The University of Newcastle, Australia, has always been an attractive place for young Aussies to study. With the announcement that it would offer a PhD program in heavy metal, it became cooler than ever. This is one of the best universities in the country, which consistently ranks among the top 10. To get such recognition for heavy metal music is awesome, but expected as well.
The problem with this genre is that it rarely gains recognition among scholars. People want to learn more about it. There are many passionate musicians who would love to study heavy metal from an academic point of view. But so far, they haven’t had such a chance.
The PhD program at the University of Newcastle will be supported by a scholarship, and it will be available for two domestic and one international candidate.
This is a highly challenging program. The candidates have to be ready to approach heavy metal music with a studious and serious attitude. They will have to write a research proposal and an actual PhD dissertation. But hey; at least the topic will be fun and they will be required to listen to music while writing.
About the Program
Professor Simon Springer is the person in charge of the program, which will be conducted under the direction of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies. This Centre is committed to research on complex political, cultural, social, economic, and environmental policies and relations that transform regions and cities.
The scholarship program is not specifically focused on heavy metal music. It’s open to those who want to study the “Geographies of Homelessness, Veganism, Unschooling, or Heavy Metal Music.” We’ll have to admit: all these niches sound cool, but who could resist studying heavy metal at university?
The deadline for applications is 15 August 2019. You better hurry up! The successful scholars will start their studies between 01 January 2020 and 31 August 2020.
Two domestic students will receive an annual living allowance of $27,596. The scholarship for one international student will also cover the cost of tuition fees (that’s not necessary for domestic Aussie students, since the Research Training Program covers their tuition).
The course will be mostly focused on the geography of heavy metal. As a global music phenomenon, the genre and its subgenres represent unique subcultures and unique scenes. Australia, despite its distance from the geographical heart of the culture, has deep connections with the countries it originated from.
The researchers who gain this scholarship will focus on exploring the relationship between Australian heavy metal and colonialism, the lyrical themes in Aussie metal bands, the cultural diversity within the heavy metal scene, gender issues, and many other concepts that turn the genre into something worthy of academic research.
How Do You Qualify?
This is the hard part. You need at least a BA Honours degree to apply for the program. The candidates with an MA degree in Geography or a related field will have a priority during the selection process. The related fields include Political Science, Media Studies, International Studies, Sociology, etc. To apply for the program, you need to send your CV and a research proposal to Professor Simon Springer’s email.
Since the application deadline is coming close, you might consider the option to ask for proposal writing help. Giving up is not an option when the opportunity is so attractive. If you collaborate with a professional writer, researcher or editor, you might have that proposal done on time. It’s just a preliminary project that would set the track of your PhD dissertation.
Are You Interested?
Heavy metal music doesn’t get too much recognition in the stiff world of academic studies. They are focused on classical music and modern sounds that appeal to the general masses. We’re finally seeing a reputable university offering a great program that would advance the research and knowledge in this field. This PhD program will help us understand the origins of metal music, and the way the Australian subculture is influenced by colonialism and other factors.
If you’re ready to approach the genre with such a studious mindset, you might be the perfect candidate for the program. It’s a scholarship offer, so the least you could do is try.
BIO: Connie Elser is a writer, researcher, and editor for her own blogs. She maintains several online projects on music, culture, and film. Connie is committed to getting more people involved in the world of music, and she chose blogging as a way to achieve that goal.
