PhD in Music and Sound
Doctoral Research with the Academy of Music & Sound & University of West London
Yes, you read that right, there is a PhD in Music and Sound, delivered by Academy of Music & Sound Online, in partnership with the University of West London.
Starting November 2025 will be the first cohort of PhD students, all of whom have graduated from our own Masters Programmes.
Below is information about the new offer, details on how to find out more and to apply.
Our PhD Programme is three years in duration with writing up in the fourth year, the cost is £9995 per year
Studying for a PhD with Academy of Music and Sound will give you the opportunity to carry out an in depth Research Project supervised by our academic staff in partnership with colleagues at the London College of Music (University of West London).
Our PhD programme will be directed by Dr John Matthias who will be working with three additional Principal Supervisors, Dr John Levack Drever, Dr John Richards and Dr Núria Bonet, Dr Andrew Prior, whose collective research expertise encompasses strengths in a range of fields within Music and Sound including significant experience in Practice-Based Research Methodologies. In addition, we have five second supervisors, Dr Emmanuel Spinelli, Dr James Gordon, Dr Robin Dymond, Dr James Telford and Dr Tom Atherton.
If additional knowledge is required on the supervisory team for your project, we will use our networks to source additional academic members of staff. Typically you will be paired with one Principal Supervisor (with whom you will meet online once a fortnight during trimesters in the first year) and one second supervisor (with whom you will meet once every four weeks online during trimesters in the first year) and these supervisors will work closely with you throughout your PhD.
Milestone PhD Programme
You will follow the milestone orientated PhD programme followed by University of West London and you will be additionally supported by the Graduate School and the University Research Degrees Sub-Committee at UWL. At the beginning of your studies, Dr John Matthias will deliver 10 weekly sessions in Research Methods in Music(milestone 1) and you will be closely supported through milestones 2 (PhD final proposal), 3 (Research Presentation) and 4 (Transfer Process) and through to the final PhD thesis writing up period and submission including post viva voceexamination support.
Application, Fees and Funding
You will need to have a Masters degree or equivalent qualification prior to proposal development. The process of enrolling for our PhD involves initially developing a Research Proposal with us. When the proposal is ready, you will undergo an interview with Dr John Matthias and colleagues from London College of Music and the Graduate School of University of West London and you will be accepted when the proposal and interview achieves the required level. If you would like to study with us for a PhD, please send an email to Dr John Matthias at [email protected] and John will explain the process in more detail and will work with you to develop a PhD proposal. Fees are £9995 per academic year, and the PhD Music & Sound is a three year programme, with up to a further year for writing up. Fees are payable direct to our partner institution University of West London. For those in the UK, you could consider the doctoral loan to help fund your PhD, details here- https://www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan
PhD Academic Supervisory Staff
FAQs
You can study a PhD in Music and Sound with us, AMS Online as a supported distance learning student (100% online)
Yes. A PhD in Music allows you to conduct original research in areas such as composition, sound design, musicology, or technology.
Not at all. Many doctoral candidates begin their PhD in their 40s or later, bringing valuable professional experience to their research.
Yes, applicants are typically required to hold a Master’s in Music, Sound, or a related field.
A full-time PhD in Music usually takes three years, with a fourth year for writing up and submission.
You can study for a PhD in Music and Sound at the Academy of Music & Sound, in partnership with the University of West London. This research-based programme focuses on composition, sound design, musicology, and music technology, enabling students to make original contributions to their field through creative and scholarly work.