Research Degrees in
in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
In the world of hashtag protest, cyberwars, fake news and algorithmic biases, the topic of Digital Politics is both most timely and exciting. An interdisciplinary field, located at the intersection of international relations, political economy, sociology, media, and communication studies, the subject of digital politics brings together innovative research on recent and acutely relevant matters to national and global politics.
With a PhD, MPhil or Master's by Research in Digital Politics you will:
We can supervise a wide range of projects looking at all aspects of Digital Politics. Particular research specialisms include:
We invite research projects that are interdisciplinary yet grounded in social science (politics, sociology, anthropology, geography) or media studies, and that explore digital politics in any location around the globe or undertake a comparative study of more than one country.
You will become part of a vibrant research environment at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, in particular around digital society and culture. You will be able to attend postgraduate research training on digital methods and ethics and take part in research events related to digital politics and communication. In addition to your assigned supervisor/s at the Department of Politics, you will benefit from contacts with staff and other research students who work on information and communication systems, social media politics, algorithmic sociality, digital communities, Internet studies, journalism, and more.
A wide range of seminars and conferences take place on campus, including the annual Alternative Futures and Popular Protest conference which explores the dynamics of popular movements and the ideas which shape them.
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.
Our intellectually rigorous research degrees will equip you with the necessary skills to pursue academic research in Politics, Information & Communications, Media, International Relations or a range of related disciplines.
You will also gain higher-level skills in research, critical argument, project management, and communications. These equip you for a wide range of careers in areas such as politics, journalism and digital technologies.
The course is research based. You will meet your supervisor(s) regularly, and work independently on your own research. Depending on your previous experience as well as on the focus of your project, you may be advised to audit specific lectures (by negotiation with your supervisors and unit tutors), such as those focusing on research methods or on thematic subjects.
Please refer to our Fees page for more information on 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.
Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Digital Politics are advertised on our site.
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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 Sadiya Akram, the Coordinator for Digital Politics.
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.