Music - PhD
Our research programme gives you the opportunity to mix with composers, sound designers, technologists, ethnomusicologists and theorists.
Overview
During your time with us, you become part of our specialist community, exchanging ideas and developing your own creative and intellectual interests, informed by expert academic staff within Music and Audio Technology.
Individual staff research interests cover a wide range of aspects of music composition, performance, ethnomusicology and music technology, and supervision is available in all of these areas. For these programmes, you have regular meetings with your supervisor as well as tuition in research methodologies in the early stages of your research. We regularly invite academic and professional specialists for guest lectures, workshops and special events relevant to students’ research.
About Music and Audio Technology at Kent
Our facilities include purpose-built recording studios, post-production rooms, rehearsal spaces, workstations and seminar rooms. We have a professionally designed 5.1 recording and compositional space and a spatial audio studio. In addition, we have a multi-loudspeaker sound diffusion system for the performance of sonic art and live electronics.
Our students explore both the creative and technical aspects of music and its related technologies and have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other music practitioners.
Entry requirements
A first or 2.1 honours degree, usually in a relevant humanities subject, plus a postgraduate qualification at Masters level.
Or, a substantial record of professional achievement as a music/audio arts practitioner, plus a postgraduate qualification at Master's level.
In both cases, an acceptable research proposal will be needed.
In certain circumstances, we will consider candidates who have not followed a conventional education path but who may have relevant experience in the industry. These cases are assessed individually by the Director of Graduate Studies.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
International students
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
English language entry requirements
The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.
For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages.
Need help with English?
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
In the news
Form
Course structure
Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Fees
The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course are:
- Home full-time TBC
- EU full-time £21900
- International full-time £21900
- Home part-time TBC
- EU part-time £10950
- International part-time £10950
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
Your fee status
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Additional costs
General additional costs
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
- University and external funds
- Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this programme.
Scholarships
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarships
Independent rankings
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 100% of our Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies research was classified as ‘world-leading’ for impact and environment.
Following the REF 2021, Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies at Kent was ranked 9th in the UK in the Times Higher Education.
Research
Research areas
Kent is a research-intensive university. All of our academic schools produce world-class research, and Kent is rated as internationally excellent, leading the way in many fields of study.
Music and Audio Technology’s research can be grouped into three intersecting areas of activity:
- Composition, Technology and Performance;
- Psychology of Music, Music, Health and Wellbeing, Community Music and Education;
- Popular Music Studies, Ethnomusicology.
In making, applying and valuing music as creative practice and cultural industry, we are both publicly engaged and acknowledging of music’s benefits to society, health and wellbeing.
Staff research interests
Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘find a supervisor’ search to search by staff member or keyword.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Study support
Postgraduate resources
The University of Kent has invested over £5 million in Music and Audio Technology, to provide you with the best possible study and research environment.
Our specialist facilities include a Neve recording studio, a Foley recording space, surround-sound studio and post-production rooms. All have been designed to the highest standard in order to provide an excellent environment for postgraduate work.
We have an array of loudspeakers for electroacoustic performance, live sound and collaborative arts projects. Students are encouraged to participate in these music concerts and interdisciplinary events, becoming part of the exciting creative environment here at the University of Kent.
The University’s libraries are well-resourced in our subject area and house special collections of CDs, DVDs and musical scores. Students also have access to specialist online and printed journals as well as other electronic resources.
Research-led musical culture
Members of staff have their work performed regularly. Recently performed works include: Northern Loop, an eighty-minute electroacoustic work in collaboration with Ambrose Field, released on the Sargasso label (Dr Paul Fretwell).
Researcher Development Programme
Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subject-specific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.
Apply now
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
Apply for entry to:
Contact us
United Kingdom/EU enquiries
PhD at Medway
International student enquiries
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk