fully funded phd film studies

Doctoral students who matriculate in Summer 2020 and after will be guaranteed to have funding support from the University of Chicago, external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program to include the following:

• Full tuition coverage
• Annual stipend
• Annual premiums for the University Student Health Insurance Program (U-SHIP)
• Graduate student services fee

Additional fellowships and awards are available to support language study, conference attendance, and research travel.  

Breakdown of Funding

Cinema and Media Studies PhD students who matriculate in Autumn 2023 will receive a stipend of  $37,000 . Stipends are distributed in monthly installments. Yearly renewal of this award is contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

For more information on financial aid for prospective students matriculating in Autumn 2023, please refer to the Financial Aid for Prospective Students and Division of the Humanities Financial Aid pages .  

Fellowships and Grants

CMS strongly supports students applying for additional external and internal fellowships and grants. In recent years our students have received support from the following sources:

• Mellon Humanities Dissertation Completion Fellowship
• Franke Institute for the Humanities Dissertation Completion Fellowship
• Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) Toyota dissertation Fellowship
• Hanna Holborn Gray Fellowship
• Nicholson Center for British Studies Graduate Research Grants
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)
• Stuart Tave Teaching Fellowship
• German American Academic Exchange Fellowship (DAAD)
• Humanities Division Research Grants

All students are encouraged to take advantage of the fellowship support resources available through UChicagoGrad -- in addition to helping with research statements and CVs, UChicagoGRAD manages many external fellowship programs, including the Fulbright programs, FLAS, and DAAD grants. They maintain an extensive fellowships database, and are available for individual meetings with students. 

Students who receive Dissertation Completion Fellowships  for their sixth year from the Humanities Division are eligible for a two-year Humanities Teaching Fellowship if all requirements are met. All students who are on-track to graduate within seven years of matriculation are eligible to apply.  

The  Division of the Humanities  administers a number internal fellowships. Many of these internal fellowship applications must be formally nominated by the student’s department, so interested students must also be aware of the CMS-specific deadlines and procedures. Fellowship announcements are distributed via the CMS graduate student list-serv.  

• UChicagoGRAD Fellowship Resources
• Humanities Division - Internal Fellowships
• Teaching Fellows in the Humanities (TFH)

Cinema & Media Studies Ph.D.

The Cinema and Media Studies Ph.D. program explores the intricate histories, aesthetics, and cultural impacts of visual media.

The Cinema & Media Studies (CMS) Program at UCLA has played a central role in the development of the field, notably through scholarship grounded in critical theory, cultural studies, close textual analysis, archive-based history, digital and interactive media studies, industry studies, and transnational media studies. The program supports a broad array of critical interests, from the media arts to commercial entertainment, from historical research to contemporary practices, and from formal analysis to the social mapping of media. In the last few years the research profile of the faculty has concentrated on three main areas of research: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity (particularly, Chicana/o, African American/African Diaspora, and Asian), Queer Cinema/Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Critical Theory (particularly, moving image art, aesthetic, affect, computational media, and decolonial).

The Ph.D. program focuses on refining research skills in an individualized study plan, with a mission to produce research of unparalleled quality. Graduates often transition into esteemed teaching and research roles in academic institutions. Backing their research endeavors is the UCLA Library Film & Television Archive, offering vast resources, 35mm classroom screenings, and state-of-the-art digital technology facilities.

World-Class Faculty

Kriss Ravetto-Biagioli

Kathleen McHugh

Sean Metzger

Requirements.

The Ph.D. program is intended primarily for students who wish to build a career around excellence in university teaching and research. The Ph.D. program requires successful completion of a minimum of seven core courses and at least seven elective courses (not counting those completed at the masters level) and successful completion of the Intellectual Statement, Third Quarter Review, Sixth Quarter Review, Comprehensive Exam, Prospectus Review, Foreign Language Requirement at level three or higher, and successful submission and defense of the Dissertation.

