Media Studies, PhD, University of Kent

the United Kingdom

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Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
PhD	Full-time, Part-time	3 - 4 years	September, January, May	0	find out

About Media Studies, PhD - at University of Kent

With access to specialist supervision, excellent resources and a vibrant intellectual community, your time at Kent will empower you to create innovative research that breaks boundaries and intervenes into urgent debates.

You conduct original research under the guidance of a team of specialist supervisors. We welcome enquiries on any topic, and provide you with excellent research resources to enable you to complete your research, which culminates in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The first step is to reach out to a potential supervisor with an email (see Staff Research).

You will have a minimum of two supervisors who support and guide you through your academic and professional development throughout your studies. You meet regularly with your supervisors, who not only oversee your research project but help you to identify areas where you may require further advice or training. A series of reviews take place throughout your studies in order to ensure that your project stays on track and that you have all the necessary support and resources required to successfully complete it.

You may be eligible to apply for a fully funded PhD scholarship. Scholarship opportunities may include the Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (GTA) and the Consortium of the Humanities and the Arts South-East England (CHASE) collaborative doctoral award. For further information and eligibility requirements, please see our Scholarship website.

Media Studies at Kent is a vibrant and supportive community of academics, practitioners and students, connected through our shared passion for all forms of media and communications. Our international staff are able to support a wide range of research covering social media, online and fan culture, media industries, promotional media (including marketing and PR), audiences and participatory culture, and issues of politics, identity, diversity and the media. Our staff encourage you to locate media forms within broader social and historical contexts.

You will be part of a substantial community of PhD students within the School of Arts. The Research Group for Film, Media and Culture will be your homebase for symposia and talks by internationally excellent visiting scholars. You can test out your own ideas, share tips and get extra feedback in the School's staff-led PhD 'Work in Progress' research colloquium. The Templeton Library contains vast digital and print collections. Our dedicated Media Hub, which contains cameras as well as computers equipped with editing software, supports research with practical designs and outputs.

Media Studies students also benefit from Kent's one-of-a-kind location. Based in the cultural city of Canterbury, we are less than one hour from London by train and forty minutes from the Eurotunnel, meaning that you will enjoy both a green, welcoming campus and close proximity to metropolitan culture, archives and industry.

Media Studies at Kent is a vibrant and supportive international community of academics, practitioners and students, connected through our shared passion for all forms of media. Our staff are able to support a wide range of research covering digital media, online culture, audiences and participatory culture, gender and the media, and all forms of media in the broader social and historical contexts.

We also partner with the Gulbenkian Cinema, part of the University of Kent's Arts Centre, to offer innovative, engaging and high quality arts activity for the public, staff and students. The School of Arts also has the Lupino, a 62-seat cinema named after the pioneering female filmmaker Ida Lupino, which Media Studies students can enjoy as part of their experience during their studies. The Lupino has state-of-the-art digital projection and sound, and has been created to provide an intimate atmosphere for film viewing.

Media Studies at Kent students also benefit from our fantastic location. Based in the cultural city of Canterbury, we are less than one hour from London by train and forty minutes from the Eurotunnel, making us close to both London and Europe.

Course location:

Canterbury

Learn more about Media Studies, PhD - at University of Kent

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Entry requirements

Contact University of Kent to find course entry requirements.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships at University of Kent

Kent offers a range of funding opportunities, including full awards to support doctoral researchers and students undertaking a taught Master’s at our locations in the UK and Europe. We also offer several scholarships to support our international students including GREAT British Council and Chevening Scholarship awards. Our Research Council doctoral training partnerships give you access to a range of funding and research networks. Check out our bursaries and scholarships and see if you’re eligible.

For students starting a postgraduate taught course in  January 2025 or September 2025  at one of our UK campuses, we have several scholarships available. Check if you are eligible to apply and get more information on our scholarship’s webpages

Student reviews of University of Kent

Find out what students say about University of Kent

Inspirational teaching - Patrique Tanque from Brazil is studying for a BSc in Forensic Chemistry.

“Choosing Kent was an easy decision. The forensic programmes are ranked among the best in the UK and have a high graduate employment rate.

“The teachers bring fresh ideas and up-to-date materials from real cases to enrich the lectures. They are keen to help out and always make sure we are getting plenty of support.

“I was very fortunate to be awarded an International Scholarship, which meant I could dedicate myself to my studies.”

Academic excellence - Stephanie Bourgeois from France is studying for a BSc in Biochemistry.

“I like the approach to teaching here; academics are happy to answer questions and to interact with students. I find the lectures very motivational, they pique your curiosity and for me the exciting bit is going to the library and pursuing the things you are interested in.

“The lecturers at Kent are excellent. You get to know them well and, as you move through the course, they are able to guide you towards projects, ideas or career paths that they think you will like.”

Specialist research - Sally Gao from China is studying for a PhD in Electronic Engineering.

“I have been very lucky with my supervisor, Professor Yong Yan, who is a world-class expert and the first IEEE Fellow in the UK in instrumentation and measurement.

“Professor Yong Yan has helped me to become a better researcher. I am inspired by his novel ideas and constructive suggestions. Under his supervision, my confidence has grown through such milestones as my first set of experiments, writing my first research paper and attending my first conference.”