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MusicFutures Scholarship for Music MRes

Are you passionate about the value of diverse music, culture and creativity to society? Is funding a barrier to your academic ambition? We invite applications for a funded one-year full-time MRes position (home fees level only) working on innovative research exploring how creativity and culture are valued.

About this scholarship

This scholarship is awarded through the University of Liverpool's groundbreaking new programme, MusicFutures, in collaboration with social value consultancy RealWorth. We're looking for someone passionate about the social and cultural value of music. If you're looking to develop a research or professional career in social impact assessment and management in the music/creative and cultural sector, please apply. 

MusicFutures is an AHRC-funded programme hosted by the University of Liverpool. It brings together academics and creative industry partners to deliver a programme of equality-focused and inclusive research and design (R&D)-led innovation and business development for the Liverpool City Region. Operating out of a hub at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, MusicFutures will foster collaboration with a variety of partners to generate sector insights and career pathways for increasing diversity and representation for existing and future artists and music professionals. This environment will empower small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to innovate, attract investment, scale up, and adopt inclusive and sustainable practices. Through diverse cross-sector programmes, MusicFutures will fuel growth, drive environmental innovation, and champion inclusivity. MusicFutures will elevate both the region's and the UK's competitiveness in the global music market.

RealWorth is a social value consultancy based in Liverpool, which supports the creation of places and outcomes that are better for everyone. It works with clients to understand the needs of people and communities, advise on ways to enhance social value, and assess impact using both monetary values and personal stories of change. Its work spans the built environment and cultural sectors, ranging from large-scale housing and regeneration projects to evaluating the social impact of cultural assets such as theatres, museums, music venues, and creative programmes.

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must have applied and hold an offer for the full-time MRes. There is one scholarship covering Home fees for the full-time MRes Music programme available. The scholarship takes the form of a full fee waiver to the value of the Home tuition fee level (£5,006 in 2025-26).

Applicants who would pay international fees may also apply, but please be advised that the scholarship only covers the Home MRes fee and therefore international applicants would need to make up the difference in fees (£24,600 in 2025-26). International applicants must have fully met the English language requirements by the closing date in order to be eligible.

For further fees and funding information, please visit Music MRes | Courses | University of Liverpool

What you'll do

You will be based in the Department of Music. We are one of the five departments within the School of the Arts, which actively engages with the University of Liverpool’s commitment to diversity and equality, including Athena Swan (gender equality) and Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter.

MusicFutures scoping on Liverpool City Region cultural/ music sector needs has highlighted a necessity for an alternative to solely economic measures of growth and value across the music sector. RealWorth uses an established methodology to understand the social impact of places, policies and programmes, beyond the economic and financial change. While its approach is flexible and draws on established best practices, it is rooted specifically in the built environment. RealWorth recognises that cultural and creative projects can require diverse insight and outputs, often involving bespoke methodologies beyond typical frameworks to assess social value.

This MRes project will support both MusicFutures and RealWorth to create an inclusive, practical, and universally applicable methodology to capture and report the unique impacts of cultural activities, assets, and creativity on society. We are seeking an MRes student to undertake a research project that drives and develops this research.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of music, urbanism, social impact, and cultural practice—bringing together the spatial, the social, and the creative. The research will help shape a more nuanced, inclusive, and practical approach to valuing culture in cities and communities.

You will:

  • Participate in regular teaching sessions and supervisions throughout the year on the University of Liverpool campus.
  • Explore and evaluate existing best practice frameworks for assessing social value in the cultural sector, including cultural assets and programmes.
  • Identify gaps and opportunities to improve.
  • Identify and engage with stakeholders to understand practical needs and ambitions.
  • Develop and test a framework that is fit-for-purpose for cultural assets and programmes.
  • Gain experience working in a professional office environment
  • Have the opportunity for non-course related paid consultancy work (est. 15 days)
  • Potentially receive additional qualifications (Level 1 Social Value Associate) from the Institute of Social Value’s Professional Pathway
  • Engage with other MusicFutures activities
  • Submit an MRes thesis.

The ideal candidate

  • A genuine interest in, and passion for, helping people to improve their lives and make the best of themselves
  • An undergraduate degree in a relevant field (music, planning, human geography, social science and other related fields)
  • Demonstrable interest in the social value field, social impact assessments, or community-centred approaches
  • Strong research skills, including literature review, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
  • Strong interpersonal skills, confident in engaging with a range of stakeholders
  • Clear and thoughtful written communication, with the ability to produce engaging and accessible outputs
  • Experience or knowledge of the cultural and creative sector (through study, work, volunteering or personal interest)
  • Ability to work independently and take initiative.

Application process

Please submit an application to MRes Music via the application portal: Music MRes | Courses | University of Liverpool

In the relevant section of the application form that asks about finance, please note that you will be applying to the ‘MusicFutures Scholarship’.

You will need to supply the following documents to support your application:

  • BA award certificates and transcripts (or evidence of equivalent professional experience)
  • Two references (one must be an academic reference)
  • CV
  • Passport details
  • Personal Statement (1-2 pages) – detailing how you meet the ideal candidate criteria and how you would contribute to project success
  • International applicants only: English language certificate (IELTS minimum overall 6.5, with at least 6.5 in Writing, and no other component below 6.0) or accepted equivalent.

Positive action

Data shows that Women, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority students are currently under-represented on the School of the Arts doctoral programmes and within the wider Music industry. We strongly encourage applicants from these groups and will use the Positive Action provision (Equality Act 2010) on selection decisions between candidates of equal merit.

Deadlines

Application deadline: 18 July 2025

Interview dates: 28 July – 1 August 2025

Course start date: 22 September 2025

Contact

For any queries regarding the application process, please contact the School of the Arts Postgraduate Research Team on pgarts@liverpool.ac.uk .