programmes, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or pursue your research at Masters level. Find out more about what to expect from a PhD and MA by Research .

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?

Postgraduate community : You will experience the latest research in music via our regular seminar series featuring leading scholars, composers, and performers. You will also have the opportunity to present your own research to fellow students and staff in our informal 'research lunch' series.
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
Employability : Employers that graduates have gone on to work for include: Arts Council England; BBC; Birmingham Conservatoire; Birmingham Contemporary Music Group; Coventry City Council Performing Arts Service; Lancaster University; National Opera Studio; National Orchestra; Raffles Institution; and Royal Northern College of Music.
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: £4,778 full-time; £2,389 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

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 easy steps to apply for a postgraduate research course in the College of Arts and Law

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.

Making your application

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

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

For MA by Research programmes, entry to our programmes 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.

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 Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required. 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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Ask our students

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Full-time: Up to 4 years
Part-time: Up to 8 years
Start date: Multiple available
UK fees: £5,100
International fees: £21,500

Research overview

Invest your time and follow your passion to create original research. We know the commitment you will making so you'll get expert supervision from our internationally recognised researchers. We encourage you to identify a potential supervisor to discuss your proposal with as early as possible.

Research areas

We have particular strengths in four core areas.

Music, space and place

Music and musical culture in a specific time and place
Transnational and transcultural exchange
Urban geographies and mobility

Music-text-image

How music interacts with other art forms
Applying and developing methodologies from other disciplines

Musical creativity and community

Musical creativity
Development of communities and networks

Music, politics and identity

How music has contributed to local, national and international political change
How music shapes individual identities

Explore all our research themes and projects in detail

Performance opportunities

There's plenty of opportunities to play and perform :

individually and as part of ensembles
on-campus and as part of the wider Nottingham musical scene

Your department

Department of Music website
The department was ranked 7th among the Russell Group universities for research outputs in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

" The music I grew up with and enjoy listening to was not part of the music history I was studying. So when I did a PhD, I decided to move away from opera (which I also like) and focus on musicals. "

Hannah Robbins, Assistant Professor in Popular Music and Director of Black Studies

Course content

Normally taken full-time over three years or part-time over six years (with an optional extra year for writing up, submission and viva).

complete a written thesis of up to 100,000 words, with expert support and advice from your academic supervisors
take a verbal examination (viva voce) where you explain your project in depth to an examination panel.

Example recent theses in the department

Their Dreams and Ours: Britten, Film, and 'The Turn of the Screw' - Peter Auker

Intermezzo under Hapsburg rule (1707-1734): new theories of composition and musical meaning - Eric Boaro

Changing the record: reassessing effectiveness and value in prison music projects - Sarah Doxat-Pratt

A critical and reflective commentary on a portfolio of compositions (audio) - Angela Slater

A range of optional music modules are available in consultation with your supervisory team. Examples include:

Explore a range of musical cultures beyond the traditional canon of Western art music.

Introduce the fields of ethnomusicology and popular music studies. You'll look at different:

theories of music

from a diverse range of cultures and communities.

We delve into musical traditions and popular culture from around the world, including case studies from Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific.

As well as ethnomusicological theory and method you'll get an overview of key issues and debates in Anglophone popular music. You will also develop critical skills for the analysis of musical practice in diverse contexts.

This module is worth 10 credits.

This module centres on participation in primary school music teaching in partnership with the Nottingham Music Hub. Students attend weekly in-school sessions throughout the autumn and spring semesters, assisting with Nottingham First Access mentoring (In Harmony and/or Whole Class Ensemble) or contributing to the direction of post-first-access ensembles. In the spring semester, fortnightly classes will supplement the in-school experience with sessions on topics such as: the national music plan and music hubs; different teaching and learning styles; Musical Futures; musical inclusion and teaching in inner-city schools; and special educational needs.

See our BA Music year two and three modules for more examples of modules available to you.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us .

Your application should include a 1000-3000 word research proposal , containing a proposed title, an aim, objectives, methods, summary of content and outline bibliography.

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

Supervisors

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

Joint supervision and collaboration may be available from partner universities for Midlands4Cities funded students.

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

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Programme

Midlands4Cities (M4C) PhD students benefit from a high quality package of:

enhanced support and training
expert supervision
excellent networking opportunities

You must apply for a place at Nottingham before submitting your M4C application.

