Merit
Future-Ready Award
Queen's University Belfast · Postgraduate
- Available to all international students
- For postgraduate study
- Open to your course
3 yearsDuration
£22,500Per Year (Intl)
£25,000Avg. Graduate Salary
N/AContinuation Rate
Course Overview
The PhD Music at Queen's University Belfast is a postgraduate programme designed for postgraduate students passionate about expressing creativity and innovation. Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this Russell Group university offers a research-led approach to learning, with a 3-year full-time and part-time structure. SARC: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Sound and Music is established as a broad research environment supporting work in all areas of sound and music. The PhD programme ranges from thesis focused to creative practice portfolio, with options for hybrid models combining practice and theory. Areas of research include: historical and critical musicology, sound studies, composition, socially engaged arts, performance studies, improvisation, interaction design, instrument design, audio signal processing, immersive sound and psychoacoustics. International tuition fees are £22,500 per year, home/UK fees are £26,445 per year, and a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission. Graduates from this programme benefit from strong career prospects, with 80% student satisfaction rating, a 90% continuation rate, and 85% of graduates in employment or further study.
What You'll Learn
Advanced Research Methods in Music and Sound
Critical Musicology and Historical Analysis
Sonic Practice and Creative Composition
Audio Signal Processing and Acoustics
Performance Studies and Improvisation
Psychoacoustics and Perception Research
Interdisciplinary Sound Design and Interaction
Research Supervision and Thesis Development
Academic Year:2026-27 entry
Entry Requirements
📋 Academic Entry Requirements
| Postgraduate Requirement | Entrance requirements GraduateA 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. While a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) is not essential, it is desirable and applicants without this qualification will be considered on a case-by-case basis. International Students For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country. English Language RequirementsEvidence of an IELTS |
🗣️ English Language Requirements
| Test | Overall | L | R | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 69 | — | — | — | — |
L = Listening, R = Reading, W = Writing, S = Speaking
Tuition Fees & Funding
International Student Fee
£22,500
per year
Total Course Cost (3 years)£67,500
Home Student Fee
£26,445
regulated fee
Scholarships available for eligible students
Fees shown are for current entry. Fees may increase annually in line with inflation.
📊 OFFICIAL UK DATA
Graduate Outcomes
Based on official HESA Graduate Outcomes survey data
💰 Graduate Salaries — Queen's University Belfast
| Time After Graduation | Lower Quartile Salary | Median Salary | Upper Quartile Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months | £20,000 | £25,000 | £27,500 |
Official Data
Salary figures are sourced from Discover Uni graduate outcomes data for this subject area at this provider (subject area: CAH25-02-02). These represent typical earnings and may not reflect this specific course. For official data, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.
💼 Employment Breakdown
80%Working
5%Studying
15%Work & Study
65%Professional Jobs
Official Data
Graduate employment outcomes are sourced directly from Discover Uni for this specific course and provider. For full details, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.
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About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast offers Music as part of its comprehensive programme offerings.
#174QS World
#26UK Ranking
25,080+Students
223+Courses
Russell GroupTEF —
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