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Music

Research programmes

DPhil and MLitt in Music

Course Code | 000920 

These degrees, with specialisation in Musicology or Composition, are awarded upon successful completion of a substantial original contribution to these fields prepared over the course of usually two years for MLitt and three or four years for DPhil.

Students embarking on these degree courses are normally expected to have a Master’s degree in music or equivalent, or they may first take the MSt in Music at Oxford.

Areas of research represented in the Faculty include:

  • Historical musicological topics from the Medieval to the present
  • Music theory and analysis
  • Composition
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Psychology of music
  • Performance studies
  • Aesthetics of music
  • Popular music
  • Film music
  • Critical and empirical musicology

How to Apply

The deadlines for this course are 18 January and 8 March 2013. AHRC and Clarendon applicants must apply by the January deadline.

The standard set of materials you should send with any application to a research course comprises:

In addition to the standard documents above, applicants to the DPhil in Music should provide two (2) relevant academic essays or other writing samples from their most recent qualification of 2,000 words each, or 2,000-word extracts of longer work.

Composers should also submit at least two (2) compositions, supported by recordings.

Please follow the detailed instructions in the Application Guide, and consult the Music website for any additional guidance.

Taught programmes

MSt in Music

Course Codes : Musicology | 000950, Composition | 003015,  Performance | 003025 

The MSt can serve both as a self-contained programme for students wishing to pursue more advanced studies in musicology, performance or composition for one year; or as an excellent preparation for doctoral research.

Students specialise in either musicology or performance or composition, supported by appropriate individual supervision or instrumental tuition. Assessment also varies appropriately by the path taken.

Seminar units are offered each year, in core areas and special topics.

  • Length of programme: Ten months

MPhil in Music (Performance)

Course Code | 003035

The MPhil is designed for students wishing to attain a thorough grounding in musicology, performance, or composition at an advanced level, either as a preparation for doctoral research or an autonomous qualification.

In the first year, students follow the MSt in Music (Performance), proceeding in the second year to individual supervision leading to the completion of a one-hour recital.

  • Length of programme: Twenty-two months

How to Apply

The deadlines for the MPhil and MSt courses are 18 January and 8 March 2013. AHRC and Clarendon applicants must apply by the January deadline.

The standard set of materials you should send with any application to a taught course comprises:

In addition to the standard documents above, applicants should provide further materials depending on the course applied to.

MSt Music (Musicology)

Applicants to the MSt in Music (Musicology) should provide two (2) relevant academic essays or other writing samples from their most recent qualification of 2,000 words each, or 2,000-word extracts of longer work.

MSt Music (Composition)

Applicants to the MSt in Music (Composition) should provide both:

  • one (1) relevant academic essays or other writing sample from their most recent qualification of up to 3,000 words, or a 3,000-word extract of longer work, and
  • two or three (2-3) pieces of composition, with a combined duration of 30 minutes.

The scores of the composition should be uploaded to the application as written work. Applicants are also encouraged to send mp3 or mp4 recordings of these compositions to Graduate Admissions via the online query form.

MSt and MPhil Music (Performance)

Applicants to an MSt or MPhil in Performance should provide both:

  •  two (2) relevant academic essays or other writing samples from their most recent qualification, or extracts of longer work, of no more than 5,000 words in total, and
  • a recorded recital, showing contrasting styles of performance, with a combined duration of 15 minutes

Recordings should be sent to Graduate Admissions via the online query form by the deadline you are applying to.

Please follow the detailed instructions in the Application Guide, and consult the Music website for any additional guidance.

Academic resources

  • Music Section, Bodleian Library

  • Music Faculty Library

  • Bate Collection of Musical Instruments

  • Faculty Electronic Music Studio

Graduate destinations

Postdoctoral research in music, academic posts in musicology, performance career, other music-related or broadly cultural professions.

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Main areas of research interests

Research interests on the Music website External link


Entry requirements
Research programmes

Master’s degree in Music or equivalent study

MSt and MPhil

Undergraduate degree in Music (first or good upper second-class) or equivalent study

 

Selection criteria

Details of the selection criteria used to assess applicants are available via the Music website:

 

English language requirements

Higher level


Funding/awards

Number of applicants
2012/13
Research degrees

46

Taught degrees

57


Number of places available
2013/14
Research degrees

13

Taught degrees

28

 

Statement of Provision

Music - Research (31 kb) [pdf]

 

Music - MPhil (32 kb) [pdf]

 

Music - MSt (412 kb) [pdf]