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.
Year of entry: 2024/25
Start dates
January
April
July
September
(semester dates)
Meet us
Meet us online or on campus and find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Find out moreIf 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.
These perspectives are embedded within our three Research Clusters: the Contemporary Music Research Cluster, the Musical Cultures and Communities Research Cluster and the Music, Science and Technology Research Cluster.
Discover more about staff research and expertise
MPhil or PhD projects can use theoretical or experimental methods, can take place through performance, composition, or improvisation, or can involve a combination of approaches.
Postgraduate research provides opportunities to develop your academic, creative and practical skills. You'll work independently in an academic environment where creativity and scholarship are equally balanced.
You'll meet regularly with your research supervisor and will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting range of research events.
This PhD programme is aimed at individuals:
- seeking to reach a professional standard of academic research and to pursue a career in either Higher Education or areas of professional practice;
- working professionally in any field of music and wishing to make a career move into teaching and research in Higher Education;
- working in any field of music and wishing to develop their careers with the production of a substantial piece of original research.
A PhD or MPhil by Performance allows you to develop original, innovative, creative research projects.
- The programme has a full-time and a part-time route. The full-time route comprises three years’ study for a PhD, two for an MPhil, both with one optional ‘continuation’ year for completion. The part-time route comprises six years’ study for a PhD, or four for an MPhil, again with the additional ‘continuation’ year for completion, as necessary.
- You will work under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic. As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP), which includes an additional academic staff member (not your supervisor).
- As either a PhD or MPhil student, you will submit a portfolio of performance projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings. The portfolio is to be accompanied by critical writing that draws out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the performance processes and situating the work in a research context. The number and scale of the performance projects, and the length of the written submission, will be negotiated with your supervisor and agreed with your TAP. This will be in relation to the nature of the work and the programme for which you are registered (PhD or MPhil).
A PhD or MPhil by Composition allows you to develop original, innovative, creative research projects.
- The programme has a full-time and a part-time route. The full-time route comprises three years’ study for a PhD, two for an MPhil, both with one optional ‘continuation’ year for completion. The part-time route comprises six years’ study for a PhD, or four for an MPhil, again with the additional ‘continuation’ year for completion, as necessary.
- You will work under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic. As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP), which includes an additional academic staff member (not your supervisor).
- As either a PhD or MPhil student, you will submit a portfolio of composition projects, fully documented through video/audio recordings and/or scores, as appropriate. The portfolio is to be accompanied by critical writing that draws out the research embedded in the practice, discussing aspects of the composition processes and situating the work in a research context. The number and scale of the compositions, and the length of the written submission, will be negotiated with your supervisor and agreed with your TAP. This will be in relation to the nature of the work and the programme for which you are registered (PhD or MPhil).
Our PhD and MPhil by written thesis allows you to develop an original and innovative research project.
- The programme has a full-time and a part-time route. The full-time route comprises three years’ study for a PhD, two for an MPhil, both with one optional ‘continuation’ year for completion. The part-time route comprises six years’ study for a PhD, or four for an MPhil, again with the additional ‘continuation’ year for completion, as necessary.
- You will work under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic. As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP), which includes an additional academic staff member (not your supervisor).
- You will work independently on a project of your choosing, guided by your supervisor, honing your scholarship and research skills. Word limits for theses are not fixed but, as a guide, when a thesis is the sole submission it is usually expected to be 30,000-50,000 words for a MPhil, and 70,000-100,000 words for a PhD.
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'.
Funding
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.
Course location
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.
English language requirements
Applying
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.
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Accommodation
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.
Why York
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.