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Overview

Join us for an MPhil or PhD in Media and Cultural Studies. You'll become part of the media and cultural studies team and contribute to a vibrant learning community.

We're a leading research unit at Ãå±±½ûµØ with a strong PhD culture. Our research environment supports world-leading, internationally excellent scholarship. Our approach is distinct and interdisciplinary, focusing across theoretical and applied areas.

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

If you’re studying an accredited degree and thinking about working in Europe after you graduate, the best place to find current information is the . This official resource explains whether your profession is regulated in another country, what steps you need to take, and which organisation you should contact. 

What you'll learn

Staff research expertise crosses multiple aspects of Media and Cultural Studies and PhD Supervision is potentially available in the following areas:

• Celebrity: Dr Gareth Longstaff, Dr Bethany Usher
• Critical Studies of the Environment: Dr Tina Sikka
• Cultural Politics of Food: Dr Tina Sikka
• Democracy and Political Communication: Dr Joss Hands, Prof Darren Kelsey, Dr Majid Khosravinik, Dr Tina Sikka, Dr Florian Zollmann, Dr Mercy Ette
• Digital Media Studies and Activism: Prof James Ash, Prof Darren Kelsey, Dr Joss Hands, Dr Majid Khosravinik, Dr David Bates
• Film Practice: Dr Geetha Jayaraman, Dr Ian McDonald, Dr Alastair Cole, Dr Raisa Sidenova
• Gender, Identity and Media: Dr Chris Haywood, Dr Gareth Longstaff, Dr Tina Sikka, Dr Sarah Hill
• Gender, Health, and Science: Dr Tina Sikka
• Journalism: Dr Murray Dick, Dr Darren Kelsey, Dr Florian Zollmann, Dr Bethany Usher
• Masculinity/Masculinities: Dr Clifton Evers, Dr Chris Haywood, Dr Gareth Longstaff, Dr Graeme Mearns
• Media and Myth: Prof Darren Kelsey
• Mobilities and Media: Prof James Ash
• Museums, Culture, and Heritage: Prof Areti Galani, Prof Rhiannon Mason, Prof Andrew Newman, Prof Chris Whitehead
• Pornography and Representation: Dr Gareth Longstaff, Dr Chris Haywood
• Public Relations: Jonathan Ward, Dr Ramona Slusarczyk
• Queer Studies: Dr Clifton Evers, Dr Chris Haywood, Dr Gareth Longstaff, Dr Michael Waugh
• Race and Ethnicity: Dr Tina Sikka, Dr Majid Khosravinik
• Social and Cultural Dimensions of Pollution: Dr Clifton Evers
• Sport and Leisure: Dr Clifton Evers, Prof Darren Kelsey

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

The module information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Attendance is flexible and agreed between you and your supervisors depending on the requirements of the research project.

Assessment methods

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

• Thesis
• Viva

Additional assessment information

During your studies you'll have the opportunity to:

• present papers at conferences
• write articles for academic journals
• contribute articles to edited collections alongside other publications

Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to enrol on a nationally recognised Teaching in Higher Education qualification, allowing you to host undergraduate and postgraduate seminars.

Postgraduate research student support

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
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

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 Ãå±±½ûµØ within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) / Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA)

Being part of a CDT or DTP/DLA 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

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:

Your future

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

As a postgraduate research student in media and cultural studies you'll benefit from dedicated research suites within the School of Arts and Cultures

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

PGR Home fee note

Home fees for research degree students

For 2025-26 entry, we've aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by .  For 2026-27 entry, we will again be aligning our standard Home research fees with UKRI. They will announce their fees in Spring 2026.

 

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

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. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

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

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. 

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

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

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

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.

Funding deadlines

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.

How to apply

Open days and events

Find out about how you can visit Ãå±±½ûµØ in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Ãå±±½ûµØ.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events