PhD in Media and Cultural Studies
Newcastle University offers one of the most prestigious research degrees in Media and Cultural Studies in the UK. With an emphasis on originality, creativity and passion, the PhD programme is designed to provide a rich and fulfilling post-graduate experience. Central to that experience is the expertise and commitment of the leading academics with whom students undertake research. The PhD supervisory team offer students an exciting and stimulating engagement with some of the most contemporary, significant and influential areas of study.
Undertaking a PhD in media and cultural studies provides student with access to a wide range of professional, academic and social opportunities. Students will become part of the Media and Cultural Studies team contributing to a vibrant learning community. They will have the opportunity during your studies to present papers to conferences, to write articles for academic journals, contribute articles to edited collections and other publications. Alongside this, students will have the opportunity to enroll on a nationally recognized teaching in Higher education qualification, design and deliver lectures and host undergraduate and post-graduate seminars. At the same time, they may want to contribute to existing forums such as Discourse Analysis, the Research Group in Film and Digital Media, the Gender Research Group. Alternatively, students may wish to work with other postgraduate students on existing study groups or develop their own areas of interest.
No matter what stage in their career, doctoral students at Newcastle University will be recognized as part of the next generation of academics. With this in mind, the Media and Cultural Studies team will ensure that doctoral students' skills are cultivated and enhanced to reach their maximum potential, resulting in groundbreaking successful and rigorous scholarship.
Areas of Study
The Media and Cultural Studies team are looking to supervise students in the following areas. It is extremely important that your research interests match with the supervisor expertise.
Mr David Baines - Journalism work in transition; the political economy of local media; new understandings of 'local'; widening diversity in the news workforce; journalism education
Professor Deborah Chambers - Social media, intimacy and changing social relationships;
Changing media technologies, homes and households; Gender, media and culture
Dr Chris Haywood – Dating, intimacy and masculinity; Education, masculinity and sexuality; young people and gender
Dr Tracey Jensen - Motherhood and parenting culture; social class, inequalities and cultures of austerity; emotions/emotional capitalism, happiness science and makeover culture
Dr Darren Kelsey - Journalism; Discourse; Ideology; Political Communication; Media Theory; National Identity; War, Politics and Propaganda.
Dr Daniel McNeil - Critical race studies and Black Atlantic studies, cultural criticism; diaspora and migration studies
Dr Carolyn Pedwell - The politics of emotion and affect; embodiment and culture; gender, transnationality and cultural difference; feminist, postcolonial and queer theory; and feminist media and popular culture
Dr Liviu Popoviciu - Globalisation, nationalism, ethnicity, central and eastern european media
How to apply
It is important that you have a clearly defined area of study. One of the most important elements of the application process is submitting a research proposal. Your research proposal needs to be centrally located within the expertise of a potential supervisor. It is expected that applications need to include and reference the significance of supervisors work to the research proposal. Applications that do not do this, will be rejected. Your proposal should briefly include the following:
- Area of research – indicating your reasons for choosing this area and the significance to the academic community.
- Review of the literature (including links to the research of the potential supervisor).
- Methodological approach (including details on sample, methods and analytical approach).
- What problems do you envisage when undertaking your research?
- What contribution to the field do you think that your research will make?
- How will you fund your research?
- Why Newcastle University?
We expect proposals to be at least 1500 words and must consider the areas outlined above. We encourage students to make their application through the University’s online application system. For further information on applying, read the guidance on the online application process from the Postgraduate Online subject list, Media and Cultural Studies. Please do not send emails to potential supervisors as we will only deal with online applications.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of merit at Masters level (or equivalent). In some exceptional cases we may accept students directly from an undergraduate degree. Although we consider students from any disciplinary background, we especially welcome applications in the fields of media studies, feminist theory, cultural studies, psychoanalysis, sociology, film studies, ‘race’, diasporas and ethnicity, queer theory, education, politics, human geography, gender studies. Of key importance is that your research proposal links with the research foci of the Media and Cultural Studies supervisory team.
Applicants whose first language is not English require IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 90 (Internet-based), or equivalent. The British Council organizes regular language tests in most countries. Newcastle University's INTO Centre provides a comprehensive suite of courses to enable students to improve their English skills, from foundation level to intensive pre-sessional English language courses.
Fees and Funding
Information on the costs involved in Full time and part time PhD programmes can be found on the University's Funding and Finance page. There are at present no School based scholarships available.