PhD Opportunities in Communication, Media and Film Studies

Applications are invited for Graduate Teaching Assistant PhD scholarships in all areas of communication, media, cultural, film and screen studies, commencing 1^st October 2022.

About the PhD Programme

The Centre for Culture, Media & Society (CCMS) is an exciting interdisciplinary environment delivering research that offers critical insight and real-world impact. 

We are interested to receive applications that relate to our areas of research expertise in:

Communication, Culture and Heritage

• European cultural studies
• Critical heritage studies
• Culture, identity and the body
• Folklore, contemporary legend and media
• Cultural institutions and their audiences, festivals and archives

Film, TV and Audiences

• Film and TV industries, infrastructures, ecosystems and governance
• Film, TV and visual culture
• Genre and narrative theory in film studies
• Nationalism, transnationalism and diaspora in cultures and cinemas of Europe, Asia and Arab world
• Screenwriting and adaptation

Representation, Resistance and Anti-Racism

• Postcolonial Studies
• Critical Race Theory, human rights, social justice and activism
• Textual and visual studies of protest and resistance in media and culture
• Critical explorations of intersectional identity-based inequalities and experience (including but not limited to gender, race and religion)
• Global media and global events coverage

Media and Society

• Digital cultures (including fan cultures)
• Digital inclusion
• Social media (including social media interaction, platforms and culture analytics)
• Journalism and PR studies
• Virtual reality applications in health and wellbeing 

You will join a vibrant PhD programme with excellent student satisfaction scores. There are opportunities to participate in seminars, workshops and conferences, including SHU's innovative interdisciplinary postgraduate research conferences on the topics of research METHOD and research IMPACT. We offer training in research methods via modules on the M. Res in Social Science and access to specialist media and film production facilities including recording studios, edit suites and VR studio and screening facilities at 'The Void' film lecture theatre. 

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

GTA scholarships combine PhD study with professional development, to gain practical experience in learning, teaching and assessment in Higher Education. You will be able to work towards Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and as part of your training will be expected to support teaching related activities in either the Department of Media Arts & Communication or Department of Humanities, up to a maximum of 180 hours per academic year. For more information about GTA scholarships please visit Sheffield Hallam University PhD scholarships

Funding

Scholarships are available for 3.5 years (full-time) or 6 years (part-time) and include:

• University tuition fees at Home rate of £4590 (full-time study) or £2295 (part-time study).  International students are required to self-fund the difference between Home and International fees - for 2022/23, EU/International fees are £14,895 per year (Full-time).
• An annual tax-free maintenance bursary at UKRI minimum rate: £16062 per annum for 2022-23 full-time study or £8031 per annum for part-time study. The stipend is paid to you on a monthly basis.

For more information visit: Tuition fees for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you contact a prospective supervisor to discuss your research ideas before applying. Potential supervisors can be identified through the department and research centre websites linked above or by contacting the Postgraduate Research Tutor for advice.  You need to submit a research proposal with your application outlining the proposed research aims and background, relevant research literature, proposed approaches to data collection and analysis and ethical or practical considerations.

Where English is not your first language you need to submit evidence of English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent).  

Sheffield Hallam welcomes applications from all candidates irrespective of age, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, or marital or civil partnership status.

For academic enquiries or advice please contact:

• Dr. Kerry McSeveny, Postgraduate Research Tutor for Media & Communication k.mcseveny@shu.ac.uk
• For information about how to apply and an application form please visit https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/degrees/apply
• For general enquires please contact the Cultural & Creativity Research Institute Postgraduate Research Team culture-creativity-admissions@shu.ac.uk

Submit your application to culture-creativity-admissions@shu.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is 12.00 Noon on 9^th May 2022.

Selection process

Interviews will take place 21^st or 24^th of June 2022 by videoconference. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on their research proposal followed by an interview.