Program Overview

Introduction to the Music PhD/MPhil (Research)/MRes Program

The Music PhD/MPhil (Research)/MRes program at Glasgow offers a dynamic, supportive, and rigorous research culture with a strong sense of community linked by ideas and practice.

Program Overview

The program comprises a process of research over 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time that leads to either a thesis that may be supported by practical work, or a portfolio of practical work supported by a written component. This provides great opportunities for students to support their main thesis with performance, edition, or other forms of musical practice, or to develop their creative work and present it as a substantial piece of practice research.

Research Areas

Topics in which we would welcome postgraduate research include:

• Composition, including experimental music, intercultural aspects of composition, and music and the moving image
  • Experimental music
  • Intercultural aspects of composition
  • Music and the moving image
• Historical and cultural musicology, including philosophy and aesthetics of music, music in popular culture, music and politics, and music and modernism
  • Philosophy and aesthetics of music
  • Music in popular culture
  • Music and politics
  • Music and modernism
• Sonic arts and audiovisual practice, including live electronics, spatial composition, and sound design and sound art aesthetics
  • Live electronics
  • Spatial composition
  • Sound design and sound art aesthetics
• Performance, including historically informed performance and contemporary music practices
  • Historically informed performance
  • Contemporary music practices

Study Options

PhD

• Duration: Three years full-time, five years part-time
• Thesis length: 70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography, and appendices
• The thesis may be supported by practical work, or the candidate may submit a portfolio of practical work supported by a written component

MPhil (Research)

• Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Thesis length: 30,000-40,000 words

MRes

• Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
• Thesis length: 20,000-30,000 words

Entry Requirements

• Our regular standard of admission is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), although candidates will usually also have completed or be undertaking a Masters qualification
• Research outline: Candidates are required to provide an outline of the proposed research subject in about 1000 words, including:
  • A straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
  • The question that your research will address
  • An account of why this question is important and worth investigating
  • An assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
  • A brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
  • A discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon
  • An indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

English Language Requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level, including:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online: 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
• TOEFL (ibt, my best or at home): 100 overall with Reading 24, Listening 24, Speaking 23, Writing 27
• Pearsons PTE Academic: 66 overall with no subtest less than Reading 68, Listening 66, Speaking 65, Writing 82
• Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 185 overall, no subtest less than 185
• Oxford English Test: 8 overall with no subtest less than 8
• LanguageCert Academic SELT: 75 overall with no subtest less than 75
• Password Skills Plus: 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 7.0
• Trinity College Tests Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEIII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests

Fees and Funding

• Fees 2026/27: UK - to be confirmed, International & EU - ｣27,720
• Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study; fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee
• Alumni discount: 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes
• Possible additional fees:
  • Re-submission by a research student: ｣540
  • Submission for a higher degree by published work: ｣1,355
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: ｣350
  • Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship: ｣790
  • Bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs, the exact amount will be provided in the offer letter

Support

• The College of Arts & Humanities Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all research students
• The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses
• Our music facilities include the University Concert Hall, practice rooms, music library, audio lab, and studios

Research Environment

• The University of Glasgow is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students enrolled on taught masters and research programmes within a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment
• The College of Arts & Humanities is home to world-leading and agenda-setting research
• The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities is the world's first national graduate school in the Arts & Humanities, with membership including 16 Scottish universities, four art schools, and the national conservatoire, with support from the arts, culture, creative, and heritage sectors.