Program Overview

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Musicology MPhil, PhD

Overview

Our PhD research programmes will allow you to join one of our research projects or explore your own interests in Musicology, supported by the expertise of our staff.

Full Description

Our research encompasses critical and contextual investigation, mostly focused on twentieth-century and contemporary music and performance practice, including Cuban music for example, but also early music practice and reception through the work of ethnomusicologist researchers. These areas of investigation frequently support the practice-based activities of contributing staff, both in the areas of composition and performance.

The interdisciplinary nature of our research creates a rich and stimulating environment for staff and students. You’ll benefit from a variety of research-oriented events, including our Faculty and departmental research seminar series, performance events and international conferences.

We also enjoy links with the wider community, including local arts venues like The Junction, the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and Kettle's Yard; the University of Cambridge's Centre for Research into Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH); and various NHS health providers.

Completion Times

• MPhil: full-time 1-3 years, part-time 2-4 years.
• PhD via progression from MPhil, including that period: full-time 2.5-5 years, part-time 3.5-6 years.
• PhD: full-time 2-4 years, part-time 3-6 years.

PhD Project Opportunities

• World-leading research at ARU
• Creative Industries research

Supervision and Support

Our staff are recognised as experts in their fields and have produced a number of influential books, journal articles, edited collections, compositions, recordings and creative artefacts.

• Dr Paul Rhys: composition; microtonality; nineteen-note equal temperament; live performance with computers.
• Dr Chanan Hanspal: music analysis; the orchestral music of Frank Zappa; the chronological development of jazz improvisation; identity issues in Australian music

Where You'll Research

Your Department and Faculty

Using our creative expertise and industry connections in Cambridge and beyond, we create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

At Cambridge School of Creative Industries, we believe in the importance of experimentation and risk-taking to create experiences that entertain, educate, inspire and improve lives.

Whether writing bestselling fiction, creating challenging documentaries or sharing a piano with people on the autism spectrum, the expertise of our staff goes far beyond teaching. Their research produces significant funding success, leading to important publications and international conferences.

Specialist Facilities

You’ll have access to our purpose-built music centre, which includes an extensive suite of computer music studios with workstation laboratories, digital editing studios, recording facilities and band rooms, as well as a recital hall, practice rooms and lecture rooms. We also have the full-size Mumford Theatre on campus, which regularly hosts professional musicians. Our studios include a wide selection of specialist computer hardware and software along with full internet access, and are supported by an extensive range of online facilities and resources.

We also have five grand pianos, including a new Steinway Model D, and many orchestral instruments, as well as traditional instruments from India, China and Africa, and a Balinese Gamelan.

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (per year): £4,786
• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £2,392
• International students, 2024/25 (per year): £15,900
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £7,950

Bench Fees

In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.

Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.

We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.

If you have to pay bench fees this will be made clear at your interview, and stated in your offer letter.

For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:

1. £500
2. £1,200
3. £2,200
4. £4,500
5. £8,900

PhD by Published Work

• Initial registration: £1,500
• Full registration: £4,500

Writing up Fees 2024/25

• £1,200

How Do I Pay My Fees?

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in instalments – though you won't need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us.

Funding

For advice on the Doctoral Loan and other sources of funding, including ARU scholarships, visit our finance guide for postgraduate researchers.

You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.

ARU Research

ARU's academic excellence was recognised in 2021, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Sixteen areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on the societies we live in.

Careers

We’ll provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, in areas like writing up a paper for publication; placing an academic article; giving a conference paper; the doctoral writing style; updates on research methods and literature searches; internet training; editing skills for doctoral research; subsequent monograph publication; and dealing with festivals, agents, and publishers. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department, or organise research events like seminars and conferences.

In conjunction with the University’s research support, you can request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil or PhD with progression from MPhil: You’ll need a Bachelors degree or equivalent with first or upper second class honours, in a related subject area.
• PhD: You’ll need a Masters degree or equivalent in a related subject area.

Please note we consider candidates for PhD with progression from MPhil in the first instance. If you want to be considered for direct entry to the PhD route then this can be discussed at interview if you are shortlisted. Please note you’ll also need to provide academic justification for this request.

If English is not your first language, you'll require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.

Important Additional Notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the programme as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.