Overview

PhD: Our Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research is an international centre for research into music therapy, putting you at the heart of new music therapy research worldwide. Our large community of PhD students, and links to seven other universities across the world, will make you part of a team that leads on music therapy research.

Our research institute leads music therapy research for adults, older people, young people and children with a range of issues. We specialise in finding out what works clinically in music therapy and how it works, including which theoretical frameworks such as neurology, psychology, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis best inform the work.

Our innovative research involves outcome studies in a variety of settings, such as schools, health services, voluntary and the private sector, and we have many partnerships within these. Our research streams include music therapy and dementia, autism, end of life process, learning disability, mental health, children and families, addiction and stroke. Our Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research is based in a state-of-the-art music therapy centre, including a research laboratory where practical music therapy and music and brain research can be undertaken in purpose-built spaces.

Careers

We will provide you with many opportunities for career development and training, in areas like writing up a paper for publication; placing an academic article; giving a conference paper; the doctoral writing style; updates on research methods and literature searches; internet training; editing skills for doctoral research; subsequent monograph publication; and dealing with festivals, agents, and publishers. You might also be able to take on teaching responsibilities in the department or organise research events like seminars and conferences.

In conjunction with the University’s research support, you can request specific support for writing-up, conference papers, general research methods and other research skills if you need it. You can also take part in running research projects where appropriate and link your research ideas accordingly.