Composition PhD/MPhil: University of Briminghum

Postgraduate programmes in composition are available at MPhil and PhD level.

The Centre for Composition and Associated Studies (COMPASS), founded in 2002, gives a particular focus to activities in the field of composition. It draws together the areas of expertise covered by three staff composers of international standing:

• Professor Jonty Harrison – CDs include Articles indéfinis and Évidence matérielle; best known for his electroacoustic music
• Professor Vic Hoyland – works have included In Transit (BBC Prom Concerts,· 1987) and Vixen (Cheltenham Festival, 1997); active in instrumental music and music theatre
• Dr Scott Wilson – his instrumental and electroacoustic music has been presented internationally, including performances at the Synthèse Festival, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Open Ears Festival, and ZK MusikFest; he has also been recorded on the label 326music

A large number of prize-winning works have been composed in the Electroacoustic Music Studios, directed by Professor Jonty Harrison. The studios have an international reputation and are home to a group of composers, BEAST (Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre), and to the large concert diffusion system that has performed widely in Britain and Europe.

Their New Music Ensemble (NME) offers further opportunities for performance, as do the COMPASS Composition Prize (entailing workshops with the BCMG), the University Music Society commission for a new work for the University Orchestra, and links with the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts. A weekly COMPASS Composers Forum brings the community together to discuss issues of common concern (most recently the analysis and aesthetics of acousmatic music; areas in which more musicological enquiries would also be welcome).

Research

There research community includes approximately ten staff and 45 research students, and we particularly welcome students from the EU and overseas.

• Website: http://www.music.bham.ac.uk/research/

Entry requirements

The usual entrance requirement is an upper second-class degree or higher in Music, or appropriate equivalent qualifications

How to apply

You should submit scores and/or recordings of your work with your application (these items should be copies, since they cannot be returned)

Online applications

If you submit an online application, please write your ID number on your supporting documents when you send them to us. You will receive an ID number by email on the day after you submit your application (apart from applications submitted on Friday, Saturday or Sunday when the email will arrive on Monday).

If you send in your supporting documents before completing the online application form, please make sure that you write your full name, date of birth and the programme you are applying for on all the documents.

Paper application form

If you apply using the paper application form, please include, where possible, your supporting documents with the application.

Where to send supporting documents

• Address: Admissions
  Aston Webb Building
  University of Birmingham
  Edgbaston
  Birmingham
  B15 2TT
  UK

Tuition fees and costs

The University charges an annual tuition fee. This covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students. Fees are payable at the start of your programme.

When you accept the offer of a place, you are also accepting responsibility for the payment of your tuition fees, even if you are sponsored or in receipt of an award and the sponsor fails to pay. It is therefore very important that you have sufficient funds available to you. Unfortunately, if you fail to pay the fees, you will not be permitted to continue your studies.

For more information about tuition fees visit

• Website: http://www.postgraduate.bham.ac.uk/finance/fees.shtml

For general information about open days

• 3 December

Their Postgraduate Open Day is the ideal opportunity to visit the University and find out more about the research areas or programmes that interest you.

• Contact person: Steve Allmark
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 5430
• Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3850
• Email: pgopenday@contacts.bham.ac.uk

For more information about other tours and visits:

• Contact: Student Recruitment and Outreach Office
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3374
• Email: schools-liaison@bham.ac.uk

Contact details

Main University Switchboard

• Postal Address: University of Birmingham
  Edgbaston
  Birmingham
  B15 2TT
  UK
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3344
• Fax: +44(0)121 414 3971

Postgraduate Admissions

• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 5488
• Fax: +44 (0)121 414 6378
• Email: admissions@bham.ac.uk

International Applicant Enquiries

• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3694
• Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3850
• Email: international@bham.ac.uk

Financial Support Office

• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6720
• Fax: + 44(0)121 414 7926
• Email: financialsupport@bham.ac.uk