Research Degree Programme

The Royal Academy of Music offers research degrees in Performance Practice and in Composition. The deadline for the UCAS Conservatoires application is 10 January 2025, midday UK time. The Academy’s research degrees are aimed at performers and composers who already have highly developed skills and focused career aspirations, including those with a well-established career. You will work with an individual supervisor and a team of creative staff at the Academy to develop your work through engaging in a substantial research project. This will normally be directly connected to and driven by your creative activity as a performer or composer but will also require you to establish a research context and undertake a process of investigation and critical reflection. The Academy offers an integrated PhD degree over four years, although students can exit with an MPhil after two years. Research degree candidates are assessed on their ability to gain the PhD qualification; they join the MPhil programme as 'probationary' PhD students; transfer to PhD normally takes place after one or two years. 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 the Postgraduate Programmes Board and your supervisor. The fourth year of study is a writing up year.