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and partners we sometimes have specific funding available for Music postgraduate students.

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

The department's lively research culture offers the chance to hear visiting scholars from elsewhere in the UK and from overseas. Events include:

regular research seminars
professional concerts
conferences

Research in progress

These sessions for staff and postgraduates give you the space to present your developing work in a friendly and constructive environment. They also allow you to broaden your knowledge of the subject and gain a better sense of how research develops as part of an interactive process.

There are numerous opportunities to play and perform for both players and singers including:

University-wide orchestra and choir
Over 20 dedicated ensembles covering all types of music
A lively and wide-ranging musical culture in the city of Nottingham.

Find out more about performance opportunities

Research centres

The department hosts two research centres that you are encouraged to get involved in. They offer opportunities for research, performance and event support.

Nottingham Forum for Artistic Research (NottFAR)

NottFAR features performances and composers from our staff and high profile guests from around the UK and abroad. Performances take part both on-campus and at major venues in Nottingham such as the Royal Concert Hall and Rough Trade .

Centre for Music on Stage and Screen (MOSS)

Promotes the interaction of history, theory and practice in the study of opera, ballet, melodrama, film, video and other multi-media performance genres. It encourages multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration.

Midlands4Cities students

If you are funded through the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership you will complete a portfolio of research training, devised in consultation with your supervisors and Head of Postgraduate Studies.

Language learning

You can make full use of the Language Centre facilities for both research-specific learning and personal interest.

Find out more about our postgraduate support and community .

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

socialising
computer work
kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services , including:

academic and disability support
childcare services
counselling service
faith support
financial support
mental health and wellbeing support
visa and immigration advice
welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer .

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

international students
black and minority ethnic students
students who identify as women
students with disabilities
LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

University park campus.

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Record, compose, research and experiment

Djanogly Recital Hall – acoustically designed, 200-seat hall
Rehearsal Hall – performances, workshops and teaching
Recording studio - industry standard with adjacent live room
Digital composition studio – iMacs and specialist technology
Practice rooms - 13 purpose-built rooms with pianos
Denis Arnold music library - specialist collections

We also have strong links with venues and spaces in the rest of Nottingham.

Lakeside Arts

The on-campus Lakeside Arts Centre has an exciting and diverse programme of performances including classical, choral, jazz, folk, 'global', dance, and many other excursions into sound!

Discount tickets available to all students along with work experience and volunteering opportunities.

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route . Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Our graduates go on to many different careers. Examples include:

Music management
Programme controller
Civil Service Fast Stream
Accountancy
Airline pilot

Our recent PhD students have gone on to academic positions at the following universities:

Pavia (Italy)
Open University

50% of postgraduates from SCHOOL/COURSE NAME secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £25,000.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022 . The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

The Department enjoys a close relationship with a number of performance venues in the local area, providing opportunities for public engagement and real world experience.

Portrait of Nick Baragwanath smiling at camera with sheet music and metronome

Related courses

Music composition phd, music performance 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 24 October 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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About research at the RCM
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RCM Research Online
Research degrees
Funded doctoral studentships
Research enquiries

The Royal College of Music is the only music conservatoire in London to be part of the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP). This AHRC-funded doctoral training partnership offers exceptional opportunities for preparing the brightest and best doctoral students from the UK and the EU for successful careers.

Open competition.

The LAHP offers up to 90 fully-funded doctoral studentships annually across all member institutions, awarded on a competitive basis to new doctoral students. Member HE institutions are:

Royal College of Music

Royal College of Art
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London
King’s College London
London School of Economics and Political Science
Queen Mary University of London
School of Advanced Study, University of London
University College London

Successful doctoral applicants will have the opportunity to apply for the fully-funded studentships. The studentships will offer cross-partnership training courses, interdisciplinary collaborations between students across institutions, placements and opportunities for research with six core non-HE industry sector partners, who include:

Museum of London
National Archives
Victoria & Albert Museum
Wellcome Trust

The studentships

For all students (including EU and overseas) the studentships comprise:

Full fees waiver
Access to additional funding opportunities
A training events programme (for up to three and a half years full time or the equivalent part time)

How to apply

Successful RCM doctoral applicants who have applied before 30 November are eligible to apply to LAHP for a funded studentship. The College will run an internal competition to decide upon the strongest applicants for this scheme. You will receive full information on this process once you have been offered a place at the College.

