PhD in Music Admission: Application Form, Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Top Colleges
PhD Music is a full research-put together course which centers with respect to concentrating on each part of music exhaustively and researching a new thing in it. The research work in music incorporates regions like Authentic Musicology, Piece, Examination, Music Cognizance, and so forth. The candidates finishing this tasks commonly become music instructors and researchers.
The students who have finished their Master’s certificate in Music with half total scores are qualified for the course. The students ought to have quality music abilities too.
Key Highlights of PhD Music
• Full-Form: Doctor of Philosophy in Music.
• Duration: Minimum 3 year, can be stretched up to 5 years (depends on the length of the research).
• Minimum Eligibility: Masters in Music with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
• Admission Process: Entrance Exam followed by Interview.
• Top Entrance Exam: UGC-NET, BHU RET.
• Top Colleges: BHU, Mysore University, Banasthali Vidyapith, LPU.
• Average Annual Fees: INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000.
• Top Career Prospects: Music Producer, Music Therapist, Musician, Private Music Teacher, Secondary School Teacher, Sound Designer, Sound Engineer, Sound Technician, etc.
• Average Annual Salary: INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000.
Confirmations depend on changed rules, for example, a student’s capacity in performing music, marks got in the passing assessment, and so on. A large portion of the schools see both these perspectives prior to conceding the students into the course. A few foundations consider their entry tests score followed by the meeting.
The typical expenses for chasing after PhD Music goes from INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000. Following are the top universities which give PhD Music course in India:
| NIRF Overall Ranking | College Name | Admission Process | Average Fees Per Annum | Average Placement Offer |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | Research Entrance Test (RET) | INR 8,368 | INR 4,00,000 |
| 47 | Mysore University, Mysore | Entrance test + Interview | INR 11,000 | INR 2,50,000 |
| 79 | Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur | Entrance test + Interview | INR 1,07,000 | INR 3,60,000 |
| 84 | Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai | Entrance test + Interview | INR 37,883 | INR 4,00,000 |
| 99 | Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | LPUNEST followed by Personal Interview | INR 81,200 | INR 3,00,000 |
This course covers each part of music in complete detail. This course remembers elaborate learning of Vilamvita and Drute Khayalas for any five Ragas in the Vocal Music area. While in the Instrumental Music area, this course centers around intricate learning of Masitkhani and Razakhani Gat in any five Ragas. The other Khayalas are likewise drilled momentarily.
The Program assists students with chasing after vocations as music teachers, researchers, musicians and as experts in changed areas of music. They can work in the fields of the entertainment world, as a writer, backup, music writer, music school head and music educator.
The typical compensation in these jobs goes from INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 expanding with experience and skill.
PhD Music Course Highlights
The key highlights of PhD Music have been listed below.
Course Level | Doctoral degree |
Full form | Doctor of Philosophy in Music |
Duration | 3-5 years |
Examination type | Semester |
Eligibility | Post-Graduate from a recognized university |
Admission process | Entrance + Interview |
Average Annual Fees | INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000 |
Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
Top Recruiting Companies | Creative Indians, Amazon India Software Dev Center Pvt Ltd, Inox Leisure Ltd, Music Broadcast Ltd, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd |
Job Positions | Musician, Lecturer, Artist, Visualization Professionals, Illustrator, Designer, Researcher |
PhD Music: What Is It About?
PhD Music is quite possibly of the greatest scholastic degree in the field of music. The significant focuses in regards to this course are talked about beneath :
• The course length is three to five years. It is sought after full-time.
• The serious program is research-based and teaches the capacity to attempt research work and decipher them for application in the music field.
• The course assists students with becoming free students and researchers in music. The course centers around fostering the authority abilities to assume dynamic parts at the worldwide level.
• The students upgrade their abilities in music, work on their research, and distribute their discoveries in diaries. Students are prepared to plan introductions on music and convey them.
• PhD courses are adaptable for students, they are expected to go through entry level positions in research and educating. Accentuation is laid on furnishing rich encounters to students with wanted abilities in fluctuated areas of music to become prepared for their expert life.
Why Should You Study PhD Music?
Students can pick PhD Music because of the accompanying benefits:
• A PhD degree offers an extensive variety of work valuable open doors. One of the most pursued positions for a PhD degree holder is of a teacher or a teacher in a college or a researcher in many fields.
• Alongside this, a PhD degree holder can find a new line of work in distributing houses, instructive establishments, law offices, consultancy, and so forth. A doctorate certificate can convey a ton of weight in the showing position industry and the people who have their PhD are viewed as the specialists in their field.
• Doctoral students work in close contact with at least one driving researchers in their field as well as partaking in projects of abilities preparing and colloquia; there are likewise potential chances to acquire insight in educating.
• The typical compensation acquired by the candidates subsequent to finishing this tasks ranges between INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000, however it will increment with the candidate’s insight and ranges of abilities.
• Candidates having a top to bottom information mastery over the music subject can find success in their vocations and acquire up to INR 10,00,000 for each annum.
What is the Admission Process for the PhD Music Course?
