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Research Degree Programme (full-time) (Research)

  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 13 September 2027
  • Postgraduate
Main Site
UCAS Conservatoires
Awarded by:
City St George's, University of London
More about Trinity Laban

Course options

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Course summary

The Research Degree Programme leads to one of the following awards:
• MPhil / PhD in Creative Practice: [Dance / Music / Collaborative Arts]
• MPhil / PhD in Dance Studies / Musicology / Collaborative Arts Studies
• MPhil / PhD in [Dance and / or Music] Science
• MPhil / PhD in [Dance and / or Music] Pedagogy

Key Features
The Research Degree Programme includes an induction period, research skills training, seminars, and a requirement to present your research work on a regular basis. You will mainly focus on regular one-to-one supervisions with two allocated research members of Trinity Laban staff or one member of Trinity Laban staff and one supervisor from a different institution.

The options in creative practice are suitable if your main focus is in musical composition, choreography, music and dance performance, movement-based somatic practice, or other projects in art forms such as film, installation, and photography that interface substantially with either music or dance. Any related activity which embodies practical components, including research incorporating interdisciplinary collaborations, is also suitable. Historical research projects that use archive resources at Trinity Laban are also admissible under this option.

The following indicative research topics could be accommodated under the fully-written dance studies/ musicology/ collaborative arts pathways:
Musicology Topics within: music theory; music analysis; historical musicology; historical performance practice; music history and historiography; philosophy of music; sociology of music; music and gender; music and politics; music performance studies;
Dance Studies Topics within: dance theory and studies; dance history and historiography; philosophy of dance; sociology of dance; dance and gender; dance and politics; dance performance studies;
Collaborative Arts Topics within: intersectional studies between music and/or dance and other artforms; choreomusicology; projects studying historical collaborative practice; case studies of transdisciplinary arts projects; collaborative arts and mediatization.

The options in science and pedagogy are available if you are specialising in empirical approaches to topics in music and / or dance research and if you wish to concentrate on educational and pedagogical aspects.

Some researchers combine practice with theoretical perspectives – for example, looking at the cultural context of the creation and performance of works. Practitioners and researchers from Trinity Laban are developing innovative, collaborative projects which push the boundaries of the art forms and promote the development of new artistic media.

Course details

Principal study options

During the application and audition process, you must select which instrument(s) you wish to specialise in for the duration of your course. On this course, you can choose from the following options:

Instrument/specialisms

For all courses, you must select at least one specialism from the 'primary' list. For those studying primary/secondary pathways, two instruments may be selected – one from the 'primary' list and one from the 'secondary' list. Joint pathway students may select any two instruments from either list.

Primary instrument/specialism
  • Collaborative Arts Studies
  • Creative Practice: Collaborative Arts
  • Creative Practice: Dance
  • Creative Practice: Music
  • Dance Pedagogy
  • Dance Science
  • Dance Studies
  • Music Pedagogy
  • Music Science
  • Musicology

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Doctor of Philosophy • Full-Time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 13 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
900F
Institution code:
T75
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Trinity Laban has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

If you are an international applicant, or you are applying for a postgraduate course, or are choosing certain assessment locations, the 'on time' deadline may be later in the year - please contact the conservatoire directly.

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
900F
Institution code:
T75
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Postgraduate level qualification

Assessment locations

In the event of a successful assessment, applicants may be invited for a further interview prior to being made an offer.

Remote assessment recordings may be accepted in the event that you cannot attend an assessment in person.

Single specialism assessment

LocationOn-time Fee
OnlineNo Fee Charged

Joint principal specialism assessment

LocationOn-time Fee
OnlineNo Fee Charged

Additional Information

Your application will consist of both an application via UCAS Conservatoires and also additional information to be submitted via Embark: (1) an outline research proposal, (2) a summary CV, (3) certified copies of all degree certificates, (4) a copy of English Language certification (if required), (5) for proposals engaging in practical elements, a portfolio of your creative practice. You will find advice and guidance on both these application processes here: https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/sites/default/files/guidance_notes_for_rdp_applicants_may19_v2.pdf

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland, EU & InternationalTBC

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees will be published on our website when available.

Related courses

At Trinity Laban

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