Communication and Media

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in a relevant subject.

Applicants without a postgraduate qualification will be required to complete research training in tandem with their PhD.

If you can't find an advertised project that fits your interests and experience, you can submit a research proposal to the School of Social Sciences and Humanities to find a supervisor who will work with you on your project.

You can view our list of areas of supervision on our website or you can email us for guidance.

You are strongly recommended to contact us before applying to discuss your topic, availability and funding.

Months of entry

February, April, July, October

Course content

The Department of Communication & Media is a global leader in research excellence that not only advances academic knowledge but also fosters societal impact and shapes public debate at both national and international level.

Our staff supervise postgraduate research in five key areas: culture, economy, and policy; language and social interaction; media, memory, and history; nations and migration; and political communication. In addition, we are also supporting doctoral projects in other areas related to interests of individual staff members. Further information about our areas of supervision can be found here, and prospective applicants are also encouraged to explore individual staff research profiles before contacting a member of staff to discuss their proposal.

Our doctoral researchers play an active role in shaping our research culture, co-organise seminars, collaborate with staff in the organisation of high-profile research events, and organise their own annual conference. Our PhD graduates have gone on to successful careers in academia, with appointments including full-time lectureships at Exeter, Keele, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, and Loughborough, and international appointments, as well as a range of destinations in the media and cultural industries, including; China Development Research Foundation, Elsevier Ltd, Image Line Communication, Institute of Psychiatry, Metropolitan Police Service, Oxfam, and X-Pert Med GmbH.

All doctoral students in Communication and Media are part of the Centre for Research in Communication and Culture (CRCC), the largest research centre of its kind in the UK, established in 1991. The CRCC organises a regular seminar series, as well as events and conferences, all oriented towards the interdisciplinary study of communication. Our department is also home to the long-established Discourse and Rhetoric Group, linked to our specialism in Language and Social Interaction.

Information for international students

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Fees and funding

Please see our website for a list of research degree funding and scholarships.