Year One/Academic Year: Four Core Courses

• FTV 495A Teaching Assistant Training (does not need to be repeated if taken during M.A.)
• FTV 210 Common Course
• FTV 211 Historiography
• FTV 215 Theory and Method
• Academic Progress Report
• Begin taking courses toward language requirement

Year Two: Two Core Courses, Written Exams and Completion of the Ph.D. Study Plan

• FTV 274 Research Design A (Bibliography and Exam Prep)
• FTV 274 Research Design B (Exam Prep with advisors)
• Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
• FTV 274 Research Design C (Writing the Prospectus)
• Continued progress toward language requirement (must be completed by the end of the 3rd year)
• Prospectus Review

Year Three/Academic Year: Nomination of Doctoral Committee and Advancement to Candidacy

• Advancement to Candidacy/Nomination of Doctoral Committee (Fall Quarter, contingent upon language requirement completion)

Ph.D. PROGRAM REMINDERS

Required During Years One-Three: Six additional graduate seminars, at least five of which must be approved cinema and media studies seminars.

Required During Years One-Three: Language Requirement Courses & Petition . Completion of level 3 language training or higher (as determined by Dissertation Committee) must be provided prior to student Advancement to Candidacy.

Recommended During Years One-Three: Colloquium. Students are encouraged to enroll in or attend Colloquium during all quarters to participate in screenings, research presentations and discussions. May be repeated for credit.

• FTV 212 CMS Colloquium

Year 3 and Beyond: Dissertation Research

• Submit an Academic Progress Report (on a yearly basis)

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Emmelle Israel

Nico Garcia

Scott Brockman Varnado

Slaveya Minkova

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• PhD: English

PhD: Film & Media Studies

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The  PhD in Film and Media Studies  with English as the Associated Department is an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental degree that stresses the history, theory, and aesthetics of international cinema, video, television, and new media. While the student will earn a PhD in Film and Media Studies (granted by the Film and Media Studies Program), he or she will also be a full member of one of six associated departments (in this case, English) and will fulfill its requirements (many of which will overlap with those of Film Studies). English will appear as the official Area of Concentration on the student’s transcript. Thus, the student graduating with a PhD in Film Studies will be doubly qualified: in film studies as well as in a secondary area.

How to Apply

Students apply for the Film & Media Studies PhD with English as the associated department through the  Film and Media Studies  program. Use the Dietrich School website's  Liaison GradCAS  service. Select "Film Studies-PHD" then choose English as your area of specialization on another pull-down menu. Contact the Film and Media Studies program with questions ( Neepa Majumdar , Director of Graduate Studies), or for more information see the Interdisciplinary PhD in Film and Media Studies page .

The requirements for the degree are below.

During the first three years in the program, students take 13 graduate seminars.

Of those, the required courses are as follows:

• Seminar in Pedagogy
• Introduction to Graduate Studies (1 cr.)
• Core courses from two of the departmental programs that are part of the PhD (Composition, Film, and Literature)
• Film History/Theory I ENGFLM 2451
• Film History/Theory II ENGFLM 2452
• 4 Elective Film Studies Courses
• Film Studies Proseminar ENGFLM 2905 (1 credit and not counted as a seminar)

Of the total six required seminars, the student must take at least two courses taught by a member of the faculty outside of the student’s associated department or listed in such a department. These courses can include the two required core courses.

Language Requirement

PhD candidates must demonstrate significant acquaintance with one or more languages other than English.

Normally this requirement is fulfilled through reading knowledge of two languages, undertaking further study of one language, or by beginning a new language. Language requirements must be fulfilled before a student takes the PhD project examinations, described below.

PhD Project

At the end of the third year, students develop a critical project in Film and Media Studies (e.g., film, television, photography, video, or new media) that functions as the comprehensive examination required to achieve doctoral candidacy. This project defines an area of study sufficiently broad in scope to suggest a range of long-term intellectual goals that build on previous coursework and prepare them for more focused dissertation work. At least one member of a student’s three-member project committee) must be a member of the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in English (generally, the committee chair). Additionally, more film faculty from English may comprise the student’s two other committee members.

