Music at Sussex is recognised both nationally and internationally for its excellent and innovative research. In the national Research Assessment Exercise (2008), 95 per cent of the research undertaken in the Department was rated of 'international quality' or above, with 65 per cent falling into the two top categories 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.
PhD Study in Music
Studying for a PhD in the School of Media, Film and Music means joining a vibrant community of almost 100 research students, both full time and part time, and 30 members of faculty, all of whom are research active. Students in music are working in composition, music theatre (practice and theory) and musicology. Current doctoral research projects include:
Music Theatre: the musicalisation of theatre post-Grotowski; sonic body representation in performance art; animals in opera and music theatre.
Musicology: listener, performer and composer horizons and the construction of aesthetic experience; the impact of Stravinsky’s music on conducting, with reference to Stravinsky’s dance scores; changing performance traditions of Brahms in the 19th and 20th century as documented in the recorded legacy; Korean popular music, dance and video and the globalisation of Korean popular culture.
Composition: The ontology of the indeterminate musical work; composing sound for early experimental film.
The School of Media, Film and Music offers a varied programme of research events, including student work-in-progress seminars, subject-specific research seminars and talks, events organised by our three specialist research centres (including the Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre), and talks by professional practitioners. The university’s central Doctoral School also offers an extensive programme of study and professional development skills training for research students. For students engaged in creative practice there are state-of-the-art facilities and highly experienced technical support staff.
To apply to study with us you need to complete an online application:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/applying/2012entry
Your application should include a detailed research proposal indicating your research or creative aims, key research questions, research contexts, proposed research methods and a bibliography. You are also required to provide two referees, and information about your previous study.
If you have already identified a member of faculty with whom you would like to study you may indicate this in your application. Otherwise your proposal will be sent to the most appropriate members of faculty for evaluation. Sometimes we may get back to you to ask you to clarify or develop your proposal before being able to give it proper consideration.
All students have two supervisors, chosen for their appropriate subject expertise. If you are accepted for study you will be informed who are your suggested supervisors.
For any enquiries about doctoral study in Music please contact Ed Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Music, e.d.hughes@sussex.ac.uk (or Sarah Maddox, Doctoral Studies Co-Ordinator, (s.maddox@sussex.ac.uk).
Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre (CROMT)
For more information please see the Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre (CROMT).