MPhil/PhD
Print version
Please scroll down the page or follow the links below:
Introduction
Course structure
Assessment
Applications
Funding
Introduction
Course structure
Assessment
Applications
Funding
Introduction
The Music Department has a long-established international reputation for research in music history and musical analysis, covering music from the Middle Ages to the present day. We are particularly strong in opera studies, performance studies, music theory, historiography, 18th- and 19th-century music, the early 20th century (including jazz) and composition. A new area of research being opened up by staff at King’s is the study of music on record, especially historical recordings and their implications for performance.
For the range of subjects currently under supervision in the Department, please consult staff profiles.
For the range of subjects currently under supervision in the Department, please consult staff profiles.
Course structure
The Department follows the normal pattern for Humanities research in the UK, offering close supervision of individual projects. Each student has a research committee led by the main supervisor, assisted by two other staff members with relevant expertise.
Students are at first registered for an MPhil (Master of Philosophy). During the first two years of research students apply to upgrade, allowing them to continue towards a PhD. Their research committee will examine a portfolio of work and interview them in order to determine whether to allow them to proceed.
Research students have regular meetings with their supervisor and are entitled to consult other members of their committee as appropriate. They are also encouraged to present reports on their work in seminars and colloquia during each of their three years of study.
Both PhD and MPhil are examined by thesis, or compositions, and a viva voce examination.
Further details are available at the Assessment and Records Centre
Students are at first registered for an MPhil (Master of Philosophy). During the first two years of research students apply to upgrade, allowing them to continue towards a PhD. Their research committee will examine a portfolio of work and interview them in order to determine whether to allow them to proceed.
Research students have regular meetings with their supervisor and are entitled to consult other members of their committee as appropriate. They are also encouraged to present reports on their work in seminars and colloquia during each of their three years of study.
Both PhD and MPhil are examined by thesis, or compositions, and a viva voce examination.
Further details are available at the Assessment and Records Centre
Assessment
Thesis length, submission & examination
MPhil: 60,000 words maximum
PhD: 100,000 words maximum
including footnotes/endnotes, but excluding bibliography, appendices and editions.
Extensions on word-length are not normally granted. Candidates must submit an entry form for examination, which must be signed by the supervisor and submitted via the Music Department office, at least four months before submission. At that point there will be an opportunity for the Department to make suggestions for appropriate examiners. Examiners, however, are appointed by a committee of the University, not by the Department or the College. The date of the viva voce examination is arranged by the Department in consultation with the candidate and the examiners. After the viva you can expect to receive details of all the changes required and a timetable for resubmission. Regulations governing the format of theses, examination procedures and outcomes are published by the University in the booklet Regulations for the Degrees of MPhil and PhD, available from Senate House. See also the useful College webpages beginning at www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/quasac/prsc/index.html.
Thesis in Composition
MPhil/ PhD in composition: a portfolio of substantial musical compositions which should show coherence and originality in invention and in the treatment of existing musical techniques; each work shall form the basis of a commentary on its structure and an exposition of the methods employed; and the portfolio should be accompanied by recordings of as many of the works as possible (CD format only). The compositions must be notated in a conventional manner. Any work employing improvisatory or ad libitum procedures should be accompanied by a recorded performance.
The work must be presented in a regulation blue box. Samples of approved boxes may be examined in the College Library. (NB Boxes can be made to order by Collis, Bird, and Withy, 1 Drayton Park, London, N5 1NU, tel: 020 7607 1116).
MPhil: 60,000 words maximum
PhD: 100,000 words maximum
including footnotes/endnotes, but excluding bibliography, appendices and editions.
Extensions on word-length are not normally granted. Candidates must submit an entry form for examination, which must be signed by the supervisor and submitted via the Music Department office, at least four months before submission. At that point there will be an opportunity for the Department to make suggestions for appropriate examiners. Examiners, however, are appointed by a committee of the University, not by the Department or the College. The date of the viva voce examination is arranged by the Department in consultation with the candidate and the examiners. After the viva you can expect to receive details of all the changes required and a timetable for resubmission. Regulations governing the format of theses, examination procedures and outcomes are published by the University in the booklet Regulations for the Degrees of MPhil and PhD, available from Senate House. See also the useful College webpages beginning at www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/quasac/prsc/index.html.
Thesis in Composition
MPhil/ PhD in composition: a portfolio of substantial musical compositions which should show coherence and originality in invention and in the treatment of existing musical techniques; each work shall form the basis of a commentary on its structure and an exposition of the methods employed; and the portfolio should be accompanied by recordings of as many of the works as possible (CD format only). The compositions must be notated in a conventional manner. Any work employing improvisatory or ad libitum procedures should be accompanied by a recorded performance.
The work must be presented in a regulation blue box. Samples of approved boxes may be examined in the College Library. (NB Boxes can be made to order by Collis, Bird, and Withy, 1 Drayton Park, London, N5 1NU, tel: 020 7607 1116).
Applications
Please feel free to discuss your plans with the Director of Graduate Studies in Music, Andy Fry.
To study for PhD at King's we would normally expect you to have achieved an impressive result at Masters level, either at King's or on an equivalent course. For musicologists and analysts we will also need to be sure that your research proposal will make a significant contribution to scholarship and that it can be completed to PhD level within three years (or part-time equivalent). And we will need to feel that we can offer sufficiently expert supervision to give you the very best support that you can find anywhere. Your application will need to persuade us on each of these points.
To apply, follow the link below to the online application system. Applications should be accompanied by a sample of appropriate and recent written work. Applicants in composition should include samples of recent compositions accompanied by recordings of the works if available.
Applications are normally considered within four weeks of receipt of references and written work. They are seen by at least two members of the teaching staff; candidates may be called for interview or (for overseas candidates) interviewed by phone or email.
There is no deadline for applications; however, applications made during the summer months are likely to take longer to process due to staff research absences, and we therefore encourage applications earlier in the academic year.
Link to online application system
To study for PhD at King's we would normally expect you to have achieved an impressive result at Masters level, either at King's or on an equivalent course. For musicologists and analysts we will also need to be sure that your research proposal will make a significant contribution to scholarship and that it can be completed to PhD level within three years (or part-time equivalent). And we will need to feel that we can offer sufficiently expert supervision to give you the very best support that you can find anywhere. Your application will need to persuade us on each of these points.
To apply, follow the link below to the online application system. Applications should be accompanied by a sample of appropriate and recent written work. Applicants in composition should include samples of recent compositions accompanied by recordings of the works if available.
Applications are normally considered within four weeks of receipt of references and written work. They are seen by at least two members of the teaching staff; candidates may be called for interview or (for overseas candidates) interviewed by phone or email.
There is no deadline for applications; however, applications made during the summer months are likely to take longer to process due to staff research absences, and we therefore encourage applications earlier in the academic year.
Link to online application system
Funding
The Graduate School at King's administers a range of funding schemes. UK and EU students may be eligible for funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Applications for Arts &Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding must be completed by 1 February 2010. Therefore, if you are intending to apply for AHRC funding, your application must reach the Department by mid-January at the latest.
There is no deadline for admission to the department if you have funds via another source, though early application is advised.
In addition, the School of Arts & Humanities has published an 'alternative guide to postgraduate funding', which gives details of alternative sources of funding.
Link to Graduate School funding 2010-11
Link to AHRC competition information
Link to Graduate School Funding Database
Link to Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding
Applications for Arts &Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding must be completed by 1 February 2010. Therefore, if you are intending to apply for AHRC funding, your application must reach the Department by mid-January at the latest.
There is no deadline for admission to the department if you have funds via another source, though early application is advised.
In addition, the School of Arts & Humanities has published an 'alternative guide to postgraduate funding', which gives details of alternative sources of funding.
Link to Graduate School funding 2010-11
Link to AHRC competition information
Link to Graduate School Funding Database
Link to Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding