Overview
The Department of Music, Media and Performance offers research students the opportunity to work alongside well-practiced and experienced researchers. The Department is particularly strong in interdisciplinary performance research practice in applied drama, contemporary dance and stage adaptation, while maintaining a strong interest in more traditional text-based research in the areas of popular music, film and television, fandom and audience cultures, journalism, performance theory, contemporary performance, wrestling and theatre and science.
The Department
The internationally recognised quality of research was highlighted by the results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) with 42% of our research judged to be of internationally excellent and world leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Research within the Department aligns to the University of Chester’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Institutes: (1) Health and Wellbeing; (2) Culture and Society; (3) Sustainability and Environment; and (4) Regional Economy. At School level, research is organised through the Chester Centre for Research in Arts and Media (CCRAM). Research students have an active role in the Department as independent learners and practitioners. They regularly present papers at departmental research seminars, School Symposiums and University-wide research conferences and co-convene the Faculty Research Symposium.
Facilities
Research students within the Department have access to the Department’s specialist resources and equipment, and ICT facilities for research. The Department is well stocked with technical and digital equipment, and with a range of flexible performance, music production and studio spaces.
Research Areas
The University of Chester welcomes applications from students who are interested in studying towards MPhil or PhD research degrees in Music, Media and Performance. We are particularly keen to hear from students who would like to research any of the following areas:
- Popular Music
- Dance Music
- Applied Practice
- Educational Drama
- Contemporary Dance
- Contemporary Performance
- Stage Adaptation
- Wrestling
- Acting for Camera
- Theatre and Science
- Composition
- Gender & Film
- Fandom and Audience Cultures
- Journalism (print)
- Journalism (online media)
- Global Journalism
Entry Months
These Research Degrees usually commence annually in October, February and May.
Contacts
If you are interested in developing your research with the Department, contact Associate Professor Shelley Piasecka, Senior Postgraduate Research Tutor, to discuss the application process and the availability of appropriate supervision.