Music MScR
Awards: MScR
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
The Reid School of Music offers an exciting research environment that combines the theory, history, composition and practice of music with the scientific study of sound. We engage with a broad range of genres and traditions, including classical and popular music, Western and non-Western music, professional and amateur music making and music for screen.
Our research is highly interdisciplinary, with centres and groups spanning other Colleges and Departments within the University of Edinburgh, from Physics and Neuroscience to Informatics, the Humanities, Divinity and the Social Sciences.
We have a large community of postgraduate students undertaking independent research in music.
Our staff have a wide range of research interests, engaging in research clustered around four main themes:
- Music, Sound and Technology, including musical acoustics and organology
- Musical Practice, including composition (electroacoustic, algorithmic, computer music and music for screen), and historical and contemporary performance research
- Music and the Human Sciences, including music psychology and cognition, and music in the community
- Music and Social Institutions, including 19th and 20th century musicology, popular music, and music sociology
Some of our current hubs of research activity include:
- Acoustics and Audio Group
- ECA Digitals
- Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments
- Institute for Music in Human and Social Development
Please consult our staff profiles on the programme website to see interests and availability; you may propose projects in any area for consideration.
If you are interested in undertaking a small independent research project in music, the 12-month MSc by Research is ideal. This programme is offered in any area served by the expertise of our music staff.
In consultation with your supervisor you will develop an individual programme of coursework and research training over two semesters. You will submit a dissertation, or portfolio of projects equivalent to 30,000 words.
Candidates for larger-scale, doctoral research are normally admitted as probationary students for the first year of study, and on satisfactory completion of this first year are approved for registration for PhD (maximum four years full-time, dissertation of 80,000–100,000 words).
Our research degrees may be studied part-time (for example, MSc by Research may be studied part-time over two years).
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2020/21 | |
MScR | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2020/21 |
All of our research students benefit from ECA’s interdisciplinary approach and all are assigned two research supervisors. Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within ECA, or from somewhere else within the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences or elsewhere within the University, according to the expertise required. On occasion more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.
You should have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in an appropriate subject. We may also consider your application if you have relevant qualifications and experience; please contact us to check before you apply.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each module)
- TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees | |
MScR | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5739
- Contact: ecaresearchdegrees@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Research Director, Music, Prof Raymond MacDonald
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2424
- Contact: raymond.macdonald@ed.ac.uk
- Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
- The University of Edinburgh
- Evolution House, Grassmarket
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH1 2LE
- School: Edinburgh College of Art
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Edinburgh College of Art prospectus (PDF)
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc by Research Music - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc by Research Music - 2 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
13 September 2021 | 1 August 2021 |
We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.
You must submit two references with your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5739
- Contact: ecaresearchdegrees@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Research Director, Music, Prof Raymond MacDonald
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2424
- Contact: raymond.macdonald@ed.ac.uk
- Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Office
- The University of Edinburgh
- Evolution House, Grassmarket
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH1 2LE
- School: Edinburgh College of Art
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Edinburgh College of Art prospectus (PDF)