The normal period of study for the degrees are as follows:
MSc: One year full-time or two years part-time
MPhil: Two years full-time or four years part-time
PhD: Three years full-time or six years part-time
For the MPhil and PhD in Composition degrees students are allocated principal and second supervisors who oversee and guide the development of their work.
Students submit a portfolio of original compositions in place of a thesis. The MPhil portfolio should include one work suitable to form the major item in a concert program.
For the PhD the portfolio should normally include one major work, the performance of which would occupy an entire evening (i.e. an opera). Part or all of the portfolio may consist of computer-based or electronic fixed-media works, interactive work or work involving new media.
There is no requirement for an additional thesis or commentary to accompany the portfolio, but students are required to develop an understanding of the cultural context of their work.
All research degrees require students to work closely with a supervision team. Please browse staff profiles to learn about the research specialisms and outputs of Music staff. If your research is interdisciplinary, look at staff profiles in other subject areas, too. We encourage you to approach staff directly to gauge their availability and suitability as a prospective supervisor.
When making first contact with either a prospective supervisor or the Programme Director, please introduce yourself and mention your research intentions as a composer. If you maintain a professional website or online portfolio, please include a link.
This helps potential supervisors to understand your vision of the scope of a PhD or MScR project, and your understanding of the type of practical - as well as intellectual - matters that postgraduate research entails. This early contact with staff should also be helpful to you, for decisions you will need to make about how to develop your proposal, and with whom you would like to work.
Our BMus is unrivalled in its flexibility, enabling you to tailor a programme that best fits your musical interests and strengths.
We offer a distinctive and rigorous core curriculum in the first two years that will develop your musicianship and critical thinking skills and introduce you to the history of both popular and western art music. You can specialise in performance and composition, and choose from a diverse range of subjects that includes acoustics, music psychology and music technology.
In years three and four this choice is expanded further, enabling you to specialise in particular areas and to benefit from the research expertise of Reid School of Music staff. We currently offer options in performance, composition, music in the community, Scottish traditional music, music technology, music and multimedia, and music psychology, as well as a range of courses exploring the theoretical, historical and political contexts of music. In addition, and subject to availability, you can also select to study subjects from elsewhere in the Edinburgh College of Art or across the University in all four years of your degree.
As a student in the Reid School of Music, you will be part of a vibrant musical community. You will study with scholars, composers, and performers of international renown who are passionate about teaching. You can join one or more of the many orchestras, ensembles, and choirs available at the University, enjoy our varied concert series, and take advantage of the School’s location in the centre of Edinburgh, a city with a rich musical life. You will have the opportunity to work with ensembles such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Edinburgh String Quartet. You can immerse yourself in our unparalleled Musical Instrument Museum, and you can also apply to participate in our Music in the Community projects, which in recent years have involved student visits to the Gambia and Greece.
The PhD in Creative Music Practice provides an opportunity for candidates to pursue practice-led research in the field of music at the highest level.
The PhD in Creative Music Practice involves research that combines textual and musical outputs. For example:
Composition
Performance (either of original or pre-existing repertoire)
Installation
Sound design
Interactive music software, etc.
The outputs take the form of a portfolio, performance, and/or recording, as well as theoretical work and documentation of the processes by which the music was made (e.g. video, photographs, recordings, sketches, studies, web pages).
The musical outputs are explicitly linked to the textual material. This linkage may take various forms: musical material might exemplify, contextualize, and/or expand an idea elaborated in the text, and vice versa.
The programme requires candidates to critically evaluate and articulate the relationship of textual to extra-textual media in the formation of musical knowledge. The format of the PhD thesis consists of a text of not more than 50,000 words and a comprehensive record of the musical material (recordings, scores, software etc.) contained in a coherent and archive-able format (bound thesis and/or CD/DVD). In the case of theses relating to live musical performances, documentation in the form of high quality audio and video recordings is central to the submitted materials.
Find and develop your own individual route into the music sector with our Popular Music BA (Hons) course at the University of Northampton. This course is perfect if you’re a creative singer/ vocalist, bassist, drummer, guitarist, keyboardist or singer-songwriter looking to develop your technical, performance, musicianship and technology skills to a professional level.
You’ll learn the creative, music technology and study skills necessary to support you in your mission to be music Pro. In addition, we provide students the skills for wider employment, including in the teaching profession and further study should this be something you wish to pursue.
This course is Industry Accredited by JAMES representing APRS, MPG and associate industry bodies. Accreditation of a course by relevant industry bodies provides assurance to students and employers of its potential and value.
