Overview
Students admitted to the PhD; Music (Composition, Music Education, Musicology, Music Technology, Sound Recording, Theory) program who have a master’s degree other than a master’s degree in music from McGill University may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate courses before completion of the doctoral degree.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner.
The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Language Reading Requirements
No foreign-language reading examinations required in Sound Recording, Interdisciplinary Studies and Music Technology.
Composition/Music Education/Music Theory
One foreign-language reading examination required. Students whose mother tongue is French are exempt from the French Reading Exam.
Musicology
One foreign-language reading examination required in one language other than English (or French for francophone students) as determined in consultation with their supervisor. All students who intend to do dissertation research on music in the European tradition are strongly advised to acquire reading knowledge of German in addition to the language requirement related to their research.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Comprehensive Examinations
- Colloquium
- History of Music Theory
- General Examinations
- Doctoral Composition Tutorial
Key information
Duration
- Full-time
- 48 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Fall deadlines : June 21 (national); January 15 (international);
- Winter deadlines: November 10 (national); August 1 (international);
Language
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Delivered
Disciplines
Music Liberal Arts View 9 other PhDs in Liberal Arts in CanadaAcademic requirements
English requirements
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Student insurance
Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:
- Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
- Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
- Liability
- Home contents and baggage
- Accidents
- Legal aid
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Other requirements
General requirements
- A master's degree in music performance, or its equivalent, from a university recognized by McGill.
- A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 out of a possible 4.0, or a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in your last two years of full-time studies.
- Proficiency in English, the primary language of instruction at McGill.
- Transcripts from each college/university-level institution that you have attended.
- Two letters of recommendation (if you are currently a McGill student, you are exempt).
- Personal statement
- Research proposal
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Two recent essays
- Thesis summary/abstract
- Your supervisor preference
- Requirements vary for each specialisation
Tuition Fee
-
International
17708 CAD/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 8854 CAD per semester during 48 months. -
National
2880 CAD/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1440 CAD per semester during 48 months.
Living costs for Montréal
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Funding
McGill University is committed to provide financial support for graduate education. Through Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) and other academic units, McGill is working to increase the number of student fellowships and scholarships, exploring new avenues for student support, and making it easier to disburse existing funds. Our competitive funding support offers, coupled with Montreal’s low cost of living, makes graduate studies at McGill a wise educational investment.
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Scholarships Information
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Music (Composition, Music Education, Musicology, Music Technology, Sound Recording, Theory, Interdisciplinary Studies).
Available Scholarships
You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.
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