Course summary
The Guildhall School's doctoral programme is a unique and distinctive research programme which supports a very wide range of research projects. Students on the programme include those who seek to integrate historical, theoretical, sociological, psychological or philosophical perspectives of music or drama into their work; those who wish to research aspects of arts pedagogy, institutions and their impact on society; and those who wish to undertake research in composition, drama or music therapy. As a world-leading conservatoire we are especially well equipped to supervise research grounded in practice. Students undertaking doctoral work at Guildhall can benefit from the School’s performing resources, well-established cultural partnerships, and the extensive expertise of the School’s staff in creating and realising new work. Each student on the doctoral programme is allocated a supervisory team, made up of at least two members of staff, sometimes more, who have the appropriate combination of academic and artistic expertise to support fully the development of the individual student’s doctoral research. Doctoral students are also supported by a thorough and comprehensive research training programme. The doctoral programme will normally be completed after three years of full-time research, followed by either a one-year period of ‘writing-up’ or a further year of supervision. The programme is also available on a part-time basis.
Assessment method
Practice-based research is demanding and requires a creative approach on every level. Students may submit a variety of research outputs for their final viva examinations which are appropriate to the individual nature of their research project and the high standard expected for doctoral submissions: Projects may be assessed by thesis only, in which case candidates will submit a thesis of approximately 80,000 words; Projects combining performance/installation and written work will be assessed by a combination of final recital(s)/installation(s) and a supporting analytic commentary (20,000-50,000); Composers submit a folio of work (75 minutes minimum) and supporting commentaries (13,000-23,000 words).
Entry requirements
Applicants for a Music doctorate should normally have obtained an MMus or equivalent Master’s degree in addition to a BA (Hons) degree in Music (upper 2nd or 1st class). Applicants without these qualifications will be assessed on the basis of their prior academic and professional experience. Composers and performers are expected to be at an advanced stage of creative practice at the point of application, and be able to formulate their own creative research questions and work with autonomy and independence. Candidates must possess a strong sense of reflexivity coupled with the ability to devise and refine a distinctive research strategy, and have demonstrable experience in research. Applicants for the Drama PhD are expected to have a Master’s degree relating to theatre or a Master’s degree in any subject and evidence of relevant professional theatre activity before commencing the Drama MPhil/PhD programme. Applicants for the Music Therapy PhD are expected to have significant previous engagement with music at master’s-level or equivalent professional experience. In addition, if the research proposal includes the candidate delivering music therapy clinical work themselves as part of the PhD, the candidate should be fully qualified and registered by the HCPC. If the research proposal relates to music therapy practices but does not involve delivering clinical work, then the candidate must have a master’s-level Music Therapy qualification.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
Fees are variable depending on the mode of study. Please consult the School website for more information: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/fees-and-funding
Sponsorship information
The School does its best to ensure that no student who is offered a place on merit is prevented from taking up that place on grounds of financial hardship and so a range of financial support is offered. The School offers a wide range of scholarships to students regardless of domicile. A scholarship award may be made to cover either the full cost of tuition fees or a fraction of them, and may include an element for maintenance. Awards are made by academic staff to individuals on the basis of their talent, their potential and their personal financial need. Applicants may be considered for a scholarship at audition and a scholarship may be given along with an offer of a place at the School. All students who accept a place at the School can also apply for scholarship support.
Provider information
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Silk Street
City of London
EC2Y 8DT