Postgraduate Research

As the National Conservatoire of Wales, we offer PhD students the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research within a conservatoire context built on world-leading creative practice and strong industry connections.

Research connected to communities
Our research environment is deeply entwined with the creative industries and diverse communities of Wales. Through our industry partnerships with BBC Wales, Welsh National Opera, Bad Wolf, Sherman Theatre, Theatr Clwd and Tŷ Cerdd, and community organisations such as Forget-Me-Not Chorus, National Youth Arts Wales, and Race Council Cymru, you can engage directly with the professional sector while developing projects with significant cultural and social impact. This strong national network allows your work to extend beyond our campus, connecting scholarship with real-world practice.

The Old Library: a new research hub
We have begun a 99-year residency at the historic Old Library in Cardiff city centre. The Old Library is already the site for numerous community engagement projects and will become a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary, outward-facing research in the arts in Cardiff. It will also anchor a wider network of residencies across Wales, enabling researchers to explore how the arts shape communities across varied geographies, economies and cultural contexts.

Be part of a vibrant artistic programme
You can also become part of RWCMD’s vibrant artistic life, contributing to a public performance programme of more than 400 events each year. At RWCMD, high-level professional practice is not separate from research – it is central to it. This integration ensures that practice-based doctoral work retains its full transformative potential through artistic innovation.

For general enquiries about our doctoral programme or guidance on who may be a suitable supervisor for your project, please contact our PhD Programme Leads, Dr Ella Hawkins or Dr James Lea.