PhD Music

About the project

• Research

PhD Music

• Overview
• Degree details
• Our students
• Research
• Entry and fees
• Careers
• Facilities
• Supervisors
• Recently viewed
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Overview

Our PhD in Music gives you the perfect platform for a successful career in the music industry, supported by staff who are engaged in a range of specialisms that combine practice-led research and advanced professional practice with theoretical and technical analysis.

The London College of Music has 140 years of history but has also engaged with the latest developments in music technology and popular music research.

We have expert supervisory capability across a wide variety of topics and issues. We welcome applications for doctoral research in both traditional and progressive disciplines including:

See the " PhD opportunities " tab below for more detail and a list of potential PhD supervisors. You can read about their expertise in the " supervisors " section below.

This PhD is available for you to study:

As part of your application, please state whether you are applying for an online PhD.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

• audio technology
• cultural studies
• composition
• festival studies
• gender, diversity and creativity within musical areas
• historical studies
• musical aesthetics and analysis
• musicology
• music pedagogy
• music performance
• record production and mixing.
• full-time or part-time
• on-campus or online
• starting in September or February.

About your degree

During your PhD in Music, you will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser.

Your research will be judged through the presentation of a thesis or artefact and a viva voce for academic assessment. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from:

Our online PhD allows you to undertake a postgraduate research degree from a location that fits with your lifestyle and commitments. As part of your application, please state that you are applying for an online PhD. As an online PhD student, you will not be required to visit the campus: all supervision, training, reviews and the viva voce examination are provided online.

An online PhD may not be suitable for all projects, and consideration will be given to the suitability of the research project and whether it can be completed successfully without regular access to campus facilities.

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.

We offer theoretical PhDs and in addition – requiring submission of a significant practical artefact – both practice-oriented PhDs, and a practice-based DMus pathway designed for candidates with existing professional experience.

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement. You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Most of our subject areas and specialisms can be studied through practice research – where your creative practice is a major part of the research process and is used to answer a research question or objective. Please look through the PhD opportunities to find a supervisor who is relevant to your practice research focus.

We also have multiple students developing hybrid methods combining practice research with autoethnography and ethnography to provide insights into contemporary practice and using re-enactment in practice research to study historical practice. Please contact one of our supervisors if you would like to discuss the possibilities before you apply.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the capital or further afield – ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a PhD in Music, please contact Professor Nicholas McKay .

• peer feedback and discussion
• a series of masterclasses and lectures from industry figures
• support by a supervisor and second supervisor suited to your project.
• PhD opportunities
• Support
• Networking

Research areas

• Composition We have supervisory expertise in score, computer and recording based composition and song writing for the concert hall, record release and media such as film, television, games and theatre, including: Dr Litha Efthymiou – contemporary art music, music-theatre, opera, chamber and orchestral music Dr Tim Hughes – Anglophone and African American popular music song writing Professor David Osbon – contemporary art music specialising in harmony built on rotational arrays using 20 th and 21 st century popular and folk formal structures Professor Justin Paterson – writing popular and experimental electronic music (including the Townshend Studio), with a specialism on percussion programming Dr Dan Pratt – Studio Collaboration, Creation in the studio, Popular music and technology-based writing approaches Dr Simone Spagnolo – contemporary art music, music-theatre, musical-actions, instrumental theatre, graphic scores, experimental opera and other hybrid forms that often feature unusual instrumental and vocal combinations Dr Paula Wolfe – popular music song writing, lyric writing, arrangements Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – studio-based and electronic music composition, practice research (including the Townshend Studio)

Composition

• Dr Litha Efthymiou – contemporary art music, music-theatre, opera, chamber and orchestral music
• Dr Tim Hughes – Anglophone and African American popular music song writing
• Professor David Osbon – contemporary art music specialising in harmony built on rotational arrays using 20 th and 21 st century popular and folk formal structures
• Professor Justin Paterson – writing popular and experimental electronic music (including the Townshend Studio), with a specialism on percussion programming
• Dr Dan Pratt – Studio Collaboration, Creation in the studio, Popular music and technology-based writing approaches
• Dr Simone Spagnolo – contemporary art music, music-theatre, musical-actions, instrumental theatre, graphic scores, experimental opera and other hybrid forms that often feature unusual instrumental and vocal combinations
• Dr Paula Wolfe – popular music song writing, lyric writing, arrangements
• Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – studio-based and electronic music composition, practice research (including the Townshend Studio)
• Music, Health and Neurodiversity We have supervisory expertise in music and physical or mental health as well as in neurodiverse musical practice, including: Dr Dan Pratt – Professional practice and mental health, Industry structures and mental health Professor Robert Sholl – Feldenkrais method Dr Cathy Sloan – autoethnographic practices engaging with trauma, recovery or neurodivergent lived experience, participatory practices supporting wellbeing or neurodiverse approaches

Music, Health and Neurodiversity

• Dr Dan Pratt – Professional practice and mental health, Industry structures and mental health
• Professor Robert Sholl – Feldenkrais method
• Dr Cathy Sloan – autoethnographic practices engaging with trauma, recovery or neurodivergent lived experience, participatory practices supporting wellbeing or neurodiverse approaches
• Music History and Heritage We have supervisory expertise in a wide range of historical topics that include classical and popular music from a variety of cultures, traditions and geographic areas including: Professor Emily Caston – Music video (British & US), film soundtracks, media archaeology in audiovisual works Dr Tim Hughes – 20 th and 21 st century Anglophone and African American popular music, music heritage institutions and museology Professor Nicholas McKay – 20 th century modernism, Stravinsky, opera and music theatre Professor Justin Paterson – the history of popular music production Professor Robert Sholl – Messiaen, Pärt, 20 th century French art music Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – the history of popular music production

Music History and Heritage

• Professor Emily Caston – Music video (British & US), film soundtracks, media archaeology in audiovisual works
• Dr Tim Hughes – 20 th and 21 st century Anglophone and African American popular music, music heritage institutions and museology
• Professor Nicholas McKay – 20 th century modernism, Stravinsky, opera and music theatre
• Professor Justin Paterson – the history of popular music production
• Professor Robert Sholl – Messiaen, Pärt, 20 th century French art music
• Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – the history of popular music production
• Music Management and Business We have supervisory expertise in the live and recorded sectors of music management and business, with special interest in the field of festival studies. Professor Emily Caston – music industry management and music industry business strategy and economics Dr Danny Hagan – festival studies and music management Dr Dan Pratt – student labels, distribution, industry partnerships

Music Management and Business

• Professor Emily Caston – music industry management and music industry business strategy and economics
• Dr Danny Hagan – festival studies and music management
• Dr Dan Pratt – student labels, distribution, industry partnerships
• Music Pedagogy We have supervisory expertise in teaching and learning techniques for music performance, composition, theory and production, including: Dr Liz Pipe – popular music theory, curriculum design and delivery for performance Dr Dan Pratt – popular music performance and recording competitions, experiential learning Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – practical musicology and learning, theory of musical learning and creativity

Music Pedagogy

• Dr Liz Pipe – popular music theory, curriculum design and delivery for performance
• Dr Dan Pratt – popular music performance and recording competitions, experiential learning
• Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – practical musicology and learning, theory of musical learning and creativity
• Music Production and Technology We have supervisory expertise in a wide range of production techniques and practices and in the study of music technology from a variety of perspectives, including: Dr Tim Hughes – interactive music technology Professor Justin Paterson – desktop/studio production, creative mixing, synthesis and sampling, music apps, development of novel technologies for music production, e.g. audio for extended reality and haptic audio Dr Dan Pratt – studio production, audio mixing, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, transnational recording and sensemaking theory Dr Paula Wolfe – self-production, creativity and gender Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – studying production and mixing particularly through Sonic Cartoon Theory, Actor Network Theory, embodied cognition and the ecological approach to perception

