Fully-funded PhD and MA at the University of Michigan – Info Session
Hao-Wen Dong
Dear AIMC Community,
Please find below information about our PhD and MA programs in Performing Arts Technology at the University of Michigan. Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions!
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The Department of Performing Arts Technology at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance is now accepting applications for our PhD and MA programs for Fall 2026.
Prospective students are invited to an Online Info Session on Friday, November 7th at 12:00 pm ET. The session will offer information on both the PhD and MA programs and will allow prospective students to ask questions to faculty. To attend this event, please register here: PAT Graduate Info Session Registration.
All PhD students receive 5 years of full funding, including tuition, salary stipend, summer stipend, and health care benefits.
Select MA students are offered a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) appointment that provides 2 years of full funding, including tuition, salary stipend, and health care benefits.
Students in our PhD and MA programs benefit from:
- individualized attention from a large, accomplished faculty with varied research and creative interests;
- a flexible curriculum with numerous specialized courses that offer breadth and depth;
- access to cutting-edge research facilities;
- an inclusive, diverse, and collaborative student community of artists and scholars in a vibrant, comprehensive performing arts school;
- the material, social, and intellectual resources of one of the top public research universities in the world;
- professional and career development opportunities in teaching, research, and performance;
- and many opportunities for additional funding, professional development, academic and community support through the Rackham Graduate School.
PhD and MA candidates will work on dissertation/thesis topics of their own design in close collaboration with a faculty advisory team tailored to the student’s interests. The programs encourage diverse research methodologies, including practice-based approaches. The PhD program also involves opportunities for gaining teaching experience.
Ongoing faculty research areas include musical interaction design, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, telematic performance, haptics and accessibility, digital fabrication, data sonification, community-engaged practices in media arts, intermedia composition and performance, decolonizing music theories and pedagogies, technical ear training and critical listening, and sound for film and games.
Applications for the PhD program are due by December 10. More information and detailed application instructions can be accessed through the program page. Applicants must have completed undergraduate and master's degrees in related fields (e.g., music, music technology, engineering, media arts, computer science) prior to entering the PhD program. Students currently in their final year of a master’s degree may apply for admission contingent upon successful completion of their degree.
Applications for the MA program are due by December 1 (note the earlier deadline). For more information and detailed application instructions, please visit the program page.
If you have any questions about our programs, admissions process, or the Department of Performing Arts Technology, you can contact the PAT Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Anıl Çamcı at aca...@umich.edu.
Best,
Herman
Assistant Professor
Department of Performing Arts Technology
University of Michigan