PhD Music Course- Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Institutes, Scope

PhD Music is a doctoral level course that focuses on studying and researching every aspect of music in depth. Historical musicology, composition, analysis, music cognition, and other areas of music research are all covered. Candidates who complete this course usually go on to work as music educators or researchers. Students can use the program to pursue careers as music educators, researchers, musicians, and professionals in a variety of fields. They can work as composers, accompanists, music authors, music school administrators, and music instructors in the film industry.

The course prepares students to be independent music learners and researchers. The course aims at developing leadership skills so that participants can play active roles on a global scale. Students improve their musical abilities, conduct research, and report their findings in journal articles. Students are taught how to prepare and deliver musical presentations. To demonstrate his or her potential to become a research scholar, the completed dissertation must be formulated and described to the committee and approved.

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PhD Music: An Overview

The key highlights of PhD Music have been listed below.

Level of Course	Doctoral degree
Also Referred as	Doctor of Philosophy in Music
Duration of Course	3-5 years
Type of Examination	Semester
Eligibility Criteria	Post-Graduate from a recognized university
Process of Admission	Entrance + Interview
Average Fees	INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000
Top Hiring Firms	Amazon India Software Dev Center Pvt Ltd, Inox Leisure Ltd, Creative Indians, Music Broadcast Ltd, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd
Positions of Job	Lecturer, Artist, Visualization Professionals, Musician, Illustrator, Designer, Researcher

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PhD Music Eligibility

Candidates interested in pursuing a PhD in music must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Candidates must have completed a Master’s degree in Music or an equivalent course with a minimum grade of 50% overall.
• Candidates should be enthusiastic about conducting music research.
• Admissions are determined by a variety of factors, including a student’s aptitude for the music industry and the program.

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PhD Music Syllabus

Below, we have mentioned the most important topics included in the coursework of this course. 

Year 1	Year 2
Research Methodology	Tools of Research in Music
Meaning and Sources of Research in Indian Music	Methods of Research in Music – Historical Method, Survey Method, Experimental Method
Ragas and Khayalas	Case Study
Meaning of Research	Analysis of data, Interpretation and Conclusion
Area of Research in Music	Preparation of Synopsis, Writing Research Report
Selections of Problems	Vocal Music: Detailed treatment of vilamvita and Drute Khayalas on any five Ragas, followed by a brief treatment of the remaining Ragas with one composition.
Hypothesis	Instrumental Music: Masitkhani and Razakhani Gat are treated in detail in any five Ragas, while the rest of the Ragas are treated briefly with one composition.
Data Collection	Teaching Methods in Music Education
Sources	Dissertation and Viva – Voce
Methods	Performance and Viva – Voce

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PhD Music Admission Procedure

Entrance examinations or merit-based admission are both options for PhD music programs. For the final selection of candidates, most universities conduct an interview process. Admissions applications are available on the university’s website or by visiting the Admissions Office in person. Candidates must fill in the required information based on the existing documents.

Based on Merit

• Candidates must fill out their desired college’s application form either online or by downloading, filling it out offline, and mailing it to the college’s address.
• Candidates must provide accurate information (particularly marks obtained in their most recent educational qualification) and submit the form with supporting documentation for verification.
• According to the college’s requirements, the application payment can be made online or by demand draft.
• The college publishes a list of selected students on the basis of their qualifying examination scores.

Based on Entrance 

• Candidates are required to complete the application forms.
• The entrance exams are then taken by the candidates.
• The college announces the list of students who have been chosen for the next round of interviews.
• Candidates must go through an interview process, after which the college will make a final selection list.

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PhD Music: Focus Area

A PhD in music is among the highest educational degrees available in the field. The most important aspects of this course are discussed below.:

• The program lasts three to five years. It is a full-time endeavor.
• The intensive program is research-based and instills the ability to conduct research and translate findings for use in the music industry.
• The course prepares students to be independent music learners and researchers. The course aims at developing leadership skills so that students can play active roles on a global scale.
• Students improve their musical abilities, conduct research, and publish their findings in journals. Students are taught how to prepare and deliver musical presentations.
• Students in PhD programs have more flexibility, but they must complete internships in teaching and research. Students with preferred skills in various areas of music are given rich experiences in order to prepare them for their professional lives.

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PhD Music: Important Documents Required

• Research Proposal
• Gap certificate (if applicable)
• A character certificate (from the head of the institute from which the student has obtained his qualifying degree).
• Documentary proof of the date of birth
• Mark-list of the last qualifying degree examination
• passing/degree certificate of the last qualifying degree examination.
• Migration Certificate (No objection certificate from the university last attended)
• No objection certificate from the employer (if employed)

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PhD Music: Important Entrance Exams

Many academic institutions across the country use entrance exam scores to select PhD music students. The following sections explain some of these PhD entrance exams.

