About us

The Department of Music is consistently rated as one of the top research departments in the UK with an international reputation of high distinction. We offer postgraduate research opportunities in a wide range of musical disciplines, with world-leading expertise in historical musicology, theory and analysis, performance as research, composition and ethnomusicology.

As an alternative, or precursor, to PhD study, we also offer MPhil and MA by Research (assessed entirely on the research dissertation: max. 40,000 words) options.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Research facilities and environment

We offer a strong and highly supportive, collegiate atmosphere in which you will be offered discipline-specific research training, have opportunities to present your research at regular PGR colloquia, and gain experience of teaching through working as an assistant to a member academic staff on delivering and assessing aspects of the BMus curriculum.

Assessment

Your progress will be monitored through supervision reports and will be reviewed annually, with an upgrade viva which, if successful, moves you onto the PhD programme.

Entry requirements

A good first degree and usually a Masters degree in Music, or in a related subject if the topic of research is interdisciplinary.

Before applying we recommend securing a supervisor in order to apply for your research project.

We advise getting in touch with the Director of Postgraduate Education making an informal enquiry for your chosen research degree to inquire whether there is any other additional material they require you to submit in your application.

English language requirements

All teaching at Royal Holloway is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.

The scores we require

IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 6.5. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26.

Country-specific requirements

For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please see here.

Your future career

Many of our PhD graduates in Music have moved into post-doctoral research positions and other academic opportunities. Others have moved into portfolio careers as creative artists, performers, teachers, and/or researchers.

A PhD in Music can also lead to non-academic careers, as employees recognise the transferable skills and personal qualities required to be successful at this high level of scholarship.

Fees & funding

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £4,786

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £25,500

Other essential costs***: There are no additional costs greater than £50 per item.

…How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries. 

* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2025/26.

* Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the UKRI website.

** This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2025/26. 

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase fees for overseas fee-paying students annually. Be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree (if longer than one year’s duration), and that this also means that the overall cost of studying the course part-time will be slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. The annual increase for continuing students who start their degree in 2025/26 will be 5%.  For further information see fees and funding and the  terms and conditions.

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2025/26 academic year and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included. 