Media and Cultural Studies - PhD

As a postgraduate researcher on this programme you will become part of the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) and participate in its thriving research culture. BCMCR was founded in 2009 with a mandate to develop excellent, world-leading research.

BCMCR engages in collaborative work across nine research clusters:

• Creative Industries
• Cultural Theory
• Game Cultures
• Gender and Sexuality 
• History, Heritage and Archives 
• Jazz Studies
• Media and Place
• Popular Music Studies
• Screen Cultures

There are now in excess of 30 research-active staff, many developing their academic careers based upon years as professional media workers. You can read about our research in a range of international journals and in books from leading academic publishers.

Current interests

We particularly invite your initial PhD enquiry for Media and Cultural Studies PhD research within the following areas of interests:

• Amateur/informal cultural production
• Austerity and the media
• Comedy 
• Community media and media activism
• Creative Higher Education: Exploring developments in creative higher education curriculum and pedagogy, specifically practice-based art, design and media subjects (see Makings Special Issue and work with CEDIA)
• Creative industries, cultural policy and cultural work
• Cult cinema 
• Cultural entrepreneurship
• Diasporic and transnational media
• Equality and Diversity: connecting activities from the mid-1980s to contemporary debates in culture and cultural policy.
  Researching the Barbara Webster Collection (ADM Archive) to investigate equality and diversity in Birmingham, comparing and exploring initiatives from the mid-1980s with current concerns. The project includes an exhibition, workshops and oral history work to inform and influence contemporary cultural policy debates.
• Film and television audiences
• Gaming cultures
• Hyperlocal journalism
• Jazz studies
• Media and conflict
• Media and cultural history
• Media fandom
• Media heritage and archives 
• Media practice
• Popular Indian cinema studies
• Popular music culture
• Pornography studies
• Radio studies
• Screen melodrama
• Sexuality, gender, the cultural construction of masculinity
• Songwriting

Entry Requirements

To apply for our Media and Cultural Studies PhD research degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Masters degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university.

Exceptional candidates without a Masters degree, but holding a first class Bachelors degree in media studies, may be considered.

We also welcome enquiries from potential PhD researchers without formal academic qualifications but with appropriate levels of professional experience.

Please send us an initial PhD enquiry containing your brief PhD research proposal (max. 500 words), and/or any questions or queries you may have.

We will review your initial enquiry to ensure your research proposal compliments one of our PhD research interests and if so we will ask you to make a full application.

English Language Requirements for International Students

Valid Academic IELTS certificate with overall score of 7.0 with no band below 6.5 or equivalent.

Research proposal guidance

Your research proposal in the full application should address the following areas:

 Aims and objectives

Please outline what the purpose of your research is; e.g. "The objective of this research project is to….."

 Scope

Explain the scope of the project and the range of activities that you imagine this will involve; e.g. “The following tasks will be undertaken as a part of the proposed research”

 Research content

Explain why this research is needed.  Outline previous work in the field (if any exists).  What do you imagine the wider benefits of this research will be? 

 Methodology

Explain what methods you will use to conduct your research and why? Explain the reasons for your choice of methodology and why it is appropriate. Try and think of potential problems that you may encounter.

 Resources required

Are there specific facilities that you will need to conduct your research (e.g. hardware or software)? If so are these already in place?  How do you propose to fund your research?

 References

Provide a full bibliography of any sources utilised in the research proposal.

A day in the life of a PhD student

If you're considering doing a PhD there's probably a lot of questions going through your mind: how am I going to pay for it? Should I quit my job? Will I cope with the workload? But most importantly, what is it really like? Karen Patel, a full time PhD student, shares her experiences of juggling life, a part time job and her studies in the video above.

The PhD Journey

Our PhD gives you the opportunity to spend time researching and developing a deep understanding of a unique area of interest whilst contributing world leading insight to the academic specialisms at Birmingham School of Media.

You will present your research developments regularly to supervisors and have opportunities to present to the research community at various events across the Faculty.

Full time students are expected to complete within three to four years, whilst part time students may take four to seven years.  In your first year (two years for part time students) you will spend time reviewing the field and refining your individual PhD research proposal and projected plan. You will be supported in this by your supervisory team and through attendance at the PGCert in Research Practice, which runs for the first semester of your studies.  At the end of your first year (second year for part time students) you will complete a Progression Assessment Panel.  Your second year (years three and four for PT students) is likely to be spent undertaking in-depth research in your chosen area, with the third year (years five and six for part time students) involving writing up your results and presenting them in a suitable format (whether that be through composition, performance, or entirely written). 

On successful completion of your PhD research degree your findings will have either contributed new knowledge or extended existing theory and understanding of an area of interest.

You will have proven yourself as a scholar, be an expert in your field and be eligible to use the title ‘Doctor’.

Supervisors and Support

As a PhD research student you will be guided through your programme of study by a team of supervisors.

Your supervisors will help you create your individual PhD research plan which, in your first few months, may include study for a research methods qualification: PG Cert Research Practice.

Your supervisory team will include a Director of Studies whose role it is to ensure that you are meeting targets and following the correct processes and systems for conducting PhD research.

You will also be supported by a second supervisor (and sometimes a third) who will provide guidance based on their knowledge of your specific PhD research interest.

You will meet with your supervisors on a regular basis to review your progress, receive advice and plan the next stages of your PhD research.

You will present your research developments regularly to supervisors and other members of your PhD research community at Birmingham School of Media.

Modes of Study

Whether you study part time or full time, you can undertake your PhD through one of three structured approaches to learning.

With attendance

As a PhD research student studying with attendance, you will undertake much of your research on campus using the facilities at Birmingham School of Media.

If you are studying full time, in your first term of study you will complete the PGCert in Research Practice, working alongside your supervisory team to produce an assessed research proposal, and a professional development plan. 

You will be expected to complete your research and submit your work for examination within 36-43 months.

If you are studying part time, you will complete the PGCert in Research Practice, working alongside your supervisory team to produce an assessed research proposal, and a professional development plan. You will be encouraged to use the campus facilities when you can and may often work from home. You will be expected to complete your research and submit your work for examination within 48-72 months.

Extracurricular Activities

Sarah Raine talks about some of the activities she has been involved in while a student studying at BCU:

You can read some of our postgraduate student work in the Riffs Journal.

Current postgraduate research students 

Past International Graduates

Former Nigerian researcher Ezinne Igwe, investigated the state of the contemporary Nigerian film industry describes her experience as a PhD student: