phd film studies europe

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This research degree involves in-depth and extended study of a specialised topic, within the broad range of film and media studies, which is identified and developed by the student in consultation with their research supervisor(s), all of whom have world-leading expertise.

Research students in our department investigate a wide range of specialised topics, especially in the areas of European, American and East Asian cinema and media; social, cultural, political and technological analyses of moving images; and film and media theory and film-philosophy. In the UK's most recent national audit of research, the Research Excellence Framework 2014, 87% of our research was given the highest rankings of 4* or 3* and we were also rated highly for the public and societal impact of our research. We have a close relationship with the British Film Institute and its renowned Reuben Library, based in the Southbank Centre, ten minutes walk from our central London campus on the Strand. Many other world-leading research libraries and archives are located nearby. Alongside their research, we offer our students formal teaching opportunities on our undergraduate degrees, providing valuable professional experience. All our students also pursue individually-tailored programmes of skills training and frequently work at film festivals and other media-related or educational events across London. Our fortnightly Film Studies Research Seminars bring leading experts to King's from outside and are both intellectually challenging and socially engaging. Our PhD students make up a vibrant, energetic, and friendly community, full of innovative ideas, and one of the largest of its kind at any university in the UK. 

Film Studies Research

Study a PhD in Film Studies at King's College London or a joint PhD with the University of Hong Kong or National University of Singapore.

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A leading centre for research on all aspects of cinema, from its earliest days to the present

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PhD Programs

The Film University offers two programs of individual PhD studies, differing in type and implementation: the traditional scientific PhD and the scientific/artistic PhD.

Since 2001, the Film University has held the right to award a PhD in the subject of media studies. In this traditional scientific doctorate, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. phil.) is awarded based on a dissertation thesis and a passed oral examination. In the winter semester 2016/17, after an intensive preparatory phase, the scientific/artistic PhD program was introduced. This PhD program, consisting of an academic dissertation and an artistic research project, is still considered a novelty in the German research landscape. It is available in the Film and Television Production, Screenwriting/Dramaturgy and Film Heritage programs and is to be extended to other subjects in the coming years. It concludes with the title Dr. phil. in art. (philosophiae in artibus).

We assist our PhD students by providing a wide range of events at the Film University's Graduate Academy. PhD students are supported by the Film University's strong and experienced partners. Interdisciplinary skills such as writing and presentation techniques, the acquisition of third-party funding, didactic teaching planning, and project management are taught here in cooperation with the Brandenburg Center for Media Studies, the Potsdam Graduate School of the University of Potsdam, the Netzwerk Studienqualität Brandenburg, and the Dahlem Research School of Freie Universität Berlin. Additionally, PhD students are informed about various funding opportunities for their dissertation projects.

Deadline for application: 15. Januar / 15. Juni

Send your application to Julia Scho.

Scientific PhD Program

Scientific/artistic phd program, application process, funding opportunities.

Julia Scho More information: Julia Scho Referentin für Akademische Nachwuchsförderung | Graduiertenakademie

Tel: +49 331 6202 156 Send an E-Mail

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Postgraduate Research Courses in Film Studies in Europe - 89 Courses

Aberystwyth university department of theatre, film and television studies.

• Theatre, Film and Television Studies Master of Philosophy - MPhil
• Theatre, Film, and Television Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Bangor University School of Music and Media

• Professional Writing, Film, Media, New Media, Journalism, Creative Studies, Drama, Professional Writing Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Birmingham Department of Film and Creative Writing

• Film Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MA (Res)
• Film Studies with Audio-Visual Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Bournemouth University Faculty of Media and Communications

• PhD – Faculty of Media & Communication Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Canterbury Christ Church University School of Media, Art and Design

• Film Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

The University of Edinburgh School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

• Film Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

University of Kent School of Arts

• Film Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
• Film (Practice as Research) Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MA (Res)

Lancaster University Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts (LICA)

London Film School Film School

• Film by Practice Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Newcastle University School of Arts and Cultures

• Film Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

Queen Mary University of London Languages, Linguistics and Film

Queen's University Belfast School of Arts, English and Languages

Staffordshire University Digital, Technologies and Arts

• Postgraduate research in Culture, Heritage and Society Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

University of Sussex Media and Film

University of Sussex Music

• Media, Film and Music by Published Works Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

UCL (University College London) Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry

• Film Studies Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Westminster, London School of Life Sciences

• Arts - MPhil Master of Philosophy - MPhil
• Arts - PhD by Published Work Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Arts University Bournemouth Research Office

• MPhil/PhD Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

University of Bristol Graduate School of Arts and Humanities

• Film and Television Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

• Film and Screen Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil
• Film and Screen Studies by thesis Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Dundee School of Humanities Social Sciences and Law

• English (PhD) Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
• English (PhD) (Part-Time) Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

University of Exeter Communications, Drama and Film

University of exeter english and creative writing.

• English Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Exeter Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies

• Interdisciplinary Studies Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Master of Philosophy - MPhil

University of Gloucestershire School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences

• Film and Television Doctor of Philosophy - PhD MA (Res)

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• Study at Cambridge
• About the University
• Research at Cambridge

Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in programme in Film and Screen Studies in a supportive, disciplinary-specific but intellectually heterodox context. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture at Cambridge and participate in our annual research seminar series.

Opportunities to teach undergraduates are made available to PhD students from their second year onwards. Students also take leading roles in organising research events, including an annual Film and Screen Studies postgraduate conference. Read more about the Centre’s current research students .

“Cambridge Film and Screen offers an exciting, supportive and genuinely interdisciplinary environment in which to undertake doctoral study. In recent years, the Centre has hosted a range of prominent academic speakers, as well as filmmakers such as Michael Haneke, Lucrecia Martel and Gianfranco Rosi. The libraries of the University are very well stocked and many Colleges offer additional funds and resources to facilitate research. Teaching opportunities are also varied, ranging from one-to-one tuition to group supervisions and seminars. “Taking into account a range of factors — the intimacy of College life, the broader research culture, as well as the close proximity to London — Cambridge strikes the perfect balance for a PhD student. Above all else, however, it is the dedication of the faculty that has made my own experience here one of both personal and academic fulfillment.” Jules O’Dwyer – former PhD student at Cambridge Film and Screen

If you would like to discuss a possible research proposal for PhD study, please contact a potential supervisor or the Postgraduate Teaching and Examinations Officer in Film and Screen Studies, Dr Xin Peng on [email protected] .

You should have a developed project in mind before contacting us. At minimum please include an abstract of no fewer than 500 words and an indicative bibliography of approximately 10-20 research sources with your first email.

