How to Apply - Research
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Apply for Research
Applicants for doctoral study should apply through UCAS Conservatoires. Once applicants complete their online application via UCAS Conservatoires, please then submit your proposal online via Acceptd. A template of the online proposal form can be found further down this page.
Research themes which we support at doctoral level include:
- The processes and methodologies of developing new performance work (music/drama/music theatre), including collaborative and devised performance
- Musical composition, in all genres, for live, electro-acoustic and mixed media performance
- Scottish music
- Methodologies of specialist performance training, including the use of IT
- Socio-cultural studies of performance
- Performance education and pedagogy
Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership
Outstanding applicants applying for PhD study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland may be eligible to be nominated for Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding through the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Applicants interested in pursuing this opportunity must ensure that their application for PhD study at the RCS is received by 15 November 2024. Following an internal review process, interviews for shortlisted candidates for the competition will take place in December 2024 or early in January 2025.
Proposal Submission
All potential applicants are advised to discuss their proposals informally with RKE staff and potential supervisors well in advance of applying. In the first instance, please get in touch with Research Lecturer and Doctoral Degrees Coordinator, Dr Bethany Whiteside.
Please ensure you read the Guide for Applicants and Proposal Forms before applying:
PhD/MPhil
DPerf
Application Deadline
31 January 2025
Outstanding applicants interested in potentially being nominated to SGSAH for AHRC funding should note the earlier application deadline of 15 November 2024.
Interview/audition and submission of recordings/materials
Interviews (and auditions where appropriate) will be held throughout the year and applicants who meet the entry requirements and whose research proposal is in accord with RCS research areas will normally be interviewed. The interview panel will be chaired by the Head of Research. Interviews and auditions (the latter, where relevant) may take place online or in-person for entry in September 2025.
For enquiries for Research study, please contact doctoraladmissions@rcs.ac.uk. Please watch our helpful online guide to assist you, should you need to upload supplementary materials to Acceptd to support your application:
The Interview
The interview process is designed to provide the Programme Team with an insight into your level of suitability and readiness for study on the programme.
The panel will take account of all aspects of your profile. This will include:
- Quality of PhD/MPhil/DPerf proposal
- Fit of the proposal to RCS expertise and resources
- Performance at interview
- Commitment to the programme
- Potential to benefit from the programme
- Readiness for doctorate level study
- Academic qualifications
- Personal statement
- References (2 references from appropriately qualified persons)
- Contextualised data
