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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

The course offers training for music-specific research skills, alongside transferable skills, of approximately 40 hours per year for full-time students.

In the course of their third year, doctoral students present a 20-minute paper (in the style of a conference paper) on a topic related to their PhD project, followed by a ten-minute Q&A session.

One to one supervision

Full-time students can expect a minimum of 9 hours of 1-2-1 supervision in the first year. Thereafter supervisions are offered as appropriate or required.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

Feedback

Students can expect to receive an online feedback report each term, as a way to monitor progress.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

Examination of the PhD is by thesis and viva. The PhD theses should not exceed 80,000 words excluding notes, appendices, and bibliographies, musical transcriptions and examples. Candidates whose work is practice-based may include as part of a doctoral submission either a portfolio of substantial musical compositions or one or more recordings of their own musical performance(s).

Other

PhD students are probationary in the first instance and undergo a formal assessment towards the end of their first year (second year for part-time students). Students submit a progress report and often a sample chapter. These are discussed at an oral assessment to determine whether the student may be formally registered for the PhD. Progress reviews take place at the end of each year.

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Key Information


3-4 years full-time

4-7 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Faculty of Music

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 15, 2022
Application deadline
Oct. 4, 2023
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 15, 2022
Application deadline
Jan. 16, 2024
Course Starts
April 17, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
May 16, 2024
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Jan. 4, 2024
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 11, 2023

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.


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