Find out more about our PhD in Applied Screen Studies (by partial Practice as Research).

P-P30A

PhD

3-4 years full-time;
7 years part-time

2 October 2023

Film and Television Studies

University of Warwick

This PhD enables students to incorporate practice into their doctoral study, taking an approach which understands practice as a mode of research, or as the application of research.

The project must be led by clear research questions, with the practice element working as a means to investigate, challenge or respond to those questions. The practice element can take a variety of forms and proportions (with a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 50%), but in all cases represents the exploration of critical, theoretical or historical issues in Film and Television/Screen Studies, through a practice-based output.

The various forms of this applied screen practice include, but are not limited to:

• A critical video essay
• A moving image and/or audio documentary or experimental film
• Curated screenings/an exhibition of creative works or artefacts
• A digital installation
• An innovative collaboration with a partner institution
• An engagement and impact project at regional, national or international level

The balance between written and practical elements in this PhD will depend on the form that the applied practice takes. Those making a documentary, for example, might produce a 40,000 word written piece that would represent 50% of their PhD.

Those pursuing a more traditional research-driven written doctoral project would produce a 55,000 word thesis and an 'applied research' portfolio, which translates the research into a set of screen-based impact and public engagement activities. This element would then represent 30% of the PhD.

At the mid-year review in Year One, the student presents a case for the percentage split of their particular project between traditional written thesis and practice work, and is also the point at which the particular form the practice element will take is agreed.

• Film and Television Aesthetics, History and Theory
• Classical and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema
• European Cinema (especially British, Italian, French and Spanish)
• British and US Television
• Documentary Film and Television
• Silent Cinema
• Feminist Film and Television Theory, History and Criticism
• World Cinema
• Queer Film Cultures
• Film and Philosophy
• Experimental Film and Video
• Film and Television Genre
• Film and Modernity
• Film Technology and Innovation
• Cities and Landscapes in Film and Television
• Critical Studies of the Archive
• Transnational Cinemas
• Screen Ethics

The Department of Film and Television Studies is the home of The Centre for Television Histories. There are often opportunities for graduate students to be involved in associated activities.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

We currently have 14 full-time members of staff with many research strengths who could be your supervisors. We usually welcome up to 5 PhD students every year.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

A good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Experience and/or training in the field or form related to the practice element of the proposed research is welcome.

• Band B
• IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

Anyone interested in applying to our MPhil/PhD programme is advised to first visit the department PhD webpage for further information and contact our Postgraduate Admissions Secretaries at filmandtvadmissions at warwick dot ac dot uk to ascertain if their intended project can be supervised in this department.

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