Entry requirements

Newcastle University has embarked on an ambitious programme of growth in film practice under the name of Film@CultureLab. It’s led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dr Ian McDonald. Film@CultureLab is committed to developing a distinctive approach to non-fiction film practice pedagogy and research. This is rooted in an understanding of documentary film as a cinematic medium and filmmaking as a means of expression and of challenging, critiquing, and intervening in the social and historical world.

We offer practice-led, practice-based, or theoretical PhDs in 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
  • intersections between the documentary and sociological, anthropological, cultural studies
  • sports documentaries
  • feminist film practice
  • social linguistics, translation and documentary practice
  • documentary theory and practice in the USSR / Russia
  • theorising documentary as a critical and creative practice
  • history of the documentary and of documentary movements
  • studies of independent film production and exhibition
  • world cinema
  • Indian cinema
  • film festival studies.

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 Film Praxis Forum ‘Work-in-Progress’ Series held each year.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Newcastle University has embarked on an ambitious programme of growth in film practice under the name of Film@CultureLab. It’s led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Dr Ian McDonald. Film@CultureLab is committed to developing a distinctive approach to non-fiction film practice pedagogy and research. This is rooted in an understanding of documentary film as a cinematic medium and filmmaking as a means of expression and of challenging, critiquing, and intervening in the social and historical world.

We offer practice-led, practice-based, or theoretical PhDs in 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
  • intersections between the documentary and sociological, anthropological, cultural studies
  • sports documentaries
  • feminist film practice
  • social linguistics, translation and documentary practice
  • documentary theory and practice in the USSR / Russia
  • theorising documentary as a critical and creative practice
  • history of the documentary and of documentary movements
  • studies of independent film production and exhibition
  • world cinema
  • Indian cinema
  • film festival studies.

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 Film Praxis Forum ‘Work-in-Progress’ Series held each year.

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Information for international students

English Language Requirements:

Direct Entry: IELTS 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in all sub-skills).

If you have lower English Language scores, you may be accepted onto a Pre-sessional English course.

Fees and funding

See Fees and Funding tab in the Programme information online.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • PhD
    part time
    72 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
    full time
    36 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Dr Ian McDonald/ Dr Geetha Jayaraman
Email
SACS.PGR.Admin@newcastle.ac.uk
Phone
+44 (0)191 208 3509