Postgraduate research applications
Applications are now open and close on 31 January 2025. Please note, applications will close earlier than in previous years.
Admissions criteria
Before you apply to the School's Postgraduate Research Programme, please take the time to read this page carefully.
Applicants are selected on the following criteria:
- The originality, rigour and significance of the proposed project
- Skills, experience and characteristics required to pursue that project
- Alignment of the project with areas of supervisory expertise
- The candidate’s preparedness for independent postgraduate research
Application process
1. Identify whether you meet the minimum requirements
The minimum admission requirements for admission onto the postgraduate research programme are:
- A BA (Hons) degree (upper 2nd or 1st class) and Masters degree in a relevant subject area (equivalent professional or academic experience are occasionally considered)
- For projects involving artistic or pedagogic practice (including DMus degrees), demonstrated expertise and experience
- Applicants who do not speak English as their first language and who do not hold a degree from a majority English-speaking country should have achieved a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS Academic Training examination with no individual component score below 6.0 (or equivalent).
2. Consider funding
Before applying for a research degree, you should ensure you have considered how you will fund your study. See more information on funding.
3. Research Guildhall School and potential supervisors
Does the format and ethos of our postgraduate research programme fit with your expectations and proposed approach? To explore, this, read this website thoroughly, attend events such as our open days and ResearchWorks to ensure that we are the right institution for you. It also helps to identify at least one prospective supervisor for your project, as this ensures a good fit between your interests and the expertise available within the School. You are welcome to contact us in advance of application, including a brief summary of your proposal. Some prospective supervisors may offer some advice on how your project aligns with their research interests. The PGR Programme Leaders will be able to liaise with you about steps to develop your proposal.
4. Write a proposal
Your research proposal is the main way we assess the suitability of your application. We recommend committing some time to undertaking background research and developing your research questions so you can demonstrate that it will make an original contribution to existing knowledge.
If you would like feedback on whether your proposed research is in an area we can support, you may send a short outline of your proposed project to pgr.admissions@gsmd.ac.uk by 1 January 2025. If your proposed research includes your own creative practice, please also include an example of your practice at this stage.
5. Submit a formal application
Once you have a research proposal you can apply online. The following material will be required:
- A research proposal of up to 2,000 words (excluding bibliography). Please see our proposal template
- Contact details of two academics who know your work and who are prepared to supply a reference
- Details of your academic qualifications and relevant professional experience
For practice-based projects, examples of your practice as follows:
- DMus Composition: Composers should submit a portfolio of three distinct compositions with recordings (live, not MIDI)
- DMus Performance: a high quality, unedited recording of you playing two or three pieces of repertoire relevant to your proposal
- Other practice-based projects: portfolio of creative/professional materials as advised on submission of your application.
After submitting your application online, please ensure you send your portfolio or practice examples to pgr.admissions@gsmd.ac.uk.
Apply for September 2025
Applications open 1 October 2024
How to apply part 3
6. Interview and writing sample
Candidates will be short-listed on the basis of their application material and those who meet the criteria will be invited to interview. Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be asked to provide a sample of writing, consisting of an assessed piece of work for a previous degree (please consult us if you do not have an example of written work in English, or have had a different career path). You can either provide this at the point of application, or you can wait until you hear from us that you’ve been shortlisted.
Interviews will be held in February and March. Candidates will be interviewed by a panel of between two and four people and the interview will last about 30 minutes.
We will review all applications after the closing date of 31 January 2025. However, you are able to submit your application early and strong applications may receive early offers.
7. Offer
If successful, you will be notified about the outcome within 1 month of interview and receive your offer. Please note that you will be expected to accept your offer within a maximum of 1 month, and at the very latest will need to formally accept your offer and pay your fee deposit no later than 15th July 2024.
If you have questions or require further information please contact pgr.admissions@gsmd.ac.uk.
