RESEARCH DEGREE PROGRAMME

Programme Details

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 have one-to-one meetings with two allocated research supervisors.

The options in creative practice are suitable for those whose main focus is in composition, choreography, performance, or any related activity which embodies practical components, including those whose research incorporates interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition, historical research projects that utilise archive resources at Trinity Laban are also admissible under this option.

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

Initial registration for research degree candidates is usually for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) programme, allowing students time to develop their research methodology and refine their topic. The projects will be assessed after an initial period, at which time transfers to the PhD programme may be considered.

Registration can be either in full-time or part-time mode, and there are two intakes for the Research Degree Programme in each academic year: January and September. We also offer options for suitably experienced Staff Candidates to pursue doctoral study, and in appropriate cases, submission by prior publication is possible.

The MPhil and PhD programmes are led by:

Professor Jonathan Owen Clark
Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange
RDPAdmissions@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Prof Clark welcomes informal enquiries relating to any aspect of potential postgraduate level research at Trinity Laban. If you are considering contacting us or submitting a formal application, please read the Guidance Notes for RDP Applicants before you do so. The Guidance provides detailed information on the above and many additional aspects of the Research Degree Programme and the application process.

For further information, read the Trinity Laban Research Degree Programme Student Handbook.

Supervision

• At Trinity Laban, the guideline supervisory contact hours for full-time research students is based on a student/supervisor meeting of two hours once a month (24 hours/Academic Year shared between supervisors).
• Part-time RDP students will therefore receive a supervisory meeting of two hours, once every two months (12 hours/AY shared between supervisors).
• The number and frequency of meetings is expected to change during an individual’s course of study (it may be the case that more supervision is required at the beginning, and less at the end).
• The role of ‘first’ or ‘main’ supervisors and second supervisors: it is expected that this be flexible, and designed in consultation with all parties; as is the ‘split’ of supervisory meetings between supervisors.
• All students and supervisors are required to keep notes of the content of all designated supervisory sessions that are shared after each meeting; these notes form the basis of the supervisors’ annual written review for each student.

Supervisory support during the ‘writing up’ period is halved and stipulated to be 12 hours in total for full-time students (pro-rata for part-time students); and halved again during an amendment period post-viva voce.

Current research supervisors

Current research students

Researcher Development

Our research students have access to an annual programme of Professional Development events which are organised in two strands:

• the Researcher Development Series, with sessions on a wide variety of subjects, from diversity to planning and managing your research project

and

• Professional Development for Research Students with presentations designed to help with specific milestones, which are part of MPhil/PhD students’ progression towards submission

During the annual RDP/MFA Week, research students present their work in progress in talks to which we invite all our staff and students as well as external visitors.

The Parallax series of staff and student showcases is an opportunity for Creative Practice students to apply to stage a performance or presentation of their work, for example Parallax13: Hollie Harding’s Melting, Shifting, Liquid World.

Our Research Seminar Series takes place on occasional Wednesdays and is an opportunity to hear invited researchers speak about an aspect of their work.

The Preparing to Teach course, delivered through two workshops during the course of the year, is part of TL: Augment, our Professional Development programme that has been accredited by Advance HE (formally the Higher Education Academy). Amongst other, it is designed specifically for RDP students, who should attend to develop their understanding of teaching within Higher Education and in preparation for being considered for opportunities to become involved in curricula delivery at Trinity Laban.

Please contact the Research Administrator if you would like further information on any of the above.

Find out more about our Research Events

Assessment

All candidates present a written dissertation for examination: this may take the form of a combination of practice and/or practical documentation, in addition to a written document. Wholly written submissions, for example in music/dance science or historical projects, are also appropriate.

For details of word-counts and submission materials please see the Trinity Laban Research Degree Programme Handbook.

Creative Practice MPhil/PhD submissions are practicable in the following areas of study: musical composition (by portfolio submission); choreography (by portfolio submission); movement-based somatic practice; music and dance performance; other projects in artforms such as film, installation and photography that interface substantially with either music or dance.

Application Requirements

You can find a brief outline of prerequisites for an application and its necessary components below. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and that you should read the Guidance Notes for RDP Applicants carefully before you consider submitting an application.

• Applicants for the programme should have a good Honours degree in a relevant subject and, preferably, a Master’s qualification.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must also have sufficient command of English to study at doctoral level: an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or above in each element.  Please note that applications which should include an IELTS certificate cannot be assessed if they are submitted without it.
• All applicants are required to submit a detailed research proposal, which outlines the area(s) of study and a description of how these correlate with existing areas of scholarship, both theoretical and practical. You will also be asked to state how the proposed research project is represented in terms of the research interests of Trinity Laban, and, if necessary, how the resources of the institution will be utilised.
• There are two deadlines for submission of applications. They are 1 June for the September intake; and 1 October for the January intake.
• HOW TO APPLY: 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 in the Guidance Notes for RDP Applicants.

Please contact Admissions with any application queries.

Fees and Finance

Fees for September 2024 entrants

Fees are reviewed annually. Home student tuition fees are aligned with the maximum tuition fee cap set by the UK Government.  International tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases based on RPI-X.

Fees for September 2023 entrants

Fees are reviewed annually. Home student tuition fees are aligned with the maximum tuition fee cap set by the UK Government.  International tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases based on RPI-X.

Accommodation and Living Costs

This information can be found on our Costs of Living page.

Financial Support

Read about financial awards and external funding opportunities in the Fees and Finance section; and find further information about fees for EU students.

There are also Doctoral Loans available for eligible students.