Cooperative Doctorate in Music – Basel University of Music (FHNW) + University of Basel

Institution providing the doctoral degree

Basel University of Music (Hochschule für Musik FHNW) — degree awarded by the University of Basel (Universität Basel), Faculty of Humanities (Philosophisch-Historische Fakultät), Department of Musicology (Musikwissenschaftliches Seminar)

Location

Basel | Switzerland

Name of PHD

Cooperative Doctorate in Music — degree awarded by partner university

Research Clusters
  • Musical and Vocal Performance
  • Musicology and Musical Heritage

Duration
Usually 3–5 years; the doctoral agreement sets the planned duration; extensions may be granted in hardship cases.

Public / Private institution
Public University

Financial terms of the PHD position
  • Self-funded PhD – you must provide both tuition and your own maintenance
  • PhD Fully or partially externally funded, with a stipend, through private or public foundations, scholarships, grants, one or more companies, or public institutions that you have to find on your own

Fees: University of Basel doctoral semester fee CHF 350 (immatriculation required for the entire doctorate); internal HSM/FHNW scholarships (up to CHF 6,000 per semester) may be available for HSM graduates, and conference-travel support can be requested.

Funding resources:

the following links may be useful for scholarships and external funding.

Final output

Dissertation

  • Allowed forms: unpublished monograph, (partly) published monograph, or cumulative thesis (fixed in the doctoral agreement).
  • Language: generally German or English (discipline-appropriate); other languages by agreement.

Disputation

  • 60-minute doctoral exam (disputation): ~15-minute talk followed by discussion (which may extend to the broader field); generally not public.
  • One repeat permitted if failed (earliest after 3 months, latest after 6 months).

Publication

Publication duty within 3 years after the exam (faculty publication rules apply); once fulfilled, the Dr. phil. is conferred (until then, “Dr. phil. des.” may be used).

How to apply

  1. Contact & pre-check.
    1. Send a project summary and CV to: an HSM/FHNW research lead (SCB/Klassik/Jazz), a Uni Basel Musicology professor, and the Musikwissen coordinator.
    1. The coordinator conducts an initial formal check and informs the contacts.
  2. Project presentation & dossier.
    1. Prepare a 2–3-page exposé; discuss your project and supervision preferences in a meeting with a Musikwissen lead, a Uni Basel professor, and an HSM/FHNW research head.
  3. Faculty review & university application.
    1. With input from HSM supervisors, the Musicology Teaching Committee reviews MA-level credits and proposes recognition to the Promotionsausschuss.
    1. Apply online for doctoral admission at University of Basel (deadlines: 5 January for spring / 31 July for fall; late applications may delay processing).
  4. Constitute the doctoral committee & conclude the agreement.
    1. Committee (min. 2–3 members) includes at least one Uni Basel professor (usually first supervisor) and at least one HSM/FHNW professor; all act as equal interlocutors.
    1. Committee approval per faculty rules; doctoral agreement concluded in the first semester.

Entry requirements
  • Master’s in a related field with rounded average ≥ 5.0 (Swiss 1–6 scale).
  • Graduates of music universities typically document ≈35 ECTS of scientific/theoretical MA work; if missing, up to 24 ECTS may be imposed during the doctorate (admission with conditions).
  • Other recognized higher-education degrees may be accepted as equivalent, possibly with additional coursework.

Contact / Web page

Dr. Nicole Jost-Rösch (Program Coordinator, Musikwissen) | nicole.roesch@unibas.ch 

Prof. Dr. Martin Kirnbauer (Head of Research, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis FHNW) | martin.kirnbauer@fhnw.ch

Prof. Dr. Anne-May Krüger (Head, Music & Research; a.i. lead “Musik & Szene in Transformation”, HSM FHNW) | annemay.krueger@fhnw.ch

https://musikwissenschaft.philhist.unibas.ch/de/doktorat/kooperationsprojekt-musikwissen

Additional information

Info for international students: EU/EFTA: no entry visa; must register within 14 days in the canton and apply for a residence permit.  Non-EU/EFTA: usually need a national D visa before travel, then a residence permit after arrival; use the SEM portal and your local Swiss representation.

Languages used within the program and for thesis writing and discussion: German and English are principal working languages (C1 recommended in the relevant language(s)).

PhD includes an artistic component: possible — the cooperation explicitly allows transdisciplinary dissertations combining artistic research and musicology.