phd music composition online

Top 10 Best Online Doctoral Programs in Music

Fortunately, distance learning is picking up the slack. These ten programs—each offered by a university that holds U.S. regional accreditation or its country’s equivalent—provide options to travelers, the disabled, residents of isolated cities and rural areas, and others who are willing and able to complete doctoral-level study in music but can’t (or would prefer not to) participate in an on-campus program.

1. Boston University, Online DMA in Music Education

Boston University’s new online Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)  in music education allows music educators to obtain a degree, off-campus, from one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Applicants must hold an accredited master’s degree in music, music education, or a closely related field with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, along with at least 3 years of music teaching experience at some level. The curriculum consists of six major-area courses, three additional courses on musicology and music theory, three approved electives, and a dissertation.

By choosing elective courses wisely, students can create their own specialization tracks. A student who wishes to specialize in African-American music, for example, could take electives on the blues, jazz, and African music. The program takes several years to complete, and may require several short on-campus residencies.

2. University of South Africa, DLitt et Phil in Musicology

With more than 400,000 students all over the world, the University of South Africa is both the largest and the least expensive university on this list. It’s also among the oldest. Boasting both Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela among its graduates, UNISA has been offering distance learning courses since 1873. Like most universities that offer British-style research doctorates, UNISA requires applicants to complete a research project under the supervision of a member of the faculty; the D.Litt. et Phil. program in musicology  typically takes three to six years to complete. Applicants must hold a master’s degree in music or the equivalent.

There are two tracks available for the research project: research-only, and research plus portfolio. The research-only project requires an academic dissertation of 60,000 to 90,000 words, while the research plus portfolio option requires a portfolio of original written compositions contextualized by an academic thesis of 24,000 to 36,000 words. The degree can be completed entirely by distance learning from anywhere in the world, and no on-campus visits are required.

3. Monash University, Ph.D. in Music Composition

Located in Victoria on the southeastern coast of Australia, Monash University is one of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight  and has long been noted for its strength as a research institution. Founded in 1958, and with more than 50,000 students, it’s one of the more widely respected universities in Australia.

It also offers a wide range of distance learning programs, among them a Ph.D. in music composition  that can be done with almost no on-campus residency. Students must visit face-to-face with their supervisor for at least five days each year, but these meetings need not necessarily take place on campus (though they generally do); the rest of the communication may take place by telephone, mail, email, or videoconferencing.

Students are required to write an academic thesis of up to 80,000 words, and can finish the program after as little as three years of full-time study. The student’s previously-written work, including prior musical compositions, may comprise some—but not all—of the thesis matter.

4. University of Birmingham, Ph.D. in Musicology

Founded as a medical school in 1828, Britain’s University of Birmingham was rated #1 in Britain by the *Times Higher Education* supplement in 2014. It is among the most prestigious research universities in the country, and its music department, whose resources include the Barber Music Library, is world-class.

Birmingham’s Ph.D. in musicology  can be completed in three to six years. Students are required to write a supervised academic thesis of about 80,000 words, and must visit the campus at least three times during the program; the rest can be completed entirely by distance learning.

5. Union Institute & University, customized Ph.D.

Union offers one of the oldest regionally accredited distance learning Ph.D. programs  in the United States, and it is also among the most unconventional. Students work with cohort groups to design a specialized major on a specific topic that interests them, and then work through a series of individualized classes culminating in a supervised final project supervised by a university-approved expert in the field. The program requires short residencies at regional seminars and cohort sessions that are held at a variety of locations spread throughout the world (though most are held in the United States).

As a practical matter, the Union program is a good fit for someone who wishes to specialize on a highly specialized or interdisciplinary music-related topic, but specifically seeks a U.S. credential (or simply prefers more guidance and camaraderie than what might be available in a British, South African, or Australian research-oriented program).

6. University of Southern Queensland, Ph.D. in Creative Arts and Media

The University of Southern Queensland has long been recognized as a global leader in distance education, and its distance learning Ph.D. program  in creative arts and media can easily be tailored to a specific music-related research interest. Residency is negotiated on a case by case basis.

7. The Open University, Ph.D. in Music

Residents of the UK are eligible to sign up for the Open University’s research-based Ph.D. in music by distance learning  on a part-time basis. Non-UK residents are sometimes accepted on a case-by-case basis, if they live near an affiliated research center and/or can travel to the Open University campus in Milton Keynes, but this is not commonly done.

The OU, which is a public university and funded by the British government, boasts over 165,000 students and over two million graduates; it is one of the largest distance learning providers in the world.

8. Lesley University, Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies [music therapy]

Lesley University’s low-residency Ph.D. in expressive therapies  allows students to focus on a music therapy track, spending a total of nine weeks on campus (broken up into three three-week summer residencies) and completing the rest of the program online. Students spend the first three years of the program on coursework, and then a final year or two on a dissertation.

9. University of Winchester, D.C.A. in Performing Arts

Winchester’s low-residency D.C.A. in performing arts , designed with working professionals in mind, can be completed in five to seven years. Students are required to attend two short September intensive residencies, but the program can otherwise be completed online. The curriculum is highly individualized and can be easily tailored to musical performance.

10. Liberty University, Doctor of Worship Studies

Liberty University, founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, offers a wide array of online and low-residency programs designed for Protestant Christian religious leaders. The low-residency Doctor of Worship Studies (D.W.S.)  can be completed almost entirely online (though students must take three week-long intensives on the university’s campus in Virginia over the course of the program), and the curriculum provides a broad overview of the theology and practice of church music.

Anything We’ve Missed?

If you know of any other distance learning doctoral programs in music offered by accredited, nonprofit universities, please let me know below the fold; I might feature them in a followup piece.

3 thoughts on “Top 10 Best Online Doctoral Programs in Music”

Leroy, do you know much about this D.M.E online program? Are you a student there? I need to speak with a student of this program.

Monash U does NOT offer PhD in Music Composition

Liberty University also offers a Doctorate in Music Education. (DME) online

Leave a Comment

Share this page

You will have access to an incredible array of resources, including the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, the Isham Memorial Library, the Harvard University Studio for Electroacoustic Composition, and the Sound Lab, which offers media production suites and equipment.

With a large endowment fund, the program is able to offer you funding from sources outside Harvard Griffin GSAS. You will also have the opportunity to take advantage of many available fellowships and travel, research and writing, and conference funding throughout the year.

Examples of theses and dissertations that graduates have completed include “Activism and Music in Poland, 1978–1989,” “Art of Noise: Sound and Media in Milan, ca. 1900,” “Black Musics, African Lives, and the National Imagination in Modern Israel,” and “Technologies of Transgression and Musical Play in Video Game Cultures.”

Most graduates go on to positions in academia at institutions like the University of Southern California, Michigan State University, and University of Cambridge in England.

AM in Performance Practice *

* Applications are not currently being accepted

The AM in music with a specialty in performance practice is designed to provide intellectual and scholarly background to finished musicians who are preparing or engaged in careers as performers and teachers. The emphasis is on preparing students to work with sources, editions, theoretical writings, organology, and other matters of importance to performance styles as related to repertories. Additional areas such as differences in the meaning of terminology and notation from composer to composer or from era to era, ornamentatio, liberties of tempo and declamation, and improvisation will be addressed. It is a two-year program in which students take a selection of departmental courses focused on this specialty and write an AM thesis.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Music and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Composition (PhD only) | Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry (PhD only) | Ethnomusicology (PhD only) | Music Theory (PhD only) | Musicology (PhD only) | Performance Practice* (AM only)

* Applications for Performance Practice AM are not currently being accepted

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Music .

Samples of Previous Work

Applicants to all programs must submit samples of their previous scholarly work by uploading it in the Additional Materials section of the application. Applicants to the Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry PhD program must also submit 20 to 30 minutes of original creative work, in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) or links to a file download (via Dropbox or similar) by using the Digital Portfolio section of the application. Applicants to the composition PhD program must submit three compositions in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Recordings can be submitted as links to SoundCloud or other online resources by using the Digital Portfolio section of the application. Students should include a one-page PDF containing links to online recordings and PDF scores where applicable. The year of composition must be marked on all scores and recordings.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional

AM In Performance Practice*

* Applications are not currently being accepted Ordinarily, the department expects to enroll one to two AM students a year or every two years. No auditions are required. Financial aid for this program is very limited. Students may apply for Paine Traveling Fellowships and/or the Department Travel Fund to support some of their research. All fellowship funding is at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. Other University funding may be available. NOTE: AM students wishing to continue at Harvard for the PhD will submit a new application through the standard admission process. Students admitted to the PhD program will be granted credit for work done at Harvard or elsewhere according to departmental guidelines.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Music

See list of Music faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Composition

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) program, known as the C.V. Starr Doctoral Program, is the most advanced course of study at Juilliard. It is designed for gifted and accomplished musicians who also possess a broad range of knowledge about music, a keen intellect, a natural curiosity for a wide variety of disciplines, and the potential for pursuing high level performance, scholarly, and teaching careers. A generous endowment grant from the C.V. Starr Foundation allows candidates accepted into the program to pursue their resident studies on a full-tuition scholarship basis.

Find Your Application Requirements

Let us help find your exact application and audition requirements. Our Applications Requirements Wizard will tell you everything you need to know about applying to Juilliard.

Search NYU Steinhardt

Doctor of Philosophy Music Performance and Composition: Performers

Prepare for a career in music performance and music research by working closely with our faculty of internationally recognized performing artists. With a flexible curriculum, you can personalize your program of study for your specific interests and goals. You'll also develop and complete a dissertation and perform two recitals.

Degree Details

Official degree title.

PhD in Music Performance and Composition: Performers

What You'll Learn

Academic experience, performance opportunities, is this program right for you.

PhD Students in Composition and Performance will personalize their course of study around individual research interests, taking courses that support their areas of specialization. They will be able to

• Perform artistic research by developing quantitative and qualitative research methods appropriate to their field of inquiry.
• Engage in a variety of collaborative environments with artists and professionals in related fields
• Broaden their perspectives and relate their own music-making activities to diverse cultural contexts and intellectual traditions
•  Develop foundational knowledge in disciplines applicable to yet outside their field of specialization, including psychology, performance studies, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, media, arts education and technology, and the social sciences.
• Communicate the results of their original research orally and in writing, in conference presentations and academic publications.

You’ll take a range of courses in the foundations, cognate areas, and specialized research methodology, as well as private lessons and a departmental seminar in chamber music. You’ll also take course work in neighboring fields like psychology, performance studies, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, media, arts education and technology, and the social sciences, allowing you to broaden your perspective and understand your own music-making activities in relation to a variety of cultural contexts and intellectual traditions. You’ll gain expertise not only as a top-caliber performer, but as a scholar, educator, and entrepreneur.

You must have a master's degree in order to be considered for admission to this program.

As a student in this program, you'll be an active performer, both as a soloist and in concerts with NYU performing ensembles and more. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with performers, dancers, actors, and multimedia applications. Within our department, there are very active collaborations with the Music Technology, Jazz Studies, and Music Composition programs. In addition, we have a very active collaboration with musicians and other artists throughout New York City.

Steinhardt’s research-based  PhD in Music Performance and Composition: Performers  is one of the few degree programs of its kind in the field.

“The PhD is heavily focused on research,” says Beroukhim. “Students take a range of academic courses exploring their areas of research as well as a host of research methodologies, which can be taken at Steinhardt or at other NYU schools.”

Students also take private lessons and a Departmental seminar in chamber music. They enjoy performance opportunities as soloists and ensemble players around the University, as well as access to NYU's world-class performance venues, practice facilities, and recording studios. Successful performer-scholars will write and defend a dissertation in addition to performing two degree recitals.

Steinhardt's highly selective PhD in Music Performance provides  generous support, including tuition remission and a living stipend , for full-time study. Students may also choose to pursue the part-time track, which can be taken at each student’s own pace. Due to visa regulations, students must be US citizens to pursue part-time study.

Students can choose from the following focus areas:

• Brass Studies 
• Jazz Studies 
• Percussion Studies 
• Piano Studies 
• Strings Studies 
• Vocal Performance 
• Woodwind Studies 

"After graduation, Steinhardt PhD students are highly competitive on the job market," says  Marilyn Nonken , professor of music and music education and chair of the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. "They are extraordinarily qualified as performers and scholars, fluent in the practices of academia as well as the concert hall."

Violinist, educator, and recording artist  Patti Kilroy  (PhD ’19) continued her studies in the doctoral program at Steinhardt after completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance. She wrote her dissertation on developing terminology and frameworks to describe new performance practices in music with live processing electronics.

“I loved working with my performance instructor,  Naoko Tanaka , but I also really enjoyed the level of advisement and writing training I received from Marilyn Nonken for my dissertation,” says Kilroy, who is now an assistant professor of music at California State University, Los Angeles. “NYU really shines in that way with a large number of faculty from different disciplines. Also, the PhD in Music Performance at Steinhardt is a rare degree, which helped me stand out when I was applying for tenure-track positions.”

Compare All Post-MM Degrees

Funding for Full-Time PhD Students

NYU Steinhardt offers a competitive funding package for PhD students who study full time.  Learn more about our funding opportunities .

Questions 

If you have any additional questions about our degree, please feel free to contact the Program Director for your area of study: 

Performance: Brass Studies - Wayne duMaine Jazz Studies - Dr. Dave Schroeder Percussion Studies - Jonathan Haas Piano Studies - Dr. Marilyn Nonken Strings Studies - Dr. Cyrus Beroukhim Vocal Performance - Dr. Ana Flavia Zuim Woodwind Studies - Dr. Meghan Bennett

Composition: Concert Composition - Dr. Julia Wolfe Screen Scoring - Dr. Ron Sadoff

Prospective Graduate Students

Questions for Admissions? 617-495-5315 [email protected]

PhD programs

The Harvard Department of Music does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.

Musicology at Harvard offers intensive training in historical and cultural approaches to the study of music. While our program has an emphasis on Western music, students increasingly explore wide-ranging geographies and subjects. We take an expansive view of the field and encourage our students to do the same. Most graduate courses in musicology are research seminars; many treat specific topics and theoretical approaches, while others deal with methodology and recent trends in the field. The musicology faculty also offer proseminars that are open to both graduate and undergraduate students. At the end of two years of study, graduate students take a General Examination. In year three, having passed the General Exam, students begin to teach and craft a Ph.D. dissertation proposal; subsequent years are devoted to teaching, research, writing, and professional development. An important aspect of the Harvard program in musicology is its interdisciplinary breadth, which includes training in ethnomusicology and music theory. Students often also take seminars in other departments – and are encouraged to do so. Accreditation in secondary fields is available through many programs, such as  American Studies ,  Critical Media Practice ,  Medieval Studies ,  Romance Languages and Literatures , and  Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality , to name a few.

Special Resources

The deep holdings of the  Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library  include a substantial recording archive, and the  Isham Memorial Library  houses rare original books, scores, and personal archives ranging from the Randy Weston Archive to Sir Georg Solti’s annotated conducting scores. Additional resources on campus include the Special Collections at  Houghton Librar y and the  Harvard Theater Collection , one of the largest performing arts collections in the world. The department also maintains a selection of musical instruments for study and performance, including early keyboards and a consort of viols. The  Mahindra Humanities Center ,  Film Study Center ,  Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies , Harvard University  Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti  (Florence),  Hutchins Center  for African & African American Research,  David Rockefeller Center  for Latin American Studies,  Charles Warren Center  for the Study of American History, and several other campus institutions provide additional intellectual resources and funding for graduate student research. Faculty and graduate students hold conferences each year on a variety of topics; artists in residence and visiting artists often enrich coursework, and some courses provide opportunities for students to perform.

Language Requirements for Musicology

Two languages are required. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the program’s graduate advisor, and wherever possible should be relevant to future research. We encourage students to pass both languages before taking the general exam. In the event this is not possible, both languages need to be passed by the end of the fall semester of the third year.

Ethnomusicology at Harvard offers intensive training in ethnographic method as well as study of theories, problems, and approaches relevant to the study of any living musical tradition in its cultural setting. By the end of the second year of study, students select primary and secondary fields of specialization, which may be defined by region (for example, Turkish or West African music); by musical styles (such as jazz or popular music); or by topic or theoretical approach (organology or aesthetics). The Harvard program has particular strengths in regions stretching from the Mediterranean to India, in Africa and African diasporas, and in urban America. There are excellent resources both in the music department and across the disciplines at Harvard in critical theory. Collaborations are encouraged among ethnomusicology and  other music department programs in historical musicology, music theory, composition, and creative practice and critical inquiry. Six to eight ethnomusicology courses—usually four seminars and four proseminars or undergraduate classes—are offered each year as part of the regular curriculum. Graduate seminars explore ethnomusicological methods and theories as they are applied to the study of music, as well as a wide range of issues and materials, while proseminars focus on music styles or distinctive musical settings. An important aspect of the Harvard ethnomusicology program is that students receive training in Western music and its history as well as exposure to the methods and theories of historical musicology and music theory. A vital aspect of ethnomusicological training at Harvard is exposure to other disciplines, with particular emphasis upon anthropology, history, area studies, linguistic training, and theoretical frameworks related to the student’s specialization.

The Ethnomusicology laboratory ,  Archive of World Music , special library collections,  Peabody Museum , musical instrument collection (India, Iran, Mali, Zimbabwe), extensive sound and video archives (including the Archive of World Music and  Hiphop Archive & Research Institute ). The  Asia Center ,  Reischauer Institute ,  Center for African Studie s,  Center for Middle Eastern Studies ,  Hutchins Center  for African & African American Research, South Asia Institute,  David Rockefeller Center  for Latin American Studies, and several other campus institutions provide additional intellectual resources and funding for student research and language study. Faculty and graduate students hold conferences each year on a variety of topics; music faculty, artists in residence, and visiting artists often enrich coursework and provide opportunities for students to perform. 

Language Requirements for Ethnomusicology

The PhD in music theory is characterized both by a deep involvement in the inner workings of music and by an engagement with the wider philosophical, cultural, and psychological questions surrounding music. The program reflects this interdisciplinary interest of our students, and its structure is designed to explore the links of music theory to other areas of critical engagement. The graduate curriculum in music theory was fundamentally revised in 2018 with the view to the specific needs of professional music theorists in the twenty-first century.  The diverse dissertation projects that our doctoral students propose reflect the unique combination of interests. Recent and current PhD topics include microtonality and colonialism in the 19th century, musical forgery and forensics, the practice of recomposition in music theory, Scandinavian death metal, transformation theory and Hollywood film, and musical and visual lines in the early 20th century. Many of our students establish their interdisciplinary credentials by taking formal qualifications in a  secondary field  outside of music. Students receive a solid basis for their research by honing their musicianship and analytical skills, particularly during their first year in the program. All students take courses on Schenkerian theory and on a range of tonal and post-tonal analytical practices, as well as an introductory course to explore current issues in the field. At the same time, the program also encourages students to build a framework in which to place these techniques and to reflect on the underpinnings of music theory. Regular courses on questions in psychology, temporality, history of music theory, hermeneutics, and aesthetics round off our course offerings and often take music theory into interdisciplinary territory. In addition to studying canonic repertories, graduate courses on challenging repertoires—e.g. modal theory, non-Western music, or very recent composition—expand the field in new directions.  Our course offerings are complemented by a regular workshop in music theory, currently called Theory Tuesdays, in which faculty and students discuss current work, practice analytical techniques, or engage disciplinary and transdisciplinary questions in an informal setting. Our faculty are actively engaged in Harvard’s numerous interdisciplinary centers ( MBB ,  Medieval Studies ,  CES ,  HUCE , etc.). Harvard’s state-of-the-art  Sound Lab  provides the tools and expertise for digital and media-based research, and provides a conduit for music theory to the field of sound studies.

Language Requirement for Theory

Theorists must pass translation exams in two relevant research languages. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, and should reflect, wherever possible, languages that will be useful to future research. One language requirement must normally be completed before generals, and the second must be completed in the fall semester of the third year.

Harvard’s program in composition is designed to give students the time and opportunity to develop as composers by offering general musical guidance as well as specific individual criticism of their works. The program is centered around the students’ achieving clarity of expression through developing their command of compositional technique. In addition, acquaintance with the literature of the past and present through analysis and performance is considered indispensable. Most courses are seminars and deal with specific topics or student works.PhD candidates in composition take 16 courses throughout their first two years. Students get a weekly individual composition lesson, and choose from composition and electronic music courses and other offerings within the department in theory, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and CPCI, or graduate courses from other departments at Harvard. When needed, in the first year there is also a remedial course in harmony and analysis. Students of all years are required to attend the weekly composition colloquium.

The third, fourth, and fifth years are devoted to work on the dissertation and teaching, as well as active participation in composition colloquia and Harvard Group for New Music concerts. Composers may spend one term during their 4th year at another art institution or university if a particular research project or artistic residency can be obtained.

On the completion of preparatory training and the passing of the General Examinations (during the summer before the third year), PhD dissertations comprising a substantial portfolio of between five and seven pieces of varied scoring and length may be submitted.

Language Requirement: once enrolled, Composition students must pass a language exam in German, Italian or French unless an alternative language is approved in writing by the graduate advisor.

The program in  Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry  is designed as a special opportunity for exceptional, engaged artist-scholars. Such individuals might frame themselves as composer-performers whose work is driven by a research sensibility, or as committed scholars whose concurrent active involvement in music-making informs and propels their intellectual projects. Candidates interested in this category should clearly lay out their academic interests and musical experience, including research goals and a portfolio of creative work. They should present a clear rationale for the integrated, cross-disciplinary nature of their work.

In the first two years of coursework, students survey multiple fields of intellectual inquiry while nurturing and refining their creative work. Students in the program may take any of the graduate courses offered by the Department of Music, and occasional courses in other departments and programs with approval from the graduate advisor, as well as practice-based music-making courses (composition, improvisation, creative music, and interdisciplinary collaborations). 

During the summer after the second year of study, candidates will take three to four exams, to be determined in close consultation with the faculty. These include a preliminary portfolio of creative work, written exams on theoretical/analytical and historical/cultural topics relevant to the candidate’s individual research goals, and an oral exam encompassing all of the above.

The dissertation should offer original research and creative work that strikes a balance within this unique combination of interests.

Language Requirement: Once enrolled, CP/CI students must pass a language exam in a language relevant to their research interests, to be approved in writing by the graduate advisor.

Admission to the Graduate Program: Frequently Asked Questions

The Music Department does not require applicants to submit GRE scores. Submission of scores is permitted, and when submitted, GRE scores are taken into account during the admissions process. But those who do not submit such scores will not be penalized.

Note: Those who choose to take the GRE and submit their results do not need to take the Music GRE test, and should take the general GRE (math/language).

We take GRE scores into consideration along with the entire dossier, not as a single factor that determines the outcome of an application.

The annual deadline is usually January 2 for entrance the following fall term. Check the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin GSAS website for each year’s deadline.

Yes. If you are accepted into our PhD program, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will offer you a financial package that guarantees funding for six years, and includes both tuition and living expenses. Teaching stipends may make up part of the package from the student’s third year on. There are also opportunities for additional funding. The Department (and Harvard Griffin GSAS) awards prizes, fellowships, stipends, and grants each year to graduate students for language study, dissertation completion, research assistance, and travel, among other pursuits.

Yes. You need to support your application with samples of your work, be it scholarly or creative.

Students whose native language is not English or who do not have an  undergraduate  degree from English-speaking university are required to take and pass the TOEFL. The recommended passing score is 80.

While many of our entering students do have degrees in music, backgrounds and degrees vary widely. We look at all-around preparation of our applicants and their overall excellence. As a Music Department, we do look for training and expertise in one or more music traditions and an ability to deal successfully with a curriculum that has requirements across the music subdisciplines as well as interdisciplinary studies.

The Harvard graduate program in Music is a doctoral program. The subdisciplines of musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, creative practice/critical inquiry, and music theory do not admit candidates for the Master’s Degree only.

We permit transfer of credit for no more than two courses. Students are allowed to request transfer credit if they are in good standing after the first year of coursework at Harvard and on submission of details about the course for which credit is requested. Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate student may not be presented for credit if those courses counted toward the undergraduate degree.

Our programs both require and encourage coursework in other sub-disciplines of music.

We have graduate programs in historical musicology, ethnomusicology, theory, creative practice/critical inquiry, and composition. Our programs are small, so it is important that you apply to the program closest to your major interests. If the faculty feel your application would be better served in another sub-discipline, they will direct it there.

Harvard has extraordinary course offerings across the disciplines and we encourage our graduate students to take courses that will enhance their knowledge.

You can enroll in language courses to meet the language requirements of our programs, but these courses do not count toward credit for the PhD.

