Media and Communications

The MPhil/ PhD Programme in Media and Communications admits students of outstanding quality who wish to undertake interdisciplinary work in media and communications.

On admission students are allocated two supervisors and a Thesis Committee, whose Chair will not normally be the supervisor. The Thesis Committee has the principal responsibility for evaluating student progress and recommending up-grading of registration from MPhil to PhD.

The programme involves coursework, which will be formally assessed. This includes a broad training in research methods as well as advanced courses in theory and concepts. In addition students will follow specialised option courses appropriate to their research topic, subject to agreement with their supervisor.

Required courses

Students are normally required to attend and pass, in both first and second years of study, MC500 Research Seminar for Media, Communications and Culture. They will also normally be required to attend and pass in the first year at least one full unit of advanced research methods training. This will be EITHER MC4M2 Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications 1 (one unit) or MC4M3 Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications 2 (one unit) OR MC4M1 Methods of Research in Media and Communications 1 (0.5 unit) or MC4M5 Methods of Research in Media and Communications 2 (0.5 unit) (n/a 08/09) or MC4M6 Methods of Research in Media and Communications 3 (0.5 unit) (n/a 08/09), in conjunction with an appropriate 0.5 unit course taught by the Methodology Institute (chosen after consultation with their supervisor and with the approval of the PhD programme director). Students without the requisite background in media and communications theory will be required, in addition, to attend and pass (by coursework only) MC400 Theories and Concepts in Media and Communications (Power and Processes). Students are encouraged to attend other graduate seminars and courses relevant to the subject of their research in their first and subsequent years.

Evaluation and progress

Students will be required to submit a full Thesis Proposal of between 8,000 and 10,000 words to their Thesis Committee by 1 June in their first year (Part-time students can submit their Proposal by 1 March in their second year). This paper will include a substantive statement of the aims and methods proposed for the thesis, a proposed structure, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for its completion. This paper will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with a short oral examination, will determine whether students are permitted to continue into their second year.

Decisions to upgrade students from MPhil to PhD are normally taken within 18 months of registration for full-time students, and within 24 months of registration for part-time students. The decision, taken by the student's Thesis Committee, involves the submission and assessment of a thesis proposal and a chapter outline; three substantive draft chapters, normally to include one based on empirical research, one on theory, and one on methodology; a timetable for the completion of the thesis, and satisfactory performance in an oral examination.

All students will be expected to complete their PhD within 3 years or the equivalent for part-time students.

Details on the following courses are in the relevant Calendar entry: MC400, MC4M1, MC4M2, MC4M3, MC4M4, MC4M5, MC4M6, MC500.

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