Please try to avoid sending your proposal to more than one colleague in Cambridge Film and Screen at the same time. If you have already sent your proposal to a colleague, please state this in messages to any other colleagues.

There is detailed course information on the Postgraduate Admissions website .

It is important that you read through the information available on the Postgraduate Admissions Office website before submitting your application, in particular the supporting documentation required and, for non-native speakers, evidence of competence in English .

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Film Studies MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UCL sits at the centre of the vibrant, multicultural and cinematic city of London. The university, which was the first to establish Film Studies in Britain, houses a thriving graduate research culture in the subject alongside remarkable resources for the study of cinema across its history and across the world.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Honours degree in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, and a Master's degree with Merit in a relevant field. In the first instance, candidates should establish a dialogue with a potential supervisor before making a formal application. Admission is normally dependent on the submission of a detailed research project proposal.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL has research strengths in particular in cinema and cultural history across the world. We have interests in early cinemas, new wave cinemas, and political cinemas. Supervision and mentorship is available from world-leading researchers from SELCS and CMII, with 83% of SELCS-CMII research activity being graded 4* ‘world leading’ and 3* ‘internationally excellent’ in the REF 2021.

Who this course is for

The programme is for graduates with a background or interest in cinema history, film theory or relevant disciplines. It is suitable for both recent Masters graduates as well as early or mid-career professionals. This MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest in conducting multi-disciplinary research, who may have completed post-graduate training or study and want to develop an advanced critical analysis in a specific research area.

What this course will give you

UCL provides a uniquely rich research environment for the study of cinema at the heart of the dynamic city of London. Students can draw on faculty expertise from across the university, in particular from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Social & Historical Sciences, the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS), and the Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry (CMII).

Students are supported by a dynamic research culture, a stimulating environment and excellent opportunities for research training. UCL houses numerous seminars and guest lectures, and researchers have access to world-class libraries at UCL, the University of London, the British Library and the British Film Institute.

The foundation of your career

PhD students demonstrate the ability to produce original research and to construct convincing and original arguments. Many have gone on to significant academic positions and teaching roles elsewhere, as well as pursuing careers in writing and research.

Our research students have entered a variety of professions including law, public policy, media, publishing, journalism and many have pursued academic research or educational careers. Woking in a range of roles in international organisations, arts, heritage or cultural sectors, and the government.

Employability

Beyond becoming an expert in your chosen field, you will gain employable attributes including leadership, communication, teamwork, language and business skills, refined in a dynamic cross-disciplinary research environment.

Doctoral students develop a range of skills that are invaluable in academia and in numerous other fields where PhD holders are prized for their skills in communication, critical analysis, management of projects and deadlines, and intercultural mediation.

The Film Studies department has particular research strengths in cinema history, film theory, and in an exceptionally broad range of national and regional cinemas. Research students can benefit from links with various networks and research partners such as the Screen Studies Group, London's Silent Cinemas, Open City Docs Fest and The Cine-Tourist.

London is a vibrant centre for academic work, and regularly hosts seminars, symposia, and conferences. UCL is central to the city's research culture and students have access to specialist archives and library collections.

Teaching and learning

Research students undertake relevant induction sessions and can take advantage of the Doctoral Skills Development Programme. PhD students meet regularly in term time with their supervisors and may be offered opportunities to gain valuable teaching experience and participate in reading groups and conferences.

To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the Faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

Depending on staff availability, there is provision for a small number of students to pursue the Documentary Track pathway, which allows suitably qualified PhD students to submit a thesis of 60,000-70,000 words and a within-copyright filmed documentary of 20-30 minutes in length in place of the standard requirement of a thesis of 80,000-100,000 words in length.

The documentary-track PhD is researched in a twofold manner as a text and a film project and developed in two parallel but interdependent modes of discourse. Thus the two projects are intended to overlap closely such that the documentary is part of the integrated whole of the argument of the thesis. An example of a research project which might be pursued using this methodology would be the study (in the form of an academic thesis) of the works of a living author or artist or film director along with a creative, research-led documentary film on the same individual's work. It is expected that the two parts of the research project will form a composite whole. It will also be necessary for the candidate to provide a statement explaining the research question and aims addressed by the documentary film including written production notes, and a discussion of the stages of research and choice of methodology.

PhD students should treat their research programme as a full-time job, which equates roughly to 35 hours per week, or 15 hours for Part-time students. Students agree to a timetable of regular meetings with the Principal Supervisor to effectively manage the progression of project aims. This is flexible, at some points it may be necessary to meet more or less often. Full-time students can expect to meet supervisors every two weeks during the academic year, and part-time students every four weeks. If a student has external funding, they should also ensure they meet the Terms & Conditions of the funder.

Research areas and structure

• North and Latin American cinema history
• European cinema history
• Documentary cinema
• Non-theatrical/radical cinema
• The history of the discipline
• Silent cinema
• Film theory
• The political economy of cinema

Research environment

Research students are encouraged to participate in research seminars across and outside SELCS-CMII including networks such as the Open City Docs Fest and the Society for Comparative Cultural Inquiry. Students contribute significantly to the research environment through the organisation of annual conferences, and participation in seminars and online journals.

Students can access special collections in Modern Languages, Culture and History at UCL and other world-class libraries (Senate House and British Library) within walking distance of campus. As well as access to research support in the form of academic skills courses, student-led workshops and reading groups.

In the first instance, candidates should establish a dialogue with a potential supervisor before making a formal application. The length of registration for the research degree programmes is usually three years for full-time and five years for part-time. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-18 months after initial registration. 

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis.

In the first year, you will be required to take part in a mandatory Skills Seminar Programme. You are expected to agree with your supervisor the basic structure of your research project, an appropriate research method and a realistic plan of work. You will produce and submit a detailed outline of your proposed research to your supervisor for their comments and feedback and be given the opportunity to present your research to UCL academic staff and fellow PhD students.

In the second year, you will be expected to upgrade from MPhil to a PhD. To successfully upgrade to a PhD you are required to submit a piece of writing (this is usually based on one chapter from your thesis and a chapter plan for the remainder). You are also required to present and answer questions about this work to a panel consisting of your subsidiary supervisor and another member of the Faculty who acts as an independent assessor.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is usually three years for full-time and five years for part-time. You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-18 months after initial registration. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying, and conference registration fees.

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library (hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions).

The wealth of departmental seminars / colloquiums / symposiums and student organised work in progress sessions give ample opportunities to present research, receive feedback and participate in discussion.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For more details about departmental funding available to postgraduate research students in the department, please refer to our Funding, Scholarships and Prizes (Research) webpage .