Music Production and Technology

• Dr Tim Hughes – interactive music technology
• Professor Justin Paterson – desktop/studio production, creative mixing, synthesis and sampling, music apps, development of novel technologies for music production, e.g. audio for extended reality and haptic audio
• Dr Dan Pratt – studio production, audio mixing, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, transnational recording and sensemaking theory
• Dr Paula Wolfe – self-production, creativity and gender
• Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – studying production and mixing particularly through Sonic Cartoon Theory, Actor Network Theory, embodied cognition and the ecological approach to perception
• Music Theory and Analysis We have supervisory expertise in theory and analysis of music scores, recordings and practices in a wide range of musical styles including: Dr Litha Efthymiou - collaborative practice, musical medievalism, music and gesture Dr Remy Haswell-Martin – collaborative musical practice, audience reception, creative interactions in contemporary songwriting, phenomenology, 4E cognition, ecological theory, aesthetics, popular music analysis Dr Tim Hughes – rhythmic, harmonic and formal analysis of popular music styles Professor Nicholas McKay – musical semiotics Professor David Osbon – harmonic structures and microtonality in contemporary art music Professor Robert Sholl – spectralism, music and spirituality, critical theory, listening and film music Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – Actor Network Theory, Sonic Cartoon Theory, Spectromorphology, the ecological approach to music perception and embodied cognition

Music Theory and Analysis

• Dr Litha Efthymiou - collaborative practice, musical medievalism, music and gesture
• Dr Remy Haswell-Martin – collaborative musical practice, audience reception, creative interactions in contemporary songwriting, phenomenology, 4E cognition, ecological theory, aesthetics, popular music analysis
• Dr Tim Hughes – rhythmic, harmonic and formal analysis of popular music styles
• Professor Nicholas McKay – musical semiotics
• Professor David Osbon – harmonic structures and microtonality in contemporary art music
• Professor Robert Sholl – spectralism, music and spirituality, critical theory, listening and film music
• Professor Simon Zagorski-Thomas – Actor Network Theory, Sonic Cartoon Theory, Spectromorphology, the ecological approach to music perception and embodied cognition
• Performance We have supervisory expertise in individual and ensemble performance and improvisation, including: Dr Remy Haswell-Martin – movement and physiology of concert participants, Guitar performance Dr Liz Pipe – gesture and non-verbal communication in popular music performance Professor Robert Sholl – organ, improvisation to film Dr Annie Yim – piano, music and visual art, music and poetry

Performance

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

We provide structured research training, expert supervision and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Dr Remy Haswell-Martin – movement and physiology of concert participants, Guitar performance
• Dr Liz Pipe – gesture and non-verbal communication in popular music performance
• Professor Robert Sholl – organ, improvisation to film
• Dr Annie Yim – piano, music and visual art, music and poetry
• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

What our students say

Studying for a doctorate alongside work can be very challenging and I am grateful for all the positive support I received throughout my studies. Knowing that your supervisor is there for you makes such a difference.

Danny Hagan, PhD in Music

Studying for a doctorate alongside work can be very challenging and I am grateful for all the positive support I received throughout my studies. Knowing that your supervisor is there for you makes such a difference.

Danny Hagan, PhD in Music

Our research record

Previous doctoral students have gone on to teach at a range of universities around the world – including at UWL – and to work in the music industry as successful freelancers and for organisations such as the BBC.

Our PhD students have won various awards and prizes, from the institutional to the international. Recent successes include:

• Hammad Rashid was selected as the UK & Ireland branch keynote student representative for the International Association for the Study of Popular Music’s research seminars in 2024.
• Dr Leon Clowes’ artwork and installations have been exhibited in Liverpool, Ealing, Leeds, Margate and Rotterdam and on BBC Radio 4.
• Clara Gatti-Comini is a winner of the UK Harp Association Emerging Artist Scheme 2024, UK Harp Association Creative Fund 2024, World Harp Congress Spectrum 2024.
• Cesar Salazar Portillo won the National final of Vitae Three-minute Thesis competition in 2025, explaining his work on 3-D and haptic audio in virtual reality for the visually impaired.

