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MPhil/PhD Media and Communications

• Graduate research
• Department of Media and Communications
• Application code P4ZM
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Closed
• Overseas full-time: Closed
• Location: Houghton Street, London

Media and communications research is developing rapidly, both theoretically and methodologically, in keeping with the vast expansion in the penetration, technological diversity and social significance of the media globally. Media and communications research is essentially interdisciplinary, drawing on the theories and methods of a range of social science disciplines as they apply to the media, both old and new. Our Department is committed to promoting greater diversity and transparency in its doctoral cohort and particularly encourages applications from underrepresented groups in its PhD programme.

With 91 per cent of its research output judged to be "world leading" or "internationally excellent" (REF 2014), the Department of Media and Communications provides an excellent research-based education to its doctoral researchers. Its mission is to guarantee the highest quality graduate research training in media and communications and to undertake original social science research in the field, emphasising in particular the relationship between media, technology and social change.

This programme offers the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution in the field of media and communications in contemporary society.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mphil/phd media and communications.

The minimum entry requirement for this programme is a high merit (68 per cent) in a taught master's degree (or equivalent) in social science or humanities and normally a distinction in the dissertation.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission. 

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate  staff research interests  before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications) - statement of academic purpose - references - CV - research proposal - sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements .

When to apply

The application and funding deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . See the fees and funding section for more details.

Research proposal guidelines

Applicants for doctoral study with the Department of Media and Communications are required to submit a research proposal of  no more than 2,500 words  summarising and justifying their proposed research.

The research proposal will provide selectors with an idea of topics of interest, and help in matching candidates to potential supervisors. If your application is accepted, you may be permitted to re-negotiate your topic, subject to the Department’s ability to supervise the new topic.

The final project proposal should feature the following sections:

• Title : A clearly stated title / research question at the beginning of your proposal.
• Preferred potential supervisor:  Please indicate clearly on the first page of the proposal who you wish to supervise your project. Available supervisors can be found on our list of  Academic staff  (please note LSE Fellows cannot supervise PhD projects).
• Keywords:  Please include on the first page of the proposal up to 10 keywords or phrases which accurately reflect the content of your project (eg, 'internet governance', 'data privacy', 'children's media use', 'feminism', 'representation', 'platform studies').
• Introduction to research question(s):  What question(s) will you attempt to answer? Why is the topic interesting and important? Is there a theoretical and empirical 'gap' that your research will seek to fill? What core theories and concepts will you draw on?
• Literature Review:  Summarise the relevant literature and the field(s) to be contributed to. What are the main theories in the area? What are the critical empirical phenomena in the area? Specify the key references relevant to the proposed research. How do you position yourself vis-à-vis the theories and concepts you propose to use?
• Methodology:  How will you address the empirical aspects of the research? Which methodology is appropriate and why? If the research question requires a combination of different methodologies, how will they be related? Do you foresee any practical difficulties in pursuing the research (e.g. finding suitable participants or data sources)? If so, how might they be overcome?
• Conclusion:  What is the added value of the project? How will your research take our understanding forward in your chosen (sub-)field? 
• Bibliography:  A list of texts used in preparing your proposal. (Not to be included in the word count).

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MPhil/PhD Media and Communications

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status​

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for  LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.   Funding deadline for the LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support.

External funding 

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

All First year students are MPhil students until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD students.

Theories and concepts training

Research Seminar for Media, Communications and Culture Focuses on the key conceptual issues and analytical strategies required in media and communication research, with special reference to the study of the changing environment of media production, dissemination and consumption, under conditions of globalisation and digitisation of information. Each participant must make at least one presentation annually.

One full unit or two half units of theory courses, chosen from the School’s graduate course provision. Courses are to be chosen in liaison with the primary supervisor/co-supervisors and will be approved by the Doctoral Programme Director. For MPhil students who have no background in the field, it is strongly advised that they select at least one half unit on Media and Communications.

Research methodology training

MPhil students will take Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications . This is a course which involves 3 discrete sections:

i. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: a series of lectures offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Autumn Term. The lectures will normally cover the following topics central to research design across the social sciences, with a specific emphasis on their application to media and communications contexts: the general nature of research as social inquiry, interviewing, discourse analysis, social network analysis, content analysis, visual analysis, survey design/questionnaires, case studies, ethnography and participant observation, as well as research ethics.

ii. Specialist workshops: Workshops (three hours) x 5 Winter Term (each comprised of one 3-hour session), offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Winter Term. Students are required to participate in all five workshops.

iii. Principles of Social Research Analysis: Students have to take at least one quantitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology ( Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Media and Communications is the basic option). In addition, students need to take either another quantitative or a qualitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology. The combination of courses must be approved by the supervisor and discussed with the Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications (including Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis) convenor. Students will not be permitted to select Fundamentals of Social Science Research or  Qualitative Research methods .

Upgrade process

In addition to satisfactory completion of the above training, all MPhil students will be required to submit a thesis proposal of 10,000 words to their thesis committee. This paper needs to include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for completion.

Together with any examination/s for quantitative methodological courses, the thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva, will determine whether students are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year

Second year 

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

Third year 

Full time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their fourth year, part-time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their eighth year.

All upgraded PhD students not submitting their thesis must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information page.

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision .

Doctoral supervision in the Department takes one of two forms, with faculty offering either primary and secondary supervision; or co-supervision, ie, joint supervisors with broadly similar responsibilities. In all cases, the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be at professorial or associate professorial level.

New doctoral researchers are assigned to supervisors with requisite knowledge in the chosen field. The supervisory team will normally be made up of Departmental faculty, but if you are working on a topic with a particularly interdisciplinary focus, it may be appropriate for a secondary supervisor or co-supervisor to be enlisted from another LSE Department. In such cases, either the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be Department of Media and Communications faculty.

