A-Z

About the project

Postgraduate research

Music PhD/MPhil (Research)/MRes

Music at Glasgow has a dynamic, supportive but rigorous research culture with a strong sense of community linked by ideas and practice.

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• PhD: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time; Thesis of 70,000-100,000 words MPhil (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 30,000-40,000 words MRes: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 20,000-30,000 words
• MPhil (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 30,000-40,000 words MRes: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 20,000-30,000 words
• MRes: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Thesis of 20,000-30,000 words

Overview

Music PhDs at Glasgow comprise a process of research over 3 years full-time or 5 years part-time that leads to either a thesis that may be supported by practical work, or a portfolio of practical work supported by a written component. If your work is centred on cultural or historical musicology, this provides great opportunity to support your main thesis with performance, edition or other forms of musical practice. If you are a composer, improvisor, or sonic artist, this provides a great opportunity to develop your creative work and present this as a substantial piece of practice research.

Topics in which we would welcome postgraduate research include:

SoundThought postgraduate showcase

Our postgraduate community have a chance once a year to present their work in front of a public audience at our annual postgraduate showcase event, SoundThought. SoundThought is entirely run by the postgraduate community and has taken place at many of Glasgow's top arts venues. The 2019 edition will take place at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in early 2019 (dates TBC).

• Composition, including experimental music, intercultural aspects of composition and music and the moving image
• Historical and cultural musicology, including philosophy and aesthetics of music, music in popular culture, music and politics and music and modernism.
• Sonic arts and audiovisual practice, including live electronics, spatial composition and sound design and sound art aesthetics
• Performance, including historically informed performance and contemporary music practices.

Study options

PhD Duration: Three years Full-Time / Five years Part-time

A Doctor of Philosophy may be awarded to a student whose thesis/portfolio is an original work making a significant contribution to knowledge in, or understanding of, a field of study and normally containing material worthy of publication.

Thesis Length:70,000-100,000 words, including references, bibliography and appendices (other than documentary appendices).

For examination by thesis, the candidate may include a range of practical components in support of their underlying argument, but this is not a requirement. The precise relationship between practical work and written commentary, and their relative weightings, will be agreed between the candidate, their supervisors, and the Music postgraduate convener, through Annual Progress Review as part of the development of the project.

For examination by portfolio, candidates may submit work in a range of disciplines, including composition, sonic art, performance or other forms of creative practice. Extended critical and methodologically informed documentation of the research project will accompany the creative inquiry. The written component is expected to complement and reflect in a rigorous manner upon the practical component. Normally the portfolio will comprise creative work of approximately two hours’ duration or work of equivalent depth or complexity and the written component will be 10,000 – 20,000 words. The precise relationship between practical work and written commentary, and their relative weightings, will be agreed between the candidate, their supervisors, and the Music postgraduate convener, through Annual Progress Review as part of the development of the project.

MPhil: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time. Thesis length 30,000-40,000 MRes: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time. Thesis length 20,000-30,000

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree. Candidates will also usually be expected to have completed or be undertaking a Master’s qualification.

Required documents Applicants should submit: Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificate CV Research Proposal Two References Named Supervisor Information If you are applying for a Distance Learning programme, please complete the Distance Learning Form

Required documents

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificate
• CV
• Research Proposal
• Two References
• Named Supervisor Information
• If you are applying for a Distance Learning programme, please complete the Distance Learning Form

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government , the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

Accepted English language tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (Including MyBest and Home Edition)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

• 96 Overall, no subtest lower than Reading 23; Listening 23; Speaking 23; Writing 24
• 98 overall with no subtest less than Writing and Listening at 5 and Reading and Speaking at 4.5

Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)

• 70 overall with no subtest less than Reading 62; Listening 62; Speaking 75; Writing 68
• We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

• 185 overall, no subtest less than 176

Oxford ELLT

• 8 overall with Reading and Listening no less than 7 and Writing and Speaking no less than 8

LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online

• 75 overall with two subtests at 75 and no subtest less than 70

Password Skills Plus

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

• 105 overall with no subtest less than 105

Kaplan Test of English

• Any two subtests at 510 or higher, and any two subtests at 480 or higher

PSI Skills for English

• C1 Pass

Duolingo English Test

• 130 overall with Writing at 130 and no subtest less than 120

Oxford Test of English Advanced

• 146 overall with no subtest less than 136

Alternatives to English language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.

• Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
• Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

• direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
• essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
• flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
• Pre-sessional courses
• Heriot Watt
• Kingston Upon Thames
• Middlesex University
• Manchester University
• Reading University
• Edinburgh University
• ST Andrews University
• UCL
• Durham

2027/28

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
• International & EU: £28,275
• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.

This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

• Full details of our Alumni Discount

Possible additional fees

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790
• College of Arts & Humanities Graduate School funding opportunities
• MRes Scholarship: Creativity, Inclusion and the Virtual

Support

Teaching and research in the Arts and Humanities is supported by the outstanding resources of our University Library with its special collections and our on-campus Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery .

Our close links and partnerships with Glasgow Life , and the city’s many museums, art galleries, performing arts and music venues, international festivals and creative industry organisations make the University of Glasgow the ideal place for postgraduate study of the arts.

Graduate School

Our Graduate School creates a productive and interdisciplinary collegiate environment for all of our research students. We offer a range of services, courses and skills development opportunities for research students.

The College of Arts & Humanities is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students enrolled on taught masters and research programmes within a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment. Across every school and subject area the college is home to world-leading and agenda-setting research.

Find out more about what is happening in the community by following us on social media .

You will also be part of the wider Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities , the world's first national graduate school in the Arts & Humanities. Membership includes 16 Scottish universities, four art schools & the national conservatoire, with support from the arts, culture, creative & heritage sectors.

• Our music facilities include the University Concert Hall, practice rooms, music library, audio lab and studios.

Identify potential supervisors

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search .

Required documents

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificate
• CV
• Research Proposal
• Two References
• Named Supervisor Information
• If you are applying for a Distance Learning programme, please complete the Distance Learning Form

Contact us

• If you have any questions about your application before you apply: contact The School of Culture and Creative Arts ( coah-pgr@glasgow.ac.uk )
• If you have any questions after you have submitted your application: contact our Admissions team
• Any references may be submitted by email to: pg-research-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk

International Students

• Visa and immigration

More information

• Current and recent PhD projects

Our research environment

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers

Induction

• Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Related links

• Music
• School of Culture & Creative Arts
• College of Arts & Humanities
• Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities

Research areas