PhD
*SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ENTRY IN SEPT 2013*
The Department of Film Studies is pleased to announce the availability of up to three full scholarships for doctoral study commencing in September of 2013:
- Full fee and maintenance scholarships (up to the equivalent of an AHRC funded award).
- Additional fee waiver scholarships equivalent to the UK/EU fee.
To be eligible prospective students must have been offered a place on the PhD programme. The 2013-2014 deadline for applications to reach us for consideration is: 15th March 2013. If you wish to be considered for scholarship funding, please include a brief statement to this effect with your application for entry.
For more information and to discuss your proposal, please contact us:
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/filmstudies
Dr. Dennis Hanlon, Director of Postgraduate Studies
T: +44(0) 1334 467473
E: filmstudies@st-andrews.ac.uk
For information on doing a PhD in Film Studies: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/filmstudies/phd.php
For information on the available funding in Film Studies: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/filmstudies/funding.php
For information on how to apply for a PhD at the University of St Andrews: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/apply/
Find all the application materials here: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/apply/forms/
The PhD Programme
During RAE 2008, Film Studies at St Andrews was awarded a score of 100% for its Research Environment, an award which recognised our thriving research community and the role our PhD students play in all the events we run. We currently have 17 PhD students, making us one of the largest doctoral programmes in film studies in the UK.
The PhD Programme offers three-years of supervision on your own research project, culminating in a dissertation thesis. An addiitional continuation year with superivision is available in year four if needed for completion.
In addition to your study there are a range of opportunities open to PhD students at St Andrews, typically including teaching undergraduate seminars from your second year onwards, a £300 annual travel fund (subject to annual budget confirmation) for conference travel and other related expenses, an annual £100 library book/DVD fund, experience of organising events like the annual Film Studies Postgraduate Conference and the Study Day (including applying for internal funding), experience giving shorter papers at conferences and longer papers for the Centre for Film Studies, dedicated in-house workshops on various aspects of academic life in Film Studies, etc.
Steps for applying
- Check your eligibility for PhD studies (there are pre-requisites, such as a certain level of education, fluency in English, and so on) to make sure your application is not rejected for formal reasons.
- Present a proposal for PhD research or informally discuss a possible proposal with potential supervisors from within the department.
After an informal arrangement has been reached, it’s time for the formal application. This includes:
- University Application Form;
- Film Studies Application Form;
- A copy of your CV;
- Evidence of qualification;
- Two letters of reference;
- Evidence of fluency in English;
- A brief letter stating that you wish to be considered for any available funding opportunities we may have (if applicable);
- A sample piece of written work (no more than 2,000 words). This should be an academic piece of writing, preferably about film or a related subject. For example, this might be an essay you have previously submitted as part of your coursework, perhaps including references and bibliography as appropriate; and,
- Research Proposal (in English).
The research proposal should typically take the form of:
- A 2000 word précis that provides a more detailed description of your proposed research. This should include a dicussion of:
- your research question(s);
- the theoretical-historical framework of your study;
- methodology; and
- references to the relevant literature and cinematic material to be used in your course of work.
Please see the admissions office for general guidance on the application process.
There is no fixed deadline by which proposals must reach us. Proposals can be submitted at any point during the year. However, the optimum time for projects that aim to commence in the month of September is anytime up early March of that year. This allows time for consideration of proposals not only for acceptance (a process that can take up to six weeks) but also for any available funds, for which decisions are typically made in very early April.
Funding
If you are applying for funding from us, please make sure to include a letter clearly stating that you would like to be considered for scholarships. Please note that decisions on admission to the programme and funding are made independently.
If you have entered the funded studentship competition, you will be notified of the outcome when we make the decisions on funding (please note: if you are not awarded funding, our offer to you will still be valid and we will be happy to welcome you as a research student should you be able to find alternative funding sources). It is also possible to defer entry to allow you time to secure funding.
Students interested in pursuing PhD studies should consult the University's Postgraduate Prospectus and Postgraduate Course Catalogue. They give full information on the wide range of postgraduate degrees and study programmes, and advice on procedures of application and on the possibilities of financial support.
For more information on funding, please click here.
What is a PhD?
In recent years, doctoral research has transformed from a sometimes lonely scholastic pursuit to more dynamic, multi-dimensional academic apprenticeship. Whilst writing your thesis is still the major aim of your three years, you will also gain a number of other skills during this period which are essential for entrance into the current job market - these include, experience of presenting your work at conferences (perhaps utilising your £300 research grant to travel overseas); participation in and running of specifically designed workshops, study days and conferences; teaching; the publication of various types of material (book reviews, articles, edited collections, etc); and applying for grants.
A typical PhD might progress as follows:
Year One. Time is spent on in depth research into your chosen field of study. By the end of the year you will have completed at least one chapter of your thesis, participated in the annual postgraduate conference and study day, drafted a full plan for your thesis (chapter breakdown) and worked out your timetable for completion. This is a good year in which to hone language skills, and perhaps to take extended research trips overseas (including in the past, trips by former students to Hong Kong, Russia, Turkey, South Korea, etc).
Year Two. Written at least two or three further chapters. Gained experience as a seminar tutor throughout the year. Participated in, and perhaps organised, the annual postgraduate conference and study days. Written book reviews. Delivered conference papers at other institutions, either nationally or internationally.
Year Three. Completed and submitted final draft of thesis and have your viva defense. Consolidated your teaching experience as a seminar tutor, perhaps also delivering some lectures. Participated in, and perhaps organised, the annual postgraduate conference and study days. Worked up a draft of a journal article for submission to a reputable refereed journal. Delivered conference papers at other institutions.
Year Four (writing up continuation year if needed). Completed and submitted final draft of thesis and have your viva defense. Delivered full length, one hour paper on your research as part of the Centre for Film Studies Seminar Series. Continued work on publications, conferences and even applications for funding, as you enter the job market.