Research Degree Programme - Royal Northern College of Music
Source: https://www.rncm.ac.uk/research/programme/postgraduate
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:23
Research Degree Programme - Royal Northern College of Music
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Research Degree Programme
You are here
|
Home
|
Research
|
PhD
|
Research Degree Programme
The RNCM is firmly established as a leading centre for the advanced study not only of music performance and composition, but also theoretical and applied musicology, music psychology and music education.
Our
Research Degree programme (PhD)
provides opportunities for undertaking high-level research projects within the creative, and supportive environment of one of Europe’s most dynamic conservatoires.
Pathways and Duration
There are five specialist pathways:
Performance —
including performance practice and practice-as-research including Pop
Composition —
in a variety of media and genres including Pop
Musicology —
including the historical, analytical and cultural study of music
Music Psychology
and cognate disciplines — including both quantitative and qualitative research in the fields of expert music performance and training
Music Education
and pedagogy — including the philosophy, history, practice and theory of music education
A full-time PhD degree usually takes three years. UK students can also take the degree part-time, in all pathways, over six years.
PhD students at RNCM benefit from the College’s membership of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (
www.nwcdtp.ac.uk
).
Get an idea of the kinds of projects Research students are working on
.
How to Apply
First, read the
Guidelines for Applicants
and browse the
research interests of RNCM staff
to determine a prospective supervisor for your research project.
You are strongly advised to discuss your research project with the prospective supervisor you have identified, or with one of the members of staff listed below. They will not suggest specific topics to you; rather, they will expect you to be familiar with published and on-going research in your field of interest, and to be capable of constructing a proposal for an original research project.
Composition
: Dr Larry Goves (
[email protected]
)
Music Education
: Professor John Habron-James (
[email protected]
)
Music Psychology
: Dr Michelle Phillips (
[email protected]
)
Musicology
: Professor Nicholas Reyland (
[email protected]
)
Performance
: Professor David Horne (
[email protected]
)
Pop
: Dr Stuart McCallum (
[email protected]
)
Once you have received feedback on your draft research proposal from the appropriate member of staff, have identified two referees who know your current or recent academic work, and are ready to make a formal application, you should download and complete an
Application Form
.
Applicants must download a
PGR Reference Request and Report
and send it to their referees. Referees must then complete the form and return it to
[email protected]
.
Entry Requirements
Applicants for PhD are normally required to hold a good (Distinction or Merit) master’s qualification in a relevant subject, having undertaken research training and produced a dissertation and/or portfolio of compositions or performances. They will also be considered for a place on the RNCM research degree programme if they expect their master’s qualification to be awarded within the first three months after they have enrolled. All enrolments are expected to take place in September.
For applicants whose first language is not English, minimum scores on language tests are required for entry to all programmes of study at RNCM, regardless of how long applicants have lived in the UK and whether they undertook their bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees at UK higher education institutions. Applicants may be exempted if they achieved the minimum scores required before they undertook their master’s degree at RNCM, or another HEI where their learning was undertaken in English, and can provide evidence of having produced a dissertation of at least 8,000 words.
The minimum requirement for applicants to the
composition and performance
pathways is an average IELTS score of 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four components, or equivalent scores on a test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) taken no more than 12 months before the application was made.
The minimum requirement for applicants to the
music education, music psychology and musicology
pathways is an
average IELTS score of 7.0 including a minimum of 7.0 for writing and no less than 6.0 in any of the other three components
(listening, reading and speaking), or equivalent scores on a test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) taken no more than 12 months before the application was made.
If you are unsure of the status of your qualifications or require further information, please contact Charlotte Wheatcroft (Programmes and Assessments Coordinator [PGR]) at
[email protected]
.
AHRC-funded Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet Doctoral Focal College (DFC)
The RNCM is excited to announce the launch of a new AHRC-funded Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet Doctoral Focal College (DFC), which will fund and train 30 PhD researchers between 2026 and 2029.
The Crafting Care DFC is a consortium of three universities in the North West of England: the
University of Liverpool
, the
University of Lancashire
, and the RNCM.
Project Areas
Recruitment of the first cohort of PhD researchers will be shaped around the following four project areas:
Catalysing Care through Creative Arts/Practices
Communicating and Curating Care
Nourishing Care
Spaces and Places for Care
Further information about each of these
project areas
can be found here.
