The Royal Academy of Music offers research degrees in Performance Practice and in Composition.

Your course

Research Degree Programme

The Academy’s research degrees provide a collaborative environment for musicians to share and critique working practices, and a framework for developing long-term projects that will drive distinctive careers. The Academy offers an integrated PhD degree over four years, although students can exit with an MPhil after two years.

See examples of current projects.

All research degree candidates join the MPhil programme as 'probationary' PhD students; transfer to PhD normally takes place at the end of the second year. During your studies you will be allocated 30 hours of supervision per year, which can be divided between academic and practical supervision as negotiated with your principal supervisor and the Postgraduate Programmes Board. The fourth year of study is a writing up year, which has a reduced fee.

Discovery events

Discovery Events are the perfect way to find out more about the Academy and whether it’s the right place for you.

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A bassist chats with a passer-by in a corridor