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Quirk PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 26 January 2024 Value: Fees and maintenance (3yrs) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

All applicants must identify and contact potential supervisors before making their application. For more information see our ' Need to Know ' page.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

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[email protected]

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PhD in Film and Screen Studies

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Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies papers are made available to PhD students from their second year onwards. Students also take leading roles in organising research events, including an annual postgraduate conference.

In British universities, the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years.  It's also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.

During their research, students will have the opportunity to work closely with a supervisor who is a specialist in their research area. In addition to the supervisor, students will normally also be able to draw on the help and support of one other lecturer, who will form part of the supervisory team.  

In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students. The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, specialist linguistics training, and film-making. The University runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD skills training, to language training and writing and editing skills. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching from colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in language teaching in the Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to PhD, the minimum academic standard is an overall distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to PhD, the usual academic requirement is a pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their own merits and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral level research.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, faculty of modern and medieval languages and linguistics, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

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About Postgraduate Film Studies

A PhD in film studies in the UK offers an extensive and rigorous academic path designed for those dedicated to the study of cinema and its cultural, social and historical significance. Graduates are ideally positioned for careers in academic research, film criticism, archiving and preservation, media consultancy and cultural policy advising.

With over 45 specialised PhD programmes, the UK stands out for its rich film culture and historical contributions to cinema. These programmes are tailored for candidates with a strong academic background in film or media studies, or related humanities disciplines. Prospective students are required to demonstrate a solid research foundation, often through a master’s degree and a well-crafted research proposal in a specific aspect of film studies.

What to Expect

The programmes cover a broad range of study areas, including film theory, cinematic history, genre studies, national and international cinemas and the impact of digital media on filmmaking. The pivotal element of the programme is the doctoral thesis: an original research project that adds significant value to the field of film studies.

Assessment centres on research quality and originality of the doctoral thesis, with candidates also participating in academic conferences, film festivals and scholarly publications, enhancing their professional growth and network.

Graduates of film studies PhD programmes in the UK emerge as experts, with in-depth knowledge of cinematic arts as an art form and cultural artefact, exhaustive critical analysis skills and an understanding of the industry. Career paths often lead to academic positions, roles in film archives, museums, film and media consultants or in government and NGOs dedicated to cultural policy and arts administration.

Related subjects:

• PhD Film Studies
• PhD Biography Writing
• PhD Broadcasting Studies
• PhD Communication Design
• PhD Communication Skills
• PhD Communication Studies
• PhD Communications and Media
• PhD Creative Writing
• PhD Digital Arts
• PhD Digital Media
• PhD Film Special Effects
• PhD Film and Television Production
• PhD Film and Video Production
• PhD Media Production
• PhD Media Studies
• PhD Multimedia
• PhD Photography
• PhD Play Writing
• PhD Television Programme Production
• PhD Television Studies
• PhD Television and Radio Production
• PhD Visual Communication
• PhD Writing

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Film, Media and Television PhD

University of gloucestershire.

Research a topic of your choice or work on an extended creative project. Boost your professional practice and develop high-level skills and Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)

University of Hull

Film studies at Hull is a dynamic new teaching and research unit, which offers PhD research degrees in a range of fields, including Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD in Film Media and Screen Studies

Manchester metropolitan university.

RESEARCH CULTURE We are home to a substantial community of researchers undertaking critical analysis of film and screen. Our research is Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree

PhD Postgraduate Research in Film, Television And Media Studies

University of east anglia uea.

We are a research-led university and the Department of Film, Television and Media Studies is comprised of a world-leading team of academic Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

SOAS University of London

The Centre for Film and Screen Studies invites applications for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in Film and Screen Studies Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,860 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,430 per year (UK)

Film Studies MPhil/PhD

University of worcester.

We welcome applications to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees in Film Studies. Research at Worcester has grown significantly Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,475 per year (UK)

PhD Theatre, Film and Television Studies

Aberystwyth university.

The Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies’ international reputation for conducting cutting-edge quality research makes Read more...

Film Studies PhD

School of histories, languages and cultures, university of liverpool.

In Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC), our research is characterised by an interest in the global dimensions of language-based study, Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 4 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Film Studies (Creative Practice)

University of essex.

Our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies has a distinguished history of combining critical and creative work, and we have Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £9,375 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Film and TV Studies PhD

University of glasgow.

Our outward-looking, multi-disciplinary research activities are based on high-quality, challenging and flexible graduate programmes. We Read more...

English PhD,MPhil - Literature, Art, and Film

University of leicester.

English at Leicester All research areas within English are offered as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - campus based full-time and Read more...

• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £5,913 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Film Practice PhD

Newcastle university.

Our Film Practice PhD provides you with a unique opportunity to develop your film as a practice-led research project. Newcastle University Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Film and Television Studies PhD

University of nottingham.

We welcomes applicants interested in a range of topics across the film and television studies programme. Our academic staff are active Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

University of Surrey

Why choose this programme We belong to the interdisciplinary School of Literature and Languages, which has research-active staff in Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Film: Practice as Research - PhD

University of kent.

Film at Kent is known for its dynamic and inclusive research community. Whether you are interested in theories, histories or aesthetics of Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £9,800 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £4,900 per year (UK)

Screen Media (Film and TV) PhD

Brunel university london.

Research profile Screen Media at Brunel has established a substantial body of research in a range of topics, including numerous major Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree

UCL (University College London)

UCL sits at the centre of the vibrant, multicultural and cinematic city of London. The university, which was the first to establish Film Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

PhD Film, Media and Culture

University of central lancashire.

Film and Media staff specialise in European cinema, European and British popular music, and the interface between tourism, heritage and the Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,000 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,500 per year (UK)

Queen Mary University of London

Research in Film at QMUL is organised into four main areas, Film Cultures, Film Philosophy, Film Practice, and Decolonizing Film with the Read more...

Film Studies and Media Studies PhD

Anglia ruskin university.

This course is in the School of Creative Industries. Explore your research interests in communication, film and media, supported by the Read more...

• 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)
• 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

1-20 of 47 courses

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• Distance learning PhD
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Universities:.

• University of Warwick
• University of West London
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Aberdeen
• London Film School
• The University of Edinburgh
• University of Sussex
• King's College London, University of London
• University of Reading
• Birkbeck, University of London
• University of St Andrews
• University of Birmingham
• University of York
• Lancaster University
• University of Southampton
• Queen's University Belfast
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Cambridge
• University of Bristol
• University of Exeter

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Film Studies MPhil, PhD

Study British, Algerian, Chinese, French or Latin American cinema with our MPhil or PhD in Film Studies.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

As a Film Studies MPhil or PhD student, you'll form a crucial part of our research culture. Our thriving community of postgraduate students work across schools and disciplines. Research ranges from modern languages to English literature, English language, linguistics and arts and cultures.

We're keen to work with postgraduates in the major research projects listed below, or in the more general areas related to them. We supervise projects that span academic schools and sub-disciplines, ensuring the best fit between your interests and the expertise of our staff.

• the history of film style
• popular cinema culture
• points of contact between literature and film
• Hollywood after 1975
• cinema and memory studies
• cinema and the imaginaries of post-conflict
• cinema and contemporary Latin American society
• cinema and the city
• cinema and theatre - performance studies
• popular film from the 1930s to the present
• gender and representation
• cinema audiences and theories of spectatorship

Professor G Austin

• postcolonial cinema
• cinema and the representation of trauma
• cinema and the Algerian War
• contemporary French cinema
• French horror and fantasy cinema
• cinema and the work of Pierre Bourdieu
• Chinese independent films and film festivals
• transnational Chinese cinema
• stardom and performance
• gender and sexuality
• audience and reception studies
• action and martial arts genres

Dr Fehimovic

Dr Yoshioka

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

How you'll learn

You'll normally be taught on the Newcastle University campus. Attendance is flexible and agreed between you and your supervisors depending on the requirements of your research project.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Other opportunities.

We organise an annual postgraduate conference for the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. You can get involved in a number of film-related research seminars on campus, including:

• the Research Group in Film and Media series
• the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics visiting speaker series
• the School of Modern Languages research seminar series

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

You'll have the opportunity to use Culture Lab , a complex for creative practice. It includes a stock of film cameras and editing suites, as well as motion-capture, animation and sound-mixing technology.

The Language Resource Centre and Peter Robinson Library hold large collections of international films and film magazines. You'll also have access to a dedicated postgraduate suite including computers, workspaces, a kitchen and showers.

There are fantastic local film facilities including the Tyneside Cinema and British Film Institute Mediatheque . You'll also have guided access to Tyne and Wear Archives.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year).

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Film Studies, MPhil and PhD

School of Modern Languages Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5867 Email:  [email protected]  

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

Chat to a student

Chat online with current students with our Unibuddy platform.

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Get in touch with the School of Modern Languages

• How You'll Learn
• Your Development
• Your Future
• Quality and Ranking
• Fees and Funding
• Entry Requirements
• Open days & events

Study Postgraduate

Film and/or television studies (mphil/phd) (2024 entry).

Course code

30 September 2024

3-4 years full-time; 7 years part-time

Qualification

Film and Television Studies

University of Warwick

Find out more about our Film and/or Television Studies MPhil/PhD.

Join the MPhil/PhD in Film and/or Television Studies in order to conduct innovative, world-leading research. Warwick's Film and Television Studies is home to state-of-the-art facilities and world-renowned experts who will guide you as you carry out your research project.

Course overview

A PhD in Film and/or Television Studies will help you to shape the field of moving image studies, as you develop original research which intervenes in the most exciting and relevant discipline in the Arts and Humanities.

In partnership with your dedicated supervisor or supervisory team, you will be supported on your journey to becoming a fully independent researcher in screen studies. You will be able to take advantage of the unparalleled resources our department has to offer, from global experts in film and television history, theory and criticism, to 35mm film projection and a digital editing suite. You will join a vibrant and international community of scholars, with the opportunity to participate in an exciting programme of research seminars and professional development and training events.

Teaching and learning

Doctoral Studies in Film and Television Studies proceeds through regular meetings between the student and their PhD supervisor or supervisory team, with the additional resource of a designated mentor. Together, you will design and develop your topic and the structure of your thesis, refining your research and writing through a process of drafts and close commentary, constructive critique and discussion. In year one you will also be required to take Research Methods classes in order to deepen your knowledge of existing debates and methodologies in the field. The department also offers teaching opportunities for PhD students from their second-year of study onwards, subject to availability and a formal application process in any given year.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

A good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

Anyone interested in applying to our MPhil/PhD programme is advised to first visit the department PhD webpage for further information and contact our Postgraduate Admissions Secretaries at filmandtvadmissions at warwick dot ac dot uk  to ascertain if their intended project can be supervised in this department.

Our research

• Film and Television Aesthetics, History and Theory
• Classical and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
• European Cinema (especially British, Italian, French and Spanish)
• British and US Television
• Documentary Film and Television
• Silent Cinema
• Feminist Film and Television Theory, History and Criticism
• World Cinema
• Queer Film Cultures
• Film and Philosophy
• Experimental Film and Video
• Film and Television Genre
• Film and Modernity
• Film Technology and Innovation
• Cities and Landscapes in Film and Television
• Critical Studies of the Archive
• Transnational Cinemas
• Screen Ethics

The Department of Film and Television Studies is the home of  The Centre for Television Histories Link opens in a new window . There are often opportunities for graduate students to be involved in associated activities.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find a supervisor

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

We currently have 14 full-time members of staff Link opens in a new window with many research strengths who could be your supervisors.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor. Link opens in a new window

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website .

Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

For UK and International students, the primary funding opportunity is a 3.5-year AHRC-based scholarship, provided through the Midlands4Cities consortium (M4C) .

The AHRC-funded Midlands4Cities (M4C) Link opens in a new window brings together eight leading universities across the Midlands to support the professional and personal development of the next generation of arts and humanities doctoral researchers. M4C is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University of Warwick, Coventry University, University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham.

M4C is awarding up to 70 fully funded doctoral studentships for UK and international applicants for 2024 through the Open Competition and 13 Collaborative Doctoral Awards.

The deadline for M4C funding is 10 January 2024 (noon) but expressions of interest should reach Film and Television Studies at Warwick by November 2023.

All proposals will be subject to internal approval. For enquiries and information, please contact the PhD admissions officer, Dr Tiago de Luca at mailto:t dot de-luca at warwick dot ac dot uk . For further information about M4C and its partner institutions, including upcoming application writing workshops, please consult the Midlands4Cities website.

International applicants (including EU students) are also eligible for the Warwick Chancellor's International Scholarship . The application deadline for this year’s competition is 12 December 2023 . Applicants who hold a People’s Republic of China may also apply for the Warwick China Scholarship Council award. The application deadline is 16 January 2024 .

Film and Television Studies at Warwick

See the world through the lens of film.

The moving image is the most significant art form of the twentieth century. By studying it, you will develop a unique way of understanding the world you live in. You will be exposed to a diverse film and television culture at the forefront of change as our means of viewing evolve. Whether it's a pure passion for the moving image, its stars, genres and history, or academic curiosity that excites you, follow a curriculum that’s as ambitious and innovative as Film and Television Studies are.

From day one, you will be taught by the country’s leading scholars through state-of-the-art lectures, seminars and individual tutorial supervisions. Think, live and breathe the moving image through discussion, reading, writing, blogging, video-essays and screenwriting.

Find out more about us on our website. Link opens in a new window

Our courses

• Applied Screen Studies (PhD)
• Film and Television Studies (MA)
• For Research in Film and Television Studies (MA)
• Film and/or Television Studies (MPhil/PhD)

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

For research courses that start in September and October 2024 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2024. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

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See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Postgraduate fairs.

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

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Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.

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Learn more about Postgraduate study at the University of Warwick.

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About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2024 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

1 PhD Degrees in Film Studies in Europe for 2024

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PhD Degrees in Film Studies

Film is subject to academic study in a variety of different areas, including film history, criticism, and production. Students often analyze the social, political, aesthetic, and narrative features of a particular work, as well as the general theories that underlie filmmaking as a whole.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

• Schools & departments

Film Studies MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Film Studies

Upcoming Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Research events

Join us online on the 19th June or 26th June to learn more about studying and researching at Edinburgh.

Choose your event and register

Programme description

The Masters in Film Studies is a unique and stimulating programme that allows you to explore central concepts in the development of film theory and film-philosophy with an emphasis on European and American auteur cinema.

Our students engage seriously with the analysis of film and the history of cinema aesthetics and interpretation.

The programme will provide you with the analytical and critical tools for the investigation of individual films and the opportunity to discuss these in relation to auteurs, film movements and genres as well as contexts of production and reception.

Edinburgh is an ideal environment for the study of film as it is home to outstanding art-house cinemas, a lively cinephile culture and the world-renowned Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Programme structure

Over two semesters, taught in lectures and tutorials, you will complete two compulsory and two option courses, and will be trained in research methods and skills.

You will then complete a dissertation project under individual supervision during the summer.

Compulsory courses:

• Film Theory
• Film-Philosophy
• Research Methods in Film Studies 1 and 2

Option courses may include:

• Cinema Auteurs
• Documentary Aesthetics
• Film Adaptation
• Film and Existentialism
• Film Criticism and Metacriticism
• Global Women Filmmakers
• Scotland on Screen
• Sound and Cinema
• The Ghosts of Film Noir

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Career opportunities

This programme is an excellent chance to develop your cinematic interests and knowledge and to build your CV with a view to a career in academia, or in any film or media related field.

You will be introduced to Scotland’s lively film culture, with exceptional opportunities to network within the field.

You will also gain transferable skills in communication, research and project management that can be applied to any career you decide to pursue.

Meet our graduates

• And... action! Film students launch new magazine

Being part of The Film Dispatch has enabled me to know my peers better. I’ve gotten a chance to connect with people that I otherwise might not have met. The magazine has given us an alternative space to talk about film. I love sharing opinions on movies and inspiring other people to do the same.

Niamh Carey-Furness, MSc in Film Studies, 2022

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

Entry requirements.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

Multidisciplinary and comparative approaches are key aspects of film studies and we therefore welcome students coming from areas of study other than film.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding, uk government postgraduate loans.

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
• School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• 50 George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Film Studies
• School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

MSc Film Studies - 1 Year (Full-time)

Msc film studies - 2 years (part-time), application deadlines.

Due to high demand, the school operates a number of selection deadlines. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available to applicants selected through a competitive process.

Please be aware that applications must be submitted and complete, i.e. all required documents uploaded, by the relevant application deadline in order to be considered in that round. Your application will still be considered if you have not yet met the English language requirement for the programme.

Deadlines for applicants applying to study in 2024/25:

(Revised 19 October 2023 to update application deadlines and selection dates)

• How to apply

You must submit one reference with your application.

The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents, including a personal statement.

Your personal statement is particularly important. Outlining your reasons and motivation to study this programme, it helps us decide whether you are right for the MSc and, just as importantly, whether it is right for you.

Please be aware that the MSc Film Studies offers no technical filmmaking or screenwriting courses.

• Guidance on the application process and supporting documents

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Ph.D. in Cinema Studies

The Ph.D. curriculum draws on the methods of a number of disciplines, including art history, cultural studies, American studies, psychoanalytic theory, and philosophy. It involves intensive seminar level study in film theory, history and research methods. Graduates of the program have gone onto positions of academic leadership in the field.  The Doctor of Philosophy degree is conferred for advanced studies in which the student demonstrates outstanding original scholarship. It signifies the student can conduct independent research and has both a broad basic knowledge of all areas of his or her field and an intensive knowledge of one field in particular.

Over the first two years of the program, you’ll enroll in nine courses. In addition to the three courses listed below, a number of lectures and seminars are offered each semester in the department. Additionally, you will have the option to take up to two courses in other departments within NYU.

PhD Methodologies

In your first semester, you will meet with your cohort to examine a range of activities entailed in being in the program specifically, and in preparing for a career in cinema and media studies generally.  The course covers professional activities, research protocols, and practical exercises.

Directed Reading

In your third semester, you will complete a Directed Reading in your dissertation topic area with supervision by your anticipated dissertation advisor.

Dissertation Seminar

In your fourth semester, your cohort will come back together to prepare dissertation proposals through in-class debate, written feedback, and guests with experience in the process.  With regular presentations of work in progress, you will spend the semester finishing your dissertation proposal.

Qualifying Exams

You will be required to pass three Qualifying Examinations during your first two years in the program. The two written exams, one each in the fields of Film/Media History and Film/Culture/Media Theory, consist of 10-page essays completed over the course of a week and graded by three faculty members. The oral exam comprises questions relating to your specific area of research during your dissertation proposal, conducted and graded by three faculty members.

Read more about the Ph.D. Comprehesive Examinations.

Language Requirement

You will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language.  Six languages are accepted toward fulfilling this requirement: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.  Students for whom English is a second language may request an exemption from this requirement.  To demonstrate proficiency, you must pass an exam from either the department or the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

You will be given the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant during your second year of coursework.  Once your coursework and qualifying examinations are complete, you will be eligible to submit course proposals for adjunct teaching positions in the department.

Current students should consult the Ph.D. Handbook for rules and regulations.

European Film Schools

This section presents some of the most prestigious cinema schools and universities in Europe. This interactive tool is intended to exchange information, learn the latest news, view students’ works and promote the institutions’ curricula.

If you represent a film school and want to be included in this section, please contact us here .

• School videos

School profiles

• 3iS , France
• Aalto , Finland
• Anica Academy , Italy
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Greece
• Baltic Film and Media School , Estonia
• Bande À Part , Spain
• Budapest Film Academy , Hungary
• Budapest University of Drama and Film , Hungary
• Civica Scuola di Cinema Luchino Visconti , Italy
• The Deutsche Film und Fernsehakademie Berlin , Germany
• Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) , Ireland
• ECAM, The Madrid Film School , Spain
• Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola (EQZE) , Spain
• ENS Louis-Lumière , France
• ESRA Group , France
• FAMU - Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts , Czech Republic
• La Femis , France
• Filmacademy Baden-Württemberg , Germany
• Filmakademie Wien , Austria
• Florestano Vancini Film Art School , Italy
• Fondazione Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia , Italy
• Les Gobelins , France
• Griffith Film & Television Academy , Italy
• HEAD Genève , Switzerland
• The Humanities Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting (GITR) , Russia
• IAD , Belgium
• INSAS , Belgium
• ifs internationale filmschule köln , Germany
• Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre , Lithuania
• LFS London Film School , United Kingdom
• LUCA School of Arts , Belgium
• Lusophone University of Humanities and Technology , Portugal
• Media Business School , Spain
• Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest , Hungary
• National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) “Kr. Sarafov” , Bulgaria
• National Film and Television School , United Kingdom
• The National Film School of Denmark , Denmark
• The Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz , Poland
• Prague Film School , Czech Republic
• Regent’s School of Drama, Film & Media , United Kingdom
• RITS Erasmushogeschool , Belgium
• School of Film Directing at the University of Gothenburg , Sweden
• Screen Academy Scotland, A Skillset Film & Media Academy , United Kingdom
• Scuola Holden , Italy
• SDAC, Scuola D’Arte Cinematografica di Genova , Italy
• Stockholm Film School , Sweden
• Stockholms dramatiska högskola (Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts) , Sweden
• TAMK University of Applied Sciences , Finland
• University of Westminster, School of Media, Arts and Design , United Kingdom
• Valand Academy , Sweden
• VIA University College , Denmark
• VSMU - Academy of Performing Arts Bratislava , Slovakia
• Warsaw Film School , Poland
• Westerdals Oslo School of Arts, Communication and Technology , Norway
• ZeLIG , Italy

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Welcome to the Film and Media Studies Ph.D. Program

UC Irvine’s PhD program in Film and Media Studies offers students the opportunity to study and develop original research on film, television, and digital media. Rooted in the Humanities, we focus on interpreting the histories and theories of media and their cultural contexts.

Our curriculum provides a broad foundation in Film and Media Studies while also centering questions of media and power. Our course offerings emphasize post-colonial and decolonial approaches to film and media, queer theory and histories of gender and sexuality, critical race studies, video game studies, and archival research. We seek students who are deeply invested in understanding the perspectives of those who have been pushed to the margins of media technology, industries, and texts and in exploring the relationships between culture, identity, history, and power.

Located near Los Angeles, UC Irvine offers access to the rich cultural offerings and research institutions of Southern California. Students may choose to supplement their Film and Media Studies degree with interdisciplinary graduate certificates in Asian American Studies , Chicano/Latino Studies , Critical Theory , Feminist Studies , Latin American Studies , and/or Visual Studies .

We admit all students, with BAs or MAs, directly into the PhD program in small cohorts with multi-year funding packages. We encourage prospective students to review our faculty profiles and contact the faculty members who work in their potential areas of interest before applying to learn more about their research, teaching, and advising.

Prospective students interested in the Ph.D. Program in Visual Studies, administered by the Department of Art History, can find more information here .

Meet the Film and Media Studies Faculty and learn about their research interests.

The annual admissions deadline is December 1 .

Complete applications will include:

• A Statement of Purpose (1200 words maximum) that describes your research interests and reasons for seeking a PhD. The Statement of Purpose should indicate how your proposed research correlates to our program's emphases and how you will benefit from working with specific core faculty. You can find information about faculty research interests here.  

• A Personal History Statement (1200 word maximum) that describes your educational accomplishments and goals. It is important to communicate whether you have experienced unique or significant opportunities, challenges, and/or obstacles in your pursuit of an education. Please also describe the career paths you plan to pursue after graduation.

• A sample of academic writing that demonstrates original thinking, clear writing and your preparedness to do graduate-level work in film and media studies.

• Length: A minimum of ten pages to a maximum of thirty pages. Any submission longer than the maximum will not be reviewed past the maximum page limit.
• You may submit two pieces of work as long as their combined length does not exceed the page limit.
• In the event you have a longer piece of work to submit, such as a Master's thesis or Undergraduate research paper, please submit a chapter or section of the work within the page restriction.

• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty with whom you have studied.

• Transcripts.

• Results of the TOEFL or IELTS exam for international applicants for whom English is not their primary language.

For academic questions (questions about program requirements, the application review process, funding opportunities, etc.) please contact the Graduate Director, Professor Kristen Hatch ([email protected]). 

For administrative questions (questions about how to apply, paying the application fee, application materials, etc.) please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Amy Fujitani ([email protected]). 

To apply, click here .

Course Requirements

Required Core Courses (6 courses)

FLM&MDA 285A: Film Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 285B: Television Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 285C: Digital Media and Game Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 286A: Film and Media Studies Historiography.

FLM&MDA 286B: Media/Power/Culture.

FLM&MDA 286C: Methods and Research Design.

Elective Courses (7 courses)

FLM&MDA 291: Graduate Seminar in Film and Media Studies. Repeatable as topics vary.

FLM&MDA 292: Graduate Seminar in Film & Media Critical Practice. Repeatable as topics vary.

FLM&MDA 295: Directed Reading. Repeatable as topics vary.

Required Practicums in Film and Media Studies (4 courses)

FLM&MDA 287: Practicum in Pedagogy.

FLM&MDA 288A: Practicum in Professionalization I.

FLM&MDA 288B: Practicum in Professionalization II.

FLM&MDA 288C: Practicum in Professionalization III.

Required Supporting Course (1 course)

FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum.

Students must take three elective courses from within the Department of Film and Media Studies and two outside Film and Media Studies. The remaining two electives can be taken within or outside the department.

Students entering with a MA may petition to have up to three elective courses waived, subject to the approval of Graduate Division. Students who have had three courses waived must take two elective courses from within the Department of Film and Media Studies and one outside Film and Media Studies. The remaining elective can be taken within or outside the department.

During the third through sixth years in the program, students normally enroll in variable-unit courses as follows:

FLM&MDA 296: Reading for the Preliminary Examination.

FLM&MDA 297: Prospectus Research.

FLM&MDA 299: Dissertation Research.

First-Year Review

Students are required to select and confirm their Primary Advisor by the end of the first year.

At the end of the Spring quarter, the Film and Media Studies faculty will review the performance and progress of each first-year student and provide written evaluation of their work. This evaluation will include an assessment of the student’s ability to complete independent research.

A positive assessment indicates that the student is making good progress.

A cautionary assessment will be accompanied by a description of specific improvements that a student must make in order to advance to candidacy in the third year.

A negative overall assessment will place the student on Academic Conditional Status. Faculty will give written feedback with specific areas for improvement and a timeline for future expectations of academic progress. Students who fail to demonstrate improvement may be recommended for dismissal from the program without a degree.

MA Requirements

All students apply for and are accepted into the doctoral program.

Students who enter the PhD program with a prior graduate degree (MA or beyond) in Film and Media Studies or a related discipline may petition to waive up to three electives, subject to the approval of Graduate Division. These students may also petition to waive the MA exam requirement in recognition of their prior degree; normatively, this will be approved. In these cases, students will not complete the MA exam requirement nor earn a second MA en route to the PhD. Film and Media Studies faculty will determine what graduate degree fields qualify as related disciplines. Students entering with an MFA will typically be required to complete the MA exam unless the Graduate Committee determines that the degree is equivalent to an MA.

Students who have not earned an MA in a relevant field prior to matriculating in the Film and Media Studies PhD program must earn an MA degree as part of the PhD program. The program does not offer a stand-alone or terminal MA, except in instances when a student does not continue in the program toward earning the PhD.

In order to earn the MA degree, the student must

1. Satisfactorily complete six foundational courses (FLM&MDA 285A, FLM&MDA 285B, FLM&MDA 285C, FLM&MDA 286A, FLM&MDA 286B, and FLM&MDA 286C);

2. Satisfactorily compete FLM&MDA 287;

3. Satisfactorily complete seven electives, three of which must be within the Department of Film and Media Studies and two outside the Department of Film and Media Studies;

4. Pass the MA Exam; and

5. File the necessary paperwork for conferral of degree with Graduate Division.

For the MA exam, the student will revise one seminar paper written while in the program and submit the revised paper before the start of the Spring quarter in their second year of study. 

The requirements for passing the MA exam are as follows:

• The revised paper must present a substantial and original argument;

• It must reflect substantive revision from the original paper, demonstrating additional research and/or reconceptualization and responsiveness to feedback;

• It must demonstrate a command of the relevant literature;

• It must present adequate evidence to support its claims;

• It must be clearly written in an appropriate academic style; and

• It must be formatted according to MLA or Chicago Manual of Style guidelines with proper citation and bibliography.

Ideally, this revised paper will demonstrate promise toward publication and toward the ability to develop a dissertation; however this is not a requirement at the MA stage.

This paper will be evaluated by a 3-person MA committee, which consists of the student’s primary advisor as chair and two additional department faculty members appointed by the Program Director in consultation with the student and the advisor. The MA committee will evaluate the student’s ability to identify a suitable research project and methodology, develop an argument, respond to faculty feedback, and make revisions. The committee will respond with feedback within three weeks of receiving the paper and may ask for a second round of reasonable revisions, to be completed before the end of the term.

The committee will unanimously decide whether the student has passed the MA exam and if they are eligible to proceed toward the PhD, taking into holistic account the exam (revised paper) results, input from the core Film and Media Studies faculty during the First-Year Review, and the student’s progress during the second year of course work. There are four possible determinations:

Positive: The student will earn the MA degree and qualifies to continue toward the PhD exams. This should be the outcome in the majority of cases.

Cautionary: The student will earn the MA degree and qualifies to continue toward the PhD exams but with areas for improvement communicated in writing to the student and advisor. This occurs when the student’s holistic performance and promise outweigh a borderline exam or vice versa. This should be the outcome only in rare or extenuating circumstances.

MA Only: The student will earn the MA degree but is disqualified from continuing toward the PhD exams. This occurs when the student’s holistic performance and promise do not outweigh a borderline exam.

Negative: The exam is unacceptable. The student will not earn the MA degree and is disqualified from continuing toward the PhD exams.

Students may revise and resubmit the MA paper one additional time in case of a failure to pass.

By the end of their second year, students will work with their advisor to plan their Examination fields for the following year. No later than the end of Winter in the third year of study, students will establish a 5-person Qualifying Exam Committee, at least 51% of whose members, including the Dissertation Advisor, must be core faculty in the Department of Film and Media Studies. At least one committee member must be external to the department.

The student will receive one standardized bibliography and select two specialty field bibliographies on which they will be examined. In the Fall and Winter quarters of the third year, the student will enroll in FLM&MDA 296: Reading for the Preliminary Examination and complete reading the works on these three bibliographies. The three exam areas should serve to help the student define general areas of specialized competence that will aid them in establishing a broad base for the dissertation and in developing college-level courses. Students may not enroll in FLM&MDA 296 until all their other course requirements (with the exception of FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum) have been completed.

The Qualifying Examination will be administered by the Qualifying Exam Committee and will include both a written and an oral component. The written component will consist of at least one question for each Exam bibliography for which the student has completed readings. Students will write at least one essay for each respective Exam. Faculty may offer a range of questions for each bibliography, giving the student a choice of which question(s) to answer. The written component will be offered as a series of three remote exams to be completed within three respective 24-hour periods; questions and responses will be delivered electronically. The oral component of the exam will take place in conjunction with the Prospectus Defense during the Spring quarter of the student’s third year.

Language Requirement 

Students will consult with the program Director and their principal advisor(s) to determine whether they must demonstrate or develop proficiency in a second language for their research. [1] If the program Director and principal advisor(s) determine that proficiency in a second language is required, the student must demonstrate this proficiency prior to advancing to candidacy. In the event a student does not need a second language to conduct doctoral research, they will not be required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language.

If determined to be required, the language requirement may be satisfied by one of the following means:

1. By passing the Film and Media Studies translation exam. A request must be made to the Film and Media Studies Staff within the first two weeks of the quarter the student wishes to take the exam.

2. By completing, with a grade of B or better, a language course at the 2C level or equivalent, with the exception of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, which must be completed at the 3C level or equivalent.

3. By attaining a proficiency level of 2C on the Russian Exemption Exam or a proficiency level of 3C on the Chinese Exemption Exam offered by UCI's Academic Testing Center.

4. By petitioning the program. Grounds for a petition might include the student’s being a native speaker in a language other than English or having completed an equivalent language requirement at a different institution. The granting of this petition will remain at the discretion of the Graduate Director, although students dissatisfied with this determination may request the petition be considered by the full faculty. Students who have completed the language requirement at a different institution will need to submit transcripts with the petition. Students will inquire with the Graduate Coordinator to complete a petition.

Dissertation Prospectus and Advancement to Ph.D. Candidacy

In the Spring of the student’s third year, the student will enroll in FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum and complete a prospectus that identifies the scope, approach, and rationale for their proposed dissertation. The student will present an oral defense of the prospectus to the Qualifying Exam Committee. When the prospectus has been unanimously approved by the Qualifying Exam Committee, the student will be advanced to doctoral candidacy. Students should have taken their preliminary examination, defended their dissertation prospectus, and advanced to doctoral candidacy no later than the end of Spring quarter of their third year. If a student will exceed the 3-year normative time to candidacy, they must petition by Spring quarter of their third year for an exception, presenting an approved plan for timely progress to candidacy.

In the event that a student does not pass the qualifying examination, consistent with UCI policy (Academic Senate Regulation 467) the student will be allowed one repeat attempt of the examination. This repeat examination will occur during the quarter following the initial examination.

Dissertation

The dissertation shall be an original research project of substantial length approved by the Doctoral Committee. Members of the student’s Doctoral Committee are noted on the PhD Form I: Advancement to Candidacy PhD Degree. The committee shall typically consist of the Doctoral Advisor and two additional faculty. At least 51% of the Doctoral Committee, including the Doctoral Advisor, must be core faculty in the Department of Film and Media Studies. The remaining members of the Doctoral Committee must satisfy Academic Senate requirements.

Dissertation Defense 

A final examination in the form of an oral defense of the dissertation is required for the PhD. This examination will be supervised by the Doctoral Committee and will be given just prior to the completion of the dissertation. The defense will be open to all members of the academic community. Faculty and graduate students of Film and Media Studies and the Graduate Dean will be given written notice of the date, time, and place of the examination at least five days in advance of the examination.

Time to Degree

The normative time to degree is six years (18 quarters). The first nine quarters are spent in pre-candidacy, the last 9 quarters in candidacy. Normatively, students will complete their course work within the first two years and prepare for and pass the Qualifying Examination and advance to candidacy in the third year. The maximum time to degree is seven years.

[1] Examples of when a second language would likely be necessary include Spanish proficiency for the study of Spanish-language media, Mandarin proficiency for study of media in Mainland China, or the relevant language for a project on non-English language transnational/diasporic media.

All students receive a five-year funding guarantee at admissions. This typically includes a combination of at least one fellowship year and multiple years of Teaching Assistantships. Additional competitive scholarships, fellowships, and summer stipends may also be available.

Students also receive tuition and fee remission, including non-resident (out-of-state or international) tuition during this period. Domestic students coming from outside of California will be expected to establish state residency during their first year; otherwise, they will need to cover their non-resident tuition fees.

TAships may be in Film and Media Studies undergraduate courses or for courses in other Departments or Programs.

Funding beyond the fifth year is not guaranteed, but TAships or other opportunities are often available.

The graduate emphasis in Film and Media Studies prepares students in any M.A., Ph.D., or M.F.A. program to analyze film and media texts, contexts, and industries. The emphasis requires that students complete four seminars, two of which are in the Film and Media Studies PhD core series (FMS 285A-C, FMS 286A-C) and two of which may be Film and Media Studies core or elective seminars (FMS 291, FMS 292, FMS 295).

Students who are currently enrolled in any MA, Ph.D., or M.F.A. program at UCI are eligible for admission to the Graduate Emphasis in Film and Media Studies.

Students who are interested in pursuing the graduate emphasis should contact the Graduate Director to indicate their interest in applying for the emphasis. Application materials include:

• an explanation of how their research and/or teaching will benefit from completing the Film and Media Studies Graduate Emphasis;
• current CV;
• brief letter of approval from the student’s primary advisor or program director;
• names of Film and Media Studies core faculty with whom they have worked or plan to work. Applicants who are not yet acquainted with Film and Media Studies core faculty may name the Graduate Director.

Application

To be considered for the Film and Media Studies Graduate Emphasis, please submit an application . 

Questions? Please contact Amy Fujitani , Graduate Coordinator.

Contact Film and Media Studies

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Area Studies Centers award $1.15 million in FLAS fellowships

The East Asian Studies Center, Center for Latin American Studies and Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies have awarded $1.150 million in student support this year in the form of 50 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship grants to Ohio State students spanning 16 graduate programs and 22 undergraduate majors. Funding for FLAS Fellowships comes from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act and is subsidized by generous matching funding from The Ohio State University Graduate School.

This year’s FLAS fellowships support the development of area studies knowledge and language fluency in 13 languages.

• The  East Asian Studies Center  awarded funding to two graduate and two undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and eight graduate and five undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support advanced studies of Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
• The  Center for Latin American Studies  awarded funding to two graduate and two undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and four graduate and five undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support the study of Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Quechua. 
• The  Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies awarded funding to two graduate and five undergraduate students in Summer 2024 and nine graduate and four undergraduate students in Academic Year 2024-2025 to support the study of Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian  and Uzbek. 

Summer FLAS Fellows complete the equivalent of a full year of language study in an intensive program (usually 6-10 weeks long). The fellowship covers up to $5,000 of the language program’s tuition, provides a $2,500 stipend, and in some instances, up to $1,000 towards travel.

Academic year FLAS Fellowships are awarded to undergraduate, graduate or professional students who are enrolled in a course of study at Ohio State that requires both language and area studies expertise. Students are required to take one language and one area studies course in both autumn and spring semesters, completing one academic year language sequence. The fellowship provides a stipend of $20,000 and tuition support up to $18,000 for graduate and professional students, though Graduate School contributions cover all tuition costs for most fellows. For undergraduate students, it provides a stipend of $5,000 and tuition and fees up to $10,000.

View a complete list of FLAS recipients . 

Date: 5/7/2024 12:00:00 AM

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