The Harvard Griffin GSAS offers admitted Music students six years of full funding, in the form of stipends, teaching fellowships and finishing grants (this amount covers living expenses as well as tuition). Departmental resources include special funds for summer research and some additional fellowships.

Although we encourage performance, our graduate program is an academic one and performance activities do not count towards a degree (with the exception of creative practice/critical inquiry). As a Department of Music which does not have a performance faculty, we are not able to provide vocal or instrumental lessons. There is a lively musical scene on campus and graduate students are welcome to join many University ensembles, including those sponsored by Dudley House. Graduate student musicians sometimes perform on the special noontime University Hall Recital Series. The Harvard Group for New Music performs student compositions. Boston is home to an active musical world and many students participate as performers in music traditions ranging from early music to jazz.

No. Unfortunately, faculty are not usually available to meet with prospective students.

Prospective graduate students can email [email protected] to ask questions. If you visit the campus you may be able to talk with other students, sit in on a class, or attend a concert or lecture; email ahead to see what is possible.

Admissions Requirements

Phd program.

To apply to the PhD program in musicology, ethnomusicology, theory, composition or CPCI, you must make an application to the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). All applications are online, and may be found (along with all the requirements, fee information, and procedures) at  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply All recipients of a four-year college degree or its international equivalent may apply (students with and without master’s degrees may apply). If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please read the Harvard Griffin GSAS guidelines. Admissions decisions are made by Music Department faculty, who weigh a combination of factors such as past academic record, strength of scholarly (or compositional or performance) work, and recommendations. The TOEFL test may be required if English is not your first language (recommended minimum score is 80). Detailed information pertaining to requirements for admission are on the Harvard Griffin GSAS site listed above. The GRE General Examination is optional for all applicants.

Samples of previous work

Applicants to the all programs must submit, along with their applications, samples of their previous scholarly work (for composition applicants, this means scores and recordings; see below). The online application will allow you to upload up to 20 pages of material.

Applicants to the Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry PhD program must also submit 20 to 30 minutes of original creative work, in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) or links to a file download (via Dropbox or similar). You may upload or share accompanying scores in PDF format to SLATE. Students should include a one page PDF containing links to online recordings. Applicants to the composition PhD program must submit three compositions in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc). Recordings can be submitted as links to SoundCloud or other online resources. Students should include a one page PDF containing links to online recordings and PDF scores where applicable. The year of composition must be marked on all scores and recordings.

Submitting an Application

Harvard Griffin GSAS handles the admissions materials. All questions about the admissions process, as well as all application supplementary materials, should be sent to them by December 31 for candidates who seek entrance in the following fall term.

Admissions and Financial Aid Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Harvard University 1350 Massachusetts Avenue Holyoke Center 350 Cambridge, MA 02138-3654

Download an application electronically:  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply You are required to upload all supporting documents (transcripts, writing samples, recommendations, etc) to the online application. If you have questions about your application, call 617-496-6100 (2-5pm EST) or write  [email protected] For financial aid questions call  617-495-5396  or email  [email protected] NOTE: Please do not call the Music Department about the status of your application or the return of your materials. Application materials only come to the Music Department at the very last stages of the process, and are held here in complete confidentiality until admissions recommendations are made.

We have a robust graduate student community, including through the Graduate Music Forum, weekly colloquia and lunch talk series, and performances ensembles in the GSAS Student Center. For more information about community activities happening in the music department, please consult the resources for graduate students page .

Visiting the Department

You are welcome to visit the Department at any time, although we in no way require or expect you to make the trip. We regret that we are not able to make appointments with individual faculty members during a pre-admissions visit.

If you do decide to make a visit prior to the admissions deadline there are optimum times to visit, such as between October and our December holiday break. If you visit at another time of the year, check the academic schedule to avoid reading/exam periods and semester breaks. It is not necessary to visit, nor should you see it as a way to improve your chances of admission.

Rather, a visit is simply a good way to learn about our Department’s intellectual environment and infrastructure. We urge you to consult the  course schedule  so that you can plan to sit in on one or more graduate seminars (please ask permission of the instructing professor first: music professors can be reached via email at [email protected]). This is the best way to get to know the professors and students.

You may also want to attend any colloquia, lectures, or faculty seminars that coincide with your visit (check our  calendar ), or to tour the Music Library and other Harvard libraries. It may also be possible to chat informally with some of our current graduate students, who are apt to be working in the department and library during the academic year.

Admitted students  are invited to visit as part of our admissions process (usually in March). At that time, admitted students meet with faculty, get to know our current students, and are introduced to other students who have also been admitted. This is not required, but is a good way for admitted students to get a sense of the program before they make their final decision.

Secondary Field in Musicology/Ethnomusicology

• Completion of a minimum of four courses in Music. • One of these courses must be an introductory course: Music 201a: Introduction to Historical Musicology, Music 201b: Introduction to Ethnomusicology, or Music 221: Current Issues in Theory. • The remaining three courses may be chosen from other graduate courses (200 level: “Primarily for Graduates”) or intermediate courses (150 level or above: “For Undergraduates and Graduates”). (No more than two courses may be chosen from the 150 or above level.) • Neither Pass/Fail nor audited courses will count towards a secondary PhD field. Contact the advisor in Ethnomusicology or in Musicology in the Department of Music for additional information on a secondary PhD field.

Declaring a Secondary Field

Students interested in declaring a secondary field in music should submit the “GSAS Secondary Field Application” to the Director of Graduate Studies as evidence of their successful participation in four appropriate courses in the Music Department. Once they obtain the approval of the DGS they and the registrar will receive certification of successful completion of secondary field requirements.

For further information contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Harvard University Department of Music, Music Building, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138  617-495-2791   [email protected]

For additional information  click here

Resources for:

May 23, 2024 7:30pm - May 26, 2024 3:00pm

Mozart's Così fan tutte

Cahn Auditorium

May 23, 2024 8:30pm

Leigh Wang, piano

Galvin Recital Hall

Claire McLean, percussion

Ryan Opera Theater

• Lectures & Interviews
• Master Classes
• Recitals & Chamber Music
• Visiting Artists

Main Resources

Main utility, admission requirements, phd in music: composition and music technology.

Please submit everything required by The Graduate School  plus  the following:

• A complete list of works written, giving dates and instrumentation AND a complete list of composition performances, including dates, venues, and performers. This should be submitted as one document under Writing Sample.
• An analysis of a musical work composed no earlier than 1950. This should be uploaded to Supplemental Document Section 1.
• A second analytical or music history paper. This should be uploaded to Supplemental Document Section 2.
• A composition portfolio consisting of three to five representative compositions. These works should incorporate a variety of media and show familiarity with current trends. The works should be uploaded as one document to Supplemental Document Section 3. Recordings of the pieces, though not required, are preferred. If they are available, please provide links at the top of each score to external sites, such as a personal website, SoundCloud, YouTube, etc.

Based on a preliminary review of the composition portfolio, candidates may be invited to a final interview round. Candidates should plan to spend the entire day interviewing with the composition faculty.

Composition and Music Technology Program Coordinator: Jay Alan Yim, [email protected]

Additional Requirements for all PhD in Music Applicants:

CV or musical résumé detailing your academic and professional history, which should be uploaded within your online application to The Graduate School.

OPTIONAL  for  Fall 2024 Admission : Graduate Record Examination (GRE).   Official scores must be taken no more than five years before the intended quarter of entry and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Personal copies are not considered official, nor are attested or notarized copies. Please instruct ETS to send scores electronically to the Northwestern University Graduate School, code 1565.

Certifying English Proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS).  Much of your success in graduate study will rely on your ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. If your native language is not English, you must certify your proficiency in the English language in one of the following three ways:

• Provide official scores electronically for either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. For example, to be considered valid for Fall 2024 admission, TOEFL scores must be no older than September 2022. For the TOEFL, you must score 577 or higher on the paper-based test, or 90 or higher on the internet-based test. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher. You will be asked to scan and upload a copy of your score report (if available) while submitting your online application. This uploaded version is not considered “official” and will be used only for preliminary review purposes until your official scores have been received from ETS or IELTS.
• Provide official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English.

Provide official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English.

Official transcripts.  Submit official transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended. The transcript must record all courses taken, all grades received, and all degrees earned. These must be scanned into your application—The Graduate School will not accept mailed copies of your transcript(s) during the admission process. Official mailed copies will be requested should you gain acceptance to the PhD program.

Letters of recommendation . At least two letters of recommendation are required, and you will be prompted to enter your recommender information during the online admission process.

All applicants to the PhD program must apply to The Graduate School at Northwestern University. 

Do not submit an application to the Bienen School of Music.

The Graduate School application may not accommodate large video/file uploads. If you are unable to upload a video file or large document, please contact the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid for assistance: [email protected] or 847-491-3141

• Current Students
• Faculty + Staff
• Alumni + Friends
• Parents + Family
• Community + Visitors
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Master's Degrees
• Doctorate Degrees
• Certificates
• Arts & Design
• Business & Industry
• Communications & Media
• Data Analytics & Information
• Health & Wellness
• Humanities & Social Sciences
• Music & Performing Arts
• Public Service
• Multidisciplinary
• Still Exploring & Undetermined
• International
• Bienvenidos
• Featured Videos
• College Tour
• Tuition & Aid
• Student Life
• Search Type Search Search
• Quicklinks:
• STUDENT EMAIL
• UNT DIRECTORY
• INFO FOR CURRENT STUDENTS
• INFO FOR FACULTY + STAFF
• INFO FOR ALUMNI + FRIENDS
• INFO FOR PARENTS + FAMILY
• INFO FOR COMMUNITY + VISITORS
• UNT LIBRARIES
• UNT CALENDAR
• JOBS AT UNT

Music Composition Ph.D.

Want more info.

We're so glad you're interested in UNT! Let us know if you'd like more information and we'll get you everything you need.

Why earn a degree in Music Composition?

Our faculty members have been recognized for their acoustic, electroacoustic and intermedia work through grants, fellowships, commissions and performances throughout the world. Educational and artistic experiences are enriched through regular guest residencies, including composers and other new music specialists, as well as dozens of other events during the academic year.

The college is a vital component to the region's arts community, presenting more than 1,000 formal and informal concerts annually. Its facilities include more than 300 practice rooms, seven performance halls, numerous classrooms and rehearsal rooms, and computer labs.

• Pedagogical practices
• Music editing, copying, transcribing and arranging
• Public event management
• Book/journal editing, creating and promoting
• Advance data collection, analysis and interpretation

Music Composition Ph.D. Highlights

What can you do with a degree in music composition.

Alumni of the program have achieved national and international success. They enjoy careers as university professors, commercial and media composers, arrangers and arts administrators.

Music Composition Ph.D. Courses You Could Take

Learn More About UNT

Explore more options.

College of Music

Music Composition Master’s 

Division of Composition Studies

It’s easy to apply online. Join us and discover why we’re the choice of nearly 47,000 students.

Evan Chambers

Michael Daugherty

Roshanne Etezady

Kristin Kuster

Erik Santos

Bright Sheng

Department of music theory.

Karen Fournier

Leah Frederick

Patricia Hall

Marc Hannaford

Patrick Harlin

Áine Heneghan

John Knoedler

Kevin E. Korsyn

Nathan Martin

Nancy Murphy

Wayne C. Petty

Carlos Xavier Rodriguez

Joshua Tanis

Aleksandra Vojčić

Composition students regularly collaborate with their performer colleagues. Composers in both undergraduate and graduate programs receive premieres of their works at a variety of venues, including the “write HEAR / right NOW” Concert Series, the Midwest Composers Symposium (a forum for student composers from four schools), and concerts by U-M ensembles. Each term, The William Bolcom Residency in Composition hosts renowned guest artists who spend a week on campus, interacting with students and faculty through lessons, workshops, meals, lectures, and performances.​

From large ensembles in celebrated concert halls to chamber groups in intimate recital spaces, performance opportunities across all disciplines abound, with nearly 900 student performances each academic year. Whether your focus is on early, classical, or contemporary music, whether your passion is for jazz, electronic, or world music, there is an ensemble—or in many cases, multiple ensembles—to suit your interests, including specific opportunities for percussion, piano, and organ & carillon. For students in theatre & drama, musical theatre, dance, and opera, opportunities abound in both professionally produced and student-run presentations.

Music Composition

Master of arts / phd.

Write Your Future

The school of music’s highly competitive graduate-level composition program welcomes students who demonstrate extraordinary intellectual curiosity and whose primary goal is to communicate with others on a profoundly human level. Above all, our faculty of renowned composers seek students whose personal voice is clearly discernible.

