Key information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months (3-4 years)
- Part-time: 84 months (part-time option only available for UK students)
Start dates & application deadlines
You can apply for and start this programme anytime.
More details: It is common for PhD students to begin in the October following their application, fitting to normal academic term calendars.
Language
English
Duolingo English Test: 135 — The Duolingo English Test is a convenient, fast, and affordable English proficiency test trusted by top universities around the world. Take it online in just one hour—anywhere, any time. Scores are reported out of 160 in 5 point increments.
TOEFL® iBT: OR 97 — TOEFL iBT® is accepted by more than 13,000 universities and other institutions in over 160 countries. The test can be taken at a test center or at home. The test measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The score refers to the total score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading), each subject has a range of 0 - 30.
PTE Academic: 76 — PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) is a language test that enables students to demonstrate their writing, listening, speaking, and reading skills when applying to study in English. The score refers to a total score which ranges between 10 and 90.
IELTS: 7 — The International English Language Test System (IELTS) tests your English-language proficiency on a scale of 1 – 9. The score refers to the combined average score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading).
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Brighton, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Film Studies, Media Studies & Mass Media, Photography
Overview
University of Brighton fosters a thriving community of theorists and practitioners in the development of new knowledge around media cultures, technologies and practices. Our research examines audiences and reception, television and screen studies, digital media, gender and communication, communication and democracy, as well as media history, policy and law.
Key facts
As a Media and Communications PhD student, you will benefit from:
- a supervisory team comprising two or sometimes three members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have supervisors from different schools, another research institution, or an external partner from government or industry.
- access to desk space and computers.
- access to a range of electronic resources via the university’s online library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries. PhD students also have access to cutting-edge facilities such as the Watts Lab and the Screen Archive South East.
- Recent and current PhD students have been successful in obtaining studentships covering both fees and living costs through the University of Brighton’s involvement in the AHRC TECHNE and the ESRC SCDTP programmes.
Visit the programme website for more information
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Digital Media
- Data Culture
- Environmental Communication
- Game Studies
- Community Media
- Screen Cultures
- Digital Transformations
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English requirements
Duolingo English Test: 135
TOEFL® iBT: OR 97
PTE Academic: 76
IELTS: 7
Other requirements
General requirements
The entry requirements for the PhD are:
- a recognised Masters degree with a significant research component, for example MPhil from another university, or similar qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant
- or substantial appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level which resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment. An application made by someone with this experience will be considered on its merits and will normally require independent academic references
- or, unless a school exercises their right to specify more stringent entry requirements, we may consider a first or upper second honours degree or other qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
International: 32,081 AUD / year (≈ 16,980 GBP / year)
Domestic: 9,896 AUD / year (≈ 5,238 GBP / year)
Additional Details
£2,619 - UK Part-time fees
Living costs
Brighton, United Kingdom: 1,540-2,613 AUD / month
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Funding
Scholarships
Scholarships Information
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Media and Communications.
Available Scholarships
- Commonwealth International Scholarships (Merit-based) - University of Brighton - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
- Alumni postgraduate scholarships - University of Brighton - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: Anytime
- Alumni Postgraduate Scholarships (Merit-based) - University of Brighton - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: Anytime
- Vice-Chancellor scholarships - University of Brighton - Grant - 2000 GBP - Deadline: Not specified
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program - U.S. government - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: 07 Oct 2026
- ServiceScape Scholarship - ServiceScape - Grant - 1000 USD - Deadline: 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships - ACES Education Fund - Grant - 3500 USD - Deadline: 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility (Merit-based) - OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
- Scholarships for PhD Students (Merit-based) - Junhua Li - Grant - 19000 GBP - Deadline: Not specified
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship (Merit-based) - Boustany Foundation - Grant - Various benefits - Deadline: 28 Feb 2027
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship (Merit-based) - IvyPanda - Grant - 1000 USD - Deadline: 31 Oct 2026
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship - Voice Talent Online - Grant - 1000 USD - Deadline: 01 Mar 2027
- Women Scholarship for International Students (Merit-based) - educations.com - Grant - 5000 USD - Deadline: 28 Aug 2026
- The PhD Prep Fellowship (Merit-based) - Admit Lab - Grant - 10000 USD - Deadline: 01 Sep 2026
- Dream Chaser Scholarship (Merit-based) - Salvado Law - Grant - 1000 USD - Deadline: 13 Jan 2027
- Scholarship for students with disabilities (Need-based) - Anonymous Hope Fund - Grant - 3000 USD - Deadline: 31 Dec 2026
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids - UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) - Grant - 22500 GBP - Deadline: Not specified
- CIAPS Commonwealth Scholarships for Postgraduate Professional Studies - CIAPS - Grant - 1000 USD - Deadline: Not specified
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship - IELTS from 6 to 9 - Grant - 1500 USD - Deadline: Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme - The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme - Grant - 12000 USD - Deadline: 11 Jan 2027