• The UGC-NET is a national-level entrance exam administered by NTA to select candidates for assistant professor positions and admission to PhD programs.
• LPUNEST: Lovely Professional University administers this entrance exam for admission to the university’s various courses, including PhD programs.
• RET: The Research Entrance Test (RET) is a national-level test for Banaras Hindu University’s PhD entrance exam.
• Banasthali Vidyapeeth RET: The Research Entrance Test (RET) is a national level test for Banasthali Vidyapith’s PhD entrance exam.

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PhD Music: Preparation Plan

Preparation is crucial if you want to get into a decent PhD music school. The following are some suggestions for how aspirants can begin preparing for the entrance exams:

• Individuals must go over the course syllabus and highlight all of the important topics.
• Re-examine key points: Reread the syllabus and review all of the important topics. Make sure you answer all of the questions pertaining to the important topics.
• Exam Format: Understand the exam pattern carefully; most exams are divided into two sections, one with general objective-type questions and the other with questions related to the subject.
• Practice Question Papers from Previous Years Solve previous year’s question papers to familiarize yourself with the questions and to improve your speed, as the exam will be conducted online.
• Mock Test: Applicants can take an online mock test and solve it on the official website. It will improve your efficiency and speed while also boosting your self-assurance.
• Applicants should perform remarkably well on college entrance exams because they will assist them in gaining admission.
• Applicants should have an excellent grade on their qualifying exams in order to apply to colleges that offer merit-based admission. This will help them clear the cut-off.
• Through websites, newspapers, and magazines, candidates must keep up with the deadlines for filling out application forms for entrance exams and colleges.
• Practice the previous year’s papers to help you manage your time better during entrance exams.
• Candidates should begin exploring research opportunities slightly earlier in their undergrad days to gain an advantage. The best place to start is to search for a faculty member in your field who has excellent credentials. Guidance from such a faculty member, as well as a completed project or two with papers published in your name, will indeed give you an advantage over your competitors.

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PhD Music: Top Institutes

PhD music is taught at some of India’s most prestigious colleges and educational institutions. The following is a list of some of India’s best PhD music schools:

Ranking by NIRF	Institute	Place	Admission Procedure	Average Fees (Annually)
3	Banaras Hindu University	Varanasi	Research Entrance Test (RET)	INR 8,368
27	Mysore University	Mysore	Entrance test + Interview	INR 11,000
55	Banasthali Vidyapith	Jaipur	Entrance test + Interview	INR 1,07,000
60	Madurai Kamaraj University	Madurai	Entrance test + Interview	INR 37,883
78	Lovely Professional University	Jalandhar	LPUNEST followed by Personal Interview	INR 81,200
101-150	Annamalai University	Chidambaram	Entrance + Merit/ Interview	INR 38,410
NA	Queen Mary’s College	Chennai	Written test + Oral test conducted by the university	INR 1,935
NA	Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya	Indore	DET conducted by the university	INR 45,200
NA	Eternal University	Sirmaur	Entrance Exam conducted by the university	INR 66,333

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PhD Music and M.Phil Music: Key Differences

Although the PhD in music and the M.Phil in music appear to be very similar, there is a small difference between them. The major differences between them are listed below.

Basis of Comparison	MPhil Music	PhD Music
Also referred as	Master of Philosophy	Doctor of Philosophy
Degree Type	Academic	Research
Focus	MPhil Music is a formulated research degree that enable the students to devote one or two years to research. It’s a degree that sits halfway between a Master’s and a PhD, and it’s sometimes considered the first step toward a Doctorate.	A PhD in music is among the highest levels of academic achievement that a student can achieve. A PhD is earned by conducting extensive research on a micro subject, after which the researcher must submit a thesis explaining the findings of her research. A PhD is usually pursued after completing a master’s degree or a master’s degree with honors.
Type of Examination	Semester	Semester
Admission Process	Entrance Tests	Entrance Tests + Interview
Average Annual Fees	INR 10,000 – INR 60,000	INR 20,000 – INR 1,00,000
Employment Roles	Composer, Music Librarian,Music Therapist, Band Master, Artist, etc.	Lecturer, Artist, Visualization Professionals, Musician,Illustrator, Designer, Researcher.
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 4,00,000	INR 2,00,000 – INR 5,00,000

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PhD Music: Important Books Recommended

The table below lists important books which are required to complete PhD Music courses.

