Students studying for a research degree concentrate on pursuing an independent research project devised in consultation with their supervisors. Musicologists and ethnomusicologists write a large-scale dissertation, and composers produce a portfolio of original compositions accompanied by a critical commentary. You will work under the guidance of an expert supervisory team and your progress will be reviewed periodically to support you in bringing the project to a successful conclusion. The Commentary length is: 12,000 words; Composition length is: 60 minutes. To foster your development as a researcher and integrate you fully into the department’s community of scholars, we will ask you to participate in the departmental seminar series and attend the regular meetings of an appropriate research group related to your area of specialism. These events offer opportunities for lively intellectual exchange and debate which will stimulate you to find new ways of thinking about your topic and to refine your ideas. The department’s research environment is notable for its strong interdisciplinary, which will enable you to become familiar with a range of pertinent methodological approaches current in other domains of intellectual enquiry. You will additionally be encouraged to present your work at conferences, workshops, and at other appropriate forums as suitable opportunities arise, and to participate in a range of training courses to assist your personal and professional development.