Admission to PhD Music projects can be either through selection test or legitimacy based. Most colleges lead a screening for the last choice of the candidates. Applications for confirmations can be profited either from the College site or by visiting the Affirmations Office of the equivalent. Candidates need to finish up the expected subtleties as per the current archives.
Merit-Based Admission
• Candidates will top off the application type of their ideal school either on the web or by downloading it, topping it off disconnected and shipping off the school address.
• Candidates ought to fill right data (uniquely stamps got in their last training capability) and send the structure alongside the reports for confirmation.
• The application charge can be submitted either on the web or through Request Draft according to the school prerequisites.
• The school proclaims the rundown of the chose students in view of the characteristics of the passing assessment.
Entrance Based Admission
• Candidates ought to top off the application structures.
• Candidates then sit for the selection tests.
• School announces the rundown of the students chose for additional rounds of Interview.
• Candidates need to go through the screening post which the school concocts the rundown of last chooses.
Few selection tests are LPUNEST, RET, UGC-NET and so forth.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Admission to PhD Music Course?
Candidates wishing to seek after PhD Music need to have finished the underneath referenced qualification standards:
• The candidates should have a Master’s certificate in Music or any comparable course with least half total imprints.
• The candidates ought to have an energy for seeking after research work in music.
• Confirmations depend on differed standards like a student’s capacity for the music calling and its program.
Which are the Top PhD Music Entrance Exams?
Numerous schools the nation over follow placement test scores for choosing the students for PhD Music. A portion of these PhD selection tests are made sense of beneath.
• UGC-NET: UGC-NET is a public level selection test directed by NTA to choose candidates for the associate teacher position and PhD course confirmation.
• LPUNEST: Lovely Professional University directs this placement test for admission to different courses presented by the college including PhD courses.
• BHU RET: Research Entry Test (RET) is a public level test, for the PhD entrance test at Banaras Hindu College.
• Banasthali Vidyapeeth RET: Research Entrance Test (RET) is a public level test, for the PhD entrance test at Banasthali Vidyapith.
| Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date | Exam Mode |
| UGC NET | Last date 30th June | To be notified later | Online |
| LPUNEST | Last date 30th June | 7th – 30th June | Online |
| BHU RET | Starts from September | 3rd week of October | Online |
| RET by Banasthali Vidyapith | Starts in December | January | Online |
| DUET | Last date 18th July | To be notified later | Online |
Most of the PhD Entrance Exams are of 3 hours duration. They are conducted in both online and offline modes but due to the COVID 19 outbreak, most of these exams will be conducted online this year.
How to Prepare for PhD Music Entrance Exams?
The greater part of the PhD Selection tests are of 3 hours span. They are directed in both on the web and disconnected modes yet because of the Coronavirus flare-up, a large portion of these tests will be conductedTo get into a decent PhD Music school, planning is of most extreme significance. The following are a few focuses referencing with regards to how candidates can get ready for the placement tests:
• Syllabus: Students should go through the prospectus of the course and imprint every one of the significant points from Prospectus.
• Revise Important Topics: Amend every one of the significant subjects from the schedule. Make a point to settle all questions that are connected with the significant subjects.
• Exam Pattern: Comprehend the test design cautiously; normally the test has two segments – one area contains general goal type questions and the other segment contains questions connected with the concerned subject.
• Practice Earlier Year’s Question Papers: Address earlier year’s inquiry paper with the goal that you can become accustomed to the inquiry and it will likewise assist in speeding up as the test with willing be in web-based mode.
• Mock Test: Candidates can settle and give the internet based mock test at the authority site. It will speed up and will help up your certainty.
online this year.
How to Get Admission in Top PhD Music Colleges?
Candidates ought to remember the accompanying things to get a confirmation in a decent PhD Music school:
• Candidates ought to perform astoundingly well in the selection tests of the schools since they would assist them with getting confirmation.
• For applying to universities which give affirmation based on merit, candidates ought to have excellent grades in their passing tests which would assist them with cleaning the cut-up.
• Candidates should be refreshed with the cutoff times of filling the application types of the selection tests and schools through sites, papers and magazines.
• Practice earlier years papers to further develop your time usage abilities at the hour of selection tests.
• To have an additional edge, candidates ought to begin investigating the research open doors from the get-go in their undergrad years. The most effective way to start is to search for a staff, with great qualifications, in your field. Direction under such a staff and a finished task or two, with distributed papers in your name, would give you the edge contrasted with your kindred candidates.
Which are the Top Colleges for Studying PhD Music in India?