Book Name	Author’s Name
Basic Music Theory, 4th Edition: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music	Jonathan Harnum and Sol Ut Press
Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers	Julia Davids and Stephen LaTour
Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers: The Producers Guide to Harmony, Chord Progressions, and Song Structure in the MIDI Grid	J. Anthony Allen
The Healing Power of the Human Voice: Mantras Chants and Seed Sounds for Health and Harmony	James D’Angelo

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PhD Music: A comparison among Institutes

There are many prestigious universities in India that offer PhD music programs, so it’s relevant to evaluate them before deciding. Some of the significant differences between India’s top PhD music universities are shown in the table below:

Basis of Comparison	Banasthali Vidyapith	Madurai Kamaraj University	Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Highlight	Banasthali Vidyapith University in Jaipur is an entirely residential women’s university that offers courses ranging from primary school to doctoral studies. The University has received a ‘A’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It has a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs offered by various departments.	Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) was founded in 1965 by the Tamil Nadu government. In various disciplines, it currently offers MA, M.Sc, MBA, MCA, M.Com, M.Ed, M.P.Ed, and M.Li.I.Sc courses. Aside from PG programs, the university offers Combined (BBA+MBA), Integrated (B.Tech+M.Tech), and M.Phil & PhD programs at the undergraduate level.	Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a public central university in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, which was once known as Central Hindu College. It was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916. This is the only university with an IIT, IIT BHU, on its campus.
Place	Jaipur, Rajasthan	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Ranking by NIRF	Overall – 79 University – 55	Overall – 84 University – 60	Overall – 10 University – 3
Process of Admission	Entrance test + Interview	Entrance test + Interview	Research Entrance Test (RET)
Average Fees	INR 1,07,000	INR 37,883	INR 8,368
Average Package	INR 3,60,000	INR 4,00,000	INR 4,00,000

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PhD in Music: Important Job Profiles

Students who complete a PhD in music education are prepared to teach secondary and post-secondary music courses. Students can look into jobs such as music therapists, musicians, private music teachers, sound technicians, secondary school music teachers, sound designers, sound engineers, music producers, and so on.

Some of the job options are mentioned below:

• Animation artists
• Sound Artists
• Professor or Lecturer
• Musician

Position of Job	Description of Job	Average Salary (Annually)
Music Producer	A music producer works in the studio with artists and groups to generate recorded music for something like an album, a film, an advertisement, or any other type of creative output.	INR 3,25,000
Music Therapist	Music therapists use creative approaches to help their clients deal with social, emotional, and physical issues.	INR 2,40,000
Musician	A musician composes and/or performs music in a variety of genres, including classical, rock, pop, indie, jazz, and folk. Individuals could be  composers, instrumentalists  or singers who performs in front of a live audience or in the studio.	INR 2,00,000
Private Music Teacher	Instrumental, vocal, and music lessons are provided for kids and adults of all ages by private, visiting, and peripatetic music teachers. One will introduce different musical knowledge to groups or individuals at various levels.	INR 2,55,000
Sound Designer	Sound designers work with technology to create audio for moving pictures in a variety of mediums, such as film, games, and theatre.	INR 3,48,000
Sound Engineer	Sound technicians produce and manipulate sound for a variety of performances and recordings using their technical knowledge and expertise.	INR 4,10,900

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PhD Music: Benefits and Scope

Students can choose PhD Music due to the following advantages:

• A PhD degree can lead to a variety of job opportunities. A lecturer or professor in a university, or a researcher in most fields, is among the most demanded jobs for a PhD degree holder.
• A PhD holder can also work in publishing houses, educational institutes, law firms, and consulting firms, among other places. In the teaching profession, a doctorate degree carries a lot of weight, and those with a PhD are considered experts in their field.
• Doctoral students work closely with one or more of the field’s leading researchers, as well as participating in skill training and conferences; there are also career options to achieve teaching experience.
• Candidates can expect to earn between INR 3,00,000 and INR 5,00,000 after completing this course, but this will depend on their experience and skill sets.
• Candidates with a thorough understanding of the music subject can achieve great success in their career paths and earn up to INR 10,00,000 per year.
• Music Producer, Musician, Private Music Teacher, Secondary School Teacher, Sound Designer, Sound Engineer, Music Therapist, Sound Technician, and other positions are available.
• PhD music students frequently pursue research in music theory, composition, education, or conducting, with programs opening doors to a variety of musical careers and freelance opportunities.
• Aspirants with this degree could work as vocalists, instrumentalists, researchers, and others in a variety of industries and domains around the world.
• They can also work as sound engineers and producers, and start opening their own music studio.

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