Students in the M.A. and Ph.D programs can specialize in Composition or in Composition for Visual Media. The cross-pollination between the specializations distinguishes the program. All students are expected to acquire and master advanced skills, which involves continued intensive study of music theory, counterpoint, orchestration, analysis, technology, performance, the traditional Western canon and its history, in tandem with the study of popular, jazz, rock, folk, and non-Western traditions.

Both the M.A. and Ph.D programs emphasize the collaborative relationship between composers and performers in such a way that a simulated professional experience is achieved. Composition students have the opportunity to take film music courses and world music for film. Film music composers have the opportunity to broaden their horizons by being part of a true composition program, and this gives composers stylistic depth and breadth.

By the end of the M.A., students will be thoroughly prepared to enter the professional arena, graduating with the tools they need to compose music for multiple purposes, be it for a concert piece, a film, or an opera. The Ph.D. program is designed in a two-fold manner: graduate composers are trained to become both practicing artists in their field and to become mentors for the next generations of artist-scholars.

Meet Our Graduate Composition Students

Jake Heggie ’84, M.A. ’05

B.a. composition ’84, m.a. composition ’05.

Jake Heggie  is an American composer of opera, vocal, orchestral and chamber music. He is best known for his operas and art songs, as well as for his collaborations with internationally-renowned performers and writers. Hailed by the Associated Press as “one of the pre-eminent contemporary opera composers,” Heggie is most known for his contributions to the American operatic repertoire, which includes “Dead Man Walking,” “Moby-Dick,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “Three Decembers,” among others. His work has been produced on five continents at some of the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls. In September 2021, “Dead Man Walking” received its 71st production at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Oslo, Norway, making it the most widely performed American opera of the 21st century.

Read more to learn about his experiences at UCLA, the silver linings of challenges throughout his career and advice for young musical artists.

Composition Faculty

Related news, explore other degrees.

Online Doctorates in Music

Online doctorate programs found in world's top 500:.

Graduate Program in Composition

Previous handbook for those entering in 2023 or earlier

The composition program at Cornell combines private lessons and group seminars, with an emphasis on the development of the student’s personal approach to composition. The DMA blends scholarship with artistic work. We require a foreign language and a thesis analyzing the dissertation piece and contextualizing the student’s work, and we expect that all composers will take some seminars in scholarly subjects. One strength of the program is that, like all Cornell doctorates in the humanities, the DMA program in composition offers the adventurous student the opportunity to study many subjects, including topics outside the field of music, and to meld these into a highly individual course of study.

All DMA students are admitted with four full years of funding in the form of two years of fellowships and two years of teaching assistantships. Students who do not already have a master’s degree in music earn the Master of Fine Arts in the course of their study; but the MFA is not normally viewed as a terminal degree at Cornell, and those wishing to earn only the master’s degree are not admitted.

In addition to seminar work and lessons, students will be required to present a public concert of their work comprising a substantial amount of music in various media composed during their study at Cornell. As part of the DMA dissertation, students are required to complete a significant work, the scope of which will be determined in consultation with the Special Committee.

Works by doctoral composers are performed by the student-managed Experimental Sound Series (ESS), typically once per year, and at other events in collaboration with DMA performance practice students. They are also presented by groups invited under the aegis of the Steven Stucky Memorial Residency for New Music. Finally, the Festival Chamber Orchestra (FCO)—a large ensemble modeled on a standard sinfonietta configuration (with or without electronic media)—presents an annual concert of doctoral students’ scores.

Composition Admissions

Academic Requirements:

Students wishing to enroll in the D.M.A. Composition program must have a B.A., B.Mus., M.A. or an equivalent academic background.

Application Deadline:

January 15th for Fall admissions.  (The Fall semester begins at the end of August)

Application Materials:

The following materials must be submitted online via the Cornell University Graduate School  online application system :

Cornell Graduate School Online Application form

Application Fee

• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement

Transcripts (and English translations if required)

TOEFL scores (see  Graduate School TOEFL requirements  for further details)

Three letters of recommendation from faculty members acquainted with your work

• An essay, term paper, or honors paper dealing with music composition
• Scores of two or three recent compositions, with audio/video links (no Google drive, please) or MP3 recording

Every student accepted into the DMA program in composition at Cornell receives four years of guaranteed funding, including financial support for three summers. Every student is given a Sage fellowship for the first and fourth years; the latter Sage fellowship may be deferred if outside funding is procured by the student. The remaining two years of funding are in the form of teaching assistantships. Student Health Insurance is provided under fellowship and teaching assistantships. Partners, spouses, and dependents can be included for additional charges.

Ordinarily the DMA program may be completed within four years, though some students may require more time. When possible the department may offer additional semesters of teaching, but such support is not guaranteed. Many students seek outside fellowships beginning in their third year. There are also a few dissertation fellowships available through various Cornell programs. Entering students are encouraged to apply for Javits, Mellon, or other outside fellowships as another means of extending their graduate support. For a list of external and internal graduate fellowships (searchable by keyword, program name, or deadline) see the  Graduate School Fellowship Database.

The Department of Music offers a wide variety of teaching experiences, and the faculty makes every effort to match interest and skill to course offerings.  Click here to learn more  about teaching assistantships.

Program History

The DMA program in composition is uniquely flexible and is developed in close consultation with the student’s Special Committee. Students may combine their study in the Field of Music (music and sound studies, performance) with work in other Fields at Cornell.

“Field of Music,” or “Field” for short, is the official Graduate School designation for the graduate programs and the Graduate Faculty in music. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), coordinates the activities of the Field, including such concerns as admissions, financial aid, advising, and job hunting, and represents the Field vis-à-vis the Graduate School. Even though it will not have much effect on your program, it is useful to know that the Department of Music and the Field of Music are not coterminous; some faculty members of the Department are not members of the Field, and most graduate Fields, like ours, include faculty members from several departments.

The nature and history of Cornell’s D.M.A. degree.

The current composition faculty includes Kevin Ernste, Elizabeth Ogonek, and Marianthi Papalexandri-Alexandri, who together offer instruction in an unusually wide range of contemporary musical practices: electroacoustic and computer music, sound art, installation, new media, improvisation, instrument building, and scored composition for traditional instruments, chamber groups, and large ensembles.

The first bona fide appointment in music at Cornell went to a composer, Arthur Farwell, who served from 1899 to 1901. The proper history of the composition program really begins in 1941, though, with the appointment of Roy Harris as Composer-in-Residence under a grant from the Carnegie Corporation. It was Harris who established the first graduate seminar in composition, and Harris who guided John Vincent to the first Cornell PhD in composition in 1942. He was succeeded in 1943 by his own student, Robert Palmer, under whose leadership for the next thirty-seven years the program came to national prominence. In 1954 Karel Husa left Paris for Cornell, replacing Hunter Johnson (1948-54), and Husa’s growing reputation in the 1970s and ’80s further secured Cornell’s prominent role in the training of American composers. Palmer retired in 1980, to be succeeded by his own student Steven Stucky, who was the Given Foundation Professor of Music until 2014; Husa retired in 1992, to be succeeded by Roberto Sierra, who was the Old Dominion Professor of Humanities, Music, until 2022. For many years, electronic music pioneer David Borden (an associate of Robert Moog and founder of the world’s first live synthesizer ensemble, Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Company) taught electronic music, mostly to undergraduate non-majors, but in 2005 Kevin Ernste came to Cornell as Director of the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center, bringing computer and electronic music to graduate composition. In 2016, composer, performer, and sound artist Marianthi Papalexandri-Alexandri joined the composition faculty, and the program welcomed Elizabeth Ogonek in 2021.

Cornell instituted a separate doctorate in composition in 1957. At that time the faculty in music argued for the establishment of the professional degree Doctor of Musical Arts instead of the more scholarly Doctor of Philosophy. In technical terms, the DMA, being a professional degree like JD or DVM, is subject to certain requirements of the State of New York as well as to the jurisdiction of the Graduate School and the Field of Music. In practical terms, the DMA is widely looked upon as emphasizing professional and artistic skills more than scholarship or research, and during the latter part of the twentieth century it became the terminal degree for most composers in US graduate programs.

The situation at Cornell is somewhat different. Here the DMA, while still fundamentally a professional degree in composing, aims at a balanced combination of professional training and scholarly endeavor. This dual emphasis exists in part in response to Cornell’s distinguished tradition of musical scholarship, its eminent faculty in music and sound studies, and its outstanding library system, and in part to a realistic assessment of the state of the profession: composers who hope to enter college-level teaching must be competent not only at composing but also at a broad range of academic musical subjects. Thus it is in the nature of the Cornell DMA that, although each candidate will follow a different course, each will be expected to pursue excellence in both spheres, the professional and the scholarly.

The Master of Fine Arts degree.

Applicants who wish to earn only the master’s degree in composition are not admitted, but those who enter the doctoral program without having already earned a master’s do receive the MFA in the course of their study toward the DMA. The master’s degree requires a thesis consisting of a significant new work.1 The final exam for the MFA, at which the thesis is presented and defended, is combined with the doctoral Admission-to-Candidacy Examination, described below. The Cornell MFA cannot be granted to a student who has already earned any master’s degree in music at another institution.

1 In this respect, it differs from the MA awarded to PhD candidates in musicology upon the successful completion of their A exams. The latter is what the Graduate School calls a “Special Master’s” (i.e., one for which no thesis is required). The MFA awarded to composers, since it does require a thesis, is not “special.”

Program Requirements

The programs and activities in music at Cornell are rich and varied. Only certain aspects of the formal requirements are described here. For other details, and for information about anything else, you should ask your Special Committee Chair, the DGS, other professors, and fellow students. The flexible, decentralized Special Committee system means that, ultimately, the shape of your program and what you get out of it depend primarily on you. The more questions you ask of the greater number of people, the better will be your chances of formulating your own best answers.

The Special Committee.

The Special Committee of a doctoral candidate comprises three or four professors who are members of the Graduate Field. Each of the three regular members of your Committee must represent a particular “concentration,” as defined in the legislation of the Graduate School. In music, these are composition, performance practice, and music and sound studies.

Every Committee includes a chair and two or three “minor members.” The chair always represents the major subject — composition, for our purposes. Two minor members also represent official subjects or concentrations. The minors available to you include composition (again), music and sound studies, and performance practice within the Field of Music, and, of course, countless possibilities in other Fields. One minor fairly often lies outside the Field of Music; you may even elect two outside minors, but only with prior approval of the Field as a whole. (No more than three subjects are ever represented on a Special Committee. If you include a fourth professor, officially they “do not represent a minor subject.”) Retired professors with the status of Graduate School Professor may co-chair a committee if they remain in the Ithaca area.

Your Special Committee, then, will assume the following form:

Chair: composition

Minor member: composition, performance practice, or music and sound studies

Minor member: one of the above, or an outside minor

[Fourth member: Not representing a subject (optional); often used for an “extra” composer]

Other arrangements are possible. For example, you may petition the Field for permission to include as a minor member other members of the Music Department faculty who are not on the Graduate Field.

If you wish formal supervision in a discipline that is not adequately represented at Cornell, you can, with the approval of your Special Committee, petition the Graduate School to permit the appointment of an authority from outside Cornell. You must have three Cornell members on your Special Committee in any case; an outside member would thus become a fourth. All decisions regarding the composition of your Committee are subject to the approval of the entire Committee.

Note: There is understandable confusion about the difference between a “subject” and a “concentration.” As a DMA student, your major subject is “music,” your concentration “composition.” The Special Committee form that you will fill out asks for a faculty member’s “concentration.” This is a category that is recognized and tracked by New York State legislation and that represents our degree programs.

The formation of your Special Committee is an important step, not to be rushed into pro forma. During the transition period in your first year, the DGS, acting as your temporary chair, can sign the necessary forms and can offer advice about forming your Committee. You must have chosen at least a chair by the beginning of your second year; ideally, you will have formulated your entire Committee by then, since to delay this step much further would seriously jeopardize your progress toward the degree. It is important to work with all three faculty composers, if at all possible, during your first year, since before the beginning of classes in the fall of your second year you will have to invite one of them to chair your Committee. You will want to be sure that you are going to be comfortable doing the bulk of your composition study with that person for the remaining three years.

At first, almost nobody will have a clear idea about minor members and minor subjects. The most natural and effective way to get to know the professors in the Field is to take courses with them or work with them independently, and this is a powerful reason to take as heavy a load of courses and other work in your first year as you can manage. When setting up your Committee, do not take a professor’s participation for granted. Any professor may refuse to serve on any Committee. A request to serve should be preceded by extended acquaintance and prior consultation.

You may change your Committee on your own initiative. Although this is not something to be done lightly or frequently, it is a normal procedure and should be considered whenever a substantial benefit seems probable. Unless you have already passed the A exam, no special permission is required except that of the remaining and new members of the reformulated Committee. (The retiring members and the DGS must also sign the form — they may not decline to do so — so that each professor concerned and the Field as a whole understand the reasons for the change.)

From one Committee to another, the substance and style of a chair’s supervision, the relationships among the various subjects, and the extent to which the minor members take an active role, all vary widely. In these as in many aspects of your study at Cornell, it is up to you to formulate your own goals and to suggest ways of achieving them. Moreover, only you can take the initiative necessary to explore the potential connections among your subjects and to stimulate the active interest of your Committee members. You must ensure, among other things, that your Committee formally meet with you as a group at least once every semester. (This is a policy of the Field as a whole.)

The normal minimum residence requirement for the DMA is eight “residence units.” A residence unit is defined as satisfactory full-time study for one semester, with appropriate progress toward the degree. (The Special Committee is required to certify to the Graduate School at the end of each term whether your progress has been satisfactory and your work “full-time,” and to recommend whether you should receive a full residence unit for that term.) The minimum requirement is thus equivalent to eight semesters of full-time study. It is possible to earn credit “in absentia,” while studying away from Ithaca, and to earn partial credit even if you must work more than 15 hours a week. A student who comes with a master’s from another institution may petition for reduction of the minimum requirement, usually to six units. (In practice, however, it is very rare for any DMA candidate to do fewer than eight units, with or without a prior master’s degree.) At least two of the minimum eight units must be spent in consecutive semesters of full-time study in Ithaca. At least two of the eight must follow the passing of the A exam (although this requirement, too, can be waived upon petition).

The minimum Field requirement for composers is reading knowledge of one foreign language. In consultation with your Special Committee, you should settle as early as possible the question of which language or languages you are expected to know. Native speakers of other languages are a special case. Sometimes their native language is appropriate for their dissertation research, and that’s fine; if not, though, the Field or the Special Committee might insist on yet a third language more closely connected to the work at hand. The Field considers computer coding languages to be equivalent to other languages. 

The requirement should be satisfied as soon as possible, preferably during the first year of residence. (In any case, the language requirement must have been completed before you will be permitted to attempt “A’s.”) Both the usual undergraduate language courses and special courses meant for graduate students preparing for exams are available to you. The Field administers its own exams in French, German, and Spanish at the beginning of each semester, and in other languages as needed. At the end of your first year, certification that you have made satisfactory progress toward the degree will hinge in part on your having passed the language requirement by then, or at least having demonstrated that you are close to doing so.

Courses and independent work.

You and your Committee decide on your courses and other activities each term. Ideally, each semester’s decisions fit into your long-range program, whose goals become increasingly clear from term to term. Although every composition student is encouraged to take all available composition seminars, you must take at least one seminar with each composition faculty member.

You will also be expected to take Composition (Music 7111) every semester, and to attend the composers forum and all rehearsals, workshops, and conferences related to the ESS, FCO, and Stucky Residency. Whatever your stated minors, most Special Committees will expect you to do some work in music and sound studies and computer and electroacoustic music. In the Composition program, Committees often expect students to take a minimum of six to eight 4000 (or higher)-level courses outside of 7111, ensembles, and performance lessons; these might also include courses in a minor subject outside the Field of Music.

In addition to formal work in composition and analysis, Committees expect at least two formal seminars in music and sound studies, for several reasons: to create opportunities to explore the interconnections among subjects and the relationships between scholarship and creative work; to strengthen academic credentials with a view to winning a college teaching position; and to provide practice in academic thinking and writing. One of these two seminars may be taken outside of Music, with the prior permission of the Special Committee.

PhD students in music and sound studies are generally considered to carry a full-time load if they take three seminars for credit and do a modest amount of independent work. For composers, the notion of full-time load is sometimes treated more flexibly, owing chiefly to the demands of composing. Indeed, the general expectation is that you will present new work on the concerts of the Experimental Sound Series and the Stucky Residency ensemble at least twice a year, and that you will write a work for the FCO at least once during your four-year residence, and taken together these expectations already represent a formidable commitment of time and energy even before formal courses are added to your load. In general, formal participation in courses will be greatest during the first two years, when students usually sample widely within the Field, satisfy the language requirement, and explore minor subjects within the Field or outside. In later years, less and less time is spent in seminars, as students prepare for exams and write theses. Moreover, the Field feels strongly that all candidates in music, DMA and PhD alike, should have teaching experience. Other things being equal, every graduate student in music will be offered teaching assistantships beginning in the second year. A good rule of thumb for composers is to take about three courses each term in year 1, two courses each term in years 2 and 3 (always including Composition as one course every term). This pace would produce a total of eight courses besides Music 7111, and the faculty considers that to be about right.

The Field as a whole offers about three to five graduate seminars each term. Composition is offered every term. In general, Music 6201 (Introduction to Bibliography and Research) is offered every fall for first-year students. An attempt is made to offer every other “active” course at least once every second or third year. But there is no guarantee that any particular course will be offered within any given period of time, or that any particular pattern of courses will be maintained without change. At the beginning of each year, the graduate courses to be offered that year and, where possible, in succeeding years are described in a general meeting of graduate students and Graduate Faculty.

Many important topics, and even whole areas of study, are not covered by formal courses. The faculty believe that this price is worth paying for the benefits of a small, intimate program, including high-level research seminars and a great deal of individual attention. The chief responsibility for filling in the gaps lies with you. The techniques you learn in formal courses should carry over to your independent work. Your professors will expect you, on your own, to keep up with recent acquisitions in the Music Library, to read articles and reviews in current journals, to study and listen to music, to attend meetings, conferences, and festivals when feasible, and so on.

As for composing, it is impossible to generalize about what constitutes an acceptable level of productivity; this is a matter for you and your Special Committee, and it depends on many variables. But it is important that, at a minimum, you be represented (preferably by new work) on the concerts of the Experimental Sound Series and the Stucky Residency ensemble at least twice a year. Much depends on these concerts, since they provide the only opportunity for the Field as a whole to assess your progress. In your first or second year (determined by your Special Committee), you will be expected to present a new work for the Festival Chamber Orchestra (instrumentation: 1111 - 1110 - 1 percussionist - keyboard - string quintet, with the option of electronics and mixed media).

The Admission-to-Candidacy Examination

Every DMA candidate must pass a general examination in composition, analysis, and twentieth- and twenty-first-century music, called the Admission-to-Candidacy Examination, or “A exam” for short. (The term candidacy refers to acceptance into doctoral status.) The A exam may not be attempted earlier than the beginning of the third semester, nor later than the beginning of the seventh semester of full-time study. Most students take them during the fifth and sixth semesters. The date is jointly agreed between you and your Committee. For composers, the A exam comes in two stages. Stage I comprises analysis of an assigned work and the composition of a new piece, followed by an oral exam in which the student presents their analysis to the committee and the committee discusses the composition. Stage II comprises written questions in recent music history and analysis, followed by an oral exam on these questions, as well as on the student’s dissertation proposal.

Stage I of the A Exam is typically taken over 72 hours (Friday to Sunday) during the 5th semester and Stage II over 72 hours (Friday to Sunday) in the 6th semester, but there is no reason they cannot be taken closer together. You will find the dates that make the most sense with your Special Committee.

Before you can prepare for Stage II, you and your Committee must first agree in advance on a subject list, typically by the end of the 4th semester. The subject list usually consists of ten twentieth- and twenty-first-century composers distributed into three tiers:

Tier I. One composer, about whom you will become as thorough an expert as possible.

Tier II. Three composers, whose works you know in considerable detail and about whom you know the scholarly and analytical literature well.

Tier III. An additional six composers, for each of whom you know a handful of important works well and about whose work you have a good working knowledge, both of the works and the analytical and historical issues associated with them.

In consultation with your Special Committee, composer slots may be substituted by up to five general topics within the overall list.

The oral exam for Stage I will typically take 90 minutes. You will present your analysis of the assigned work for 30 minutes, then answer questions from the Committee. The second half of the oral exam will be devoted to discussion of the composition assignment.

The oral exam for Stage II will typically take two hours, and will cover your responses to the essay questions about your composer list, as well as a dissertation plan for a significant work, which is due along with the essays for Stage II. 

In principle, your subject list merely gives a framework around which you organize your study; your Committee can ask you anything it considers necessary for your professional credentials. Only the oral exam of Stage II is scheduled formally through the Graduate School, and this must be done at least one week in advance, on a form signed by your Committee and by the DGS. Any member of the Graduate Faculty is entitled to attend the orals and to ask questions, but only your Special Committee votes on your performance. A unanimous vote is required to pass; you will be informed of the result immediately. Should you fail, your Committee may choose to give you a second chance after another semester or two. Most students who prepare conscientiously pass the first time.

For students earning an MFA (i.e., any DMA candidate who does not already hold a master’s degree in music from another institution), the final exam for that degree is held concurrently with the A exam, and the student presents a master’s thesis consisting of a substantial new work.

The D.M.A. recital

At some time during your study, usually after the A exam but always before the B exam, you must present a public concert comprising a substantial amount of music (in consultation with your Special Committee) in various media composed during your study at Cornell. Selecting the program, procuring performers, and rehearsing are your responsibility.

The Department of Music provides financial support toward the cost of hiring performers. This amount must include performance fees, housing, transportation, meals, instrument rentals, and any other cost associated with the concert.

The performers must be contracted in advance of the performance using Cornell’s official artist contract. Housing is often available on campus. Receipts must be submitted for all expenses, and certain requirements must be followed for items like truck rental and travel reimbursement. The Events Manager can assist in administering these details.

The date and time of the recital and any rehearsal time should be scheduled with the Events Manager as early as possible to avoid departmental conflicts. The candidate is responsible for moving any needed instruments and equipment to and from the performance space and should coordinate those moves with the Events Manager. The Events Manager will set deadlines for the candidate to provide their program content, including any program notes, etc.

The D.M.A. presentation

In your final semester, you will deliver a public presentation on your compositional work and its intellectual and artistic context. The presentation should last between 75 and 90 minutes, and should include recordings, score excerpts, and/or other documentation as supporting material. Your talk will be followed by questions from the Committee and the audience, and should be scheduled within a week before the DMA defense (colloquially known as the “B Exam”), which is only attended by you and your Special Committee. You should coordinate the scheduling of your DMA presentation with your Committee and the Events Manager of the Department.

The D.M.A. thesis and defense

Part I of the thesis is a significant work, the scope of which will be determined in consultation with the Special Committee. Like all aspects of your thesis, the DMA composition should be discussed with your Committee well in advance.

Part II consists of a written analysis and explication of the Part I dissertation work, with historical and cultural contextualization as necessary; this document should be no longer than 10,000 words, and must be submitted to your Committee and accepted as finished before you will be allowed to schedule the final oral defense (often referred to as the “B Exam”).

On matters of general style, follow the latest edition of the University of Chicago Press Manual of Style (also available online) for Part II. Follow, too, the published instructions distributed online by the Graduate School, and consult the Thesis Secretary frequently. 4 It would be reasonable to spend a whole year doing little else but writing the thesis essay, completing and polishing the composition portfolio, presenting the DMA recital, and preparing the B Exam presentation. Thus a student who succeeds in finishing within four years will usually have followed approximately the following timetable:

• Take about four seminars (in addition to 7111 Composers Forum, for a total of about six)
• Pass the language requirement
• Compose works for the ESS, Stucky Residency ensemble, and/or FCO 5
• Take about two seminars (in addition to 7111 Composers Forum, for a total of about four)
• Propose the A exam composer list
• Compose works for the ESS, Stucky Residency ensemble, and/or FCO
• Take about two seminars (in addition to 7111 Composers Forum, for a total of about four).
• Complete the A exams
• If eligible, submit the MFA thesis composition
• Complete Parts I and II of the thesis
• Deliver the DMA presentation
• Present the DMA recital
• Complete the B exam

It is important to finish on time, because the days when an ABD (“all but dissertation”) could get a teaching job seem to be over, as do the days when additional financial aid was sometimes available for extra years of residence beyond the four-year guarantee.

