Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication students at the University of Warwick

MPhil/PhD in Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-W4P8 (Cultural Policy Studies)
P-W4PB (Creative Industries)
P-P300 (Media and Communication)

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

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

Qualification

MPhil/PhD

Led by

Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies

Location

University of Warwick

MPhil/PhD in Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication (2026 Entry)

Course code

P-W4P8 (Cultural Policy Studies)
P-W4PB (Creative Industries)
P-P300 (Media and Communication)

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

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

Qualification

MPhil/PhD

Led by

Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

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Find out more about our Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication MPhil/PhD degrees at Warwick

On our PhD in Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication, you will examine real world problems in the media, cultural and creative industries. With a distinctive research approach, Warwick's Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies will allow you to excel.

Course overview

Our Research degree routes encapsulate specialisms in the media and creative industries and cultural policy.

The Centre does not have a prescriptive approach to research methodology and advocates a subject-led approach with appropriate methods selected and adapted according to the objectives of the research. Research methods are likely to be diverse and individualised rather than following a collective 'best practice' model.

This is exemplified by our MPhil/PhD route in Media and Communication, which includes the option of joint supervision with colleagues from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM).

As a research student in CMPS you will be expected to make an original contribution to your field by critically reviewing existing knowledge and by challenging current assumptions and orthodoxies in cultural policy and the media and creative industries. Your research should be a personal journey which engages with issues and ideas you feel are significant and which are challenging and relevant to those working in and on the media and cultural sector.

Teaching and learning

Our PhD students are supervised by experienced researchers and specialists in the fields of cultural policy, media and creative industries.

You will join a vibrant and growing community of PhD researchers, supported by regular supervision, work-in-progress and research seminars, as well as having the opportunity to organise and contribute to research events focussed on your interests.

Centre students have full access to the PhD training provided by the Centre for Arts Doctoral Research Excellence and Warwick Careers and Skills to augment your research and enhance your professional development.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree and Master's degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

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.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Research themes

Our research

Media and Creative Industries
]Management and Creativity
Intellectual Property and the Creative Economy
Digital Cultural and Digital Love
Global Media Industries and Policies
Creative Enterprise and Cultural Work
Arts, Media and Sustainable Development
The Value of Culture and Cultural Taste
Cities, Spaces and National Identities
Museums and Galleries Sector
Transnational Screen Media
Media Policy and the Environment

Full details of our research interests are listed on the Centre for Culture and Media Policy StudiesLink opens in a new window website.

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.Link opens in a new window

Supervisors and proposals

Find a supervisor

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

For students interested in the PhD by Media and Communication route, see our Staff Research DirectoryLink opens in a new window where you will be able to search by research area. Additional supervision areas can be found under the Centre for Interdisciplinary MethodologiesLink opens in a new window.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.Link opens in a new window

Research proposals

Application procedure

Step one: In the first instance, you must identify a member of staff whose research interests and expertise are within the general area your proposed project intends to explore, and who you think would be in a good position to act as your supervisor. Please familiarise yourself with the work of the member of staff who you think would be the most suitable supervisor for you.
Step two: Please make contact with your desired supervisor to introduce yourself and to send a short summary of your intended project. If the prospective supervisor is interested in pursuing your application further, you will be asked to submit a fully developed research proposal, a CV and a cover letter. More information on what these documents need to contain can be found below.
Step three: If your prospective supervisor thinks your project shows real potential and that you are a strong candidate, you will be invited to Warwick to discuss the details of your project with your prospective supervisor and another member of staff. Depending on your performance, you might be informally offered a place and invited to submit a formal, online application to the University. Please do not fill in the online application form before this stage.

Please note that a PhD is a significant commitment of time and resources, both for you and your prospective supervisor. A face-to-face meeting is therefore an important step in ensuring a good match between candidate and supervisor, and we will therefore normally expect you to be available to come to Warwick for an interview as part of the application process.

The research proposal and cover letter

If you are invited to submit a full informal proposal, please make sure your documentation meets the following requirements:

The research proposal should articulate your research questions and proposed methodology; it should contain a brief literature review and position your project within your chosen area of the broader cultural policy field. Your proposal should be no longer than 1500 words.

Your cover letter should contain a statement as to why you think the Centre is the ideal place for you to conduct your research, and how your project will contribute to developing the research areas already cultivated by Centre staff.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Department

Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies

We are internationally renowned for our excellence in the teaching and research in the policy, management, development, enterprise and industry of culture, media communication and creativity. Our approach is based on a critical engagement with both the practical realities of working in the cultural sector and the ideological and conceptual questions which lie behind them.

Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught and Research courses

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How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application

Read the checklist

I'm ready to apply

Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

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Application deadlines

The application process for course that start in September and October 2026 opens on 2 October 2025.

For research courses that start in September and October 2026 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2026. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

Useful links

Applicant portal
After your applied
Admissions statement
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2025 entry

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We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
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Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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MPhil/PhD in Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication (2026 Entry)

MPhil/PhD in Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication (2026 Entry)

Find out more about our Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries/Media and Communication MPhil/PhD degrees at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

How to apply checklist

I'm ready to apply

Explore ways to connect with us

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

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