Each doctoral researcher will be assigned a thesis committee consisting of their two supervisors and a senior member of the Department's faculty as chair. This committee will act as the review panel at the end of the first year of registration and in the decision to upgrade a student from MPhil to PhD. The thesis committee also provides feedback on draft chapters submitted at the end of the second year and remains responsible for over-viewing the student's progress in subsequent years

Please see our list of  Academic Staff  to view potential supervisors (please note that LSE Fellows cannot act as doctoral supervisors).

Progression and upgrade requirements

You will initially register for the MPhil and follow a taught programme involving coursework which is formally assessed. Towards the end of your first year, you will submit a 10,000-word research proposal. This paper will include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for its completion. Evaluation of this paper, together with an oral examination based on the thesis proposal and the submission of satisfactory coursework, will contribute to assessing whether you are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into your second year.

You will be assigned a Thesis Committee consisting of your two supervisors and a senior member of the Department's faculty as Chair. This committee will act as the review panel at the end of the first year of registration and in the decision to upgrade you from MPhil to PhD. The Thesis Committee also provides feedback on draft chapters submitted at the end of the second year and remains responsible for overviewing your progress in subsequent years.

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document at the end of their second year and each subsequent year in which they are not submitting their thesis.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

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Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Student stories

Ludmila lupinacci amaral phd researcher porto alegre, brazil.

When I first decided to apply to the Department of Media and Communications, the possibility of meeting, and engaging in intellectually stimulating discussions with renowned international scholars of the field was one of my crucial incentives. As someone who comes from a developing country, the idea of having contact with those who constitute the cornerstone of my academic background – and most of my bibliography! – had been, until then, nothing more than a distant daydream.

I evidently had a personal interest in enjoying the structure of a world-class institution such as LSE, and in the benefits that this experience could potentially bring to my curriculum and prospective career. Nevertheless, the central motivation for my application was my understanding that the Department of Media and Communications maintains a strong focus on the development of a broad set of research skills, both theoretical and methodological. After one year in the doctoral programme, I can confirm my impressions were spot-on. What is distinctive about the Department, I would add, is the interdisciplinary, but always critical, approach it provides and fosters.

Being a PhD student is, at the same time, a challenging, rewarding, stressful, inspiring, and emotionally demanding experience. However, in the Department of Media and Communications, the faculty, the staff, and the colleagues provide a welcoming and encouraging environment for early-stage researchers. I have always heard how doing a PhD can be a lonely and socially isolating process. My experience in this first year of registration, however, shows me that this is, thankfully, not always the case.

View Ludmila's profile .

Richard Stupart PhD Researcher Johannesburg, South Africa

I chose the Department of Media and Communications for my PhD primarily because it contained so many of the world’s leading researchers working on projects connected to the mediation of distant suffering, public action, and humanitarianism. It was an area that had interested me for a while, and LSE turned out to be the perfect home for my project.

The first day at school, as it were, was terrifying – a chance to meet academic heroes and accomplished first-year PhD colleagues from a range of backgrounds. It surprised me how approachable my supervisors, colleagues, and the Department in general was, and the intense reading and discussions of the first year made it one of the most intellectually fulfilling of my life. PhD study has meant developing a new relationship with reading, writing, and argumentation which can be equal parts intense and rewarding, but in moments where I’ve paused from worrying about how much I still don’t know and haven’t read, it’s incredible to see just how far I’ve developed already.

My own research has developed into a project looking at the work of journalists covering conflict and its effects in South Sudan – something perhaps unconventional to most media and communications departments. LSE has been probably the most supportive environment in which to be doing this work, though. The presence of so many colleagues interested in questions of the representation of suffering, journalism in difficult contexts, and postcolonial critiques of many ‘foreign correspondent’ studies has been a constantly valuable resource. Being granted the freedom – and support – to do practical fieldwork in Juba and Malakal in South Sudan really drove home that this was a space in which I really did have the freedom to do the practical work involved in pursuing my project where I needed to.

At the time of writing I am heading into my third year, and there is a great deal of writing and thinking still on the horizon, but I’ve no doubt at all that I’ve found the right academic home in which to be doing it.

  View Richard's profile .

SSu-Han Yu PhD Resaercher Taoyuan, Taiwan

The reason I chose the Department of Media and Communications for my PhD may seem obvious, considering it has been ranked within the top 3 in the QS World University Rankings for Communication and Media Studies for the past three years. Nevertheless, the rankings indicators do not tell the whole story, as faculty in the Department not only excel in conducting research, but are always ready to listen, giving advice and feedback. In particular, I am very impressed by how much care and respect my supervisors have shown not only to my studies, but also to my professional development.

During my studies, I have had access to a large pool of research and teaching opportunities within and beyond the Department, which have allowed me to coordinate with external research institutions, organise international conferences, exhibit research findings, and write for publications. Additionally, I have gained knowledge and experience of engaging graduate students in seminar discussions through my role as classroom assistant.

Most importantly, however, my PhD journey would not have been the same without my peers. Although I expected LSE to attract talented individuals from around the world, I did not foresee that my cohort’s support and their enthusiasm for research and social change would help sustain me during the moments of self-doubt inevitable within the PhD process. The commitment to advancing knowledge and improving the state of the world demonstrated by my peers, faculty, and visiting fellows is as stimulating as the diverse events one can enjoy whilst studying in London.

View Ssu-Han's profile.

Preliminary reading

• Baym N. K. (2010) Personal Connections in the Digital Age, Polity
• Boltanski l. and Chiapello E. (2001) The New Spirit of Capitalism London: Verso
• Carey J. W. (1989) Communication as Culture New York, NY: Routledge
• Chadwick A. (2017) The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power – 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Chesher C. Crawford K. and Dunne A. (2014) Understanding the Internet. Language, technology, Media, Power London: MacMillan. Palgrave
• Chouliaraki L. (2013) The Ironic Spectator. Solidarity in the Age of Post-humanitarianism Cambridge: Polity
• Couldry N. (2012) Media, Society, World Cambridge: Polity
• Lievrow A. L. and Livingstone S. (eds.) (2006) The Handbook of New Media (updated edition) London: Sage
• Mansell R. (2012) Imagining the Internet Oxford: OUP
• Papacharissi Z. (2014) Affective Publics. Oxford: OUP
• Rogers R. (2013) Digital Methods Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press
• Wacquant L. and Bourdieu P. (1992) Introduction to Reflexive Sociology Chicago: University of Chicago Press
• Silverstone R. (20060 Media and Morality. On the Rise of Mediapolis Cambridge: Polity

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Media & Communications

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £30,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism           
• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• Consultancy      
• International Organisations

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career. 

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, mphil/phd data, networks and society.

Code(s) P3ZN

MPhil/PhD Gender

Code(s) Y2ZG

MSc Media and Communications (Research)

Code(s) P4U6

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Culture, Communication and Media MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

The MPhil/PhD programme provides a route for you carry out a piece of research that will make a distinctive contribution to knowledge in the fields of education, culture and communication. You will work closely with your supervisor(s) to develop your project, supported by a flexible programme of methodology courses and a strong research community of staff and doctoral students. This programme is available to study both face-to-face and online.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

The normal minimum requirement is a Master’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the programme to be followed, or a qualification of equivalent standard appropriate to the programme to be followed awarded by a university (or educational institution of university rank) outside the UK. The majority of our successful applicants hold a Merit at Master’s level, and may have additional relevant experience.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media has innovative, research-active staff able to supervise postgraduate research in the following areas: applied linguistics; TESOL; art, design and museology; music education; English education, social semiotics and multimodality; media education; learning with digital technologies; teacher professional development; and psychosocial studies. We have seven research centres: The Centre for Applied Linguistics, The Academic Writing Centre, The Confucius Institute for Schools, The International Centre for Intercultural Studies, Digital Arts Research in Education, The Centre for Multimodal Research and the UCL Knowledge Lab.

Who this course is for

The MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest in an aspect of educational and social research, which may be understood broadly across the life course, in relation to other subject areas and wider social, economic, political and cultural changes. You should normally have completed an MA to merit level and want to develop a specific area of research. You may have a background in education or a cognate area of study. It is suitable for both recent graduates and those progressed in a career.

What this course will give you

IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society is a world-leading centre for research in education and related social science. We host the UK's largest doctoral cohort in these areas. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023), the Institute was ranked first for education for the tenth year running, ahead of Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge. In the UK's recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), we were ranked first for research strength and research power in Education, according to the Elsevier REF 2021 Results Analysis Tool. We attract extensive research funding each year and host many prestigious research centres and projects.

Doctoral students at IOE have access to the wider UCL community as well as the education cluster constituting the ESRC  UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership . The Institute's programme has been designed to provide comprehensive and broadly based research training and to meet the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the UK Researcher Development Framework.

Students work closely with their supervisor(s) to develop each stage of research; supervisors also help put together a programme of additional courses and activities to support progress towards completion of the final thesis.

The foundation of your career

Students will develop general and specialist skills in research methodology, academic writing and presentation, as well as gaining experience of engaging with a wide range of practitioners across different sectors of education.

UCL’s commitment clearly supports research like mine through bespoke, untested and uncommon approaches. This luxury is something not lost on me - it motivates me each and every day. David Ruttenberg Culture, Communication and Media MPhil/PhD Q&A with David Ruttenberg

Employability

IOE doctoral graduates in the Department of Culture, Communication and Media progress to careers in university teaching, educational research, policy and curriculum development, as well as creative arts education.

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media has a wide range of research seminars, where students can join discussion of our ongoing projects, as well as being the base for national and international conferences. There are also opportunities to work with education practitioners and organisations beyond IOE. The Centre for Doctoral Education holds two annual conferences for IOE doctoral students; and there are opportunities for students to offer specialist reading groups and workshops and to act as facilitators on courses within the research training programme.

Teaching and learning

In addition to UCL's Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE's Centre for Doctoral Education provides a comprehensive Research Training Programme.

The Core Courses aim to meets the needs of early stage doctoral students.

There is also a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic academic skills courses, as well as student-led workshops and reading groups.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline. It must also represent a distinct and significant contribution to the subject, whether through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views. It should reflect the exercise of critical judgement with regard to both your own work and that of other scholars in the field.

For those who decide not to pursue the full PhD, or are unable to do so, the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should represent a contribution to the subject, either through a record of your original work or a critical and ordered exposition of existing knowledge.

You must ensure you have adequate time to devote to this research, at least six hours a day (2-3 days a week part time).

Research areas and structure

• Applied linguistics: bilingualism and multilingualism; neoliberal ideology and language teaching; materials analysis; English as a global language; language learning and identity; language teacher identity; language education, gender and sexuality; critical discourse analysis; second language acquisition; language testing; translanguaging; ethnography
• Art, design and museology: artists in sites of learning, curatorial practices and the shaping of knowledge in galleries and museums, artists interventions in educational contexts; visual culture
• Music education: musical development, the psychology of music, singing and voice science, music in special education, music ideology, gender and music, the sociology and philosophy of music, informal and popular music education, the wider benefits of music
• English education, social semiotics and multimodality: teacher identities; literature in urban classroom; social and digital literacy practices; identity, subject knowledge and communication; visual methodologies; subject knowledge and policy
• Media education: the moving image and video games; young people’s production of digital animation, film and computer games; online communities, virtual worlds, play and film
• Learning with digital technologies: software interventions to support learners with disabilities; the development of adaptive technologies; learner modelling; virtual learning environments; methods for analysing the effectiveness of interactive learning environments; technology mediated knowledge in the curriculum
• Psychosocial studies: reflexivity; psychoanalytically informed approaches to educational research; knowledge practices in the humanities and social sciences; unconscious aspects of learning, professional practice and research; post-structural theories of gender and subjectivity

Further details of staff research and publications are available on the department website.

Research environment

As a research student in the Department of Culture, Communication and Media, you can participate in the seminars organised by department research centres or according to interest groups.

Since October 2014, we have also – in addition to the campus-based mode - offered the option to study online in a distance-learning mode. Choosing the distance-learning mode means that there are no residency requirements and it is not necessary to attend during doctoral study, the viva examination take place in-person at UCL or online. However, you are welcome to visit and use campus facilities including the library, attend seminars etc. In the first year of full-time study (and first two years of part-time study), distance learners take a series of compulsory research methods modules that are studied online. This typically involves provision of materials (articles, eBooks, videos etc.), forums to facilitate discussion of various tasks, and synchronous sessions to discuss the activities. Alongside these you will work with your supervisors on your research (e.g., using Teams/Zoom and email). In addition, there are other resources and training opportunities to support distance-learning students, e.g., sessions to develop generic skills.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 3 years for full-time.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-18 months after initial registration.

IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. A mandatory core course is provided that aims to meet the needs of early-stage doctoral students. There is also a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic non-credit bearing academic skills courses, as well as student led workshops and reading groups which you can attend.

Full-time MPhil/PhD students are required to fulfil minimum 20 ‘points’ of training activity in their first year, and are encouraged to fulfil the same in their subsequent years of study. This training can be selected from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty’s Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent. Other activities such as attending and presenting at conferences also count towards research training. Students may undertake additional training beyond these minima, as relevant to their research and/or as agreed with their supervisors.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status towards the end of your first year of study if full-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Processes aimed at assisting you during your course of study include the Research Student Log (an online project management tool), and periodic reviews of students’ progress.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 5 years for part-time.

Part-time students are required to fulfil minimum 12 ‘points’ of training activity in each year of study. This training can be selected from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty’s Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent.  Other activities such as attending and presenting at conferences also count towards research training. Students may undertake additional training beyond these minima, as relevant to their research and/or as agreed with their supervisors.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status at around 18 months if part-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Where you'll study

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media is committed to excellence in research and teaching in the areas of Art, Design and Museology, Academic writing, English education, Applied Linguistics, Music Education, Learning with Digital Technologies and teacher professional development.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their thesis.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding webpage: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/funding-students-postgraduate-research-courses

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) are available annually to prospective and existing UCL research students from any country: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/research-excellence-scholarship . The UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership offers studentships annually. More information is found here: https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/

UBEL, RES and other funding programmes are not available to online and non-resident students.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

After choosing a programme to apply for, you should develop a research proposal and identify a potential supervisor. For more information, visit our website to find a supervisor and get in touch with departmental graduate tutors.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

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PhD / Dr. Phil.

We welcome research projects from all over the world. However, the Institute for Media and Communication Studies does not have a structured doctoral education. Earning a doctoral degree from the Institute for Media and Communication Studies at the Department of Political and Social Sciences can be accomplished through the "apprentice model" (independent research under supervision). You must find a supervisor who is an expert on the topic of your future dissertation and willing to supervise you. Every doctoral candidate has to organize financing independently. Freie Universität Berlin provides further general information on earning a doctorate (doctoral studies portal) .

Please send your applications including your CV, degree certificates, an overview of your study accomplishments and a short exposé of your research project (ca. 5 pages) solely to [email protected] . On top of that it is extremely important that you name potential supervisor(s) , explain how your research interest is situated within the research area of the professor(s) and why you would find it important to be supervised by him/ her. If all this information is provided, your e-mail will be directed to the supervisor. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Detailed Information

How to get accepted as a doctoral student at the institute for media and communication studies at freie universität berlin:.

The basic requirement for getting approved as a doctoral student by the institute is an outstanding degree in a field corresponding to your future doctoral thesis and the institute’s research areas. Applications and proposals may be submitted at any time of the year to the Institute for Media and Communication Studies, but you should keep in mind that during the periods from mid-February to mid-April and from mid-July to mid-October when courses are not in session, relevant staff will not always be available. Course sessions start in mid-October (winter term) or mid-April (summer term). You may write your thesis in English language, if your supervisor agrees. If you decide to write your dissertation in German but do not hold a German academic degree you will have to pass the DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) or the TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language).

Admission procedures in line with the doctoral regulations of the Department of Political and Social Sciences include two steps. First of all, you must find a supervisor (in German “ Doktorvater ” or “ Doktormutter ”) who is an expert on the topic of your future dissertation and willing to supervise you. After having found a supervisor you have to formally apply at the Doctoral Studies Office of the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

Step 1: How to approach the supervisor

It is not possible to apply for a doctorate without specifying your research project and stating your future supervisor. When first contacting the Institute for Media and Communication Studies via [email protected], you have to name potential supervisor(s) and provide a short exposé of your research project (ca. 5 pages) and a short review of your experience in this field including detailed information on your academic qualifications and degree. It is especially important to explain how your research interest is situated within the research area of the professor(s) and why you would find it important to be supervised by him/ her. If all this information is provided, your e-mail will be directed to the supervisor.

It can be helpful to attach a letter of recommendation by a professor you have already worked with. If your academic degree and the research proposal are regarded sufficient and the professor has agreed to become your supervisor, you may send your formal application to the Doctoral Studies Office of the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

Step 2: How to finish your PhD application at Freie Universität formally:

The application to the Doctoral Studies Office of the Department of Political and Social Sciences must include:

1. Research proposal for your doctoral thesis ("Exposé" of 7 to max. 10 pages) including a short summary of the subject in question

2. Declaration of your supervisor, that he/ she has accepted you as a doctoral student

3. Completed form “Zulassung zum Promotionsverfahren“ (Admission to doctoral studies) and "Betreuungsvereinbarung" (Supervisory Agreement).

4. A CV in German or in English language

5. Certified copies of your exam and degree certificates

6. Proof of proficiency in German (for full enrolment without further tests, TestDaF level 4/4 or an equivalent is required) or in English language

» Further information on step 2

Please send your application by mail to

Early Career Support at the Department of Political and Social Sciences Contact: https://www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/nachwuchsfoerderung/ansprechpartner_innen/index.html Ihnestraße 21 - Rooms 201 and 206 14195 Berlin

You can also arrange a personal appointment with the Early Career Support or write an e-mail regarding all formal aspects of the doctoral procedure to [email protected] .

Further information

Funding Sources for Doctoral Candidates

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Information and Communication Systems PhD

Key information, full-time - 4 years, part-time - 8 years.

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Why choose this programme

You’ll be taught by leading experts in the field, become part of our thriving community of academics, researchers and PhD students, and gain excellent employment prospects.

We’re specialists in mobile and wireless technologies, including satellite communications and networks, internet of things, cyber security, and future network architectures and protocols. As home to the 5G/6GIC, we’re recognised as world leaders in end-to-end research and practical implementation for 5G/6G mobile communications and beyond.

Our strong track record in research includes high-quality publications, patents and world-class implementations. We’re heavily involved in collaborative research across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas, funded by governments and industry. Our PhD graduates secure good positions across industry and academia in the UK and worldwide.

Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2023 ranked our telecommunication engineering subjects as 51-75 best in the world.

Frequently asked questions about doing a PhD

What you will study

It normally takes three to four years of full-time study to complete this PhD. Your research can be based on a topic of your choice, or may be dictated by industry sponsorship or government funding.

You’ll be assigned two supervisors, who’ll guide you through your studies. Your supervisors will give you direction and experience of the cutting-edge technologies in their areas of expertise. They’ll also give you the support you need to complete your PhD, from giving you guidance and feedback on your work to helping you frame your research proposal. Though you’ll primarily be in contact with your two supervisors, you’ll also work with other staff within ICS and you may have the opportunity to become a team member on research projects.

You’ll be required to write a confirmation report on your research in your first year, and you will be examined by two examiners.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Research support

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Research themes

We research areas related to information and communication technology, including end-to-end terrestrial, mobile and satellite communications and networks, and their application to verticals such as connected vehicles and health, including:

• 5G-Advanced and 6G
• Integrated satellite and terrestrial 5G and 6G
• Artificial intelligence networking and wireless communications
• Reflective and transmissive intelligent surfaces
• THz communications and components
• Positioning and image sensing
• High-quality time and frequency transmission
• Teleportation
• Connected transportation 
• Ultra-Massive MIMO
• Terabits-per-second communications
• Internet of senses
• Network and physical layer security
• Intelligent and high-performance networking and service delivery
• MAC, RRM and RAN management
• Theory and practice of advanced concepts in wireless communications
• Antennas and signal processing.

Our academic staff

See a full list of all our  academic staff  within the Institute for Communication Systems.

Research centres and groups

Melika Emami

Having an experienced supervisor in my research area has been invaluable to me throughout my PhD journey... their unwavering support and encouragement have significantly boosted my self-confidence, especially in times when I needed it the most.

Ryan Fernandez

I knew Surrey would be a good place to do a PhD as the Institute for Communication Systems is a world-leading research centre with an outstanding reputation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a first or upper second-class (2:1) UK degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent overseas qualification), or a lower-second (2:2) UK degree plus a good UK masters degree - distinction normally required (or equivalent overseas qualification).

International entry requirements by country

English language requirements.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept. 

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Application requirements

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our  application guidance .

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

• Meeting the expected entry requirements
• Being shortlisted through the application screening process
• Completing a successful interview
• Providing suitable references.

Student life

At Surrey we offer the best of both worlds – a friendly campus university, set in beautiful countryside with the convenience and social life of Guildford on your doorstep.

Start date: October 2024

Start date: January 2025

Start date: April 2025

Start date: July 2025

• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
• Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Apply online

If you are applying for a studentship to work on a particular project, please provide details of the project instead of a research proposal.

Read our application guidance for further information on applying.

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

1. Select your course

Select the course you wish to apply for.

To apply online sign in or create an account.

Code of practice for research degrees

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

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Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

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10 PhD Degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication Communication in Europe for 2024

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PhD Degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication Communication

Courses in communication allow students to hone several skills which are invaluable in the modern workplace. This concentration allows for the student to choose from a variety of career options after completing the program from many different industries.

In all, there are over 4000 Higher Education Institutions in Europe offering a wide range of courses at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level. With more and more of these organizations offering English as the language of education for at least some of their degree programs, universities in Europe are now of higher quality than ever before. Universities in Europe offer a friendly welcome to foreign students and to give a course of knowledge that meets their profession needs in today’s global demand.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

Best Universities for Communications and Public Relations in Europe

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Europe ranked based on their research performance in Communications and Public Relations. A graph of 8.35M citations received by 445K academic papers made by 882 universities in Europe was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Oxford

For Communications and Public Relations

2. University of Manchester

3. University College London

4. London School of Economics and Political Science

5. King's College London

6. Erasmus University Rotterdam

7. University of Amsterdam

8. University of Nottingham

9. University of Warwick

10. University of Leeds

11. Cardiff University

12. University of Cambridge

13. University of Birmingham

14. University of Sheffield

15. Catholic University of Leuven

16. Copenhagen Business School

17. University of Edinburgh

18. Utrecht University

19. Loughborough University

20. Lancaster University

21. University of Strathclyde

22. University of Glasgow

23. University of London

24. University of Sussex

25. Aarhus University

26. University of Bristol

27. Newcastle University

28. Lund University

29. University of Bath

30. Dublin Institute of Technology

31. University of Groningen

32. University of Southampton

33. Tilburg University

34. University of Exeter

35. University of York

36. University of Twente

37. Durham University

38. University of Oslo

39. University of Gothenburg

40. Brunel University London

41. Imperial College London

42. University of Zurich

43. Wageningen University

44. Radboud University

45. Free University Amsterdam

46. University of Stirling

47. University of Liverpool

48. Stockholm University

49. University of Leicester

50. University of East Anglia

51. Delft University of Technology

52. University of Surrey

53. Maastricht University

54. Cranfield University

55. Northumbria University

56. University of Copenhagen

57. London Business School

58. Ghent University

59. Manchester Metropolitan University

60. University of Helsinki

61. University of Kent

62. University of the West of England

63. Ulster University

64. University of Tampere

65. Bournemouth University

66. Leiden University

67. University of St. Gallen

68. De Montfort University

69. Bocconi University

70. University College Dublin

71. University of Reading

72. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

73. Uppsala University

74. Leeds Beckett University

75. Royal Holloway, University of London

76. City, University of London

77. Aston University

78. Queen's University Belfast

79. Sheffield Hallam University

80. University of Plymouth

81. University of Aberdeen

82. University of Hull

83. University of Liege

84. Aalborg University

85. University of Portsmouth

86. Roskilde University

87. Swansea University

88. University of Jyvaskyla

89. University of Bradford

90. University of Huddersfield

91. University of Southern Denmark

92. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

93. Umea University

94. BI Norwegian Business School

95. University of Bergen

96. University of Bologna

97. Linkoping University

98. Nottingham Trent University

99. University of Salford

100. University of Antwerp

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Europe

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Rhetoric Programs in Europe (PhD)

If you know of any programs or courses in rhetoric not on the list (in alphabetical order according to country), please let us know .

Sofia University The Dept. of Rhetoric at Sofia University has a PhD programme.

The University of Copenhagen Section of Rhetoric at Department of Communication at the University of Copenhagen offers a full university education in rhetoric with programmes at the BA , MA , and PhD levels . The faculty cover a range of fields of expertise including the history of rhetoric, rhetorical writing, and rhetorical criticism, protest rhetoric, and new materialism and offer courses in topics such as oral rhetoric, rhetoric in society, rhetorical argumentation, rhetorical innovation, debate culture and rhetorical citizenship.

University of Tübingen The University of Tübingen has a doctoral program in Rhetoric (“Allgemeine Rhetorik”). The program provides young researchers with opportunities for independent research combined with intensive expert counseling, customized training and different platforms for scientific exchange.

University of Bergen University of Bergen offers PhD-supervision in several themes and subjects relating to rhetoric. This includes, but is not limited to, media rhetoric, political communication, visual and multimodal rhetoric, speechmaking, credibility and ethos, argumentation, and a host of other subjects. Among available PhD-supervisors are Jens E. Kjeldsen.

Jaellonian University, Cracow Jaellonian University has a Postgraduate programme in Rhetoric.

University of Silesia in Katowice The University of Silesia offers both postgraduate Studies of the Art of Rhetoric and of Public Relations for Lawyers.

Lund University At Lunds University’s Department of Communication and Media, students can earn a degree in rhetoric on all levels up to and including a PhD .

Uppsala University Uppsala University offers a PhD programme in rhetoric.

Örebro University Rhetoric is one of the five subject specializations that doctoral students may choose for their education leading to a doctoral degree in Studies in the Humanities.

Switzerland/Netherlands

Argupolis The doctoral school Argumentation Practices in Context is a joint program directed from the university of Lugano (Switzerland), University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and University of Amsterdam. The main focus of the doctoral school is argumentation in relation to human interaction within different contextual spheres.See: Argumentation Practices in Context Doctoral Programme (Argupolis)

United Kingdom

Loughborough University The Discourse and Rhetoric Group (DARG) is situated under the Department for Social Sciences. The group works with the intersection of a number of interests in discourse, rhetoric, activity and conversation.

University of Bath University of Bath : Dr. Sophia Hatzisavvidou of the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies is available to supervise PhD students who want to research environmental rhetoric, the rhetoric of science, and the rhetoric of cultural events.

University of East Anglia University of East Anglia:   Prof. Alan Finlayson of the School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies is available to supervise students researching any area of political rhetoric.

Goldsmiths, University of London Goldsmiths, University of London: Prof. James Martin of the Department of Politics and International Relations welcomes research applications on theories and practices of rhetoric, hermeneutics and methods of rhetorical research, and religious speech in politics.

Theory and Research Ph.D.

Main navigation.

The Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct original research on communication processes, their origins, and their psychological, political and cultural effects. Most of our doctoral graduates enter academic teaching and research careers, or communication-related professions that require research skills.

Students usually enter the program with strong interests in one of our three areas of special strength:  Media Psychology ,  Political Communication , or  Journalism, Media and Culture . Within the program, students tend to anchor in one area while exploring key empirical and theoretical concerns in the others. After a core curriculum of courses in quantitative and qualitative methods, statistics, and mass communication theory, each student builds a research specialization through advanced courses and seminars in Communication and related departments, research projects, teaching, and an examination in the area of concentration. These requirements are normally completed within four years, and the dissertation within six.

Ph.D. Requirements and Procedures

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• Computer Science 22
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PhD position (m/f/d) in optoelectronic semiconductors with the possibility to obtain a doctorate deg

time of starting the PhD . We are looking for a highly talented, passionate graduate student (m/f/d) with interest or background in laser spectroscopy to perform optical experiments  on nanostructured

PostDoc and PhD Positions in Human-Centered AI Technologies

on the cutting-edge field of Human-Centered AI Technologies using advanced Generative AI and novel interaction technologies such as VR/AR and Eye Tracking. Potential Project Ideas are: 1. Research in Eye -Tracking

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) - Ultrafast Infrared Spectroscopy of Elementary Proton Transfer Reactions

The Max-Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI) conducts basic research in the field of nonlinear optics and ultrafast dynamics arising from the interaction of light

PhD position in the research area of “Spectroscopy of water and ions in nanoconfinement”

» Optics Engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country Germany Application Deadline 1 Apr 2025 - 00:00 (Europe/Berlin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded

Scientific group leader (PostDoc) (f/m/d)

of the projects includes: reservoir computing based on optical and micro-electromechanical principles neuromorphic computing, bio-inspired circuits, and neural networks, low energy data analytics and stream

PhD thesis in IC Design, Focusing on new CMOS backplane architectures for OLED microdisplays

of photonic microsystems, related technologies including nanoelectronics and wireless communication solutions, we create - in flexible and interdisciplinary teams - technologies for innovative products in a

PhD thesis in IC Design, Focusing on new CMOS backplane architectures for OLED microdisplays 1

Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) | development of ion soft landing instrument.

