Music Queen's University Belfast

Overview

This Music programme offered by Queen's University Belfast supports original research across a broad spectrum of musical and sonic inquiry, offering pathways that range from traditional thesis-based study to creative practice portfolios and hybrid approaches combining theory and practice. Candidates develop projects aligned with their interests while engaging with an international research community dedicated to innovation in sound and music.

Learning Outcomes

Studying for a PhD enables students to develop their critical, research and/or artistic skills to an advanced level while pursuing a subject of personal interest. A PhD qualification is generally required for academic positions.

Course Structure

Students follow a timetable agreed upon with their team of two supervisors. They also benefit from training opportunities provided by the Thomas J. Moran Graduate School and undertake a tailored programme of scholarly or artistic activities developed in consultation with their supervisors.

Students are required to undergo a differentiation procedure, which involves progression from MPhil to PhD status. This normally takes place after the equivalent of nine months of full-time study. Following successful differentiation, students’ progress is assessed through presentations of their work to an Annual Progress Review Panel.

After completing the equivalent of 36 months of full-time study, students may register for an additional writing-up year.

Assessment takes the form of a dissertation of up to 80,000 words, a portfolio of an agreed scope, or a combination of contextual written work and portfolio submission. These are examined through a Viva Voce examination conducted by one internal and one external examiner.

The Viva Voce examination normally takes place after three to four years of full-time study or six to seven years of part-time study.