Research Repository - Music

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

PRISM: Screen Media

The Public Research Institute of Screen Media is an interdisciplinary institute conducting research on the screen and media industries.

Research

Find out more about our research, the impact it has and how to join us as a research student.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme.
• An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.

Fees & funding

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

Find out more about funding opportunities .

Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website (except for funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

We offer other generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships and bursaries .

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• employers
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (e.g. The Ministry/Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the sources of funding for international students guide.

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Your future career

A PhD in Music – the highest academic degree qualification, based on the advanced study and independent research, opens up an array of career opportunities both in academia and within the music industries.

Many students go on to pursue an academic career, following their PhD with postdoctoral study, then a fellowship or lectureship.

During your PhD, you will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

By the end of your PhD in Music, you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

• written and oral communication
• research and information management
• public speaking
• project management
• leadership
• critical thinking
• collaboration
• analysis and problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• negotiation.

Job roles

• university lecturer
• postdoctoral researcher
• other higher and further education lecturer
• freelance soloist
• session musician
• touring musician
• orchestral musician
• conductor
• composer and arranger
• record producer
• audio post-production
• audio/live engineer.

Graduate employers

• universities
• research institutions
• specialist education providers
• start-ups
• museum and library sector
• companies with R&D departments
• record labels
• music publishers
• management companies
• recording studios
• social enterprises.

Music facilities

Explore the range of excellent facilities on offer to our students within the London College of Music, from performance spaces to the brand new Townshend Studio.

Music studios

Join Dr Dan Pratt and Ben Bushell for a tour of some of the London College of Music's 17 professionally designed studios.

The Townshend Studio

The Townshend Studio is a creative space for learning, collaboration, experimentation and play. It is home to a collection of instruments used by Pete Townshend, co-founder of The Who and Ealing School of Art (now UWL) alumnus, who described his time at the School as “a revelation”.

The collection comprises 12 principal synthesisers, plus many other instruments which have been used by Pete throughout his career.

Performance spaces

Our flexible, professionally-equipped performance spaces include Lawrence Hall, a 200-seat black box studio theatre, and Vestry Hall, a classical music performance space featuring a Steinway B Concert Grand piano, concert tuned percussion and seating for up to 150 people.

Media Resource Centre

At our Media Resource Centre you'll find extensive portable audio recording systems, including up to 24 track digital HD recording and portable Focusrite RedNet systems.

Production studios

We have four black box production rooms featuring performance dance floors, ballet barres, wall mirrors and ¾ drapes.

Basement practice rooms

We have 12 instrumental practice rooms with Steinway pianos, three percussion practice and teaching rooms and percussion rooms feature Pearl kits with recording and playback systems.

Music technology facilities

Explore one of the largest studio complexes in Europe and learn more about our fantastic range of music technology facilities at the London College of Music.

The Graduate School

If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Rami Ranger House is a focal point for the University’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use, while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

Music

Explore our impressive range of innovative music courses at the London College of Music, one of the leading music and performing arts institutions in the UK.

Find out more

Discover seven reasons to study with us and how studying at UWL will support your future career.

Find out about student accommodation and the support for students.

Explore our campus and sites and book onto a campus tour or open day .

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

Rankings

• † Fees - the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the course. Fees are subject to change. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase.
• Teaching - your course will primarily be delivered in-person, however it may include delivery of some activities online, either in real-time or recorded.
• Testimonials - quotes are provided by current or former UWL students. These are mostly from the course but quotes from a UWL student on another course may be used if, for example, the course is new.
• Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
• Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming, however staff and course content may have since changed.
• Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route and a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.
• The National Student Survey 2026 result is based on the average of all answers by the taught student populations.
• Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and after, 1992.
• PRES - rank out of 53 institutions.

Research areas