Expression of Interest
The deadline for
Expressions of Interest
is
1 December 2025
and the deadline for all PhD applications to the RNCM is
14 January 2026
. Promising candidates will be supported to work with prospective PhD supervisors to develop a full PhD proposal by
1 April 2026
. Two RNCM applicants will then be selected to join the first cohort of Crafting Care PhD students in October 2026 and receive a
full AHRC studentship
, including:
payment of tuition fees for the duration of the studentship – typically three and a half years – at the home tuition fee rate
an annual maintenance stipend (£20,780 in 2025/26 – 2026/27 rate TBC)
reimbursement of research expenses via the Research Training Support Grant
opportunities to apply for additional funding e.g. for placements and fieldwork
Please note that up to 30% of Crafting Care DFC awards can be offered to international candidates. In such cases, the difference between the home and international fee will be covered by the RNCM.
RNCM Studentship
In addition, the DFC has funding for one full RNCM Studentship (covering UK fees and stipend at UKRI rate), available for 2026 Entry. Applicants wishing to be considered for this funding should state this explicitly in their application for PhD study at the RNCM.
Partner HEIs
The Crafting Care DFC will be delivered in partnership with 10 non-HEI Partners who represent a range of health, environment, and arts/culture organisations:
Liverpool Philharmonic
National Museums Liverpool
DadaFest
Liverpool Biennial
The Mersey Forest
Canal and River Trust
Mersey Care
Wirral Public Health
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
A small number of prospective PhD researchers will be invited to work with one of these non-HEI partners throughout their doctoral project, with formal co-supervision from the partner throughout the programme. All PhD researchers recruited to the college will have the opportunity to work with one of more of these partners through a placement during the course of their programme or by working alongside them in training and networking events.
Contact Us
If you are interested in applying for a Crafting Care DFC studentship through the RNCM, please visit the
Meet Our Staff
pages to identify a potential supervisor, and make contact. Please direct any general queries about the Crafting Care DFC to
[email protected]
.
Fees
Take a look at the
tuition fees for RNCM programme
.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually.
A limited number of
bursaries
may be awarded on the basis of need and merit. You can apply if/when you have received an unconditional offer of a place on the RNCM research degree programme.
Important Dates
The deadline for applications for places with a September 2026 start was
Wednesday 14 January 2026
.
The deadline for self-funded applications is
8 May 2026
.
The deadline for Crafting Care DFC Expressions of Interest was
1 December 2025
.
Further information
For questions related to the application process, please contact the RNCM Admissions Team on
[email protected]
. For questions related to the programme, contact Charlotte Wheatcroft, Programmes and Assessment Coordinator (PGR) at
[email protected]
.
Downloads
Guidelines for Applicants (2026-27 Entry)
PhD Application Form (2026-27 Entry)
Crafting Care DFC Expression of Interest Form (2026-27 Entry)
PGR Reference Request and Report (2026-27 Entry)
Ethnic Classification Form (2026-27 Entry)
Our Location
The College
Study Here
About
Visit Us
Research
Alumni
Support the RNCM
中文网站
Events
What’s On
Book Tickets
Hire our Venues
Contact
124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD.
T:
0161 907 5200
E:
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
Student/staff Login
Log in here
The RNCM has two registered charitable trusts (Nos 504949 and 504948).
Copyright © 2026 RNCM
Privacy Statement
Study Here
Why Study Here
Professional Opportunities
Life in Manchester
Accommodation
Prospectus
Support and Wellbeing
Meet our Staff
Chat with Us
Virtual Tour
What You Can Study
Undergraduate School
Graduate School
Research Degree Programme
Schools of Study
Specialisms
Associate Student Scheme and CPD
Short Courses
Make an Application
Discover RNCM (Open Days)
Entrance Requirements
How to Apply
Your Audition
Your Offer
Fees and Funding
Support for Teachers
International Students
Why RNCM?
