48 PhD programmes in Music in England, United Kingdom

The Department of Music is a centre of research excellence in both composition and musicology. University of Bristol offers the Music programme. 

The Department of Music, Media and Performance at the University of Chester offers research students the opportunity to work alongside well-practiced and experienced researchers. 

The Music programme at the University of Surrey brings together a broad range of interconnected subject areas, focused in our internationally acclaimed research centres, housed in state-of-the-art facilities.

This Music PhD programme from Newcastle University enables you to pursue advanced research in the areas of classical, popular, world, contemporary, early, folk and traditional music through a range of approaches. These include practice-based research, and musicological and theoretical inquiry.

This Music and Music Technology programme at the University of Huddersfield is globally recognised and encompasses composition, musicology, performance and production. 

The Music PhD programme from University of York may be proposed in any area closely related to the research interests of current members of staff (see staff profiles). 

Develop your critical creative practice within an inclusive research environment, mentored by leading experts, with access to our world class labs.

Within this Music course from the University of West London you will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser. 

Music research at Brunel University of London focuses on composition and musicology, and with the practice-based work in music, it is recognised as ‘of world-leading significance’ and demonstrating an ‘impressive stylistic breadth’.

This Music and Sound degree from University of Gloucestershire offers you the opportunity to engage in an extended piece of academic research, either through creative practice in the production of an original body of work, or through the production of a written thesis. 

The Music programme from SOAS University of London will help you pursue research on a wide range of subjects, mainly but not exclusively focused on the music of Asia and Africa.

This Musical Theatre course from University of West London the aims to attract those interested in exploring the connections between music, theatre and movement through scholarly research and creative projects. 

On the Audio Engineering programme at the University of Surrey the primary goal is simply this: to make sound better. Our research combines elements of acoustics, digital signal processing, psychoacoustics, psychology, sound synthesis, software engineering, statistical analysis and user-interface design, with an understanding of the aesthetics of sound and music

For over 60 years, the Music PhD programme from University of Southampton has been a home for disciplinary innovation in composition, performance and all areas of music studies.  

The Music Research programme offered by King's College London explores musical cultures, creative practice, composition, performance, and sound traditions from diverse historical and geographical contexts.

The Music Therapy programme offered by Anglia Ruskin University explores the therapeutic use of music to support adults, older people, young people, and children, advancing understanding of clinical outcomes, therapeutic processes, and wellbeing.

The University of Sheffield has a global reputation for our world-leading research in composition, ethnomusicology, musicology, music technology, performance and psychology of music. Join our inspirational research community as a Music PhD student and start making a difference.

Music research at Keele University has two main themes: Music Technology and Musicology. The Music Technology research group is one of the largest teams in UK Higher Education focusing on the creative aspects of Music Technology. 

Music at University of Hull  has a long-standing history of high quality research. By studying here, you will be able to access some of the finest music facilities in the country following a major redevelopment of Middleton Hall – with rehearsal spaces and studios available 24/7.

The Department of Music at Durham University is one of the very best UK Music Departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of ourstudents.