PhD Music is taught by some top colleges and renowned educational institutions in India. Some of the top PhD Music colleges in India are listed in the table below:
NIRF University Ranking | College Name | City | Admission Process | Average Annual Fees |
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 |
PhD Music Top College Comparison
Many renowned universities in India provide PhD Music courses, so it is important to compare them before selecting one. Below table shows some of the major differences between top PhD Music universities in India:
Parameter | Banasthali Vidyapith | Madurai Kamaraj University | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
Overview | Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur is a fully residential women’s university offering courses from primary to PhD level. The University has been accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with ‘A’ Grade. It offers a number of UG, PG, and Doctoral level Programs under various Departments. | Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) was established in 1965, under the Government of Tamil Nadu. Currently, it is offering MA, M.Sc, MBA, MCA, M.Com, M.Ed, M.P.Ed and M.Li.I.Sc courses in various disciplines. Apart from PG courses, the university also offers Integrated (BBA+MBA), Integrated (B.Tech+M.Tech) courses at UG level along with M.Phil & PhD courses at the Doctorate level. | Banaras Hindu University commonly referred to as BHU; formerly known as Central Hindu College is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. It is the only university which has an IIT in its campus named IIT BHU. |
Location | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
Rank (NIRF) | Overall – 79 University – 55 | Overall – 84 University – 60 | Overall – 10 University – 3 |
Admission Process | 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 |
Which are the Subjects Taught During PhD Music Course?
PhD Music is a research-based course where a candidate needs to concentrate on different parts of music and afterward research on any one area of music. The course by and large includes 1 to 2 years of coursework and afterward 1 to 3 years of research. The candidates should present the proposal of their research toward the finish of the course.
Underneath we have referenced the main subjects remembered for the coursework of this course.
First Year | Second Year |
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: Elaborate treatment of vilamvita and Drute Khayalas on any five Ragas, Brief Treatment with one Composition of remaining Ragas. |
Hypothesis | Instrumental Music: Elaborate treatment of Masitkhani and Razakhani Gat in any five Ragas, Brief treatment with one Composition of the rest of Ragas. |
Data Collection | Teaching Methods in Music Education |
Sources | Dissertation and Viva – Voce |
Methods | Performance and Viva – Voce |
Which are the Important Books for the PhD Music Course?
Important books that are required for completing PhD Music courses are given in the table below.
Book | Author |
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 |
MPhil Music vs PhD Music
PhD in Music and MPhil Music might appear to be practically the same, however there is a slight distinction between them. The following are the significant marks of contrast in them.
Parameters | MPhil Music | PhD Music |
Full form | Master of Philosophy | Doctor of Philosophy |
Type | Academic | Research |
Objective | MPhil Music is a structured research degree that allows students to take up research-oriented studies for 1 or 2 years. It is an intermediate degree between a Masters and PhD and sometimes seen as the first step towards a Doctorate. | PhD music is one of the highest levels of degree that a student can achieve in her academic credentials. A PhD is attained through detailed research on a micro subject following which the researcher is required to submit a thesis describing the result of her research. Usually, a PhD can be taken up after Masters and MPhil. |
Examination type | 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 |
Job Opportunities | Music Therapist, Composer, Music Librarian, Band Master, Artist, etc. | Musician, Lecturer, Artist, Visualization Professionals, Illustrator, Designer, Researcher. |
Average Salary | INR 4,00,000 | INR 2,00,000 – INR 5,00,000 |
Which Job Profiles and Career Options are Available for PhD Music Candidates?
A PhD Music program plans students to show optional and postsecondary music classes. Students can search in the potential open doors connected with Music Maker, Music Advisor, Musician, Confidential Music Educator, Auxiliary Teacher, Sound Planner, Sound Specialist, Sound Expert, and so on.
A portion of the job choices are referenced beneath:
Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
Music Producer | A music producer assists artists and groups in the studio to create recorded music, for an album, a film, advert or any other kind of creative output. | INR 3,25,000 |
Music Therapist | Music therapists use music creatively to help their clients address social, emotional or physical difficulties. | INR 2,40,000 |
Musician | A musician is involved in creating and/or performing music in a variety of genres, such as classical, rock, pop, indie, jazz or folk. You could be a composer, instrumentalist and/or a singer performing either in the studio or to a live audience. | INR 2,00,000 |
Private Music Teacher | Private, visiting and peripatetic music teachers provide instrumental, vocal and music training for children and adults of all ages. One will work at a variety of levels teaching different musical skills to individuals or groups. | INR 2,55,000 |
Sound Designer | Sound designers use technology creatively to provide sound for moving images in a range of mediums, including film, games and theatre. | INR 3,48,000 |
Sound Engineer | Sound technicians use technical knowledge and expertise to produce and manipulate the sound for a range of performances and recordings. | INR 4,10,900 |
What is the Future Scope After Completing PhD Music?
• In the wake of seeking after PhD Music, candidates can secure position potential open doors in many fields, both in India as well as in outside countries.
• The work jobs incorporate those of Music Maker, Music Specialist, Musician, Confidential Music Instructor, Optional Teacher, Sound Originator, Sound Architect, Sound Expert, and so on.
• PhD Music students can frequently decide to do additionally research on music hypothesis, arrangement, instruction, or leading, with programs giving the doorway to different musical vocations and independent open doors.
• Candidates with this degree can find a great many open doors in shifted areas and various spaces across the globe like a performer, instrumentalist, researcher, and so on.
• They can likewise become Sound Specialist and Sound Makers and open their own music studio in future.
