PhD Music

Overview

The Sonic Arts Research Cluster supports advanced research in historical and critical musicology, acoustic and electronic composition, music technology, and performance studies. It also supports interdisciplinary research, particularly in eighteenth century (Centre of Eighteenth Century Studies) or modern topics.

Career Prospects

Introduction
Many of our PhDs have assumed academic or research roles in Higher Education; some have assumed artistic residencies; others have thriving careers are freelance recording artists; employment in industry as an audio or software engineer is another destination.

Learning Outcomes

Studying for a PhD enables a student to develop their critical, research and/or artistic skills to a high level, while pursuing a subject of personal interest. A PhD is normally required for academic positions.

Assessment

Students are not awarded marks for coursework at PhD level; in late spring each year, they present work to a small panel of lecturers in their subject; the panel for this procedure (annual progress review/APR or differentiation for first year students), has the discretion to recommend whether the student may progress to the next academic year, whether they must repeat the APR, be obliged to register for the MPhil or required to withdraw. Around 4-6 weeks after the formal submission of the dissertation or portfolio, the student will undergo an oral viva with two examiners who have reviewed their submitted work, where the result is expressed as the level of revision required (none, minor major revisions), which is indexed to a period of time for completion (3 or 6 months). Alternatively, the result could be that the student is required to resubmit the work for a Master's degree or that no degree is awarded.