Research Degrees in
in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?
With a PhD in Film and Screen Studies you will:
We can supervise a wide range of projects focused on film, TV, gaming or any other aspect of screen studies. We particularly welcome projects that work across disciplines and across media.
We have particular expertise in:
We are home to a substantial community of researchers undertaking critical analysis of film and screen.
Our research is innovative in nature. We read film and screen through a range of critical lenses, including genre studies, Marxism, queer theory, disability studies, and critical race theory.
Our research is also highly collaborative. We work with colleagues across the University, including those working in Computer Science, Literature, Modern Languages & Linguistics, and Art & Design. We also work with the cultural industries and community groups in Manchester to programme festivals, deliver guest lectures and provide research expertise.
Our research is enhanced by a number of research groups at Manchester Met which provide forums for discussion and support. These groups include:
To further support our research and teaching in the area of screen studies, we are investing in a new, multi-million pound International Screen School. This is a collaborative endeavour working with partners across Manchester, under the guidance of Danny Boyle.
Our postgraduate researchers are a key part of our social and intellectual environment. You will be a member of our Postgraduate Arts and Humanities Centre (PAHC). PAHC is a dedicated forum for postgraduate students in the Arts and Humanities. It provides:
Find out more about the different research degrees we offer
The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January and April.
Research degrees are available to study on-campus or through distance learning.
A research degree equips you with advanced skills in research, critical thinking, communications, and project management. These skills, as well as your subject matter expertise, will open up senior careers in a wide range of sectors.
Through researching in Manchester – one of the UK’s leading centres for the cultural, creative and digital industries – you will have a wide range of opportunities to network with leading industry professionals.
This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.
Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.
Please refer to our Fees page for more information about tuition fees.
Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
The University occasionally advertises competitive scholarships to support high quality research.
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We are a member of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership which allows us to offer fully funded scholarships in the Arts and Humanities. Please contact us for more information.
You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.
International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability. In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230.
We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.
See more about our standard entry requirements.
Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email Dr Andrew Moor, a.moor@mmu.ac.uk, the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for Film and Screen Studies.
For further information on the application process, contact the Admissions team at pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk.
To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.
Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.