| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | - |
| 2024-09-16 | - |
Program Overview
Overview
SARC: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Sound and Music is established as a broad research environment
supporting work in all areas of sound and music. The PhD programme ranges from thesis focused to creative practice portfolio, with options for hybrid models combining practice and theory. Areas of research include: historical and critical musicology, sound studies, composition, socially engaged arts, performance studies, improvisation, interaction design, instrument design, audio signal processing, immersive sound and psychoacoustics.
SARC membership includes over forty academics from across various Schools in the University including the School of Arts English and Languages, School of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and the School of Natural and Built Environment. As a dynamic and international community of researchers, SARC hosts regular events with invited scholars, researchers and artists. The PhD cohort is core to the research culture and includes over thirty students from various backgrounds and nationalities.
Mode of study/duration
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).
Subject Summary
The PhD programme allows for tailored supervision and research processes based on a candidate’s interests and skills while aligning with academic staff research interests and SARC’s broader research strategy. If you pursue research in Musicology, you will focus on scholastic study of significant figures such as Bach, Handel and Mozart as well as contemporary performance, critical studies in sound and music, improvisation and folksong. If you are a practitioner, you will work across a broad range of creative practice from performance, composition, installation, sound design and audiovisual work. Interdisciplinary PhD proposals are encouraged to approach sound and music topics from a variety of disciplines.
Music Highlights
Career Development
SARC has a dedicated PhD lead who sits on the SARC Steering Committee and ensures effective communication across the PhD cohort.
Regular workshop events allow students to gain skills and develop contacts with organisations such as the Ulster Orchestra and the Hard Rain Ensemble as well as local art galleries and community organisations.
World Class Facilities
The PhD programme supports research across scholarly work and practice-based research, including hybrid formats allowing tailored submissions combining a range of media and textual outputs.
Curated seminar and concert series taking place weekly throughout the semester offer students opportunities to engage in research in an international context and expand their networks.
Students are encouraged to collaborate with their peers and participate in ongoing research projects led by academic staff.
Key Facts
Research students are encouraged to play a full and active part in the activities of SARC and there are many resources available including:
Undertaking a PhD at Queen’s has encouraged me to be a more reflective, rigorous, and articulate composer and researcher. I’ve worked with well-respected composers and ensembles, including Michael Finnissy and The Royal String Quartet. I’ve participated in a residency in Sibiu, and a summer school at its ‘Northern Bridge’ partner Doncaster.
Student Apply now
Register your interest
Program Outline
Course content
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. https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careersPeople teaching you
Dr Sarah McCleave
Doctoral programme director (Music) SAEL Email: S.McCleave@qub.ac.ukProfessor Ian Woodfield
Professor of Historical Musicology SAEL Email: i.woodfield@qub.ac.ukLearning 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.Course structure
Students work to a timetable agreed with their team of two supervisors, availing of training offered by the Graduate School and also undertaking a bespoke Programme of scholarly or artistic activities agreed with their supervisors. Students undergo a differentiation procedure (progression from MPhil to PhD), normally after the equivalent of 9 months of full-time study; progress thereafter is measured through a presentation of materials to an annual progress review panel. Students may register for a writing up year after the equivalent of 36 months of full-time study. Assessment is by dissertation (80,000 words), portfolio (scope to be agreed), or a mixture of contextual writing and portfolio submission - examined in viva format by one internal and one external examiner. The viva normally occurs after 3-4 years of full-time study or 6-8 years part-time study.
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.
Feedback
Students will receive formative feedback from their supervisors throughout the course of the degree, upon submission of work. Opportunities to receive formative feedback in performance workshop or study day formats is also possible.
Learning and Teaching
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