Overview

Staff have regional interests in the music of East and Central Asia (Harris), India and Pakistan (Williams), the Islamic Middle East (Saeid Kordmafi) and Jewish world (Webster-Kogen), and South and East Africa (Impey). However research is not limited to these areas: projects have been undertaken on American jazz, and on Caribbean, Mediterranean and Eastern European music, for example. Staff often have research interests in issues that cross regional boundaries; see the Department Staff page for a summary of their interests, and select the name of a lecturer for further details of their individual research specialisms and activities.

Employment

Students in the Music programme from SOAS University of London develop a critical and theoretically informed approach to global arts and culture. In addition to an intercultural awareness and practical expertise, graduates gain a wide portfolio of transferable skills which are especially sought after in the creative and cultural industries.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

Professor of Ethnomusicology in RHUL

KCL

Durham University

UCLA

Xi'an Conservatory

University of Vienna, University of Würzburg

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Programme Structure

All research students are required to follow a course of research training held in the department in their first year. In addition they may be required to take one or more postgraduate courses, such as the MMus core course Ethnomusicology in Practice, and/or a language course, depending on their prior qualifications and the requirements of their research project. They are also expected to attend department research seminars and they may be recommended to attend research training workshops elsewhere in SOAS, or in other institutions London-wide .

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Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-29 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-15 00:00:00

Language

English

PTE Academic

70

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IELTS

7

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

London, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Music View 52 other PhDs in Music in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

PTE Academic

70

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Postgraduate students of the Department come from a wide variety of backgrounds in the UK and from overseas.

Most are performers of music as well as researchers; applicants are evaluated individually on the basis of their background and academic achievements.

Applicants should normally possess a Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Music, Ethnomusicology or other relevant discipline plus one reference. Applicants who are accomplished performers or teachers, or who work in the music industry, may have alternative qualifications, and are encouraged to apply.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

23390 GBP / year

≈ 23390 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

4860 GBP / year

≈ 4860 GBP / year

Living costs

London

United Kingdom

1137 - 2157 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Music.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Employment

Get more details

Programme Structure

Check out the full curriculum

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

Explore more key information

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Make sure you meet all requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

London

Funding

Check for any work restrictions

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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