School of Media and Communication PhD Scholarship 2025/2026

PGR-F-384

Key facts

Deadline: Monday 3 March 2025
Funding start date: Wednesday 1 October 2025
Number of funding places: 3
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Source of funding: University of Leeds
Key staff: Professor Julie Firmstone and Dr Nancy Thumim
Schools: School of Media and Communication

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

Three full scholarships are available in the School of Media and Communication in 2025/26. Up to two of them cover international rates (full maintenance plus fees), the remaining scholarship will cover maintenance and fees equivalent to Home rates. These fully-funded scholarships provide exciting opportunities to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to media and communication. The School of Media and Communication invites applications for the School of Media and Communication PhD Scholarship from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2025/26.

These awards are open to full-time or part-time candidates who have been offered a place on a PhD degree at a school within the School of Media and Communication. (Please note that only UK applicants may apply to study part-time with this funding. International applicants may apply for full-time study only). We especially welcome applications that connect to the School's seven core research areas of global communication, journalism, political communication, media industries and cultural production, gender and media, digital cultures, and visual media and communication. The School of Media and Communication is also offering a ringfenced scholarship to support an excellent candidate from UK Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic groups who have been offered a place on a PhD programme in the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds. Please see more details of this ringfenced award and apply via the “School of Media Access to Research Scholarship” advert here: <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/378-school-of-media-and-communication-access-to-research-scholarship">https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/funding/378-school-of-media-and-communication-access-to-research-scholarship</a> The School of Media and Communication's research is multidisciplinary, theoretically innovative and socially relevant. A vibrant community of PhD students is an essential part of our research culture. Researchers at the School are involved in extensive networks of collaboration with academic institutions, the public sector and media industries, both within the UK and across the world. We are a top Media and Communication School and 88% of our research outputs is considered "world leading" or "internationally excellent", according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The School is one of the leading media and communication studies institutions, ranked 4th in the QS ranking 2022 of institutions in the UK (22nd world-wide) and ranked 6th in the UK for communication and media studies by Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. Since 2016, Media and Communication is one of nine Schools in the newly constituted Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Cultures. Research in the School has been organised into seven themes: global communication, journalism, political communication, media industries and cultural production, gender and media, digital cultures, and visual media and communication. We combine social science and humanities approaches, and bring together economic, political, historical, cultural and technological perspectives. Our thriving PhD community is fully integrated into the School research culture. PhD students are treated as much as possible as academic colleagues, acting as co-convenors of Research Groups, attending and contributing to job presentations, and sharing kitchen/social space with academic staff. Our PhD students consistently present their work at national and international conferences (including ICA, IAMCR, and ECREA). The School organises weekly seminars during semesters addressing the full range of social science and historical research methods. These are delivered by School academic staff, allowing PhD students to become familiar with the approaches of a range of academics beyond their supervisory team, and across the School’s Research Themes. PhD students participate fully in research group meetings, presenting their work, suggesting readings, engaging in debate and discussion, and in some cases acting as co-convenors. PhD students organise an annual academic conference, with support and mentoring from academics. This allows them to learn organisation and networking skills, and for those taking part to develop presentation and communication skills.

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Faculty information</h2>

Key Contacts Nancy Thumim and Julie Firmstone are two of our Postgraduate Research leads this academic year and as such will be overseeing the scholarship application process. There are many colleagues in the school who supervise PhD study across a broad range of areas within the fields of media, communication and cultural studies. We in the School would review your proposal once you have submitted it - ensuring that you would be matched with the two best supervisors for your own particular topic - if you were to pursue doctoral study with us. Information about the Award We are offering three PhD scholarship in the School of Media and Communication, matching full tuition fees and the UKRI maintenance stipend (currently £19,237 in 2024/25). The awards will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years (for full-time study and pro-rata for part-time), subject to satisfactory academic progress. Funding <ul> <li>Full fees for 3 years full-time study, or 5 years part-time study.</li> <li>Maintenance for 3.5 years for full-time study, or 5 years 10 months for part-time study. The amount increases per annum in line with the Research Council UK rate. In Session 2024/25 the rate is £19,237 for full-time study, part-time will be pro-rata at 60%. </li> <li>Please be aware that any expenses related to the relocation of students to the UK (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, medical insurance, the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge, flights, etc</a>) would be their responsibility and is not covered by this award.</li> </ul> Other Conditions <ul> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1 October 2025</li> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul> Deadlines The deadline to be considered for the School of Media PhD Scholarship is 17:00 (UK time) on 3rd March 2025. However, before you can apply, you will need to have already secured your place on a course and have your 9 digit student identification number. Therefore, we advise you to apply for a place on the PhD at least 6 weeks before the scholarship deadline, and we also recommend that you should be in dialogue with potential supervisors prior to this to discuss your proposals.

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

Stage 1 First, apply for a research place of study through the<a href="https://prod.banner.leeds.ac.uk/ssb/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon"> online application form</a>. Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is the “School of Media and Communication PhD Scholarship”. You will be expected to meet our <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media-research-degrees/doc/apply-13">eligiblity criteria</a> for PhD candidates. In order to be considered for the scholarship, you must submit all required supporting documents for your application for PhD study. Please see our “<a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media-research-degrees/doc/apply-13">How to apply</a>” page for more information. Any study applications that are not accompanied by the documents requested by the deadline will not be considered for the award. Once you have received your 9-digit student ID number (SID), please move onto stage 2 of the application process. Stage 2 Apply for the School of Media and Communication PhD Scholarships by completing the online <a href="https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/school-of-media-and-communication-scholarships-2526">Scholarship Application Form</a>. You must submit your scholarship application by 17:00 (UK time) on Monday 3rd March 2025. Please be prepared to provide the below information within the scholarship application form: <ul> <li>Your personal details (full name, student ID, email address and fee status)</li> <li>Information about your previous qualifications (programme title, start and end dates, final grade) </li> <li>Information about your previous employment (names of previous employers, your job title, start and end dates, and duties/responsibilities) </li> <li>Any publications, prizes, performances or other awards you have received</li> <li>Explanation of how your previous academic / professional achievements demonstrate your potential and ability to complete your proposed project</li> <li>Information about your proposed research, including: your research title, research objectives, the significance of your research in your discipline, and the methods you intend to use</li> </ul> Please note that an unsuccessful application for this scholarship does not exclude you from applying for other research study opportunities or scholarships offered by the University of Leeds. Please note that, due to the large volume of applications, the University of Leeds will not enter into any correspondence regarding the progress of an application until the outcome is known. If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Media and Communication should normally have a first-class or at least a good upper second-class undergraduate degree. A Masters degree is not a requirement but your application is seen more favourably if you have one - ideally you will have achieved a distinction or at least a merit, especially in your Masters dissertation. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the Graduate School Admissions Office prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study in the School of Media and Communication is an IELTS score of 6.5, with a writing component of 6.5 and no component less than 6.0. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information please contact the PGR Admissions team on ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk.