Musical Pathways: An Investigation into the Musical Journeys of Children with a Disability

This funding model includes a 36 month funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with the Research Council values. For 2024/5, this is £19,237 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.

International applicants are reminded, that it if they are successful following interview, they are liable to pay the fee difference between the Home and International Fee Rate. The fees for new doctoral researchers are listed here.

All applicants would receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status.

Application Closing Date: Midday (UK Time) on Monday 16^th December for a start date of the 5^th May 2025.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

Complete the BCU Online Application Form
Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s).
International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores.

FAQs

Where do I include the project ID?	You must include the project ID listed in the advert on your completed Doctoral Studentship Proposal. There is a field for this in Section 2 of the form under ‘Research Project’. If you do not provide the correct project ID from the advertisement of the scheme to which you are applying, your application will not be considered for that funding scheme.
Do I need to complete a research proposal when the topic has already been set?	Yes, you must complete the Doctoral Studentship Research Proposal in full. Applicants submitted without the Doctoral Studentship Research Proposal or with a proposal that is incomplete, will not be considered for the funding scheme.
Can one of my referees be the project lead listed in the advert?	No, the project lead listed in this advert cannot be a referee for any applications to this project.
What if I want to apply for more than one funded project being advertised?	You can apply for more than one funded project being advertised. To apply for multiple opportunities, you only need to complete one online application form to study at BCU. However, you mustsubmit a separate Doctoral Studentship Proposal for each project you want to be considered for as part of your application to BCU. To confirm, please complete one BCU online application form but upload separate Doctoral Studentship Proposals for each opportunity you wish to be considered for.
I have applied before the deadline, but now want to be considered for a different funded project advertised. Can I switch my application?	No, we will only consider your application for the funded projects you applied for by the deadline.
What if I miss the deadline, can I still apply?	No, unfortunately we are unable to accept applications for funded projects that are submitted after the deadline. You can still apply for a research degree at BCU, but applications for this funded project must be received before the deadline: Midday (UK Time) on Monday 16th December 2024.
The advert says the start date is February 2025. Is this flexible?	Currently, we are only able to offer a May 2025 start for this funded project.

If your question is not answered above and you need any further information, please use the contact details below:

For enquiries about the project content, please contact: Victoria.kinsella@bcu.ac.uk

For enquiries about the application procedure, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Project Title: Musical Pathways: An Investigation into the Musical Journeys of Children with a Disability

Project Lead: Dr Victoria Kinsella

Project ID: HELS-37846520

About the project:

This PhD aims to address the issues of inclusivity and equality in music education, as outlined in the National Plan for Music Education. Despite the goal of providing equal opportunities for all pupils, many children and young people still face barriers to accessing high-quality music education. Factors such as cuts to arts funding, reductions in music provision in schools, and the lack of centralised data on disadvantaged and disabled children contribute to this problem. 

Music education in England is complex, with classroom music and instrumental teaching organised separately. As a result, there is a lottery nature to provision and access to high-quality music education. This PhD seeks to understand and analyse children's musical pathways from ages 7 to 18 and investigate the barriers they face in their musical development, particularly focusing on those with a disability. 

Through a mixed methods approach, the PhD will explore children and young people's perceptions, teachers' pedagogic practices, and policies in schools and local music hubs. By delving into these narratives and analysing current data, the project aims to uncover insights into how to improve musical engagement, learning opportunities, and attainment for children and young people with disabilities. 

Ultimately, this project seeks to mobilise opportunities and ensure equality of access in music education by gaining a deeper understanding of musical pathways, barriers, and learning trajectories. By interrogating current practices and policies, it aims to contribute to the development of a more inclusive and equitable music education system for children and young people across England.

Anticipated findings and contribution to knowledge:

This PhD is grounded in a body work undertaken by BMERG and directly aligns with our impact case study Removing barriers to musical participation in schools – a social justice issue (2021) and our proposed impact case study for 2029 ‘Barriers, Access and Equity in Music Education’. We would want to collaborate across HELS and the RBC to research this important area and continue our interdisciplinary work in BMERG.   Please see the associated project listed in section 5.1. Although this PhD is grounded in research there is still a lot to learn and contribute to the field of music and disability. We therefore anticipate findings including:

Understanding the musical profiles of young people with a disability. 
Ensuring disabled children and young people’s voices are heard and recognised, which is often overlooked in music research. 
Understanding the whole child and identity of children with disabilities. 
Exploring the provision offered and potential barriers, aiding in defining necessary support for those with disabilities. 
Creative industries and pathways into Higher Education, focusing on becoming a musician. 
Developing new theoretical insights to define music practices in education.
Implications for policy regarding music education and inclusion.

Person specification:

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.

As this research is focused on the complexities of music education within the English system, relevant contextual knowledge will be required from candidates.