Programme description
Our PhD Music (Musicology) programme will enable you to develop historical and/or analytical skills at an advanced level, with independence and originality of thought combined with technical skill.
Your supervised research will normally relate to the research interests of a member of staff. These currently include (but are not limited to):
- Early modern material culture;
- Manuscript studies;
- Early modern music theory and historical performing practices;
- Music and multimedia culture in early modern and Enlightenment England;
- Reception of early modern English music;
- Beethoven and his contemporaries;
- Music, politics and aesthetics in 19th century Germany;
- Analysis and reception of 19th century instrumental music;
- New music reception, historiography and methodology;
- Music in contemporary culture;
- Music of South Asia and the South Asian diaspora;
- Music of the Mediterranean, Balkans and Caucasus;
- Politics of world music;
- Music revivals in the 20th and 21st centuries;
- Theorising listening and listeners;
- Performance studies and pedagogy;
- Jazz and improvisation studies;
- Child composers.
Our research across the department involves particular focus on seven core research areas , built around research questions, themes and approaches that are shared by a number of members of staff. Explored thematically during our Thursday research afternoons, the core research areas allow us to interrogate key issues in music research from multiple angles, fostering imaginative and multi-layered responses that are both intellectual and creative. They comprise:
- Creative and performing practices
- Sound, space and interactive art
- Politics, protest and power
- Nationalism, mobility and identity
- Historically and culturally informed analysis
- Critical reception studies
- Inter-cultural musicking
PhD students in Musicology and Ethnomusicology produce an 80,000-word dissertation that presents independent and original research executed at a high standard.
As a research student in the department, you will be assigned a research panel consisting of your supervisor, a co-supervisor and an independent reviewer, who will meet with you on a regular basis to discuss your progress and offer expert advice on the development of your project.
Postgraduate students are an important part of the academic community of the department and the University, and we encourage all our PhD students to participate in research seminars and presenting their research at regular intervals to help them develop their research experience and profile.
Find out more about our Music research , our staff and what our current PhD students are working on.
Additional programme information
Humanities Doctoral Academy
Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high-quality services for postgraduate researchers.
We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey.
This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination, and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.
EDI
Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities.
We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.
We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
All appointments are made on merit.
The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Related research
REF 2021
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), 92% of our Music research was recognised as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
Find out more about our Music research .
What our students say
Facilities
Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.
Academic staff and PhD researchers in Music can access the large collection of music manuscripts and early printed scores held at the John Rylands Library, the internationally important collection of music manuscripts and printed material at the Henry Watson Library, and the major collection of broadsides and song publications dating from 1680-1750 held in Chetham's Library.
Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.
We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes, all connected to the campus network and internet.
Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division can provide high-end and specialist computing services.
Learn more about our facilities for Music students .