What is Music and Sound?

A research degree in Music and Sound offers you the opportunity to engage in an extended piece of academic research, either through creative practice in the production of an original body of work, or through the production of a written thesis. During this process, you’ll draw on and extend existing knowledge and practices, and you’ll show that your research makes an original contribution to knowledge.

As a research degree candidate, you’ll be supported by a supervisory team with expertise in your subject and/or research approach. A research degree can offer career progression opportunities in academic research and teaching, in addition to enhancing students’ understanding of professional practice, facilitating other routes for career progression.

We support research practice in the following areas:

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Ageing in popular music

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Composition and sound design for film, TV, and games

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Cultural history of popular music

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Ecomusicology / music and sustainability

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Gender in popular music

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Music production

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Music and screen media

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Spatial sound and immersive audio

Current postgraduate research includes:

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Exploring non-linear time within Interactive and Adaptive Electronic Music Composition through Unreal Editor (practice-based)

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Audio, Immersion and Audiences in Gaming (practice-based)

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Immersive Audio and Enhancing Creative Expression (practice-based)

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The Music of Michael Kamen: Using an Archive to Explore Composition Processes

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Hauntological Aesthetics in Film Soundtracks (practice-based)

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Gender Identities in Popular Music: A Corpus-driven discourse analysis of song lyrics in Japan and the UK

Study style

As a Music and Sound research student, you can take a practice-based approach to research, and develop a creative project which will be accompanied by a short thesis, or develop a musicological or theoretical project in the form of an 30,000 word, written thesis.

Researchers have opportunities to study, discuss or showcase their work, engaging with colleagues from a range of areas via seminars, symposia, conferences and training events.

All research students have access to the Music and Sound production facilities at Park Campus, and are encouraged to make use of them as part of their research. Our facilities include, 22.2 immersive audio lab, Dolby Atmos dubbing theatre, recording studios and production labs.

You’re also encouraged to attend national and international academic conferences in the latter stages of your research to present your ideas and receive feedback at such events.