PhD Music (Electroacoustic Composition) / Programme details
Year of entry: 2025
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Programme description
Our PhD Music (Electroacoustic Composition) programme will see you produce a portfolio of electroacoustic works and a written commentary, allowing you to develop your original creative voice under the supervision of our specialist academic staff.
Your supervised research will normally relate to the research interests of a member of staff. These currently include (but are not limited to):
- Fixed media/acousmatic electroacoustic composition
- Multi-channel spatial formats
- Data sonification and audification
- Interactive music systems
- Audio-visual music
- Game-audio and VR-based electroacoustic music
- Arts-science and interdisciplinary electroacoustic music
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
- Intercultural musicking
Electroacoustic postgraduate students are based in the NOVARS research centre and the associated electroacoustic music studios. Workshops and performances of postgraduate compositions are arranged through the department. These will primarily be supported by student involvement with MANTIS (Manchester Theatre in Sound) and may also involve the Quatuor Danel, our quartet-in-residence, among other professional and student performers.
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 to present 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.
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 .