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Postgraduate research

Journalism and Communications PhD

University of Gloucestershire

What is Journalism and Communications PhD?

Research a topic of your choice or work on an extended creative project. Boost your professional practice and develop high-level skills and knowledge to progress your career.

You’ll benefit from an experienced team of research-active scholars and industry practitioners who can offer supervision across a range of topics.

We support research in the following areas:

  • ethics in sports journalism
  • live reporting
  • digital media in live sporting events
  • sport communications

Current postgraduate research includes:

  • ‘Post it to make it’: How Women’s Super League Players Frame Themselves on Social Media
  • Musicians of the Movement: A chronological timeline of the influence of high-profile celebrity musicians’ Instagram posts on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Study style

You’ll have the opportunity to choose between a research-based or practice-based project. For example, write a thesis of 80,000 words for the research-based PhD (30,000 words for the MA by Research) or, for the practice-based option, create a piece of content or stage a multi-media event and accompany it with a much-shorter written component. As a practice-based student, you’ll have access to our state-of-the-art studios and equipment.

Students who haven’t already completed a relevant Master’s degree are normally required to complete two research-methods modules: Philosophy and Approaches to Research, and Methodologies and Methods. These sessions and their related assignments will help you lay the critical foundations for your project.

This research contributes to the research priority area Being Human: Past, Present and Future and Creative Practice as Research.

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Entry requirements

    • At least a 2.1 honours degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area

    • A master’s degree or equivalent in a subject area relevant to the proposed research topic.

    • We’re happy to receive applications for students wanting to do their PhD by portfolio or publication. You’ll need to submit materials from your practice (film, composition, exhibition etc) and books or chapters in anthologies, between 6-12 months after registering. You’ll also need to write a supporting commentary of 6,000-10,000 words, which clarifies your work’s coherence, significance and contribution to knowledge.

    • We actively encourage applications from students from a range of diverse backgrounds who demonstrate appropriate research experience and achievement.

    • EU and international students need IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other component) or equivalent.

    • Please provide a copy of your research proposal. This should be 1,000 words (excluding references and appendices) following the structure outlined in this research proposal guide.

      Please note; we’re unable to process applications without a proposal for the School’s consideration. Not supplying one will delay the processing of applications.

Fees and costs

Start date Course code Fee (UK)
Fee per year
Fee (international)
Fee per year
October 2024 £3,400 £8,525
February 2025 £3,400 £8,525
October 2025 TBC TBC
February 2026 TBC TBC

Ready to apply?

Can't see your research area listed?

With research submitted in each of our research areas judged to be internationally excellent according to the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), our research supervisors have a broad range of specialisms across a diverse range of subjects.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your research interests by emailing admissions@glos.ac.uk.

Present your research

The School of Creatives will support you with opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences and festivals.

Join our academic community

We run events allow you to present and develop your research and creative practice in a vibrant and supportive atmosphere.

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