Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,725 per year -
How long will I study?
4 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
October 2025
February 2026
May 2026
Course summary
- Work closely with specialists across film, TV and performance studies.
- Learn in our our specialist film studies facilities including a purpose-built film theatre, The Void.
Our research strengths in film and TV include American, British and Irish, East Asian, and European cinemas, adaptation, documentary, horror, and popular television; and in performance studies they include applied theatre, contemporary British playwriting, site-based performance, theatre historiography, ethnography and popular culture, performance philosophy, and the monologue. Several members of the team engage with practice-as-research methodologies, including screenwriting. This PhD degree is hosted in the College of Social Sciences and Arts Graduate School.
Find out more about out stage and screen courses, facilities and student projects on the SHU Screen website and SHU performance website.
How you learn
We have a vibrant research culture and we value and support all our research students, who make a vital contribution to the intellectual life of the University. You will be part of our community of researchers in the Humanities, with the opportunity to attend and/or contribute to a range of discipline, college and University-wide seminars, workshops, training and conferences. We offer formal research training events and academic seminars as well as more informal workshops where you can practise delivering conference papers in a supportive environment. Funds are available to support you in attending conferences and we encourage you to deliver papers and publish your work.
We recognise that doctoral researchers arrive with a diversity of skills and experience. Therefore, we provide flexible training and development opportunities covering a range of research-related skills, including transferable skills, research ethics and integrity (mandatory), data management, teaching skills and career planning. Your development needs are identified and agreed with your supervisory team at the start of your degree, and reviewed and updated as appropriate.
You benefit from access to our specialist film studies facilities for your research. For example, films are shown in our purpose-built film theatre The Void, which combines state-of-the-art technology with older technology, including cinema-standard 4K digital projection and two 40-year-old Westrex 7000 35mm projectors. These projectors can show both recent and rare, culturally valuable films in their original cinema format, including silent films at the correct speed. We are one of the few universities in the country that have these capabilities. You can view films as they were originally meant to be seen, an experience that cannot be replicated through home viewing alone. The Dolby 5.1 surround-sound system enhances your viewing experience.
Applied learning
You work with specialists to produce a thesis of up to 80,000 words (up to 40,000 words plus original creative work for a practice-based PhD). Your supervisory team includes a Director of Studies and secondary supervisors with expertise and interest in your research area. Much of your work will be carried out independently and you will need the initiative, motivation and commitment to succeed.
Your supervisors will help you define your research, agree associated training requirements, and provide direction while encouraging you to develop as an independent researcher.
You learn through
- independent research
- mentoring with your supervisory team
- film screenings
Future careers
A research degree is an essential qualification for academic careers such as teaching Film in further and higher education. You will have the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills which are applicable in related areas such as the film industry, film curatorship and preservation, the creative industries and beyond.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
All applicants should hold a strong undergraduate degree (2.1 or above) and/or a relevant masters qualification (or expectation of the same).
All applicants must submit a completed postgraduate application form including a 1500 word research proposal.
You are encouraged to find out more about our staff and their current research to inform the development of your research proposal and to ensure it aligns with our research themes. Before submitting your proposal, please contact the member(s) of staff listed against the relevant research theme.
Applicants are required to give a short 10–15 minute presentation followed by an interview. Interview panel members will include the head of research degrees for the relevant research area or centre, a local postgraduate research tutor and a prospective director of studies.
Where English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency: an overall IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with at least 6.5 in each component or an accepted equivalent. Please note that your test score must be current, i.e. within the last two years.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK postgraduate research students will be aligned to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fees which have not yet been confirmed for 2025/26. For an indication of the tuition fees, please view the 2024/25 course page.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU postgraduate research students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 per year.
Doctoral student loans
Up to £25,700 available to help you while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Acting, film and TV courses (PDF, 333.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
