Program Overview

Music MPhil/PhD including Practice-Based in the Arts/PhD by Published works

Key Facts

• Level: Postgraduate PG PhD
• Duration: MPhil: Full time 12 months - 3 years, Part time 30 months - 5 years. PhD: Full time 2 years - 4 years, Part time 3 years - 6 years. PhD by Published Works: 1 - 2 years
• Starting: October, March
• UK Fees: See Fees and Funding
• International Fees: See Fees and Funding
• Location: Waterside

Overview

This Music MPhil/ PhD / PhD by Published Works programme offers an excellent route to expand your knowledge, develop your skills and apply research either in a practice-led study, or the more traditional written medium. After successfully defending the final thesis, you will be given a Level 8 certificate, which is the highest formal certification available in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Highlights

• ​​This course is unique to the University of Northampton.
• ​Creative Patterning in music.
• ​Composition.
• ​Computer-aided composition.
• ​Artificial Intelligence in music creation.
• ​Music Technology work, including Spatial Technologies.
• ​Digital Signal Processing.
• ​Cross-collaboration with Drama, Gaming/ and/ or the Arts.
• ​Music analysis.
• ​Scored and un-score compositions, including popular music and electronic musical work, including vocal work.
• ​Working with the Digital Audio Workstation, including working with and thinking about the audio object.

Entry Requirements

• ​​To be admitted onto the programme, you will normally need to have a recognised Masters degree or a 2.1 or higher honours degree from a UK university or International equivalent in a relevant subject area.
• You must also demonstrate a close familiarity with existing theoretical and practical aspects of your topic area, a developed awareness of fundamental research skills, and some ability to design and define a viable project.
• ​There should also be a good match between your intended project and expertise of staff at UON.
• ​UON welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and alternative qualifications may be considered on an individual basis.
• ​All shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.

English Language Requirements

• All applicants must be able to demonstrate that their level of English Language ability meets the University of Northampton’s minimum requirements for their application to be accepted.
• Therefore, applications received with Applications with IELTS lower than 5.5 in all components will not be considered for level 8 study.
• ​UON requires applicants to speak and write English to an overall standard of CEFR C1, with a minimum standard of CEFR B2 in all four components for its level 8 programmes. This is equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5. in all four components especially in writing.
• ​If you require a visa to study at the University of Northampton, you must meet the English language requirements before the University of Northampton is permitted to sponsor your visa application.

Course Content

• This Music PhD programme is a way for you to develop your specialism by improving your technical skills, improving creativity and deepen your thinking.
• To conduct your research work efficiently and autonomously, you will first get general, discipline-based, and project-specific instruction while creating and setting up research projects.
• When you finish this course, you will be able to find research and development roles across a range of music related industries, or progress into an academic career or enter business at a managerial level.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Tuition Fees
  • Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
    • UK – Full Time: £5,700
    • UK – Part Time: £2,845
    • International – Full Time: £16,350
    • International – Part Time: £7,640
  • Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works
    • UK – Part Time: £3,600
    • International – Part Time: £7,840
• 2024/25 Tuition Fees
  • Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
    • UK – Full Time: £5,500
    • UK – Part Time: £2,775
    • International – Full Time: £15,950
    • International – Part Time: £7,450
  • Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works
    • UK – Part Time: £3,500
    • International – Part Time: £7,650

Staff

• Stace Constantinou - Senior Lecturer in Popular Music
• Paul Jackson - Professor in the History of Radicalism & Extremism

Careers and Employability

• Our students could progress to a wide range of areas, including working in a music related field, audio programming, composition, music production, radio, drama, film, Gaming, and the media.
• It would also be possible to engaged in PhD level research for a retirement project.

Facilities

• ​​Professional Grade Recording Studio facilities, including for example: Pro Tools software and hardware, Audient Desk and high-fidelity custom built mid and near-field monitoring.
• We also have a range of outboard channel strips, such as Neve and SSL.
• Includes two different tuned recording rooms, and smaller ‘Studio B’ rooms with links to the main studio.
• ​We’re in the process of expanding our spatialisation capacity, in terms of both quality and quantity of speakers, as well as associated software and hardware, for example Dolby Atmos.
• ​Other features include: Neve 1073LB preamps, SSL VHD preamps, Apollo 8P, Apollo Satellite Octo, Rupert Neve Designs 5043, Arturia V studio, Universal Audio Ultimate, and Spitfire Audio Hybrid.
• ​Hardware synthesisers: Arturia DrumBrute, Novation Circuits, Roland TB303, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland Juno DS, Novation Bass Stations, Ableton controllers – Launchkey 49s, Launcontrol XLs, Launchpad Mark 1 and Mark 2.
• ​Three fully kitted rehearsal rooms: Live performance hardware: Vox amps, Marshall MG 4×12 amps, Orange Crush Pro amps, Peavey Amps, Ampeg PF500 Bass amplifiers, Yamaha Stage Custom kits, Gretsch Drum Kit, Studio AAX, full PA, three rehearsal rooms.
• ​A Steinway Studio B Grand piano (in the main studio), two Bechstein Boudoir Grands, and two Yamaha uprights.