A PhD is the highest academic award for which a student can be registered. This programme allows you to explore and pursue a research project built around a substantial piece of work, which has to show evidence of original contribution to knowledge.
A full time PhD is a three year programme of research and culminates in the production of a large-scale piece of written work in the form of a research thesis that should not normally exceed 80,000 words.
You are expected to work to an approved programme of study including appropriate programmes of postgraduate study (which may be drawn from parts of existing postgraduate courses, final year degree programmes, conferences, seminars, masterclasses, guided reading or a combination of study methods).
Your main supervisor will normally head a supervisory team which will comprise of up to three members. The research supervisor will advise and support you on your project.
Our research activity in Communication, Cultural and Media Studies focuses on a wide range of aspects of the interplay between media audiences, industries, technologies and texts with a particular interest in digital media and cultures.
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements
The normal level of attainment required for entry is:
Master's degree or Honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent, normally with a classification of merit or distinction, in a discipline appropriate to the proposed programme to be followed, or
appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level, which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.
English Program Requirements
English language requirements
The University’s normal entry criteria apply to all international students. For details of country-specific entry requirements please visit your home country page on our website.
The University has formal requirements for all applicants. These are normally English Language qualifications which we recognise as meeting our entry criteria. Requirements may vary between programmes, and you are advised to check these carefully when going through course listings.
The following table sets out the main qualifications we recognise and the levels that are normally required for admission. It is intended as general guidance only - the offer of a place, if it includes an English Language condition, will specify the level of English that you are required to meet.
The University of Huddersfield is pleased to accept a Pass in all four elements at the Proficiency Level of the Ascentis Anglia ESOL Language qualification as meeting the University’s English Language requirements for students from the EU.
If you don’t yet meet these requirements, don’t worry as we have an extensive Pre-Sessional English Programme(PSP) on campus.
Test
Standard required score
Validity
Cambridge English Advanced
Grade C
No expiry
IELTS (Academic)
6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in any element.
2 years
Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE)
Listening – 51
Reading – 51
Writing – 51
Speaking - 51
2 years
GCSE or GCE ‘O’ level
Grade C
No expiry
International Baccalaureate
Must have completed the Diploma with English at Higher Level
No expiry
Applicants from any of the following Majority English Speaking Countries (MESCs) will normally be considered to have met our English requirements:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
New Zealand
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America
Please note that we will not normally waive the English Language requirement for speakers of other languages who have completed a programme of study taught in English in their home countries.