Overview

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Discover more about music

Programme overview

  • Top 5 Music department in the UK (Complete University Guide 2025).
  • Showcase your work through concert performances, collaborations, and interactions with visiting artists.
  • Become part of the NOVARS research centre's creative community, with access to the state-of-the-art facilities of our Electroacoustic Music Studios.

Open days

Our virtual week took place October 2024 – to find out about future sessions to explore postgraduate research opportunities across the university, please visit our study fairs and events page.

To stay up-to-date with future events and recorded sessions in the Faculty of Humanities, please join our postgraduate research email update list .

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Contact name
Humanities Doctoral Academy Admissions
Telephone
+44(0)161 275 1200 OPTION 1
Email
Website
https://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

  • Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
  • Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

English language

All applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency:

  • IELTS test minimum score – 7.0 overall, 7.0 in writing.
  • TOEFL (internet based) test minimum score – 100 overall, 25 in all sections.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) UKVI/SELT or PTE Academic minimum score – 76 overall, 76 in writing.
  • To demonstrate that you have taken an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a majority English speaking nation within the last 5 years.
  • Other tests may be considered.

While the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures' entry requirement for IELTS is 7.0 with 7.0 in the writing component, applicants may be admitted to the PhD Music (Composition) / (Electro-Acoustic Composition) with an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with 6.5 in the writing component.

Please note that postgraduate researchers admitted with the lower score will be required to take Academic Success Programme workshops in the first year.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the programme.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country .

Other entry requirements

The University requires you to reside within a commutable distance from Manchester during your time as a registered student, unless you are on approved fieldwork/a formal placement or are on a period of Submission pending. This is to ensure that you are able to meet attendance expectations and participate in wider research activities within your discipline area, School and/or Research Group. Should you be unable to do this at any point during your programme, a formal case must be made to the Doctoral Academy, together with the full support of your supervisor(s). The University reserves the right to reject such a request where it is considered that your residency could have a detrimental impact on the progression and engagement of your studies.

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • PhD (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): Tuition fee TBC by UKRI
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £22,500
  • PhD (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): Tuition fee TBC by UKRI
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £11,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 12 January 2026.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below. 

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  12 January 2026.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

  • For September 2026 entry:  30 June 2026
  • For January 2027 entry:  30 September 2026

Advice to applicants

Before you start your application, you must:

  1. Develop your own research proposal and project title.
  2. Find a supervisor by browsing our academics’ profiles . We strongly encourage you to confirm that your chosen supervisor’s interests align with your proposed research and that they are willing to support your project.
  3. Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents:

  • A 1,500 word PhD research proposal ; Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
  • A copy of your Bachelor's academic transcript and certificate.
  • A copy of your Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
  • If you have completed more than one Bachelor's or Master's degree, please provide evidence for each. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
  • An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
  • The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form. You may wish to notify your referees to submit their references promptly, as this is part of the review process.
  • A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.
  • After you submit your application, we will request a compositional portfolio.

Interview requirements

As part of the offer making process applicants will be required to undertake an interview assessment. This may be in the form of an in–person interview, or video call. 

The interview is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the broad topic area, the viability of your proposed research and its intellectual contribution, alongside the fit of your project with the supervisory team. You also may be asked to identify and address any potential ethical considerations in relation to your proposed research, and discuss how best to progress your ideas in line with University of Manchester ethics guidance.

The interview panel will consist at minimum of your primary supervisor and an independent interviewer.

Deferrals

It is normally possible to defer your offer to a later entry point, with the approval of your supervisory team and Department PGR Director, and if applicable, funder. Please be aware that the University of Manchester permits applications to be deferred only once, for a maximum of two years. Your English Language evidence must be valid on the date of registration.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful, you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard programme entry criteria for that year of entry.  

 In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen programme.

Programme details

Programme description

The PhD Music (Electroacoustic Composition) programme offers you the opportunity to develop your distinctive creative voice through the creation of an original portfolio of electroacoustic works accompanied by scholarly written commentary. Working closely with our specialist academic staff, you'll engage in cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of music composition at the intersections or science, technology and new media.

Research Areas and Supervision

Your supervised research will align with the expertise of our faculty members, whose current research includes (but is not limited to):

  • Fixed media, soundscape and acousmatic electroacoustic composition
  • Interactive media with a focus on video-game technology
  • Music and Artificial Intelligence – focusing on data sonification of machine learning algorithms (co-supervised by AI experts from the AMBS or Computer Science)
  • Arts-Science interdisciplinary music projects – with co-supervision in areas such as Chemistry, Architecture, and audiovisual Anthropology
  • Multi-channel spatial formats (supported by four studios with up to 32-channel surround sound systems)
  • Interactive music systems including acoustic instruments, live electronics, musical automatas and robotics
  • Audio-visual music composition
  • Game audio and VR/AR-based immersive musical experiences
  • Geolocative audio portfolios – using technologies built by former PhDs such as Sonicmaps.xyz and Echoes.xyz
  • Analogue synthesizers technology

Facilities and Community

PhD students are based at NOVARS , our state-of-the-art facility featuring £2.5 million in specialized music laboratories and technology. You'll be immersed in a vibrant creative community where regular workshops and performances showcase postgraduate compositions.


The department actively supports student engagement through the MANTIS festival (Manchester Theatre in Sound) and collaborations with internationally recognized performers specializing in electronic music and interactive media. These opportunities provide essential platforms for presenting your work and building professional networks.

Academic Support and Development

Each research student receives comprehensive guidance through a dedicated research panel comprising your primary supervisor, co-supervisor (often from an interdisciplinary subject outside music), and independent reviewer. Regular meetings ensure continuous progress monitoring and expert consultation throughout your doctoral journey.
As an integral member of our academic community, you'll participate in research seminars and present your work at regular intervals, developing both your research expertise and professional profile. Our collaborative environment encourages intellectual exchange and creative exploration.

Research Framework

The department's research activities centre on seven core areas, explored through our weekly Thursday research afternoons. This thematic approach enables multifaceted examination of key music research questions, fostering innovative responses that seamlessly integrate intellectual rigor with creative practice.

Join us to advance the field of electroacoustic composition while developing your unique artistic voice within a supportive, technologically advanced, and intellectually stimulating environment. Find out more about our eight core research areas across the Music department, 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.

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

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on our Humanities PGR blog .

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.

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. Ifmore 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 .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

PhD study in Music (Musicology, Composition and Electroacoustic Composition) provides graduates with in-depth research experience and training, and wider practical and transferable skills. Our graduates have gone on to academic appointments in leading universities in the UK and abroad, as well as diverse professional careers.

Recent music PhD graduates have been appointed to lecturing, teaching and researcher positions including ENES Morelia, National Autonomous University of Mexico; Royal High Conservatory of Music in Madrid; High Conservatory of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain); dBsMusic (Germany); Tamagawa University (Japan); Kunitachi College of Music (Japan); RNCM; Futureworks; Liverpool Hope University; University of Liverpool; Keele University; Royal Holloway University of London; Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts; Birmingham Conservatoire; San Jose State University (USA); Kingston University London; City University London; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Royal College of Music; Canterbury Christchurch; Simon Fraser University (Canada) and Southampton University.

Recent alumni have also established careers in television music composition (Danny Saul) or formed their own music and sound business enterprises (for example, Ignacio Pecino's Recursive Arts and Josh Kopecek's Echoes).

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help support you with your goals for the future.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.