Our Musical Theatre degree is a two-year intensive programme that provides practical training in the essential triple-threat disciplines of acting, singing, and dancing. This course is designed to offer an industry-relevant and focused study experience, ensuring you gain the skills needed for a successful career in the musical theatre industry.
You will receive professional training from experienced industry professionals who are dedicated to developing you into a creative, independent, thinking artist. Our course aims to make you relevant to the demands of the industry today. Throughout your studies, you will gain a thorough and practical understanding of how the musical theatre industry operates. This comprehensive training ensures that you develop transferable skills that enhance your employability potential across various fields.
The course covers a wide range of topics including audition techniques, stage presence, choreography, and voice training. You will also delve into character development, scene study, and musical theatre history. The training is designed to provide you with production skills and showcase opportunities that are critical for industry networking.
Throughout the programme, there is a strong emphasis on collaboration and the creative process. You will work closely with your peers and instructors in a supportive environment, fostering your ability to work effectively in professional settings. The course also includes training in technical theatre, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of theatre performance and professional stagecraft.
Graduates of this programme will leave with a robust set of performance techniques, acting techniques, and artistic development skills. They will be well-prepared to pursue careers in the musical theatre industry, backed by strong industry connections and comprehensive career preparation. With opportunities for creative performance and the development of dance techniques and singing techniques, our graduates are equipped to excel in various performance opportunities on stage and screen.
Location: Cardiff
Our Creative Music Technology degree is designed to equip you with the artistic, technical, creative, and professional skills needed for a career in the music industries. This degree is highly practical and industry-focused, offering a multi-skilled approach that includes composition, analysis, recording, and production.
Throughout the course, you will develop your music production skills, learning how to convey personal expression and imagination in practical music-production. You will also gain expertise in recorded music and applied sound production. The project-based nature of the programme means you can tailor assignments to your own interests within the broad field of music technology and production.
The course covers a wide range of music technology techniques and resources, helping you to build an in-depth understanding of the field. You will enhance your enquiring, analytical, innovative, and creative approaches to the production and performance of music.
You will gain insight into the business and legal issues related to the successful application of music technology in the commercial environment. This includes learning how to generate and communicate original concepts that build on the knowledge gained in the taught sections of the programme.
Our degree provides state-of-the-art facilities and access to the latest music technology. You will work on projects that include sound design, electronic music, and experimental music, preparing you for a wide range of careers in the audio sector. The course also covers live performances, composing and performing, and sonic arts.
The practice-led course is designed to keep you engaged and excited about your studies. Our strong connections with the local music scene will provide you with plenty of opportunities to apply what you learn in real-world settings.
By the end of the course, you will have developed a comprehensive portfolio of work that showcases your skills and creativity. This will prepare you for employment in the music industry, further research, and continuing professional development. You will be well-equipped to contribute to the future sounds of the music world and excel in contemporary music technology practice.
With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, improvisation, song writing and listening, this flexible and highly regarded course is aimed at giving you the knowledge and practical skills to enter an existing practice or start your own.
With a strong focus on experiential learning and improvisation, this course is informed by psychodynamic and person-centred principles and equips you with the clinical, theoretical, and practical skills needed to enter the profession.
You'll develop an improvisational approach and gain experience in both individual and group music therapy practice.
In the first year, you'll work with children and adolescents, the second year focuses on adults, and the third year explores more complex areas, such as palliative care, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), and forensic services.
This flexible programme allows you to study while working. You'll learn from experienced tutors and research staff with strong connections within the profession. Regular visiting lecturers provide insights from a broad range of practice.
The course leads to registration as a music therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Develop and refine your creative process using inspiration from past and present composers. Express and apply this in different areas using a broad range of techniques and technologies. Recognised as the 'most musical city' in the UK (per capita) it is a fantastic place to study all genres of music.
BSc(Hons) Creative Music Technology is accredited by JAMES, the education arm of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS) and the Music Producers Guild (MPG) who describe the course as 'highly relevant to current industry practice'.
Explore composers and artists past and present, taking inspiration from Bach to Boulez, The Beatles to Hans Zimmer.
Refine and define your own creative process. Develop programming skills and learn how to enhance the sound and quality of audio using technology.
Study composition and enhance your formal musical training in music theory and performance. Get involved with inspiring musical projects in the community, for schools and with local media companies.
Perform in events organised by our celebrated Centre for Music. Activities range from big band, to chamber ensembles and a full symphony orchestra.
Gain valuable real-world experience and a professional portfolio through a series of placements that prepare you for a career in the music industry.
