Popular Music Practice

Entry requirements

You’re normally expected to have a Merit (an average of 60% overall) in a Masters degree and an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree.

Your qualification should be in a subject related to your chosen area of research. You will also be considered for this degree if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show evidence of equivalent professional experience.

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

Are you interested in researching and interrogating the languages and performance styles of popular music?

Studying for a Popular Music Practice PhD, you’ll produce a portfolio of original music in the form of creative work. Through methods of composition and performance, your creative work will critique and advance popular music practices. You’ll write a 20,000-40,000-word dissertation demonstrating original research. Your dissertation will highlight ways in which your practice makes a substantial contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field, and acknowledge existing scholarship and artistic practices.

You’ll have access to the latest tools in software and hardware in the Jonathan Harvey Electronic Music Studio at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts. Other specialist facilities include rare 20th-century music scores, and unique collections of jazz and music television documentaries.