PhD/MA Programmes
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 and MRes programmes range 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.
SARC membership includes over forty academics from across various Schools in the University including the School of Arts English and Languages, School of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and the School of Natural and Built Environment. As a dynamic and international community of researchers, SARC hosts regular events with invited scholars, researchers and artists. The postgraduate cohort is core to the research culture and includes over thirty students from various backgrounds and nationalities.
The SARC postgraduate community is a vibrant multidisciplinary group which supports both individual and team-based collaborative research. The SARC PhD Lead role has been established to ensure the PhD voice is present as we plan activities and strategy for the future. The PhD Lead is a member of the SARC Steering Committee and plays a key role in highlighting research opportunities and curating events with invited researchers and artists. Weekly concert and seminar series provides an opportunity to engage with a broad range of research in sound and music as well as network building. Research interest groups invite students to informal discussions around specific topics and open opportunities for collaboration.
Students have ample opportunities to share their ongoing work both informally and through events like the SARC Members Symposium. A number of opportunities for showcasing research take place in the context of the NI Science Festival, Sonorities Festival Belfast as well as events organised by Queen’s Graduate School. Students are able to access funds to travel to relevant conferences and festivals throughout their study.
PhD
SARC launches the Douglas C Harrison PhD studentship
The Douglas C Harrison PhD studentship offers full funding valued in line with DfE Stipend (£19,237 for 24/25) and Queen's University Belfast PG Research Fees (£5,006 for NI Home, ROI and GB) for the duration of three years, commencing in October 2026.
All eligible students who have applied through the QUB portal for Full Time PhD in any area of Sound and Music research by Tuesday 13 January 2026, will be automatically considered for this award. International/EU outside of ROI applicants are eligible though must demonstrate they are able to finance £15,494 to cover full international fees (£20,500). No late applications will be considered.
This studentship is highly competitive and will be awarded based on the quality of the candidate's CV, research proposal and fit to the SARC research environment. Applicants are highly encouraged to contact potential supervisors prior to making an application - please visit the SARC Research Staff page or use Queen’s Find a Supervisor.
Please note exact figures are subject to change. For further information please contact sarc@qub.ac.uk
Other funding opportunities include DfE - Department for the Economy, NINE DTP and Landscape Awards - AHRC.
At SARC, you'll have access to facilities and resources that can help you grow as a researcher. Hosting multiple yearly events with researchers, industry professionals, and artists which help guide student research and artistic practices. Most importantly, the collaborative and engaged research community at SARC provides students with a wealth of experiences to draw upon as they pursue their education. It is a shared space of knowledge, leading to open discussions about ideas, projects, and research. Georgios Varoutsos
PhD
“Undertaking a PhD at Queen’s has encouraged me to be a more reflective, rigorous, and articulate composer and researcher.
I’ve worked with well-respected composers and ensembles, including Michael Finnissy and The Royal String Quartet. I’ve participated in a residency in Sibiu, and a summer school at its ‘Northern Bridge’ partner Doncaster.” PhD Candidate
I had an immensely positive experience as a PhD student at SARC, which had a profound impact on both my academic and artistic growth.
The environment was truly inspiring, fostering an atmosphere of creativity and curiosity that encouraged me to explore and develop my ideas to the fullest. The range of events that take place, including afternoon concerts and seminars are a particular highlight. The staff are extremely generous with their time, all with an abundance of enthusiasm and good humour, and the wider research community was a source of invaluable guidance, support and camaraderie. Dr Michael McKnight, Ulster University
Entry Requirements
A 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.
For international students, evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required.
Application Process
The University has launched the Queen's Portal and Postgraduate applications should be submitted via the new application portal. You will be asked to submit your CV, details of your qualifications, reference letters and a research proposal. If your project includes practice, examples of previous work are required and should be made available online. Please include links to a selection of 3-5 works and describe how these relate to your proposed project.
For further information please visit the QUB PhD Application Process.
MA Sound and Music
The MA in Sound and Music allows for specialised study in diverse music disciplines including composition, instrument design, musicology, performance and recording, while bringing together students across these areas (and more) to explore a broad range of topics through collaboration and individual research. The ethos of the course is based on the understanding that the practice and study of music is necessarily social, and that advancements in music inform, and are informed by, wider cultural, critical and technical practices. This course aims to connect students in adjacent subjects through access to elective modules from outside Music, as well as via participation in research seminars, ensembles, workshops, concerts and festivals delivered by SARC, QUB’s internationally-recognised centre for interdisciplinary research in sound and music.
The programme is delivered by SARC researchers across a wide range of expertise. To get to know the SARC research community please visit www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/sarc/people/
The programme offers practitioners a unique opportunity to expand their career horizons and deepen their expertise by integrating creative practice with academic inquiry and professional development.
World Class Facilities
The SARC building is home to unique facilities, including the Sonic Lab, the most advanced music venue on the island of Ireland, as well as professional quality audio recording and broadcast production studios, fabrication facilities and a multipurpose interaction lab.
The equipment and facilities in the SARC building are complemented by the nearby Music building, including the Harty Room, an oak hammer-beam vaulted roof concert hall housing two full-concert Steinway grand pianos, a double-manual harpsichord and several other specialist instruments, as well as recently upgraded AV playback facilities.
Industry Links
MA students will benefit from regular contact with visiting artists and academics through the Music @ QUB events series, which features weekly concerts, seminars, workshops and masterclasses.
Career Development
Students will form part of an international network of alumni that has continued to grow over the 75+ years that Music has been running at Queen’s
Bursaries
Three Douglas C Harrison bursaries of £3,000 each are available and will be allocated to the top applicants for the MA Sound and Music to offset tuition fees. All eligible students who have applied through the QUB portal for the MA Sound and Music by the deadline stated on the School website will be automatically considered for this award. No late applications will be considered. The awards shall be made as payment towards postgraduate fees in September/October.
For more information and to apply please visit: www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/sound-music-ma/
For enquires please contact programme convenor Dr Miguel Ortiz [m.ortiz@qub.ac.uk]