Further details on the LAHP consortium and the application process are available on the LAHP website .

Visit LAHP website

Get in touch

If you would like to speak to us about the possibility of applying for an AHRC-funded doctoral place at the RCM, please contact our Head of Research.

Professor Robert Adlington

Head of Research

[email protected]

Prince Consort Road

London SW7 2BS

United Kingdom

Registered charity No. 309268

+44 (0)20 7591 4300

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Scholarships and funding. Study PhD in Music at the University of Edinburgh. Our postgraduate degree programme combines the theory, history, composition and practice of music with the scientific study of sound. The programme engages with classical and popular music, as well as film music. Find out more here.
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Music. 24,236 EUR / year. 4 years. The Music programme offered by the University of Bristol is a research project undertaken across three to four years, culminating in a portfolio of either 75-120 minutes of music and an analytical/contextual commentary. Ph.D. / Full-time, Part-time / Online, On Campus.
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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. Term dates to 2029.
Best 56 Music PhD Programmes in United Kingdom 2024
Queen's University Belfast. Belfast, N Ireland, United Kingdom. This page shows a selection of the available PhDs in United Kingdom. If you're interested in studying a Music degree in United Kingdom you can view all 56 PhDs. You can also read more about Music degrees in general, or about studying in United Kingdom.
PhD Music (Musicology)
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. ... PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International ...
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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.
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PhD in Music. 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.
PhD/MPhil Music • City, University of London
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. School of Communication & Creativity Department of Performing Arts.
PhD
Taking your Music PhD with us here in the heart of London means you are close to many of the capital's world-class music venues and supervised by staff who passionately believe in the central role of music in today's culture. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), the Department - along with the Department of Film ...
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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.
Music PhD research course
The structure of our Music PhD is designed to provide intensive graduate preparation for a future career and is suitable for either part-time or full-time candidates. As a postgraduate researcher within our Department, you will conduct a research project within one of our areas of research strengths. Completion of the programme entails ...
PhD Music
The London College of Music offers PhD research degrees that can be either a thesis based study or also involve practice as research and can be undertaken on a full time or part time basis. ... call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday - Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on [email protected]. Email us about a course or studying at UWL To apply ...
Music
MPhil (Composition, Musicology): a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in the submission of a portfolio of 25-35 minutes of music and an analytical/contextual commentary (c.4,000-5,000 words), or a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units ...
PhD and MPhil in Music
A PhD or MPhil by Composition 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 ...
DPhil in Music
The University of Oxford Music Faculty is one of the largest and perhaps liveliest music departments in the UK. It admits around 40 new graduate students every year from all over the world. As a globally renowned centre of teaching and research in all aspects of music, it is an exciting and stimulating environment for work and study.
PhD Degrees in Music Studies
Anglia Ruskin University. (4.2) 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK) 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK) 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK) 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK) Apply now Visit website Request info Book event. View 3 additional courses.
MPhil/PhD Music
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 ...
Music Technologies PhD : University of Sussex
Key information. At Sussex, we define music technologies in the widest sense - from instrument making, to studio production, to development of new musical forms in new media such as augmented realities or virtual worlds. If you're interested in the study, development and performance of new musical technologies, this is the place for you.
PhD Musicology course
Full time: PhD - 3 years, MA by Research - 1 year. Course Type. Postgraduate, Distance learning, Doctoral research. Fees. Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time. International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail . Visit an Open Day.
Doctor of Music
Create an account on the RCM online submission portal. Complete the Doctoral application form and upload your research proposal and your supporting documents. Pay the application fee of £100. Arrange for your referees to email their references direct to [email protected].
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The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry. Masters degree in a relevant subject or equivalent research experience. If your Masters is in a subject other than music you must demonstrate a suitable level of aptitude. Masters degree in a relevant subject or equivalent research experience.
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The Royal College of Music is the only music conservatoire in London to be part of the London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP). This AHRC-funded doctoral training partnership offers exceptional opportunities for preparing the brightest and best doctoral students from the UK and the EU for successful careers. ... [email protected] ...

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