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PhD Studies in the PRACT research centre (Music, Drama, Film/Screen and Heritage) at Ulster

Following significant growth over the last 10 years, we now host approximately 25 PhD students from across Europe, the Americas and Asia. We run an annual scholarship competition (advertisement in autumn/winter, and deadlines generally in January/February each year).

Why undertake PhD research with us

Ulster is a top-performing institution for PhD research studies, as demonstrateed by recent top-5 scores in the UK-wide Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (2025: 2nd place; 2023: 4th place; 2021: 2nd place).

You can find out more detail about our PhD research community here, via our PhD handbook for Music, Drama, Film/Screen and Heritage.

Areas of PhD research

We invite students to undertake PhD research in the following subject areas:

Current and recent PhD projects can be found here.

Guidance: General Application Process

Guidance: Creative practice applications

For candidates whose project involves creative practice, please include relevant examples of practice as links to websites, streaming sites or online file hosting as part of your CV or personal statement.

Application Route: Annual Scholarship Competition and Funded PhD Projects

Funded projects are generally advertised by the Doctoral College each autumn/winter (main call for the annual scholarship competition). Occasionally, funded projects are also advertised at other times of the year.

Note that as of 2025/26 we are operating a system of denominated priority funded projects; we are no longer in a position to accept topics suggested by candidates for scholarship–funded projects. (Candidates who have proposals for topics which fall outside our funded projects are still welcome to propose projects under the external sponsor/self–funded open call.)

More information on funded PhD projects and submitting proposals is available from the Doctoral College pages

Application Route: Self-funded PhD projects

Candidates who have proposals for topics which fall outside our funded projects, but are still within our subject areas (music, drama, film/screen, computer games/creative technologies, and heritage and museum studies), are still welcome to propose projects under the external sponsor/self–funded open call.

Note (1): Applicants are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors in good time to discuss draft research proposals for self–funding applications. It is generally recommended that you do this early in the previous academic year before you propose to commence studies with us, to allow time to feed back on your proposal.

Who to contact for self-funded projects: please review our list of staff researchers in Music, Drama, Performing Arts, Film and Screen and Heritage or contact our Postgraduate Tutor (Director of PhD Studies), Dr Adam Melvin for suggestions on who to contact

Note (2): Capacity constraints within potential supervision teams and proposals which do not match staff research interests and expertise may limit our ability to take on certain proposed self–funded projects.

From the Doctoral College: research units  'will be able to advise whether the project is viable and whether supervisory expertise and resources exist within the University to support you.' If a proposed self–funded project is not viable to undertake at Ulster, we will feed back on why at the earliest appropriate stage. In many cases, however, we will need a full proposal before we can make this judgement around viability; the submission of a proposal is not a guarantee of entry to a programme of PhD research.

Testimonials from our PhD graduates

It’s hard to convey in a few words just what an amazing, enriching experience doing a practice-based PhD at Ulster has been. It has been, literally, life-changing. As a mature student, it was a daunting undertaking. I was stepping away from a secure but unrewarding job. I was uncertain and wondered if I was intellectually up to the task. My beloved encouraged and supported me and when I was offered a chance to study with a scholarship stipend, I knew I had to take a leap of faith.

I was met with extraordinary support. I had a wonderful supervisor and the help of an exceptional team of individuals in the Doctoral College and across the University. I was encouraged to really explore my subject, to develop my own viewpoint, think across traditional academic divides, and I learned to view things intersectionally. The framework of Initial and Confirmatory Assessments was extremely useful.

It gave me well-timed, natural goals and helped stage my developing thesis. These experiences provided just the right level of challenge, elevating my work. I made the most of every opportunity - seminar groups, conferences, symposia and, luckily, teaching. I delivered my thesis on time, really enjoyed defending it and gained a University job. I could not have asked for more.

Dr Gerard Gibson - PhD (2023) in Cinematic Arts/Film and Screen, and Lecturer in Screen Production (Ulster University)

I am a visual artist and researcher with emphasis on performative art and interdisciplinary practice. Before applying for the practice-based PhD I had studied Philosophy of Science and Fine arts. My research concerned immersive performative installations and focused on the psychophysical effects of artistic creation to the participants.

My proudest  moment was when I managed to identify the right supervisory team to support my project.

My favourite memory was when I was awarded a doctoral grant in order to participate in the PSI conference in Canada.

I’ll never forget my first year's struggle to define my subject! I couldn’t have got through without the moral support of my family and my passion for the art. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD I would advise myself to break down into steps this whole project and feed constantly my motivation with a balanced lifestyle.

Dr Eleni Kolliopoulou - PhD (2020) in Drama/Performance Studies, jointly supervised with Art and Design

This uniquely flexible programme allowed me to explore cross-disciplinary interests in music technology within the context of more traditional areas of music performance, and to engage with academic research at the highest level.

This was a unique opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in academia throughout the island of Ireland, and to attend a series of exciting research conferences across Europe. I completed and successfully defended my doctoral thesis in 2012.

The same year I acquired an academic position in the United States. I am now a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Music and Technology at Stevens Institute of Technology in the greater NYC area.  I work with exceptional industry and academic faculty that have collaborated with the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Alicia Keys. I now engage in academic research with graduates from Ivy League institutions on the door-step of the greatest city in the world.

To put it simply, I’m in my dream job, and I have the postgraduate programmes in Music at Ulster University to thank for it.

Dr Richard Graham - PhD (2012) in Music