Instrument. Aim: Design, build, and test an ion soft landing instrument for single molecule imaging. Fields: Instrument building, Ion optics , Mass spectrometry, Physical chemistry. Techniques: Electrospray ion

12 Full-time doctorate research fellowships (f/m/d)

, micro-and nanotechnology, mechanical or optical engineering Following competences are desirable: independent, critical, and responsible way of thinking and working ability to communicate within

Adaptive Optics Engineer/Physicist

. Qualifications: A university degree in engineering or physics with a minimum 3 years of experience ( PhD level) in adaptive optics . Language Skills : ESO is an international organization where the official language

Strategic communication and tackling disinformation

Disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference are a serious threat to our societies. They can undermine democratic institutions and processes (such as elections) by preventing people from making informed decisions or discouraging them from voting. And they can polarise societies by pitting communities against each other.

New technologies have made it possible for hostile actors to spread disinformation and to manipulate information at a scale and with a speed never seen before.

Therefore, tackling disinformation and information manipulation is one of the most pressing issues for the European Union and its Member States. 

Source: Standard Eurobarometer 100 - Autumn 2023

What's the latest?

With over half the world taking part in elections this year, 2024 will be an important year for democracy. On 6-9 June 2024, around 400 million EU citizens will have the chance to vote for their representatives in the European Parliament.

How are we responding?

The European Commission is strengthening its strategic communication in response to disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference targeting EU policies. This requires a whole of society approach, as many sectors of our societies have an important role in play in preventing and countering disinformation. Beyond this response, it is important to ensure that citizens have access to quality news and information they can trust.

Our response to disinformation is centred around:

• Developing policies to strengthen our democracies, make it more difficult for disinformation actors to misuse online platforms, and protect journalists and media pluralism
• Raising awareness about disinformation and our preparedness and response
• Building societal resilience against disinformation through media literacy and fact-checking
• Cooperating with other institutions, national authorities or third parties

Main fields of action

Promoting free and fair elections, protecting public debate and countering disinformation through the Democracy Action Plan and Defence of Democracy Package

Ensuring that platforms take responsibility in countering disinformation, thanks to the Digital Services Act, the Code of practice on disinformation, the AI Act, and transparency of political advertising

Anti-SLAPP and Media Freedom Act: new rules in place to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU

Debunking common myths and narratives, exposing disinformation tactics and countering Russia’s systematic information manipulation and ensuring preparedness in case of cyberattacks

Enabling citizens to navigate the modern news environment, providing guidance for tackling disinformation through education and helping teachers and young people recognise and stop it

Supporting Europe's independent communities working to combat disinformation and ensuring public access to fact-checked and trust-worthy data and information

Awareness-raising, preparedness and response

Awareness raising is key to our approach to highlighting and debunking false information. 

This includes communication to explain the risks of disinformation, or the most common methods used by disinformation actors, as well as tips to detect disinformation.

EUvsDisinfo

Launched in 2015 by the EU’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), EUvsDisinfo is a flagship project to identify, analyse and raise awareness of disinformation in its different shapes and forms, with a focus on common narratives and  tactics from the Kremlin.

Read more on what the EEAS is doing to counter disinformation

Sanctions against Kremlin media outlets

Russia has engaged in a large-scale campaign of disinformation in its attempt to destablise the European Union and its Member States.

To counteract this, the EU has adopted sanctions against the Kremlin's disinformation and information manipulation assets and actors .

Cyberattacks can happen at the same time as, and even be coordinated with, disinformation campaigns, and can be part of a wider strategy to influence or destabilize democratic processes. 

Boosting cybersecurity and related awareness is also part of the resilience-building. EU countries cooperate to prepare for potential cyber threats. They are supported by EU institutions, bodies and agencies, such as the EU Agency for Cybersecurity or the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU institutions, bodies and agencies. 

Building societal resilience against disinformation

To counter disinformation, it is essential that citizens, organisations and public authorities are all well-equipped.

Media literacy is important for building societal resilience against disinformation. The capacity to access, have a critical understanding of the media and interact with it, is crucial.

Media literacy enables citizens to navigate the modern digital news environment and make well-informed choices. It is especially important that we learn how to recognise disinformation from an early age; as such, education forms a crucial role in ensuring a media-literate public.

The revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) seeks to ensure that Member States promote and take measures that develop media literacy skills and to report on these measures.

We have also made available resources to support Member States, educators and organisations to contribute to the fight against disinformation.

Supporting fact-checking organisations

Fact-checking is a crucial pillar of our approach to disinformation. Fact-checkers help assess and verify content to provide the public with accurate, reliable information they can trust.  

To promote fact-checking and raise awareness of fact-checked information to citizens, we are supporting independent fact-checkers. 

European Digital Media Observatory

The  European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) is a project that supports an independent multidisciplinary community, composed of for fact-checkers, academics, media literacy practitioners  and other relevant stakeholders, joining forces to fight disinformation. The EDMO network provides a comprehensive geographic coverage of the EU. In view of the upcoming European elections, EDMO has set up a dedicated task force to detect and alert about the spread of disinformation around the elections. The task force will issue daily updates about debunked disinformation (fact-checks), weekly updates with disinformation trends as well as early warnings and relevant investigations. EDMO will also conduct a media literacy campaign, “Be Elections Smart”.

