Applied Screen Studies: Practice as Research (PhD) (2025 entry)

Students of Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick.

Course code

P-P30A

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

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

Qualification

PhD

Led by

Film and Television Studies

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

P-P30A

Start date

6 October 2025

Duration

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

Qualification

PhD

Led by

Film and Television Studies

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

Download our prospectus Link opens in a new window

Apply now

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

Course overview

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 and/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 will present a case for the percentage split of their particular project between the written thesis and practice work. This is also the point at which the format of the practice element will be decided.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

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.

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

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

Research themes

Our research

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
Ecocinema

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

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Supervisors and proposals

Find a supervisor

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 staffLink opens in a new window with many research strengths who could be your supervisors.

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

Research proposals

In order to ascertain if a project can be supervised by one of our staff members in Film and Television Studies, we kindly ask prospective applicants to send the following:

A research proposal of around 2,000 words containing title, research aims and questions, methodology, scope of the project, and an indicative bibliography.
Your most updated CV.
A sample of your best writing on film and/or television (a chapter from your Master’s dissertation, for example).

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.

Applied Screen Studies Funding

For UK and International students, the primary funding opportunity is a 3.5-year AHRC-based scholarship, provided through Midlands 4 Cities (M4C)Link opens in a new window.

The AHRC-funded Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training PartnershipLink opens in a new window (M4C) brings together eight leading universities across the Midlands to support the professional and personal development of the next generation of arts and humanities doctoral researchers. M4C is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, University of Warwick, Coventry University, University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham.

All proposals will be subject to internal approval. For enquiries and information related to PhD admissions, please contact the PhD admissions officer, Dr Tiago de Luca at t.de-luca@warwick.ac.uk. For further information about M4C and its partner institutions, including upcoming application writing workshops, please consult the Midlands 4 Cities siteLink opens in a new window.

International applicants (including EU students) are also eligible for the Warwick Chancellor's International ScholarshipLink opens in a new window. Applicants who hold a People’s Republic of China may also apply for the Warwick China Scholarship CouncilLink opens in a new window award.

Department

Film and Television Studies at Warwick

See the world through the lens of film.

The moving image is the most significant art form of the twentieth century. By studying it, you will develop a unique way of understanding the world you live in. You will be exposed to a diverse film and television culture at the forefront of change as our means of viewing evolve. Whether it's a pure passion for the moving image, its stars, genres and history, or academic curiosity that excites you, follow a curriculum that’s as ambitious and innovative as Film and Television Studies are.

From day one, you will be taught by the country’s leading scholars through state-of-the-art lectures, seminars and individual tutorial supervisions. Think, live and breathe the moving image through discussion, reading, writing, blogging, video-essays and screenwriting.

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

Our courses

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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

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After your applied
Admissions statement
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2024 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:

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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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Applied Screen Studies: Practice as Research (PhD) (2025 entry)

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

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

Applied Screen Studies Funding

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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