Skip to content Accessibility statement
Home>School of Arts and Creative Technologies>Study>Postgraduate research degrees in theatre, film, television and interactive media>Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media (PhD)>2022

PhD in Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media (by research)

We welcome proposals on a wide variety of research topics relating to theatre, film, television and interactive media.

Under the supervision of one or more staff members with expertise relevant to the project topic, you will research and write a thesis of between 80,000 and 100,000 words.

As a research student you are also supported by a Thesis Advisory panel (TAP) which includes an additional academic staff member who is not a supervisor.

The programme has a full time and a part time route. The full time comprises three years study, plus one optional additional year for completion. The part time route comprises six years study.

To ensure appropriate progress is made, there are formal progression points at 12 and 24 months when you are required to satisfy certain requirements in terms of the production and presentation of work. 

The PhD programme is aimed at individuals:

  • seeking to reach a professional standard of academic research and to pursue a career in either Higher Education or professional theatre, film, television or interactive media.
  • working professionally in theatre, film, television or interactive media who wish to make a career move into teaching and research in Higher Education.
  • working in theatre, film, television or interactive media who wish to develop their careers with the production of a substantial piece of original research.

You will normally have completed a Masters degree in a relevant subject and have gained at least a merit pass or equivalent. Relevant professional experience in theatre, film, television or interactive media production may also be taken into consideration.

You will need to submit a proposal setting out: the research question(s) that the PhD will address; a clear indication of the methodologies to be adopted; a summary of the relevant scholarly field or context that the project will engage with and contribute to; and a provisional bibliography (see Preparing a PhD Proposal). You will also normally be required to provide a writing sample.

The programme is subject to the Department and University requirements concerning English language proficiency.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding for research degrees (PhD, MPhil, and MA/MSc by Research) at York. Find out more about TFTI research degree funding.

Overseas students requiring a Student Visa:

If you are an overseas student who requires a Student Visa to enter the UK, you will not be permitted to undertake part-time study.  For further information, please refer to the UKCISA website.