Program Overview

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Critical Theory and Cultural Studies PhD/MPhil

Overview

Develop your own original research in an environment with a strong transnational and transcultural perspective. These perspectives produce a stimulating and vibrant community with debate encouraged between staff and students.

Research Overview

Our staff are experienced supervisors who will guide and support you both academically and personally.

Staff Expertise

We have particular strengths in:

• modern theory
• political philosophy and politics
• aesthetics
• feminist, queer and gender studies
• cultural, literary, media and visual studies
• psychoanalysis
• art history
• postcolonial, sensory, science and technology studies
• memory studies

Research Centres

The Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies is home to two research centres where much of the Critical Theory and Cultural Studies research activity takes place. You will be encouraged to get involved and contribute.

• Centre for Research in Critical Theory
• Centre for Contemporary East Asian Cultural Studies

Recent PhD Theses

• The Limits of Command and Control - David Young
• Producing users online: Facebook, habit, power - Niall Docherty
• Re/thinking chickens: the discourse around chicken farming in British newspapers and campaigners’ magazines, 1982–2016 - Elena Lazutkaite
• Fanning the flames: political discourse analysis of anti-austerity social movement intervention in the UK general elections of 2015 and 2017 - Abigail Rhodes
• Get rid of yourself: toward an aesthetics of anonymity - David Eckersley
• Machine Learning Systems as Integrative Objects: Towards a Generic Epistemology of Predictive Systems - Magdalena Krysztoforska

Your Department

• Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies
• 90% of our research environment was assessed as "world leading" in the recent Research Excellence Framework 2021 evaluation

Course Content

Throughout your research there will be research training sessions and work-in-progress seminars. The seminars provide an opportunity for you to present your ongoing research to peers, supervisors and other invited staff and research students. You'll get feedback in a supportive and constructive environment.

PhD/MPhil

You will complete a written thesis of up to 100,000 words, with expert support and advice from your academic supervisors (usually two co-supervisors).

You will also take a verbal examination called a viva voce where you explain your project in depth to an examination panel.

The PhD is taken over three years full-time or up to six years part-time.

The MPhil is an internationally recognised research degree.

You'll complete a written theses of 60,000 words maximum.

One year of full-time study (minimum of two years part-time).

You’ll get expert supervision from our research-active and creative staff.

It is ideal for people:

• who do not have the time to commit to PhD research
• where scope of your research does not require PhD length

Students often start the MPhil and then, as the scope of their research becomes clearer, transfer to the PhD (subject to Department approval).

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Home / UK students

• Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject; and a masters degree in a relevant subject.

EU / International students

• Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in an arts, humanities or social science subject; and a masters degree in a relevant subject.
• International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.
• IELTS: 7.0 (no less than 6.5 in each element)
• English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

Identify and contact a potential supervisor from our research staff to check whether we can adequately support your research interests before submitting an application.

Alternatively, contact the Departmental Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research and admission tutor, Dr Chrysi Dagoula, who may be able to advise on potential supervisors and funding opportunities.

Joint supervision and collaboration may also be available from other University of Nottingham departments or Midlands4Cities partner universities.

Our research staff and specialisms

If you are unsure whether any of our staff can support you contact the Departmental Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr Franziska Meyer. They may be able to advise on potential supervisors and funding opportunities.

Most students apply to start the course in September but February starts are also possible.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

Fees

PhD/MPhil

• Home / UK: To be confirmed.
• International: To be confirmed.

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

There are no extra compulsory fees to be paid beyond your standard tuition fees. You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (i.e. Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.

Funding

There are funding opportunities which are only open to students within the Faculty of Arts.

Postgraduate funding for Faculty of Arts students

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Support

Postgraduate Professional Development Programme

We provide opportunities for you to develop knowledge, experience and skills beyond your immediate research topic.

Work-in-progress seminars

Time and space for staff and students to present their own research for critique in a supportive and constructive atmosphere. As well as presenting your own work you'll also learn more about the ongoing process of academic research.

Visiting speakers and symposia

There's an extensive programme organised by both staff and students that give opportunities to hear from, and debate with, academics outside the department.

Expert supervision

Your supervisors will regularly read and advise on your work and attend your works-in-progress sessions.

Teaching opportunities

During your doctoral studies, you may have the opportunity to apply to work as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) within the Faculty of Arts. We offer a limited number of part-time annualised hours contracts of employment. They provide invaluable teaching experience in delivering and supporting seminars, as well as marking, assessing and giving feedback on students' work. we provide dedicated training and professional development. Applications for PGTA positions are competitive and not guaranteed.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

• studying
• socialising
• computer work
• seminars
• kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

• academic and disability support
• childcare services
• counselling service
• faith support
• financial support
• mental health and wellbeing support
• visa and immigration advice
• welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• international students
• black and minority ethnic students
• students who identify as women
• students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Careers

Careers advice

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

Graduate destinations

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Our postgraduates go on to work in a wide range of fields, from university lectureships and post-doctoral fellowships to roles in the media, art councils and the creative industries, or in University administration. Many of our research students publish high-quality books and articles and have secured teaching positions in universities both in the UK and abroad.

100% of postgraduates from Cultural Media and Visual Studies secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology.

Related courses

• Film and Television Studies PhD
• Film and Television Studies MRes
• Cultures and Creative Practice PhD
• Critical Theory MRes
• Cultural Studies MRes
• Art History PhD
• Art History MRes

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 90% of our research environment recognised as of world leading quality
• 100% of our impact case studies recognised as having outstanding or very considerable impact
• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4) or 'internationally excellent' (3)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.