4 Rules and standards change; do not simply model your format on old theses in the library.

5 Students typically compose for the FCO in their second and fourth years, but with other expectations, such as writing for the Experimental Sound Series and the Stucky Residency ensemble, available opportunities will surely continue to evolve. The basic principle is this: you are expected to write a substantial amount of music in each of your four years, covering a wide range of performing forces and formal types. The Department of Music and Field will endeavor to provide performance opportunities for many but probably not all of these projects.

The final examination (dissertation defense)

This examination is oral, based on complete and polished versions of your DMA composition (Part I) and written analysis and explication (Part II), in their final form save for minor corrections arising during the exam itself. It focuses primarily on the thesis itself, but broader issues may arise out of the thesis topic or the DMA composition(s). The examination must be passed and the thesis accepted by unanimous vote of your Committee. (The provisions for visitors are the same as for A’s: any member of the Graduate Faculty may attend and ask questions, but only your Special Committee will vote.)

The final examination must be passed within seven calendar years of the date of your matriculation. (You need not be in residence at the time, however.) If your thesis is submitted after this deadline, the B’s may not be scheduled until a petition, endorsed by your Committee and by the DGS, is approved by the Graduate School.

Composers' Forum

The Composers’ Forum is part of the 7111 composition seminar and is curated by the composition faculty. It is also often combined with masterclasses and studio critique sessions led by the guest composer. Students are expected to attend all sessions and actively participate in the forum conversations.

Forum meetings take place on select Fridays at 1:25 PM in the Alfred E. Kahn Seminar Room, room 316, within the  Sidney Cox Library of Music and Dance  (main entrance at 220 Lincoln Hall), except where noted. All meetings are open to the public.

General Program Calendar

Week before classes

• Orientation
• Language exams
• Diagnostic conversation with DGS and Department Chair
• Choose courses for the fall

Fall semester

• Seminars/composing/performances
• Language study, as necessary
• Choose courses for the spring
• Meet with the DGS at least once

Spring semester

• Begin thinking about Special Committee Chair
• Participate in prospective student visits

Second year

• Special Committee Chair must be selected by the beginning of the semester, and the rest of the committee by the end
• Complete language exams
• Meet with Special Committee at least once
• Seminars/composing/performances (double check seminar distribution requirements: one with each composer, two with other Music Field faculty)
• A Exam planning
• Choose course(s) for the fall
• A Exam preparation
• Seminar(s)/composing/performances (double check seminar distribution requirements: one with each composer, two with other Dept faculty)
• Thesis research and preparation of proposal
• Choose course(s) for spring
• A Exam; Phase II oral exam must be scheduled at least seven days in advance, and the final report must be filed within three days of completion – check with the grad field assistant for help (see  http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms  for required schedule and reporting forms)
• Seminar(s)/composing/performances

Fourth year

• Possible seminar/composing/performances
• DMA recital (or Spring)
• Thesis research and writing
• Possible Randel fellowship
• DMA recital (or previous Fall)
• Possible seminar/composing/performances 
• Thesis defense; defense (B Exam) must be scheduled at least seven days in advance and the final report must be filed within three days following the defense– consult the grad field assistant for help (see http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/forms for required scheduling and reporting forms)

Graduate Studies

Steeped in tradition and charting new pathways

at the intersection of the creation, performance, and study of music.

Our graduate program invites students to earn a Ph.D. in composition or musicology , advancing their craft and research within the inspiring interdisciplinary, immersive spirit of the Princeton University campus. With an average of 24 students in each area of study at a time, our graduate program allows for fully-funded, focused study with a stellar faculty, and within an intimate community that celebrates the intersection between the creation, study, and performance of music. Regardless of their area of concentration, all students are welcomed and encouraged to take courses with world-renowned composers, musicologists, and musicians; take instrumental or voice lessons in the private studios of top professionals; and enjoy or even participate in the vibrant performance scene across campus. As an extension of this integrative approach, graduate students can also apply for a joint doctoral degree through the Interdisciplinary Humanities program, or through the Neuroscience program .

Long at the vanguard of the art of music composition, Princeton’s Graduate Program in Composition considers it essential for composers to build their own vision based on their strengths and passions, while remaining actively open to new musical experiences shared by the community. The program embraces many kinds of musics, engaging with diverse musical languages and creative practices. At the heart of our creative endeavor is the public concert series Princeton Sound Kitchen, in which both faculty and graduate students have their new works workshopped and premiered by some of the world’s finest professional musicians and ensembles, including the Cone Artist Ensemble in Residence, Sō Percussion . The program also provides cutting edge resources for computer/electronic music research, facilitates interaction with visiting composers through the colloquium series, and supports collaborations involving dance, theater, and film through the Lewis Center for the Arts . 

With a long tradition of excellence and innovation, the musicology program at Princeton University encompasses historical, theoretical, cognitive and ethnographic approaches. Graduate students become part of a vibrant scholarly and artistic community. In addition to working closely with our renowned  musicology faculty  as seminar leaders and advisers, musicology students can explore Princeton’s rich offerings in the humanities and sciences, have access to the excellent  Mendel Music Library , and—with subsidized  private studio i nstruction  and the opportunity to participate in the Music Department’s superb  ensembles —are encouraged to make performance an integral part of their lives.  With  Sō Percussion  in residence, the  Princeton University Concerts  series,  Princeton Sound Kitchen , and the many performances by our many ensembles, musicology students can partake of a rich and eclectic concert life.  

Questions? Contact:

Gregory Deane Smith

Academic Administrator

Arts Homepage

Arts calendar, socials and email news, staff directory.

• Map of Music Spaces
• Directions and Parking Parking
• About the Builders
• Construction Photos
• Equity and Opportunity in Music Committee
• Job Openings
• Artists in Residence
• Concert Band
• Musics of the World
• Noon Concerts
• Student Recitals
• Symphony Orchestra
• About / History
• Music Lectures
• Music Faculty
• Ensemble Directors
• Harpsichord
• String Bass
• Viola da Gamba
• Affiliated Faculty
• Emeriti & Retirees
• In Memoriam
• Undergraduate Staff Advisors
• Peer Advisors
• Undergraduate Faculty Advisor
• Graduate Staff Advisor
• Graduate Faculty Advisors
• Composition
• Ethnomusicology
• Graduate Students
• Undergraduates
• Track 1: Music Composition
• Track 2: Music History, Theory, & Ethnomusicology
• Track 3: Music Performance
• Track 4: Independent Track
• Study Abroad
• Internships
• PhD in Musicology
• PhD in Composition and Theory
• PhD in Ethnomusicology
• MA in Conducting
• Fees, How to Pay
• Practice Rooms
• Instruments, Lockers
• Bluegrass and Old Time String Band
• Chamber Ensembles
• Samba School
• Concerto Competition
• Composition Award
• Ground Rules These are the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra's Rules

Music PhD in Composition

• Ph.D. in Composition

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements: Composition

The five-year doctoral program in Composition at Duke includes a Master of Arts degree (A.M.) en route to the Ph.D. Admission to the Ph.D. program is not automatically granted upon the student’s completion of the requirements of the A.M. degree, but is restricted to those students who have demonstrated the ability to do substantial and original work in composition. After passing the Qualifying Examination, the student will be notified regarding acceptance into the doctoral program. Upon successful completion of the en route A.M., a diploma can be requested.

Course Requirements

• One course in Musical Analysis: MUS 560 or 562
• Seven Composition courses: Two semesters of MUS 690S-1 (Seminar), 697, 698, 699, 797, 798
• Two courses in either Ethnomusicology or Musicology: MUS 790S-1, and one course selected from MUS 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 790S-2
• Seven elective graduate courses (500 level or above , excluding Applied) NOTE: 500 and 600 level Applied Music Courses do not count towards the Ph.D.

After the first year, graduate electives can be taken outside the Department of Music as approved by the DGS, who will consider the student’s academic record within the Department and his/her reasons for enrolling in extra-departmental courses.

• Registration Requirements

The Graduate School requires six semesters of “full-time” registration regardless of the number of courses taken or residence. No more than one semester may be waived for a completed Master’s degree.

Teaching Requirement

Classroom teaching is an integral part of the doctoral program. All graduate students will be required to complete eight semesters of teaching as a Teaching Assistant or Instructor of Record.  In special circumstances students may apply to the DGS for a waiver of one or more semesters of their required teaching.    

Sample Program of Study in Composition

The following represents a typical program for students entering the doctoral program in Composition, which begins with en route A.M. requirements and then proceeds to Ph.D. requirements:

Examinations and Dissertation

• Diagnostic Examination
• Foreign Language Examination
• Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
• Ph.D. Composition Portfolio
• Preliminary Examination
• Dissertation Article of publishable quality, submitted within six months after Preliminary Examination
• Dissertation Composition : a large-scale work
• Final Examination  (the dissertation defense in Composition will take the form of a presentation by the composer on the Dissertation Composition).
• Statement of Values & Standards of Conduct
• Antiracism Working Group
• Facilities & Resources
• Current Exhibit
• Videos & Photos
• Faculty Books
• Faculty Projects
• Major In Music
• Music Major, Performance Concentration
• Pathways to the Major
• Minor In Music, Score-focused
• Minor in Music, Listening-focused
• Where Our Students Go
• Performance Opportunities
• Undergraduate Research
• Graduation with Distinction
• Global Education
• Service Opportunities
• Trinity Ambassadors
• Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology
• Performance Practice Track
• Prior Graduate Work
• Campus Visit
• Living in Durham
• Career Paths
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Qualifying Examination
• Preliminary Exam
• Previous Ph.D. Dissertations
• Teaching Assistantships
• Facilities and Services
• Lectures, Concerts, Ensembles, and Collections
• Graduate Student Representatives
• DGS and Advising
• Job Search Best Practices
• Requesting Space and Scheduling Recitals
• Professional Development
• Fellowships and Financial Aid
• All Courses
• Composition, Theory & Analysis Courses
• History & Culture Courses
• Lessons Courses
• Performance Courses
• Piano/Keyboard
• Audition Information
• Chamber Music
• Chinese Music Ensemble
• Djembe Ensemble
• Duke New Music Ensemble [dnme]
• Jazz Program
• Opera Theater
• Symphony Orchestra
• Wind Symphony
• All Upcoming Events
• Concerts & Recitals
• Best of Biddle
• News & Performances
• News & Past Artists
• Past Master Classes
• Student Ensembles
• All Faculty
• Composition
• Ensemble Directors
• Ethnomusicology
• Improvisation
• Music Theory
• Performance: Brass and Percussion
• Performance: Keyboard
• Performance: Strings
• Performance: Voice
• Performance: Woodwinds
• Affiliated Faculty
• Graduate Students
• Alumni Profiles
• Duke Alumni Network
• Assisting Duke Students

• Schools & departments

Musical Composition PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Musical Composition

Introduction to Postgraduate Research

Join us online on 19 June to learn about applying for and studying a research degree at Edinburgh.

Find out more and register

Research profile

The Reid School of Music offers an exciting research environment that combines the theory, history, composition and practice of music with the scientific study of sound.

Composition allows students to explore their creative language and horizons in relationship to contemporary compositional styles and challenges. Each student's creative work is developed and guided through supervision. There are no stylistic preferences and all contemporary styles are encouraged, including the use of new technologies.

Supervision specialisms

Please consult our staff profile pages to see our supervision specialisms and availability, spanning electroacoustic, algorithmic, computer music and music for screen.

• ECA staff profiles

Programme structure

The PhD programme comprises three years full-time (six years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic within Musical Composition. Your research will culminate in a portfolio of compositions which must comprise original work, with at least one of the compositions being a major and extended work.

Regular individual meetings with your supervisor provide guidance and focus for the course of research you are undertaking.

You will be encouraged to attend research methods courses at the beginning of your research studies.

And for every year you are enrolled on the programme you will be required to complete an annual progression review.

Training and support

All of our research students benefit from Edinburgh College of Art's interdisciplinary approach, and you will be assigned at least two research supervisors.

Your first/ lead supervisor would normally be based in the same subject area as your degree programme. Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within ECA or elsewhere within the University of Edinburgh, according to the expertise required. On occasion more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.

Our research culture is supported by seminars and public lecture programmes and discussion groups.

Tutoring opportunities will be advertised to the postgraduate research community, which you can apply for should you wish to gain some teaching experience during your studies. But you are not normally advised to undertake tutoring work in the first year of your research studies, while your main focus should be on establishing the direction of your research.

You are encouraged to attend courses at the Institute for Academic Development ( IAD ), where all staff and students at the University of Edinburgh are supported through a range of training opportunities, including:

• short courses in compiling literature reviews
• writing in a second language
• preparing for your viva

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities ( SGSAH ) offers further opportunities for development. You will also be encouraged to refer to the Vitae research development framework as you grow into a professional researcher.

You will have access to study space (some of which are 24-hour access), studios and workshops at Edinburgh College of Art’s campus, as well as University wide resources. There are several bookable spaces for the development of exhibitions, workshops or seminars. And you will have access to well-equipped multimedia laboratories, photography and exhibition facilities, shared recording space, access to recording equipment available through Bookit the equipment loan booking system.

You will have access to high quality library facilities. Within the University of Edinburgh, there are three libraries:

• the Main Library
• the ECA library
• the Art and Architecture Library

The Centre for Research Collections which holds the University of Edinburgh’s historic collections is also located in the Main Library.

The Talbot Rice Gallery is a public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh and part of Edinburgh College of Art, which is committed to exploring what the University of Edinburgh can contribute to contemporary art practice today and into the future. You will also have access to the extraordinary range and quality of exhibitions and events associated with a leading college of art situated within a world-class research-intensive university.

St Cecilia’s Hall, which is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall, also houses the Music Museum which holds one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world.

In addition to the University’s facilities you will also be able to access wider resources within the City of Edinburgh. These include:

• National Library of Scotland
• Scottish Studies Library and Digital Archives
• City of Edinburgh Libraries
• Historic Environment Scotland
• the National Trust for Scotland

You will also benefit from the University of Edinburgh’s extensive range of student support facilities provided, including:

• student societies
• accommodation
• wellbeing and support services

PhD by Distance option

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

The PhD by Distance allows students who do not wish to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in an ECA subject area from their home country or city.

There is no expectation that students studying for an ECA PhD by Distance study mode should visit Edinburgh during their period of study. However, short-term visits for particular activities could be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For further information on the PhD by Distance please see the ECA website:

• PhD by Distance in ECA

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

Normally a UK Masters degree or its international equivalent. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of relevant professional experience.

You must also submit a research proposal and portfolio; see How to Apply section for guidance.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Additional programme costs.

There are no additional costs.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your residency status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Research Team
• Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5741
• Contact: [email protected]
• Postgraduate Research Director, Dr Benedict Taylor
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4155
• Contact: [email protected]
• Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Research Team Student and Academic Support Service
• The University of Edinburgh
• Evolution House, 78 West Port
• Central Campus
• Programme: Musical Composition
• School: Edinburgh College of Art
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Musical Composition - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd musical composition - 6 years (part-time) (part-time), phd musical composition by distance - 3 years (full-time), phd musical composition by distance - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You must submit two references with your application, one of which must be an academic reference and preferably from your most recent studies.

You should submit a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome. Read the application guidance before you apply. If you wish to undertake research that involves practice then a portfolio will also be required, full details are listed in the application guidance document.

• Preparing your application - postgraduate research degrees (PDF)

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

• Instrumental & Vocal Instructors
• Ensemble Directors
• Facility Overview
• Hours of Operation
• Slosberg Recital Hall
• Practice Rooms
• Brandeis Electro-Acoustic Music Studio
• William P. Jencks Early Music Room
• Keyboard Instruments
• Noack Tracker Organ
• Lydian String Quartet Prize
• Brandeis Concert Series
• MusicUnitesUS
• Henri Lazarof Living Legacy
• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Major Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Adventures in American Music(s) Research Fellowship
• Leonard Bernstein Fellowship
• Fisher Explorer Grant
• Remis Grant
• Private Instrumental and Vocal Study
• Learning Goals
• Undergraduate Departmental Representatives
• Information for Prospective Students
• Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts in Composition and Theory
• Doctorate in Composition and Theory (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Musicology
• Doctorate in Musicology (PhD)
• Current Graduate Students
• Colloquium Series
• Conference and Research Funding
• About the Ensembles
• Repertory Highlights
• Concerto Competition
• Chamber Music Ensembles
• Chamber Singers and University Chorus
• Early Music Ensemble
• Fafali: Music and Dance from Ghana
• Improv Collective
• Jazz Ensemble
• Roots Music Ensemble
• Wind Ensemble
• Noteworthy News
• Join the Arts at Brandeis E-List
• Degree Programs
• Majors and Minors
• Graduate Programs
• The Brandeis Core
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Brandeis Online
• Brandeis International Business School
• Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Heller School for Social Policy and Management
• Rabb School of Continuing Studies
• Precollege Programs
• Faculty and Researcher Directory
• Brandeis Library
• Academic Calendar
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Summer School
• Financial Aid
• Research that Matters
• Resources for Researchers
• Brandeis Researchers in the News
• Provost Research Grants
• Recent Awards
• Faculty Research
• Student Research
• Centers and Institutes
• Office of the Vice Provost for Research
• Office of the Provost
• Housing/Community Living
• Campus Calendar
• Student Engagement
• Clubs and Organizations
• Community Service
• Dean of Students Office
• Orientation
• Hiatt Career Center
• Spiritual Life
• Graduate Student Affairs
• Directory of Campus Contacts
• Division of Creative Arts
• Brandeis Arts Engagement
• Rose Art Museum
• Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts
• Theater Arts Productions
• Public Sculpture at Brandeis
• Women's Studies Research Center
• Creative Arts Award
• Our Jewish Roots
• The Framework for the Future
• Mission and Diversity Statements
• Distinguished Faculty
• Nobel Prize 2017
• Notable Alumni
• Administration
• Working at Brandeis
• Commencement
• Offices Directory
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni & Friends
• Parents & Families
• 75th Anniversary
• New Students
• Shuttle Schedules
• Support at Brandeis

Department of Music

PhD Candidate Richard Chowenhill

Our PhD degree program in composition and theory offers in-depth study in composition, theory and analysis and electro-acoustic music. We provide you with the time and means to develop a secure command of the craft of composition under the guidance of our award-winning faculty . Your compositions will be performed and recorded as part of the graduate student composers' concert series, New Music Brandeis. You may also have your compositions read by the Lydian String Quartet and by ensembles-in-residence that are invited to Brandeis by the music department.

Preparation for teaching careers is an integral part of our PhD program in composition and theory. You'll serve as a teaching assistant during your second, third, fourth and fifth years of training. As such, you'll be responsible for course preparation, lecturing, administering and grading exams and meeting individually with undergraduates.

Your culminating doctoral thesis will consist of an extensive original composition and a written analytical thesis.

Why Brandeis?

At Brandeis, you can hear your compositions performed and recorded as part of New Music Brandeis , a contemporary concert series that showcases the work of Brandeis student, faculty and alumni composers. You may also have your compositions read by the Lydian String Quartet and by ensembles-in-residence that are invited to Brandeis by the music department.

Our state-of-the-art facilities include:

• 30 pianos including the one used by Leonard Bernstein as a child!
• The Jencks Early Music Room , which contains an extensive collection of period instruments, including two harpsichords and an historic Viennese fortepiano.
• An electro-acoustic studio ( BEAMS ).
• The Creative Arts Library, with holdings in scholarly music editions, journals and microfilm reprints of original materials, as well as the Walter F. and Alice Gorham Collection of Early Music Imprints, 1501-1650.

We also belong to the Boston-area library consortium, so you can use books in major libraries in the area.

Careers and Alumni

Graduates of our PhD program have gone on to successful careers in composition and in teaching at colleges and universities throughout the country.

• Steven Mackey, PhD’85, Professor, Princeton University
• John Mallia, PhD’03, Director of Electronic Music Studio, New England Conservatory of Music
• Sally Pinkas, PhD’91, Professor, Dartmouth College

All doctoral students are awarded 5 years of full tuition, generous fellowship funding and health coverage. Additional funding is available from both the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the department for travel to conferences and for research-related travel. Students may apply for additional dissertation funding, including the Dissertation Year Fellowship , Provost Award and University Prize Instructorship .

• About the Department
• Undergraduate Program
• Student Ensembles
• News & Events

Application Deadline

The deadline for completed PhD applications is Jan. 15 .

Director of Graduate Studies in Composition and Theory

Contact Professor Yu-Hui Chang for more information about the program.

download the music graduate student handbook

• Skip to Content
• Catalog Home
• Institution Home
• Graduate Catalog /
• School of Arts & Sciences /
• Music: Musical Composition, PhD

Related Programs

• Music: Jazz and Popular Music, Minor
• Music: Music, Minor

Music: Composition, PhD

• Music: Music Studies, PhD

The Ph.D. program in Composition stresses training in the craft of composition, contemporary repertory, and theory and analysis. Instruction in composition comprises much of the course requirement; such instruction takes the form of private lessons. Participation in the concert life of the department and attendance at Composers’ Forum events complement that instruction. Students are assigned to particular instructors for composition lessons by the Director of Graduate Studies on the advice of the composition faculty. Composition instructors are assigned on a rotating basis to assure that all students are exposed to a variety of approaches and have the opportunity to work with each member of the composition faculty during the period of coursework. The Department of Music at the University of Pennsylvania also offers a Ph.D. program in Music Studies, and composition students also take several courses with the music studies faculty during their coursework.

For more information: https://music.sas.upenn.edu/

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses

Forum and lessons.

During their third year in the program, composition students will continue non-credit participation in both forum and lessons.

Musicianship Requirement

The musicianship requirement may be fulfilled through demonstrating facility as a performer, or through an exam administered by the faculty. Students should consult with faculty about what performance opportunities might be most appropriate for them. For instance, with faculty approval, this requirement could be met through performing at a sufficiently high level (including conducting) in a Penn Sound Collective,or similar, concert. It could also be met by participating for one academic year in a Department-sponsored ensemble. Alternatively, a student may, in consultation with the faculty, take an exam in which facility in sight-singing, dictation, and keyboard are demonstrated. This requirement must be fulfilled by the end of the second year of study.

Practicum Exam

During the first semester of study, students will work collaboratively with faculty (as part of Forum and lessons) to determine their areas of strength and opportunities for growth in repertorial knowledge. During the second semester of study, the faculty and student will outline 5 areas to be examined at the end of the first summer. These areas will be selected as follows: Faculty will select 2-3 areas; faculty and student will agree on a further 1-2 areas; the student will propose the final area. The structure of the exam should be settled and communicated to the Director of Graduate Studies during the Annual Review meeting (see below).

The exam will consist of two questions per area and students will answer 6 (one question from each area must be answered). Questions may take the form of scores, recordings, videos, and/or other objects. Answers should interact with and work toward an identification of the score, recording, or video in question. Emphasis in evaluation will be placed more on the quality of the interaction and less on exact identification. Students will sit for the exam in the week before classes resume (late August) and students will be allotted 4 hours to select and prepare their answers. 

Practicum exams will be evaluated based on the following structure:

Pass: A Pass on all portions of the examination is required for admission to the Ph.D. program.

Partial Pass: The student must take some portion of the examination again (normally at least four months later) before the question of admission to the doctoral program is decided.Failure to achieve a Pass during the second sitting may result in an offer of a terminal master’s degree(see Annual Review).

Comprehensive Review

During the third year of study, students will complete a Portfolio of Compositions and prepare a Ph.D. Essay (see below for descriptions). These materials must be submitted for review by the graduate group faculty two weeks prior to the Comprehensive Review. In April of that year (dates set by the faculty exam committee at the beginning of the Spring Semester), each student will sit for their Comprehensive Review. The faculty exam committee, along with the student’s principal advisor in composition will be in attendance. Topics of discussion will include the Portfolio of Compositions, the creative trajectory that it implies, the quality of the work, and the opportunities it suggests. The Ph.D. Essay will also be discussed, both in terms of content and also with a view toward publication.

Portfolio of Compositions

The portfolio will be made up of compositions with a combined duration of no less than thirty (30) minutes. No later than the beginning of the fall term of the second year of study, students must, in consultation with their current composition instructor, establish concrete plans for the medium, number, and scope of compositions that will comprise the portfolio. At least one of the works included in the portfolio should be a significant revision. The portfolio must be submitted for review by the graduate group faculty no later than two weeks prior to the student’s comprehensive review.

Ph.D. Essay

The Ph.D. essay is a paper on an analytical, historical, theoretical, ethnomusicological, or critical subject prepared under the supervision of two members of the faculty. The primary reader must be a member of the composition faculty. The second reader may, where appropriate, be a member of the graduate group faculty with a specialization other than composition. The essay should be an article-length (approx. 8,000 words) study of publishable quality. It may revise a paper that the student prepared for a seminar. Students will find support for their work on this essay in the Dissertation Essay/Grant Writing Workshop and from their advisors. A final draft of the Ph.D. essay must be submitted for review by the graduate group faculty no later than two weeks prior to the student’s comprehensive review. The Ph.D. Essay must also be deposited alongside the dissertation composition in the final semester of study.