English Language Requirements
Qualifications on Entry
Application and Audition
Exchanges
中文网站
Junior RNCM
How to Apply and Fees
Apply to the RNCM
What’s On
Events
Festivals
Series
Programmes
Watch / Listen
Listings Guide
Join Us
RNCM Engage
Become a Member
Booking Information
How to Book
Seating Plans
Find Out First
Visit
Visit Us
Getting Here
RNCM Food & Drink
Access
Discover RNCM
Security
Find Us
About
The RNCM
Our Vision
News
Job Vacancies
Contact
Press Office
Find Us
College Information
Semesters
College Documents
Governors
Support and Wellbeing
Environmental Responsibility
Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Research Ethics and Integrity
Fellows, Honorary Members and Associate Artists
Data Protection
Privacy
Complaints
Worldwide Partnerships
International Benchmarking Group
Interplay
Performance and Placements
RNCM Raise It
Bullying and Harassment
Safeguarding
Our Vision
Research
Research Events
The Sir John Manduell Research Forum
Conferences
Events Archive
PhD
Research Degree Programme
PGR Profiles
Research Activity
Research Staff
Research Centres
Research Projects
Knowledge Exchange
Resources
Library
Archives
RNCM Collection of Historic Musical Instruments
Research Forum
Alumni
Meet our Alumni
Composition Alumni
Conducting Alumni
Ensemble Alumni
Keyboard Alumni
Popular Music Alumni
Strings Alumni
Vocal Alumni
Wind, Brass and Percussion Alumni
News and Features
Northern Highlights
Alumni Archive Recordings, 1973-1994
The Northern – Alumni Magazine
Events
RNCM Reunions
Congregation of Awards
Get Involved
Contact the Alumni Team
RNCM Connect
Keep in Touch
Support the RNCM
Alumni Archive Recordings
Support
How You Can Help
Donate
Regular Giving
Principal’s Circle
Support a Student
Named Award
Name a Seat
Corporate Support
Leave a Gift in Your Will
In Memory Giving
Williams-Howard Prize
Get in Touch
Meet the Team
Donate Now
Hire
Hire – Performance
RNCM Concert Hall
RNCM Theatre
Forman Lecture Theatre
Hire FAQ
Artist Agency
Hire – Conferencing
Concert Hall
Theatre
Forman Lecture Theatre
Carole Nash Recital Room
Conference Suite
Studios
Hire Our Spaces
Innovate
RNCM Innovate
The Future is Green
Performance
Research
Curriculum
Extra-Curricular
Infrastructure
RNCM Innovate Fellow
Study Here
Research Degree Programme
You are here
|
Home
|
Research
|
PhD
|
Research Degree Programme
The RNCM is firmly established as a leading centre for the advanced study not only of music performance and composition, but also theoretical and applied musicology, music psychology and music education.
Our
Research Degree programme (PhD)
provides opportunities for undertaking high-level research projects within the creative, and supportive environment of one of Europe’s most dynamic conservatoires.
Pathways and Duration
There are five specialist pathways:
Performance —
including performance practice and practice-as-research including Pop
Composition —
in a variety of media and genres including Pop
Musicology —
including the historical, analytical and cultural study of music
Music Psychology
and cognate disciplines — including both quantitative and qualitative research in the fields of expert music performance and training
Music Education
and pedagogy — including the philosophy, history, practice and theory of music education
A full-time PhD degree usually takes three years. UK students can also take the degree part-time, in all pathways, over six years.
PhD students at RNCM benefit from the College’s membership of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (
www.nwcdtp.ac.uk
).
Get an idea of the kinds of projects Research students are working on
.
How to Apply
First, read the
Guidelines for Applicants
and browse the
research interests of RNCM staff
to determine a prospective supervisor for your research project.
You are strongly advised to discuss your research project with the prospective supervisor you have identified, or with one of the members of staff listed below. They will not suggest specific topics to you; rather, they will expect you to be familiar with published and on-going research in your field of interest, and to be capable of constructing a proposal for an original research project.
Composition
: Dr Larry Goves (
[email protected]
)
Music Education
: Professor John Habron-James (
[email protected]
)
Music Psychology
: Dr Michelle Phillips (
[email protected]
)
Musicology
: Professor Nicholas Reyland (
[email protected]
)
Performance
: Professor David Horne (
[email protected]
)
Pop
: Dr Stuart McCallum (
[email protected]
)
Once you have received feedback on your draft research proposal from the appropriate member of staff, have identified two referees who know your current or recent academic work, and are ready to make a formal application, you should download and complete an
Application Form
.
Applicants must download a
PGR Reference Request and Report
and send it to their referees. Referees must then complete the form and return it to
[email protected]
.
Entry Requirements
Applicants for PhD are normally required to hold a good (Distinction or Merit) master’s qualification in a relevant subject, having undertaken research training and produced a dissertation and/or portfolio of compositions or performances. They will also be considered for a place on the RNCM research degree programme if they expect their master’s qualification to be awarded within the first three months after they have enrolled. All enrolments are expected to take place in September.
For applicants whose first language is not English, minimum scores on language tests are required for entry to all programmes of study at RNCM, regardless of how long applicants have lived in the UK and whether they undertook their bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees at UK higher education institutions. Applicants may be exempted if they achieved the minimum scores required before they undertook their master’s degree at RNCM, or another HEI where their learning was undertaken in English, and can provide evidence of having produced a dissertation of at least 8,000 words.
The minimum requirement for applicants to the
composition and performance
pathways is an average IELTS score of 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four components, or equivalent scores on a test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) taken no more than 12 months before the application was made.
The minimum requirement for applicants to the
music education, music psychology and musicology
pathways is an
average IELTS score of 7.0 including a minimum of 7.0 for writing and no less than 6.0 in any of the other three components
(listening, reading and speaking), or equivalent scores on a test approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) taken no more than 12 months before the application was made.
If you are unsure of the status of your qualifications or require further information, please contact Charlotte Wheatcroft (Programmes and Assessments Coordinator [PGR]) at
[email protected]
.
AHRC-funded Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet Doctoral Focal College (DFC)
The RNCM is excited to announce the launch of a new AHRC-funded Crafting Care for a Healthy People, Place and Planet Doctoral Focal College (DFC), which will fund and train 30 PhD researchers between 2026 and 2029.
The Crafting Care DFC is a consortium of three universities in the North West of England: the
University of Liverpool
, the
University of Lancashire
, and the RNCM.
Project Areas
Recruitment of the first cohort of PhD researchers will be shaped around the following four project areas:
Catalysing Care through Creative Arts/Practices
Communicating and Curating Care
Nourishing Care
Spaces and Places for Care
Further information about each of these
project areas
can be found here.
Expression of Interest
The deadline for
Expressions of Interest
is
1 December 2025
and the deadline for all PhD applications to the RNCM is
14 January 2026
. Promising candidates will be supported to work with prospective PhD supervisors to develop a full PhD proposal by
1 April 2026
. Two RNCM applicants will then be selected to join the first cohort of Crafting Care PhD students in October 2026 and receive a
full AHRC studentship
, including:
payment of tuition fees for the duration of the studentship – typically three and a half years – at the home tuition fee rate
an annual maintenance stipend (£20,780 in 2025/26 – 2026/27 rate TBC)
reimbursement of research expenses via the Research Training Support Grant
opportunities to apply for additional funding e.g. for placements and fieldwork
Please note that up to 30% of Crafting Care DFC awards can be offered to international candidates. In such cases, the difference between the home and international fee will be covered by the RNCM.
RNCM Studentship
In addition, the DFC has funding for one full RNCM Studentship (covering UK fees and stipend at UKRI rate), available for 2026 Entry. Applicants wishing to be considered for this funding should state this explicitly in their application for PhD study at the RNCM.
Partner HEIs
The Crafting Care DFC will be delivered in partnership with 10 non-HEI Partners who represent a range of health, environment, and arts/culture organisations:
Liverpool Philharmonic
National Museums Liverpool
DadaFest
Liverpool Biennial
The Mersey Forest
Canal and River Trust
Mersey Care
Wirral Public Health
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
A small number of prospective PhD researchers will be invited to work with one of these non-HEI partners throughout their doctoral project, with formal co-supervision from the partner throughout the programme. All PhD researchers recruited to the college will have the opportunity to work with one of more of these partners through a placement during the course of their programme or by working alongside them in training and networking events.
Contact Us
If you are interested in applying for a Crafting Care DFC studentship through the RNCM, please visit the
Meet Our Staff
pages to identify a potential supervisor, and make contact. Please direct any general queries about the Crafting Care DFC to
[email protected]
.
Fees
Take a look at the
tuition fees for RNCM programme
.
Tuition fees are reviewed annually.
A limited number of
bursaries
may be awarded on the basis of need and merit. You can apply if/when you have received an unconditional offer of a place on the RNCM research degree programme.
Important Dates
The deadline for applications for places with a September 2026 start was
Wednesday 14 January 2026
.
The deadline for self-funded applications is
8 May 2026
.
The deadline for Crafting Care DFC Expressions of Interest was
1 December 2025
.
Further information
For questions related to the application process, please contact the RNCM Admissions Team on
[email protected]
. For questions related to the programme, contact Charlotte Wheatcroft, Programmes and Assessment Coordinator (PGR) at
[email protected]
.
Downloads
Guidelines for Applicants (2026-27 Entry)
PhD Application Form (2026-27 Entry)
Crafting Care DFC Expression of Interest Form (2026-27 Entry)
PGR Reference Request and Report (2026-27 Entry)
Ethnic Classification Form (2026-27 Entry)
Our Location
The College
Study Here
About
Visit Us
Research
Alumni
Support the RNCM
中文网站
Events
What’s On
Book Tickets
Hire our Venues
Contact
124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD.
T:
0161 907 5200
E:
[email protected]
,
[email protected]
Student/staff Login
Log in here
The RNCM has two registered charitable trusts (Nos 504949 and 504948).
Copyright © 2026 RNCM
Privacy Statement