MSc Music Technology (by research)

Study with us and deliver key research on a leading area of expertise, from signal processing for acoustics to audio for virtual reality. An MSc by Research focuses on independent learning and discovery. It's great preparation for doctoral study, or to gain a competitive edge in the job market.

Your research

The focus of your work will be an independent research project. We provide training which will equip you with skills in a wide range of research methods to support your growing expertise. Your research will culminate in a thesis, which is usually around 15,000 to 20,000 words long.

You are encouraged to take advanced taught courses to help fill any gaps in background knowledge required for your research project. The choice of courses taken will be made together with your supervisor at the beginning of the programme.

Transfer to PhD

You may be able to transfer to the PhD programme, if your project is of a sufficiently high standard and has the potential to be explored in greater depth.

Supervision

You will be supervised on a one-to-one basis by a member of the academic staff. We also offer opportunities for co-supervision, within the School and across the wider University, to support interdisciplinary projects. Your supervisor will help guide your progress, supported by a thesis advisory panel.

Before applying, we encourage you to learn about our academics and how their work and expertise fit your interests. Our academic staff are happy to answer any questions on their research interests or discuss a project you might have in mind.

Most of our academics accept applications for self-funded MSc study all year round.

• Find a supervisor

Course location

This course is run by the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology.

You will be based on Campus West. Most of your training and supervision meetings will take place here, though your research may take you further afield.

Full-time students are provided with dedicated desk spaces within the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology for the entirety of their programme. Dependent on your project, you might also use other facilities, including well-equipped music and media technology suites and anechoic chambers.

We offer a distance learning (DL) option for the MSc by Research programme if you cannot live in York full- or part-time. As part of the application process, we will ask for justification for taking the DL option and will then assess the feasibility of the work programme. The latter will be embodied in a plan of study outlining resources and facilities needed, training requirements and an associated timeline, which will need to be in place before being accepted onto the programme. Unless special arrangements can be agreed in advance, a research topic that requires specialised equipment and facilities may not be possible with the DL option.

Entry requirements

You should have, or be about to complete, a 2:2 or above honours degree (or equivalent) in:

• Electronics
• Electrical Engineering
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Music Technology

or a closely related subject.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

English language requirements

Applying

Apply for this course

Apply for this course (Distance Learning)

Advertised research projects

If you are applying for an advertised research project, please include the project name in your application. You should contact the project leader in advance, who may also ask you to submit a full research proposal.  Advertised research projects may be funded or self-funded, as indicated in the advert.

• Find a project

Research proposals

If you are not applying for a particular research project, you should contact the member of the academic staff you wish to work with, who may provide you with a research/project outline.

The research proposal needs to describe the nature of your proposed study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that you and your potential supervisor(s) have matching research interests. The proposal should be 250 to 350 words in length. It must be in English, and be your own words.

Find a supervisor

Funding

• Physics, Engineering and Technology School funding
• Funding for research degrees