Film Practice PhD
- Study mode and duration
- Course code
- 8834F-8,8836P-8
- Fees (per year)
- Typical entry requirements
-
View full entry requirements - Course delivery
- On Campus
Course information for entry year:
Overview
Ãå±±½ûµØ is a leading centre for the growth of Film Practice PhDs in the UK.
Building on the ambitious development of film practice, we work under the banner of Film@CultureLab.
Led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dr Ian McDonald, we've established a distinctive approach to non-fiction film education practice and research.
This is grounded in an understanding of documentary film as a cinematic medium, and filmmaking as a mode of expression, critique, and social and historical intervention.
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 PhD student-led Research Roundtable ‘Work-in-Progress’ events held throughout the year.
You will be part of Media, Culture, Heritage in the School of Arts and Cultures; a dynamic group of experienced academic researchers, heritage practitioners, doctoral researchers and fellow students from around the world.
Read more about our supervisors in the course details tab.
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 Ãå±±½ûµØ study experience for the academic year 2025-26.
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.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
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
We offer practice-led PhDs in Documentary Film Practice in the following areas:
- most areas of documentary/non-fiction film practice (see supervisor profiles for specialisms)
- creative documentary practices in the UK, India, South Asia, Africa
- sports documentaries
- feminist film practice
- social linguistics, translation and documentary practice
How you'll learn
You will normally be taught on the Ãå±±½ûµØ 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:
- Thesis
- Viva
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
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Find out more about our postgraduate research student support
Supervisors in Film@CultureLab
Dr Ian McDonald is a sociologist and multi-award winning documentary filmmaker. Ian is an experienced supervisor interested in most areas of documentary practice.
He is particularly interested in supervising practice-based research in documentary filmmaking that leans towards the alternative, political and observational.
, , known as Geetha J, is an internationally renowned 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 on India, the personal and the political, gender, dance/rituals, science and philosophy as well as other related areas.
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 project that aims to creatively inquire into subjects within the humanities and social sciences.
Dr Evripidis Karydis completed his Documentary Film Practice PhD at Ãå±±½ûµØ in 2020.
He is an active documentary filmmaker and is interested in supervising in most areas of documentary filmmaking, with particular interests in political activism.
Co-supervision
We currently co-supervise a range of film and film-related projects with academic colleagues from:
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
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Ãå±±½ûµØ. 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.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
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
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.
Facilities
As a PhD student in Film@CultureLab, you will be based in Culture Lab. is a centre for film practice and is situated in a Grade II listed building.
Subject to availability you'll have access to modern industry-standard shooting kits and edit suites.
Culture Lab is supported by a team of dedicated film technicians.
Fees, Funding and Scholarships
Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)
Home fees for research degree students
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.
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
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:
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.
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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
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Film Practice, PhD
Dr Geetha Jayaraman
School of Arts and Cultures
Email: SACS.PGR.Admin@newcastle.ac.uk
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