Mphil in Music in Camden United Kingdom | School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

The Department of Music's faculty and students engage in diverse research topics, primarily concentrating on Asian and African musical traditions while also exploring other regions. Faculty members specialize in various areas: Harris focuses on East and Central Asian music, Williams on Indian and Pakistani traditions, Saeid Kordmafi on Middle Eastern Islamic music, Webster-Kogen on Jewish musical heritage, and Impey on Southern and Eastern African sounds. Research extends beyond these regions, encompassing studies on American jazz, Caribbean rhythms, Mediterranean melodies, and Eastern European compositions. Many faculty members investigate cross-regional themes—visit the Department Staff page for overviews of their interests and click individual names for detailed research profiles. All musical forms receive equal scholarly attention, whether instrumental or vocal, sacred or secular, classical or contemporary, traditional or modern. Methodologies include ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, archival studies, audiovisual documentation, performance practice, transcription, analysis, and creative composition.
In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), SOAS's Music Department achieved top UK rankings for research impact and placed fifth overall in research quality.