Highlights
Tuition fee
23400 GBP / year
5006 GBP / year
Unknown
Tuition fee
23400 GBP / year
5006 GBP / year
Unknown
Duration
48 months
Duration
48 months
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Campus location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Taught in
English
Taught in
English

About

The Music programme at the University of Surrey is ranked second in the UK by the Guardian University Guide. Academic members of staff are well known internationally for their exceptionally strong research profiles.

Visit programme website for more information

Overview

The University of Surrey is highly respected authority in musical research and sound technology. Thanks to the renowned expertise in musicology, performance, and composition, and the prestige of the Institute of Sound Recording, Surrey can count many household names in entertainment, audio technology and the recording industry among our partners, collaborators, and alumni.

Career opportunities

  • Our research degrees prepare you for success at each stage of your PhD project development. The structure of the Music PhD is designed to provide intensive graduate preparation for a future career and is suitable for either part-time or full-time candidates. As a postgraduate researcher, you will conduct a research project within one of Surrey's areas of research strengths. Completion of the programme entails submission of a thesis, the submission of practice if undertaking a practice-based PhD, and an oral viva with external examiners. PhD students can expect three levels of research training: university-level, department-level and subject-specific. University-level training is provided by the Postgraduate Skills Development Programme and the University Library including a PhD induction, workshops on writing skills and preparation for the confirmation and viva. There is also an annual student-led University postgraduate conference. Department-level training is offered in the form of interdisciplinary seminars, reading groups, visiting speaker events and conferences. You will also receive subject-specific training that will vary depending on your programme.

Programme Structure

Research themes

  • Composition
  • 20th-century concert music, especially Mahler and 20th-century English composers
  • Performance studies and techniques
  • Guitar history, practice, and composition
  • Popular music styles, particularly rock, jazz, electronic dance music
  • Analysis
  • Aesthetics of sound and music
  • Contemporary music and its composition and performance
  • Critical musicology
  • Music for screen
  • Biography
  • Improvisation.

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 48 months
  • Part-time
    • 96 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

English
Duolingo English Test
120
TOEFL® IBT
88
PTE Academic
67
IELTS
6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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  • 98 accuracy using real exam data
  • 4.9/5 student rating

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

  • Guildford, United Kingdom

What students do after studying

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA admission requirements GPA
Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test
120
TOEFL® IBT
88
PTE Academic
67
IELTS
6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation
Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

  • Trusted by 300k learners
  • 98 accuracy using real exam data
  • 4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

  • Applicants are expected to hold a good honours degree and usually an MA in a relevant arts subject or appropriate professional experience.
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
  • International

    Non-residents
    23400 GBP / year
    23400 GBP / year
  • Domestic

    Citizens or residents
    5006 GBP / year
    5006 GBP / year

Living costs

Guildford

United Kingdom
660 - 1140 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Music.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
07 Oct 2026
Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Read more about eligibility

U.S. government
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 GBP
Deadline
21 Jun 2026
GREAT Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

British Council - Accreditation UK
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2026
ServiceScape Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

ServiceScape
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3500 USD
Deadline
15 Nov 2026
ACES Scholarships

Read more about eligibility

ACES Education Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
19000 GBP
Deadline
Not specified
Scholarships for PhD Students
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Junhua Li
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
16 Aug 2026
Amberscholar Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Amber Student
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
6000 USD
Deadline
16 Aug 2026
Amberscholar Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Amber Scholar
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
4000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
The New York Pass® Education Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Go City
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
28 Aug 2026
Women Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
10000 USD
Deadline
01 Sep 2026
The PhD Prep Fellowship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Admit Lab
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
13 Jul 2026
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
22500 GBP
Deadline
Not specified
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids

Read more about eligibility

UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2026
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
$1,500 Annual Students’ Presentation Crafting Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
11 Jan 2027
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme

Read more about eligibility

The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
20 May 2026
PlagiarismSearch Essay Contest
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

PlagiarismSearch
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid

Read more about eligibility

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
Location not available

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