Ph.D Composition

Candidates will produce a major musical composition as a PhD dissertation, the nature of which must be approved by the composition faculty, which serves as the dissertation committee. It is understood that during the two semesters leading up to completion of the dissertation the student and advisor will be in regular contact regarding the progress of the dissertation. A final draft of the PhD dissertation must be submitted for review to the composition faculty by March 1 of the last semester of study, and the completed, approved composition, incorporating any changes recommended by the faculty, must be submitted to the graduate group faculty by April 1 of the graduation term.

Public Performance of Ph.D. Composition

In consultation with the composition faculty, but no later than April 15 of the graduation term, a public performance, reading, or workshop of the dissertation composition will be scheduled. This public event constitutes the final examination in composition.

Language Requirement

Reading knowledge of two languages is required for all students in music studies and composition. Students will select their language exams in consultation with the graduate chair and faculty, with the understanding that their selections should relate clearly to their projected plan of study and proposed dissertation topic. Where appropriate, students may request approval from the graduate chair and faculty to use a computer language to complete one of the two exams.

Students for whom English is not their native language may choose their native language as one of their two language exams if they plan to conduct significant research/fieldwork in that language or in cases where a major corpus of literature pertinent to the student’s field of research exists in that language.

Language Examinations

Language examinations are given twice each year: at the beginning of the fall term and at the beginning of the spring term. Students must take an examination at each of these times until their language requirements have been met. Each language examination consists of a passage of approximately 500 words selected from a representative work of musical scholarship. The student is given two hours to write an English translation. Use of a dictionary is permitted.

Reading courses in French, Italian, and German are administered by the Graduate Division during the summer (May through June), and are available to Ph.D. students at no cost. Students may register for undergraduate language courses as a fourth course as ‘auditors.’ Graduate credit will not be granted for such undergraduate language courses.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Print Options

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

A PDF of the entire 2023-24 catalog.

A PDF of the 2023-24 Undergraduate catalog.

A PDF of the 2023-24 Graduate catalog.

Recommended pages

• Undergraduate open days
• Postgraduate open days
• Accommodation
• Information for teachers
• Maps and directions
• Sport and fitness

Join our Postgraduate Open Day - Saturday 22 June

Musical Composition PhD/ MA by Research (On-Campus or by Distance Learning)

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry: UK: £4,778 full-time, £2,389 part-time International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only) More detail .

• Visit an Open Day
• Request a prospectus
• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Employability

Our research degree in composition aims to foster your skills as you navigate an exciting new musical world, which combines tradition and innovation, bringing together instruments and the latest in high technology.

On this programme, you can create musical and sonic artworks using electroacoustics and computer technology, traditional (and not so traditional) instrumental and vocal composition, or a combination of these aspects. Projects involving interactive systems, multimedia, and sound installations are also welcome, and you are encouraged to find your own individual path.

Virtual Open Day: Postgraduate opportunities in Music - 28 April 2020, 12:00-13:00

Take part in our online chat where Dr Luis-Manuel Garcia will be answering your questions about postgraduate study in Music at Birmingham.

Find out more and register

Music scholarships available

The College of Arts and Law is offering a number of scholarships for postgraduate research students in Music. Open to students pursuing any of our Music PhD/MA by Research pathways, the awards vary in value and applications are now open.

Find out more and apply now

AHRC funding for PhD students

The University of Birmingham is part of the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C), offering Arts and Humanities Research Council PhD studentships for campus-based programmes. These include a number of Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunities. Each studentship includes research fees, a substantial maintenance grant and additional research training support. Applications are open until 12:00 (noon), 13 January 2021.

Find out more

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

The Department of Music offers two options for postgraduate research, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or to pursue Masters-level research following an undergraduate degree in a related field.

Both the PhD and MA by Research require you to attend a Departmental training programme as and both are assessed on the submission of a portfolio of compositions, but these differ between the two programmes:

MA by Research – the portfolio should have a total duration of between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the nature and size of the forces used, to be agreed with the supervisor. For those following this programme, it is possible to upgrade to a PhD.

PhD – this substantial portfolio (approximately 90 minutes in duration) should display a suitable range of genres and resources to be agreed by the supervisor, which is not derivative, and which satisfies the examiners that it contains original work that is worthy of performance at a professional level and also worthy of publication.

At Birmingham, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students also have the opportunity to learn graduate academic languages free of charge, to support your studies.

• Graduate School Language Skills

To find out more about this programme and make an enquiry you can contact Ryan Latimer , your Admissions Tutor.

The facilities at the Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre (BEAST) are some of the best in the UK. My supervisors give me the freedom to have fun with my research portfolio and there are regular opportunities to get more involved with department events and teaching. Nikki

Why study this course?

• Workshops and visiting performers : The Department of Music is host to a range of ensembles and activities which provide workshop and performance opportunities for postgraduate students. For example, the Department hosts workshops with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (our ‘Ensemble in Association’), while the Department’s New Music Ensemble has a history of presenting student works. We also offer other workshops with visiting performers and ensembles (e.g. Fidelio Trio, Bozzini Quartet, Ligeti Quartet in recent years). Students have the opportunity to work with the internationally recognised BEAST system (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre; arguably the best system of its type in the world) which also presents student works in concerts with up to 100 loudspeakers in Birmingham and when possible abroad (e.g. Berlin, Copenhagen, Basel).  Opportunities for workshops and performances vary from year to year, and spaces available are limited, so the Department cannot guarantee that all applicants will be accommodated for any given opportunity. The Department runs an open call which aims to allocate places fairly, although some workshops or activities are associated with particular modules, and students enrolled on those may be prioritised. Students interested in instrumental composition workshops should expect to be offered a place at least once in their studies.
• Excellent opportunities : Our postgraduate laptop ensemble, the Birmingham Ensemble for Electroacoustic Research (BEER), provides opportunities to explore advanced aspects of live electroacoustic performance such as controller integration, network music, and live coding.
• World-leading research : The University of Birmingham is ranked equal 10th in the UK amongst Russell Group universities in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 according to the Times Higher Education
• Scholarship opportunities : The Department has generous scholarship funding to cover fees and/or maintenance costs in cases of appropriate attainment. You can find out more on our College funding and scholarships page.

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience .

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

• UK: £4,778 full-time; £2,389 part-time *
• International: £21,840 full-time; £10,920 part-time (distance learning only)

The same fees apply to both campus-based and distance learning study. The distance learning programme also includes one fully-funded visit to campus in the first year of study.

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

* For UK postgraduate research students the University fee level is set at Research Council rates and as such is subject to change. The final fee will be announced by Research Councils UK in spring 2024.

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students .

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding .

How To Apply

Application deadlines.

Postgraduate research can start at any time during the year, but it is important to allow time for us to review your application and communicate a decision. If you wish to start in September 2024, we would recommend that you aim to submit your application and supporting documents by 1 June 2024.

If the programme has a Distance learning option then students will usually attend a residential visit in September or January, and those students wishing to attend the September residential are also encouraged to apply by 1 June 2024. The visit will take place at the end of September/beginning of October and you will receive further details once you have accepted your offer.

Six easy steps to apply for a postgraduate research course in the College of Arts and Law

Six steps to apply for our Postgraduate Research courses

Do you have an idea for an interesting research project? You can follow our six easy steps to apply to study for our postgraduate research courses . These include guidance on identifying funding opportunities and writing your research proposal .

Please also see our additional guidance for  applicants to the PhD Distance Learning study mode .

Please note: While our PhD programmes are normally studied in three years full-time or six years part-time, and Masters-level research programmes one year full-time or two years part-time, many programmes have a longer length listed in course or funding applications. This is because the course length is defined as the maximum period of registration, which includes a period of supervised study plus a thesis awaited period. The maximum period of registration for a full-time PhD is four years (three years supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For a full-time Masters-level research programme, it is two years (one year supervision plus one year thesis awaited). For part-time programmes, the periods are double the full-time equivalent.

Making your application

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

Applicants must submit sample compositional work in the form of scores and/or recordings (as appropriate to specialty). These can be submitted by mail, or (preferably) electronically, using wetransfer or similar or a weblink.

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

• For MA by Research programmes, entry to our programmes usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree in Music or a related subject, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK.
• If you are applying for a PhD then you will usually also need to hold a good Masters qualification in Music or a related subject.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you are applying for distance learning research programmes, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please contact the admissions tutor.

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Please contact a staff member working in your area of interest in the first instance. A summary of our key research areas, and staff working within those, can be found below.

• Musical Composition
• Musical Performance Practice

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report .

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network  provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team  who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

• Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
• Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
• Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
• Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: Music

Birmingham's Music postgraduates work in a wide range of careers within and beyond the music world. A postgraduate degree in Music develops a broad base of skills including general skills such as communication, problem solving and research, and also specific skills developed by practice and performance such as self-management, team work and presentation.

• Online chat events
• Ask our students

Department of Music

Music & multimedia composition.

• Graduate Programs

Music & Multimedia Composition

Students in the Ph.D. program in Music and Multimedia Composition produce, analyze, and perform original works that may include the use of electronic music, acoustic composition and sound in combination with video, performance, installation and text.

Students conduct advanced inquiry into the cultural, theoretical, technical, and aesthetic issues surrounding music and multimedia production in close collaboration with faculty researchers strongly invested in real-time, interactive sonic and visual media, sound art, instrument design, and acoustic composition. The program welcomes students working from diverse influences and methods, expanding their creative practices and underlying technical knowledge to spur artistic innovation. In addition to faculty mentorship, students can collaborate with a broad array of professional performing ensembles and visiting artists presented on the Brown University campus.

Fall 2023 Open House

Open House events for the Music & Multimedia Composition Program take place online on Friday, October 27, and Friday, November 10. The events are designed to help applicants learn more about the PhD program and will provide prospective candidates with an overview of our research, curriculum, production resources, and an introduction to our faculty and students. Registration required.

Diverse Resources

The graduate program in Music and Multimedia Composition offers an array of resources unique to Brown. Students have access to the department’s Multimedia and Electronic Music Experiments (MEME) studios, and the university’s Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. These specialized research facilities house recording studios, electronics shops, project studios, exhibition and performance spaces. Regular opportunities exist to interface with the larger arts and digital media communities at Brown, at the nearby Rhode Island School of Design, in Providence and the New England region. Music and Multimedia Composition students also partake in the many scholarly offerings of the Musicology and Ethnomusicology PhD program, with faculty specialties in technoculture, sound studies, copyright, improvisation and organology. A Brown doctoral degree in Music and Multimedia Composition leads to a career in college and university teaching, or to a position to applied work outside of higher education.

All PhD students receive full funding for 6 years, including costs for tuition and health insurance, plus stipends for fellowships and teaching assistantships. 

Anthony Cheung

Review the program's application requirements  here .

For more information, please consult our  Graduate Program FAQ .

Apply to the Music & Multimedia Composition program through the Brown University Graduate School website.

Exams, Dissertations and Other Scholarly Work

During the first two years of the program students undertake the majority of their coursework, which involves writing and research in addition to creative practice. During this time they prepare their Masters project (a substantial performance, installation, or work in other formats) for presentation in the second year accompanied by an essay of thirty to fifty pages that describes the aesthetic concepts, historical background, and technical realization of the work.

In the third year students continue their coursework and must prepare for and pass their Qualifying Exams. This consists of three essays on topics that lead into their dissertation work and an oral exam on these essays. Once this is complete students develop a formal dissertation proposal in which serves as a clear and detailed outline of the areas of creative and scholarly research to be undertaken over the next two years.

The dissertation itself has two parts. The dissertation project is an original creative work that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field. This is accompanied by a detailed paper that describes the project’s overall concept, technical methods, and the historical, theoretical, and artistic frameworks that inform and support it. The paper is completed after the dissertation project has taken place and requires a formal oral presentation and defense before it is approved.

See the MMC Graduate Handbook for specific details on these requirements.

Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo

James moses.

Eric Nathan

Joseph Butch Rovan

Todd winkler, affiliated faculty, shawn greenlee, peter szendy.

• Orwig Music Library
• Brown Multimedia Labs
• Brown Arts Institute
• Granoff Center

Community Resources

• Community MusicWorks
• Machines With Magnets
• Verdant Vibes

Additional Information

Music and multimedia composition program, graduate courses.