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Music Theatre at University of Sussex - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

A PhD in Music Theatre invites you to work across media to challenge disciplinary boundaries. You’ll study with expert faculty to produce a performance work. You support this with a portfolio of practical research activities or compositions and critical writing. You’ll also have access to our specialist facilities. Our supervisors have experience both inside and outside of the academy, with particular expertise in:

  • art practice
  • production
  • modernity.
We welcome research proposals in the history and theory of opera and music theatre as well as artistic practice. Situated within the transdisciplinary culture of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, we encourage applications from varied disciplinary backgrounds. We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Modules

Recent and current PhD projects include: Musical alterity and embodied practice (theory/ practice); sonification of the body (theory/practice); sound scores for early avant-garde film (composition); temporality in post-tonal music (composition); the representation of animals in music theatre (theory/practice); the impact of Stravinsky’s ballets on conducting techniques in the 20th century (historical musicology).

Assessment method

Assessment is by a thesis that consists of either a substantial performance work or a performance work with a portfolio of compositions. A discursive and critical written component of between 20,000 and 40,000 words (or between 10,000 and 20,000 words for the MPhil) is also required.

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Please click on the course URL to see up-to-date fee information.

Sponsorship information

Limited funds to offset research expenses are available directly from the University of Sussex; there are financial opportunities for research students to contribute towards undergraduate teaching. Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people. Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26.

Music Theatre at University of Sussex - UCAS