Music and Sound PhD

UK

What will I learn?

What is Music and Sound?

A research degree in Music and Sound offers you the opportunity to engage in an extended piece of academic research, either through creative practice in the production of an original body of work, or through the production of a written thesis. During this process, you’ll draw on and extend existing knowledge and practices, and you’ll show that your research makes an original contribution to knowledge.

As a research degree candidate, you’ll be supported by a supervisory team with expertise in your subject and/or research approach. A research degree can offer career progression opportunities in academic research and teaching, in addition to enhancing students’ understanding of professional practice, facilitating other routes for career progression.

We support research practice in the following areas:

Ageing in popular music

Composition and sound design for film, TV, and games

Cultural history of popular music

Ecomusicology / music and sustainability

Gender in popular music

Music production

Music and screen media

Spatial sound and immersive audio

Current postgraduate research includes:

Exploring non-linear time within Interactive and Adaptive Electronic Music Composition through Unreal Editor (practice-based)

Audio, Immersion and Audiences in Gaming (practice-based)

Immersive Audio and Enhancing Creative Expression (practice-based)

The Music of Michael Kamen: Using an Archive to Explore Composition Processes

Hauntological Aesthetics in Film Soundtracks (practice-based)

Gender Identities in Popular Music: A Corpus-driven discourse analysis of song lyrics in Japan and the UK

Study style

As a Music and Sound research student, you can take a practice-based approach to research, and develop a creative project which will be accompanied by a short thesis, or develop a musicological or theoretical project in the form of an 30,000 word, written thesis.

Researchers have opportunities to study, discuss or showcase their work, engaging with colleagues from a range of areas via seminars, symposia, conferences and training events.

All research students have access to the Music and Sound production facilities at Park Campus, and are encouraged to make use of them as part of their research. Our facilities include, 22.2 immersive audio lab, Dolby Atmos dubbing theatre, recording studios and production labs.

You’re also encouraged to attend national and international academic conferences in the latter stages of your research to present your ideas and receive feedback at such events.

Which department am I in?

University of Gloucestershire

Study options

Full Time (4 years)

Tuition fees
£7,820.00 (8,23,331) per year
Feb 2024 entry fee: £7,820. Oct 2024, Feb 2025 entry fee: £8,525.

This is a fixed fee

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

7 October 2024, 3 February 2025, 6 October 2025, 2 February 2026

Venue

University of Gloucestershire

The Park,

Cheltenham,

Gloucestershire,

GL50 2RH, England

Entry requirements

For international students

PhD: a master’s degree or equivalent in a subject area relevant to the proposed research topic. We actively encourage applications from students from a range of diverse backgrounds who demonstrate appropriate research experience and achievement. EU and international students need IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other component) or equivalent. TOEFL: Reading - 22; Writing -24; Listening - 21; Speaking - 23; Total - 88.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

ADD TO MY FAVOURITES

About University of Gloucestershire

Students at the University of Gloucestershire can choose from over 100 courses, each providing a high-quality education driven by leading research.

  • Excellent selection of academic courses
  • A diverse student community from over 60 countries
  • 95% of graduates employed within six months
  • Vibrant campus life with great social opportunities