Music Technology and Acoustics

1. Department Context and Research Mission

The Department of Music Technology and Acoustics is a part of the School of Music and Optoacoustic Technologies at HMU. It is the only Academic Department in Greece that focuses on the study, application and development of the Science of Sound, Music Technologies and Acoustics. The Department's PhD program focuses on linking technical advancements with theoretical and creative inquiries, enabling the Department to prepare students for advanced employment opportunities and ongoing contributions to science and technology in sound-related areas.
The Doctoral program is consistent with the Department's mission by promoting the highest quality scientific research in areas associated with music technology, acoustics, interactive systems and emerging audio sciences. The goal of the doctoral program is to develop the next generation of researchers and innovators who will be able to contribute substantially to the advancement of scientific knowledge, technological development and interdisciplinary collaborations around the world.

2. Programme Structure and Learning Progression

The PhD in Music Technology and Acoustics program has been developed to provide a foundation for independent research and training toward the award of a PhD degree. It can take a minimum of 3 years full time to complete, but it may be completed through part time study arrangements depending on a candidate's professional and research commitments.
Research Project/Dissertation is the defining feature of the Doctoral Pathway. Candidates will develop their own research agenda, which they will execute independently, but will have the support of senior academic staff acting as supervisors..
Candidates are selected for admission to the Doctoral Program through a competitive process, based upon their scholarly ability, research interests aligned with those of the academic staff, and their preparedness to pursue advanced research. Advertisements for application to the Doctoral Program are usually issued two times per year (November and April) and further opportunities for consultation with the academic staff and submission of proposals are provided at other times during designated periods.

The programme structure generally involves the following phases:

• Proposal Development: Candidates refine their research topic, identify literature gaps, and articulate research questions and methodologies in consultation with supervisors.

• Ethical Approval and Planning: Formal approval procedures are completed for research involving human participants, data collection, or experimental systems where relevant.

• Research Execution: Candidates undertake rigorous data collection, experimentation, modelling, algorithm development, perceptual assessment, or other appropriate methods aligned with their topic.

• Analysis and Dissemination: Findings are analyzed, interpreted, and disseminated via international conference submissions, journal articles, and the doctoral dissertation.

• Thesis Defense: The programme culminates in a public defense before a committee of domain experts who evaluate the candidate’s scholarly contribution and research quality.

3. Academic Domains and Research Focus Areas

The Doctoral Studies programme supports research across multiple core and interdisciplinary domains that reflect the scientific and technological breadth of music technology and acoustics. These domains align with both fundamental research and applied innovation:

Digital Audio and Signal Processing Research
Doctoral candidates may investigate advanced topics in audio analysis, synthesis, machine learning for sound applications, time-frequency methods, or perceptual signal processing. Research can contribute to improved algorithms, new analytical frameworks, and novel applications in audio engineering, music technology, and sound computing.

Acoustics and Acoustic Environments
This domain includes research on physical acoustics, room acoustics, acoustic modelling, psychoacoustics, and environmental soundscapes. Projects may examine how sound interacts with built or natural environments and how acoustic design can optimize listening spaces, sound quality, or soundscape perception.

Interactive Sound and Multimedia Systems
Candidates interested in the intersection of interactive technologies and sound may pursue research in areas such as real-time interactive audio systems, embodied interfaces, gestural control, virtual and augmented audio experiences, and multimodal sound environments.

Creative and Aesthetic Sound Practices
The programme values inquiry that bridges technology with artistic practice, enabling research into compositional technology, sound art, creative performance systems, and the cultural implications of sound technologies.

Doctoral research topics are custom selected in concert with supervisors and reflect current trends, technological advances, and scholarly opportunities in international research communities. The Department actively supports theoretical, experimental, and computational approaches in all these domains.

4. Research Infrastructure and Integration

The Department of Music Technology and Acoustics has cutting-edge research laboratory facilities that provide a technological base for the capture of sound, spatial audio, acoustic measurement, motion capture and the design of interactive systems. PhD candidates have access to these labs to support both experimental/creative work and therefore integrate theoretical aspects with practical ones.
PhD research is part of the Department's overall research activity and the Department's research activity includes funded research projects, international collaborations and research outputs published in top-tier research venues. Candidates are encouraged to disseminate their research output via peer reviewed journals and international conferences as well as being able to build an academic reputation and professional network. The Department also supports involvement in inter-disciplinary/cross institutional research partnerships (including partnerships with industry and arts partners) and supports PhD candidates to maximize the social impact and technological relevance of their research.

5. Professional Preparation and Graduate Outcomes

The Graduates of the PhD programme in Music Technology and Acoustics are prepared to:

• Conduct original research that expands knowledge in music technology, acoustics, and related fields.

• Design and execute complex experiments, analyze data rigorously, and develop theoretical and computational models.

• Communicate research findings effectively in academic, industrial, and public arenas.

• Demonstrate leadership in multidisciplinary research teams and scholarly communities.

• Recognize ethical, social, and professional responsibilities related to research conduct and technology deployment.

• Engage in lifelong learning and adapt to evolving technologies and research paradigms.

Professionally, doctoral graduates are prepared for roles in academia as faculty members and researchers, in industry as research scientists or technical leads, and in cultural and creative sectors where high-level expertise in sound technology, media systems, and acoustics is valued.