European Fact-Checking Standards Network

The European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN) is an independent association of European fact-checking organisations that upholds and promotes the highest standards of fact-checking and media literacy to combat misinformation for the public benefit. EFCSN and its verified members work to promote access to fact-checked trustworthy information and to educate the public in how to assess the accuracy of information in the public sphere.

Timeline of EU actions against disinformation

The Commission publishes guidelines under the Digital Services Act for Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to mitigate risks online that may impact the integrity of elections, with specific guidance for the European Parliament elections in June 2024

A new Cybersecurity compendium on how to protect integrity of elections is published

The Commission adopts the Defence of Democracy Package ahead of the 2024 European elections

The Commission publishes a call for proposals to support EU fact-checkers in identifying and debunking disinformation

The Commission publishes guidelines for teachers and educators in primary and secondary schools on how to address disinformation and promote digital literacy in their classrooms

The Commission presents a proposal for the European Media Freedom Act

A strengthened Code of Practice on Disinformation is signed by major online platforms, emerging and specialised platforms, players in the advertising industry, fact-checkers, research and civil society organisations

The Commission presents a proposal for new laws on transparency and targeting of political advertising

The Commission presents a proposal for the Digital Services Act

The Commission establishes its European Democracy Action Plan

The European Digital Media Observatory  is launched

The EEAS launches its Rapid Alert System

The Commission and the EEAS establish an Action plan against disinformation  

The first Code of Practice against disinformation is established

The Commission publishes a Communication on securing free and fair European elections  

The Commission publishes a Communication on tackling online disinformation

A Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats is adopted to counter hostile actions designed to destabilise a region or a state

• Show 14 more items

Launch of the EEAS East StratCom Task Force to address Russian disinformation campaigns

Related links

Commission resources.

DG CNECT - Tackling online disinformation

DG CNECT – Media literacy

DG JUST - Democracy and electoral rights

DG JUST – European cooperation network on elections

DG EAC - Tutorial on media literacy ahead of 2024 European elections

External resources

OECD DIS/MIS Resource Hub

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Explore over 200 exciting PhD positions in diverse fields offered by the University of Turin, Italy

📢 Call for Admission to over 200 PhD Positions - 40th Cycle (2024/2025) 🎓

The University of Turin is thrilled to announce the opening of applications for quite large number of PhD positions in the 40th Cycle for 2024/2025 academic year. This is an exceptional opportunity for aspiring researchers to pursue their doctoral studies in diverse fields.

💡 Highlights:

• Assignment of doctoral scholarships funded by the University, Next Gen.EU-NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), and other funds.
• Join a vibrant academic community and contribute to cutting-edge research.
• Benefit from world-class resources, facilities, and expert supervision.
• Develop your skills and expertise in a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment.

📆 Application Deadline: 20 June, 2024, 12:00pm (noon), CET.

Several academic units will be participating in the call for PhD admission

Comparative Analysis of Institutions, Economics and Law;

Business and Management;

Complex Systems for Quantitative Biomedicine;

Law and Institutions;

Law, the Individual and the Market;

Economy "Vilfredo Pareto";

Medical Physiopathology;

Food System;

Global History of Empires;

Computer Science;

Innovation for the Circular Economy;

Humanities;

Modern Languages and Literatures;

Mathematics;

Experimental Medicine and Therapy;

Molecular Medicine;

Modeling and Data Science;

Neurosciences;

Cultural Heritage and Historical-Artistic Audiovisual and Multimedia Production;

Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences;

Archeological, Historical and Historical-Artistic Sciences;

Biological Sciences and Applied Biotechnologies;

Biomedical Sciences and Oncology;

Health Sciences: Sociology, Nursing Sciences and Rehabilitation Sciences;

Chemical and Material Sciences;

Earth Sciences;

Pharmaceutical and Biomolecular Sciences;

Psychological, Anthropological and Educational Sciences;

Veterinary Sciences for Food and Animal Safety;

Sustainable Development and Cooperation (SUSTNET);

Technologies for Cultural Heritage (Tech4Culture);

Translational Oncology

For more information and to apply:  https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/234024

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Hands on history.

10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Penn Museum, 3260 South St.

268th Commencement

Franklin Field

Vahe Sarkissian

World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.

Wawa Welcome America Day

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Campus & Community

2024 Graduate Leadership Awards

Twelve graduating students are recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at penn..

Each year, the Penn honors student leaders who are graduating from Penn with two awards: the  President & Provost’s Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life  and the  Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life .

This year, 12 graduating students are being recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at Penn. Natalie Delgado, MSW, School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2); Mario Gallardo, MSMS, Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM); Emily Getzen (Ph.D., Biostatistics, PSOM); Michael Krone, JD/MBA, Penn Carey Law & the Wharton School ; Sparsh Maheshwari, MSNPL & MSSP, SP2; Gaurav Mangal, MSE, Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS); Gabrielle Newell, MSEd, Graduate School of Education (GSE); Maxwell Pisciotta, Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, SEAS; Paradorn (Joe) Rummaneethorn, Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, SEAS; Anusha Singhal, MBIOT, SEAS; Ananth Srinivas (Ph.D., Earth and Environmental Science, SAS); and Kaixi (Alex) Yang, I-MPA, School of Arts & Sciences .

The President & Provost’s Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life award is presented to students who have initiated lasting new developments that have enhanced graduate and professional student life at Penn. The Dr. Andy Binns Impact Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life is presented to graduate or professional students who, upon their graduation from Penn, have significantly impacted graduate and professional student life through service involvement in student life initiatives or organizations. 

Read more at the Graduate Student Center .

Class of 2025 relishes time together at Hey Day

Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Picturing artistic pursuits

Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania

Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

Education, Business, & Law

Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.

‘The Illuminated Body’ fuses color, light, and sound

A new Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of work by artist Barbara Earl Thomas features cut-paper portraits reminiscent of stained glass and an immersive installation constructed with intricately cut material lit from behind.

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