Postgraduate research
Music
Join our community of researchers at Southampton, and work at our internationally-recognised centre of excellence for research in music.
About
We welcome PhD applications in areas such as performance, musicology (including opera, critical editing, domestic music), composition (including concert, film, and electronic music) and music technology. You'll have access to instrumental teachers and supervisors who are leading practitioners in their fields.
Our research community
You'll be supported by a research community of around 40 postgraduate research students. We'll also provide a primary supervisor and a team of co-supervisors to support you.
We host workshops and seminars by distinguished music scholars (the Hartley Residencies), performers and composers throughout the year.
Our PhD students take advantage of our growing network of international partners, including Erasmus links from across Europe and members of the World Universities Network such as the:
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music)
- University of Western Australia
Our work in performance features both practice-led research by professional performers, and the study of European art music performance and performance history.
Graduates of our PhD programme go on to careers at universities in the UK and abroad. Others teach students of all ages and perform around the world. Some take up leading roles outside of academia. Whatever their role, they make use of the world-leading research training they received at Southampton.
Our academic staff specialise in research topics including:
- performance
- music history
- cultural studies
- composition
- music technology
In music technology, our staff are involved in AI-based tools for:
- music production
- digital composition
- interactive music systems
- work with conductors on motion capture
Main areas of research
Our research areas include:
- British music history
- cultural policy
- early music
- 18th studies and 19th century studies
- music theory
- gender, sexuality and queer studies
- postcolonial and critical race studies
Similar research degree topics
We also collaborate with colleagues in:
- electronics and computer science
- the School of Health Sciences
- Southampton Business School
- the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research
Many research students have co-supervision outside of the department, and we have particularly close links to Southampton’s Web Science Centre for Doctoral Training and the Parkes Institute for Jewish/non-Jewish Relations.
Find a research project
You can either apply for a structured studentship or propose your own PhD idea.
Taking a structured PhD will give you access to additional training, conferences and secondments.
Advertised PhD research projects
Funding and fees
If we accept you on our PhD programme we will work with you to apply for all available sources of funding. You can get financial aid from sources such as:
- AHRC South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWWDTP)
- Leverhulme Trust
- your own national funders
- University of Southampton
See our Money Matters page for more information.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships and teaching bursaries ourselves. Your potential supervisor can guide you on what is available.
If you’re an international student you may be able to apply for a scholarship from your country.
Find out more about scholarships
Fund your own PhD research project
Once you've found a supervisor, they can help you with potential funding sources. We offer match funding in some cases.
You'll need to state how you intend to pay for your tuition fees when you submit your application.
Find out more about funding your PhD
Take out a PhD loan
You can borrow up to £29,390 for a PhD starting on or after 1 August 2024. Doctoral loans are not means tested and you can decide how much you want to borrow.
Find out about PhD loans on GOV.UK
Apply for funding from a charity
You may be able to win funding from one or more charities to help fund your PhD.
The fees are the same whether or not you're studying through distance learning.
2023 to 2024 entry:
| MPhil/PhD | UK | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | tbc | £18,600 |
| Part time | tbc | £9,300 |
2024 to 2025 entry:
| MPhil/PhD | UK | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £4,786 | £19,200 |
| Part time | £9,600 | £9,600 |
| Distance learning full-time | £4,786 | £19,200 |
| Distance learning part-time | £2,393 | £9,600 |
2025 to 2026 entry:
| MPhil/PhD | UK | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | tbc | £19,620 |
| Part time | tbc | £9,810 |
| Distance learning full-time | tbc | £19,620 |
| Distance learning part-time | tbc | £9,810 |
Alumni discount
You're eligible for a 10% alumni discount on a self-funded PhD if you're a current student or graduate from the University of Southampton.
Potential supervisors
Research institutes, centres and groups
Our wide range of research interests are coordinated into 3 main research groups:
How to apply
-
Choose your project type
Decide whether to apply to an advertised research project or create your own proposal.
You'll also need to choose an area to focus on:
- musicology
- music technology
- performance
- composition
-
Contact your potential supervisors
We encourage you to make informal contact to discuss your ideas and how we can help realise them. You are welcome get in touch with prospective supervisors or the Doctoral Programmes Director, Hettie Malcomson.
PhD students begin their course at the beginning of October each year. There is no fixed deadline for application.
-
Gather your application documents
You’ll need to send us:
- your CV with details of your academic record and research interests
- your academic transcript
- details of 2 current academic referees, with their institutional email addresses
- a short statement of your research interests and reasons for choosing the projects you’re applying for
- IELTS certificate, or other accepted English language qualification, if English is not your first language
Performance PhD
If you're applying for a PhD in performance, please send us 3 links to videos of you performing different pieces. These can be hosted on YouTube or similar.
Select pieces that:
- are by different composers in contrasting styles
- include composers born in at least 2 different centuries
- are between 3 and 8 minutes long.
We can make exceptions, for instance songs are rarely 8 minutes long and some Chopin studies are very short. An overall length of 15 minutes is enough, if your pieces are varied.
Make sure your videos:
- are unedited and filmed in 1 take
- include the name of the piece and its composer as text on the screen at the beginning
If you decide to film a spoken introduction, please keep it brief.
We will pay attention to the tone-quality so it's worth using the best equipment you can and making sure instruments are in tune. However, we do not expect professional sound quality.
-
Apply
Our PhDs start in September each year. You’ll need to submit your application for September entry by 1 July of that year.
If you require a visa to study with us, please apply as early as possible and allow plenty of time for visa applications.
Facilities
Entry requirements
You'll need to have both:
- 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a related subject
- master of art with merit in a related subject
You can still apply if you have an equivalent music qualification approved by us.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you'll need an IELTS minimum level of 6.5 with the following:
- musicology - a minimum of 6.5 in writing, reading, speaking and listening
- music technology - a minimum of 6.5 in writing, reading, speaking and listening
- performance - a minimum of 6.0 in writing, reading, speaking and listening
- composition - a minimum of 6.0 in writing, reading, speaking and listening
Your awarded certificate needs to be dated within the last 2 years.
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
If you need further English language tuition before starting your degree, you can apply for one of our pre-sessional English language courses.
Requirements for advertised projects
Check the specific entry requirements listed on the project you’re interested in before you apply.
Programmes and durations
Our Music PhD is available to study in person or remotely.
Research degrees have a minimum and maximum duration, known as the candidature. Your candidature ends when you submit your thesis.
Most candidatures are longer than the minimum period.
| Degree type | Full time | Part time |
| Music PhD | 2 to 4 years | 3 to 7 years |