Overview
The Music Department's research staff at Durham University offers a broad spectrum of supervisory expertise in musicology, music analysis, ethnomusicology, music psychology, performance, and acoustic and electroacoustic composition.
Features
Students studying for a research degree concentrate on pursuing an independent research project devised in consultation with their supervisors.
Musicologists and ethnomusicologists write a large-scale dissertation, composers produce a portfolio of original compositions accompanied by a critical commentary, and performers give a recital accompanied by a critical commentary.
You will work under the guidance of an expert supervisory team and your progress will be reviewed periodically to support you in bringing the project to a successful conclusion.
Programme Structure
Research areas include:
- Music and Science
- Ethnomusicology
- Composition
- Performance
- Music Theory and Analysis
- Musicology
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
Upper Second Class
English requirements
TOEFL iBT: 102
General requirements
PhD applicants are expected to have achieved (or to be likely to achieve) a good pass (a merit or distinction) in a Taught Masters, or to have gained a Research Masters degree, specialising in an area broadly related to their proposed doctoral research topic.
Also required:
- academic transcripts or other evidence of academic qualifications (applicants must provide certified translated copies of documents not in English).
- evidence of English-language proficiency, if you are a non-native speaker of English.
- sample(s) of written work on a musicological topic, broadly defined (two samples with a maximum combined word-length of 5,000 words for applicants to the Musicology programmes; a single sample of 2,000 words for applications to the Composition or Performance programmes) sent as Word documents or as PDFs. These can be extracts from longer pieces of writing but should be edited appropriately.
- your research proposal.
Key information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months
- Part-time: 72 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting October 2027 — Apply before Sep 2027
Some programs may specify a deadline by which students must apply so you should contact the program's department.
Language
English
TOEFL iBT: 102
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Durham, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Music
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
International
International tuition fees apply to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the study country. In some regions, like the EU/EEA, or under certain agreements, students from partner countries may also pay domestic fees. Non-residents: 47,947 AUD / year (≈ 25,500 GBP / year).
Domestic
Tuition fee for the domestic students. Citizens or residents: 9,413 AUD / year (≈ 5,006 GBP / year).
Living costs
Durham, United Kingdom: 1,241–2,143 AUD / month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Scholarships Information
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Music.
Available Scholarships
You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.
- Chinese Scholarships Council — Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom — Grant — Various benefits — Deadline 16 Jan 2027 — Merit-based
- Khodorkovsky Scholarships — Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom — Grant — 21805 GBP — Deadline 31 Mar 2027
- Inspiring Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship — Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom — Grant — 10000 GBP — Deadline 29 May 2027
- Alumni Fee Scholarship — Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom — Grant — Various benefits — Deadline Not specified
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — U.S. government — Grant — Various benefits — Deadline 07 Oct 2026
- ServiceScape Scholarship — ServiceScape — Grant — 1000 USD — Deadline 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships — ACES Education Fund — Grant — 3500 USD — Deadline 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation — Grant — Various benefits — Deadline Not specified — Merit-based
- Scholarships for PhD Students — Junhua Li — Grant — 19000 GBP — Deadline Not specified — Merit-based
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Boustany Foundation — Grant — Various benefits — Deadline 28 Feb 2027 — Merit-based
- Amberscholar Scholarship — Amber Scholar — Grant — 6000 USD — Deadline 31 Jan 2027 — Merit-based
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — IvyPanda — Grant — 1000 USD — Deadline 31 Oct 2026 — Merit-based
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Voice Talent Online — Grant — 1000 USD — Deadline 01 Mar 2027
- Dream Chaser Scholarship — Salvado Law — Grant — 1000 USD — Deadline 13 Jan 2027 — Merit-based
- Scholarship for students with disabilities — Anonymous Hope Fund — Grant — 3000 USD — Deadline 31 Dec 2026 — Need-based
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) — Grant — 22500 GBP — Deadline Not specified
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — IELTS from 6 to 9 — Grant — 1500 USD — Deadline Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — Grant — 12000 USD — Deadline 11 Jan 2027
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