Music (MA by Research)

Start date

1 October 2025

12 January 2026

20 April 2026

Duration

The maximum duration for an MA by Research is 1 year (12 months) full-time or 2 years (24 months) part-time with an optional submission pending (writing-up) period of 4 months.

Sometimes it may be possible to mix periods of both full-time and part-time study.

If studying on a part-time basis, you must establish close links with the University and spend normally not less than an average of 10 working days per year in the university, excluding participation in activities associated with enrolment, re-registration and progression monitoring. You are also expected to dedicate 17.5 hours per week to the research.

Application deadlines

For September 2025

13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students

04 July 2025 for Home Students

For October 2025

13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students

04 July 2025 for Home Students

For January 2026

17 October 2025 for International and Scholarship Students

14 November 2025 for Home Students

For April 2026

23 January 2026 for International and Scholarship Students

20 February 2026 for Home Students

About the research degree

A Master of Arts (MA) by Research allows you to undertake a one-year (full-time) or two-year (part-time) research degree. It contains little or no formal taught component. This type of study gives you the chance to explore a research topic over a shorter time than a more in-depth doctoral programme.

Our research degrees are available as full-time, part-time and some are offered distance learning.

Research Master's students choose a specific project to work on and have a greater degree of independence in their work than is the case with a taught Master’s course.

You’ll be expected to work to an approved programme of work which you will develop in conjunction with your supervisor within the first few months of starting your studies. Whilst undertaking the research project you will also develop your research skills by taking part in training courses and events.

You will be appointed a main supervisor who will normally be part of a supervisory team, comprising up to three members to advise and support you on your project.

At the end of the project you’ll write up your findings in the form of a short thesis of around 25,000 words, which will then be examined. We also accept applications for projects which are practice-orientated, and which include portfolio submissions. These include practice submissions with written components. You will receive guidance from your supervisory team as to the percentage equivalents between the practice and written elements of your research.

On successful completion, you will be awarded your degree and if you have enjoyed this taste of research, you may then decide to apply for the full research doctoral degree (PhD).

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for enrolment on a MA by Research is an Honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or a qualification of an equivalent standard, in a discipline appropriate to that of the proposed programme to be followed.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

CeReNeM Scholarships

The Centre for Research in New Music (CeReNeM) brings together world-leading researchers and artists. The CeReNeM students pages include more details about our courses and our student community. You can also find out more about available fee waivers and scholarships.

Music Facilities at Huddersfield

We have some fantastic equipment and facilities available for you to use throughout your studies, including recording studios, lighting rigs and an electronics lab. Watch the video to learn more.

Music composed and produced by Huddersfield postgraduate music student Johnny Swailes.

Postgraduate Study

Jung In is studying for a PhD in Music and Music Technology. In her film she talks about her practice-based work, the facilities in the Creative Arts Building EMS studios and her aspirations to work with a dance company to produce a large-scale work.

Dejana Sekulic PhD Researcher

"I highly recommend this research program, because it is an exceedingly nourishing environment for both parts of the whole: the âthinkerâ and the âdoerâ of music. The music research community at Huddersfield is filled with people who have equal enthusiasm and sense of wonder, yet all with their own approaches and ideas. It is one of the most creatively thinking and supportively challenging communities, in which we inspire each other to always strive to better articulate and execute our individual pursuits.

I have the outmost luck in having Philip Thomas and Aaron Cassidy as my supervisors. Their experience, expertise and achievements in each of their respective fields are admirable, whilst their extensive scope of knowledge and information makes for a support and guidance that manage to perfectly include and balance both the academic and the artistic aspects of my research."

Dejana Sekulic, Music PhD Researcher

CeReNeM Newsletter

One of the flagship institutes of the University of Huddersfield, CeReNeM, brings together world-leading researchers and artists at the cutting edge of contemporary music performance, composition, music technology, new sonic media and new music studies. Read the latest news from the Centre for Research in New Music.

Live at Huddersfield

We are excited to bring you an inspiring and international series of events throughout the academic year, including top-class chamber music, psychedelic noise-rock, performances from our music research students and everything in between. Check the line-up and buy your ticket here.

What can I research?

The University of Huddersfield has one of the largest Music and Music Technology postgraduate communities in the UK. With approximately 100 students representing numerous fields of study and well over a dozen nationalities, our postgraduate community is a vital and vibrant part of the life of the department. Recognised research strengths in music include:

Composition (including instrumental composition, film music composition and electroacoustic composition)
Contemporary music performance and improvisation
Sonic arts
Music technology
Early music
Historically informed performance practices
Music analysis
Cultural, historical and critical musicologies
Popular music
Archival research
Music archaeology
Music, politics and identity
Voice and embodiment
The musicology and practice of production
Digital, systematic and empirical musicologies

The University Research, Innovation and Skills webpages and MMT research pages provide information on these research areas, alongside a full listing of academic staff. The CeReNeM Students pages include details of our courses in the composition, performance, technology and study of new music; CMCI is our centre for musicological research; and ReCePP provides a hub for performance studies within the department.

You will need to complete a research proposal outlining your areas of interest and when this is submitted along with your research degree application form we will look for the academics within the University who have the expertise and knowledge to supervise you and guide you through your research degree.

Find out more about Music and Music Technology fee waivers and scholarships.

Facilities

Exploring Music

St. Paul's Hall

Spatialisation and Interactive Research Lab

Music Technology

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Researcher Environment

Huddersfield has over 1,000 research students. We have students studying on a part time and full time basis from all over the world with around 45% from overseas and 55% from the UK.

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up-to-date with the latest developments in their field, which means you develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

If you are interested in finding our further information about our staff or research centres please refer to the [Research |www.hud.ac.uk/research]section of the website

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.

Tuition fees for UK researchers will cover the cost of your study at the University. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see our Fees and Finance. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

If you are interested in studying with us on a part-time basis, please visit our Fees and Finance pages for part-time fee information.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.

If you are interested in studying with us on a part-time basis, please visit our Fees and Finance pages for part-time fee information.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Tuition fees - part-time

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

When you are offered a place on a research degree, your offer will include confirmation of your supervisory team, and the topic you will be researching and will be governed by our terms & Conditions, student handbook and relevant policies. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control, for example if your supervisor leaves the University, or suffers from long term illness. Where this is the case, we will discuss these difficulties with you and seek to either put in place a new supervisory team, or help you to transfer to another research facility, in accordance with our Student Protection Plan.

Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example the University being unable to access it’s buildings due to fire, flood or pandemic, or the University no longer being able to provide specialist equipment. Where this is the case, we will discuss these issues with you and agree any necessary changes.

Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study. However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control. If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing. If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.