You can specialise in either Film Practice or Film Studies. Our Film Practice PhD provides you with a unique opportunity to develop your film as a practice-led research project. Alternatively you can undertake a Film Studies, MPhil or PhD studying British, Algerian, Chinese, French or Latin American cinema.
Newcastle University has embarked on an ambitious programme of growth in film practice under the name of Film@CultureLab. It’s led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dr Ian McDonald. Film@CultureLab is committed to developing a distinctive approach to non-fiction film practice pedagogy and research. This is rooted in an understanding of documentary film as a cinematic medium and filmmaking as a means of expression and of challenging, critiquing, and intervening in the social and historical world.
If you’re interested in undertaking a PhD, be it practice-led, practice-based, or theoretical, in the following areas, please get in touch in the first instance with the admissions tutor Dr Geetha Jayaraman.
most areas of documentary/non-fiction film practice (see supervisor profiles for specialisms)
creative documentary practices in the UK, India, South Asia, Africa
intersections between the documentary and sociological, anthropological, cultural studies
sports documentaries
feminist film practice
social linguistics, translation and documentary practice
documentary theory and practice in the USSR / Russia
theorising documentary as a critical and creative practice
history of the documentary and of documentary movements
studies of independent film production and exhibition
World cinema
Indian cinema
film festival studies
Film@CultureLab PhD scholars are based in Culture Lab. You’ll have access to the superb facilities in Culture Lab and join a vibrant community of practice-led PhD scholars in film practice. PhD students are encouraged to regularly present their work to each other as part of the Film Praxis Forum ‘Work-in-Progress’ Series held each year.
Supervisors in Film@CultureLab
Dr Ian McDonald is a sociologist and a documentary filmmaker. Ian is interested in supervising doctoral students in most areas of documentary theory and practice. He is particularly interested in supervising practice-based PhDs in documentary filmmaking, especially alternative, political and observational documentaries.
Dr Geetha Jayaraman, known as Geetha J, is a writer, filmmaker and producer. Geetha's research area is primarily film practice, both as director and producer. Geetha is interested in supervising practice-based research in fiction and non-fiction, as well as subjects under Indian cinema, world cinema, women and cinema. Her interests include:
film theory and history
film journalism and criticism
film societies and festivals
Dr Alastair Cole is a documentary filmmaker, whose films have been broadcast, and screened in cinemas and film festivals internationally. His academic interests intersect documentary film practice with research in anthropology, language and politics, with regional interests in:
sub Saharan Africa
Scotland
southern Europe
Oceania
He is particularly interested in supervising any documentary film based research projects that aim to creatively inquire into subjects within the humanities and social sciences.
Co-supervision
We currently co-supervise a range of film and film-related projects with academic colleagues from:
We are 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.
Early cinema and cinema culture in Britain and the USA
We organise an annual postgraduate conference for the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and 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
You will benefit from the North Eastern Regional Film Seminar, which brings together film scholars from the Universities of Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside, Durham and York for a one day symposium.
There is also the Film Factory, an exciting new film forum for students and staff, initiated by two PhD students from the School of Modern Languages, Gary Jenkins and Mani Sharpe. It consists of a series of film screenings followed by discussion and debate at the Culture Lab.
Delivery
Delivery
You will 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.
Situated in a Grade II listed building, Culture Lab is a centre for film practice, housing seven industry standard edit suites, a recording studio and event space.
As a PhD student in Film@CultureLab, you will be based in Culture Lab and have access to modern industry standard shooting kits and edit suites.
These include a range of high definition cameras and supporting rigs, a high-spec PC cluster equipped with full Adobe CC, 27” monitors and TVs, and bespoke edit suites with Apple iMacs and Mac Pros, 27” dual calibrated displays and stereo monitoring. They run the latest Apple OS with Adobe CC, Final Cut and Da Vinci Resolve.
Culture Lab is supported by a team of dedicated film technicians.
You will have the opportunity to use Culture Lab, a centre for creative practice which includes a stock of film cameras and editing suites, as well as motioncapture, animation and soundmixing technology.
The Language Resource Centre and Peter Robinson Library hold large collections of international films and film magazines. You will also have access to a dedicated postgraduate suite including computers, workspaces, a kitchen and showers.
The Film Studies MLitt combines taught modules and individual research. It is well suited as preparation for PhD research. We have a thriving community of postgraduate students working in film across the Schools of Modern Languages, English Literature, Language and Linguistics, and Arts and Cultures.
You will receive a tailored package of support from the University to ensure you maximise your research and future career. There are also opportunities to undertake your research at Newcastle within a Doctoral Training Centre, Centre for Doctoral Training or Doctoral Training Partnership.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Training Programme and Student Support
It is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as a sound foundationfor doctoral studies.
Our aim is for you to develop a broad range of research and project management skills that will support you in your career ahead. Staff and students from across a range of disciplines can come together and share their research experiences. You can also choose to register for a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Training.
You will study in our Doctoral Training Suite, a purpose-built facility for lectures, workshops, seminars and computer access to specialist software. Each year we have two student-led research postgraduate conferences. There are also a variety of prizes and awards to celebrate the successes of our students.
Postgraduate Research Student Support
Our Research Student Support Team will provide support and advice throughout your studies. The team can help you on a variety of issues from registration to producing your transcripts.
Doctoral training centres and partnerships
Being part of a Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) or Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) means that you can benefit from the research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics. You'll also be studying alongside a cohort of other PhD students.
These centres are often interdisciplinary, combining expertise and training from multiple subject areas. You may also be able to collaborate with an industrial or commercial organisation.
Your PhD will be funded. Normally the fees are covered and you'll receive a tax-free stipend or living expenses. Additional funding is sometimes available to cover things such as conference attendance and research materials.
The centres/ partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area.
The Northern Bridge Consortium brings together the expertise of Newcastle University, Durham University, Northumbria University, Queen’s University Belfast, Sunderland University, Teesside University, Ulster University and their partners. It provides training, supervision and development for PhD students.
Northern Bridge is funded by the AHRC to provide doctoral studentships to outstanding arts and humanities PhD students across a wide range of disciplines.
When funded studentships are available, these will be listed on the ‘Fees & Funding' page of this programme.
You need to submit a research proposal with your application. Your research proposal should link to the work of a supervisor or research group in the School. Read our guidelines for producing a research proposal (PDF: 41.5KB) from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science Graduate School.
When making your online application, please insert one of the following programme codes on the 'Programme of Study' page:
Film Practice, PhD
8834F (PhD, full time)
8836P (PhD, part time)
Then select ‘PhD Media, Culture and Heritage’ and the ‘Research Area’ Film Practice.
Film Studies, MPhil and PhD
8220F (PhD, full time)
8220P (PhD, part time)
7220F (MPhil, full time)
7220P (MPhil, part time)
Then select ‘School of Modern Languages’ and the ‘Research Area’ Film and Media Studies.
Start dates
There are usually two possible start dates, although in some circumstances an alternative start date can be arranged:
September
January
There is no application closing date for this course, but specific deadlines for funding may apply.
We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts. This is so that you have enough time to make the necessary arrangements.
Deposit
If you live outside the UK/EU you must:
pay a deposit of £1,500
or submit an official letter of sponsorship
The deposit is payable after you receive an offer to study at Newcastle University. The deposit is non-refundable, but is deducted from your tuition fees when you register.
