Music research degrees
The Department offers a wide spectrum of musical activity in both academic and practical spheres, and has particular research strengths in 19th- and 20th-century music, film music, jazz, popular music, medieval and renaissance studies, opera, music and geography, analysis, source study and editions, philosophy and aesthetics, and composition. The Department offers the following research degrees:
Research degrees in Musicology or Music TheoryMPhil/PhD
Proposals for postgraduate research in any of the areas familiar to the staff in the Department are welcome. In addition to individual supervision, postgraduate students benefit from the Department’s lively programme of research activities, including regular training courses, workshops, and visiting speakers. An MPhil normally equates to either two years of full-time or four years of part-time study, during which a 60,000-word thesis is written. A PhD normally equates to either three years of full-time or six years of part-time study, during which a 100,000-word thesis is written.
For more detailed information about one of these courses, including admission requirements, please contact Prof. Adam Krims
Research degrees in Musical CompositionMPhil/PhD in Musical Composition
The Department of Music has a national reputation for excellence in composition. There are many opportunities for students to have their compositions played and recorded by ensembles and orchestras and to benefit from Nottingham’s rich and diverse concert scene. Individual supervision is supplemented by a programme of workshops and events. The MPhil is normally taken full-time over two years or part-time over four years, and is assessed by a portfolio of compositions lasting around 40 minutes and an accompanying commentary of 12,000 words. The PhD is normally taken full-time over three years or part-time over six years, and is assessed by a portfolio of compositions lasting around 60 minutes and an accompanying commentary of 20,000 words.
► Browse a list of current research students to find out more about their work and interests
Outstanding success for Nottingham postgraduates
PhD students at The University of Nottingham are among the most successful in the country, according to a new report. Nottingham is ranked joint second in England on a measure of PhD completion rates, in a report that underlines the quality of its postgraduate education and the support available to doctoral students.
Data released by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) shows that 88 per cent of full-time Home and EU doctoral students at the University qualified within seven years. Read full article...