Between the end of the third year and the end of the fall term of the fourth year, students write a 30-page project paper or papers that explore some of the problems and issues laid out in the proposal and developed in the course of their research. The final phase of the PhD project is a written and oral exam, which takes place before the second term of the fourth year. The exam phase of the project builds on the proposal, the bibliography, the Project Forum, and the project paper.

The overarching goals of the PhD project are to prepare students for the broadly informed yet in-depth inquiry required of a dissertation, and to facilitate participation in the critical intellectual activity of Film Studies.

Dissertation Prospectus

After students have passed their project examinations, they will register for Independent Study credits (normally during the spring term of the fourth year in the program) in order to write a prospectus for the dissertation.

The student should choose a dissertation director (a member of the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in English) and a committee at this time (which entails two additional members from English, and a fourth from the Film and Media Studies graduate faculty in one of five other departments (French, German, Hispanic, History of Art and Architecture, Slavic).

Once a dissertation committee has been formed, the student submits a formal dissertation prospectus to the committee for approval.

Dissertation

Once students have had their dissertation prospectus passed and have been admitted to doctoral candidacy, they should begin the work of researching and writing the dissertation. Normally students will complete the dissertation during the fifth and sixth years in the program. Review Pitt's Graduate Studies web site for more information.

All Film and Media Studies PhD students must teach at least one film-related course during their time at Pitt (Introduction to Film). Actually, students whose associated department is English teach numerous such courses during their course of study (e.g. Seminar in Composition/Film, Introduction to Film, and possibly Film Analysis, World Film History, Introduction to Film Genres, etc.)

PhD students in Film and Media Studies with English as their Associate Department will receive funding through the Department of English. See the  funding page  for more information.

Competitive Fellowships

Film and Media Studies PhD students are eligible for a number of competitive fellowships. For these opportunities, see the  competitive fellowships page.

Students will receive teaching assistantships through their associated department of English, which offers numerous opportunities (after the first year of teaching) to teach courses in Film and Media Studies (e.g., Seminar in Composition/Film, Introduction to Film, and possibly Film Analysis, World Film History, Introduction to Film Genres, etc.).

All Film and Media Studies PhD students must teach at least one film-related course during their time at Pitt (Introduction to Film). Students whose associated department is English routinely teach this class.

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Graduate Programs

We are now accepting applications to our M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Cinema and Media Studies (CMS). Both programs are fully funded through teaching assistantships, making our MA program one of the few non-fee based film studies programs in the United States. 

Our commitment to graduate training is a point of pride. In addition to providing high-quality and rigorous academic training, our faculty stress the importance of maintaining robust research programs while gaining extensive teacher training and classroom experience. Our graduate students have had a strong record of attaining graduate fellowships and awards to help support dissertation writing and research. CMS fosters graduate student research through multi-year projects and colloquia on the moving image, Chinese visual culture, television history, and more. Past graduate seminars have included Cinema of Small Nations, Media Archaeology, Public Spheres Public Media, and Film and the Photographic Imaginary. New seminars further this diversity of topics while being consolidated under the titles Aesthetics, Historiography, MediaLab, and National Frameworks.

Our most recent PhDs have accepted a position as Assistant Professor in Film and Screen Studies at University of Cambridge, a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California Berkeley, a tenure-track position at Humboldt State University, a LSA Collegiate Fellowship at the University of Michigan, and a Visiting Lecturer position at Wellesley College. In previous years, our graduate students have moved into successful careers in academia, education, business, translation, and public service. For more information on our record of academic placements, please visit this  page .

CMS faculty have demonstrated excellence in teaching and scholarship and are recognized leaders in the field. They have won national and international awards, including an AMPAS Film Academy Award, a NEH Fellowship, a NEA Creative Writing Fellowship, a Levenson Book Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, Kovacs Prizes, and more. The department is also home to the editors of  the Journal of Chinese Cinemas  and  Feminist   Media   Histories . Visit our  faculty pages  to find out more.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information or advice. We look forward to hearing from you!

James Tweedie, Director of Graduate Studies  [email protected]  

Why choose Cinema and Media at UW?

• UW ranked No. 8 in global ranking; No. 2 among US public institutions.
• Fantastic faculty with books across disciplines and fields.
• Outstanding placement record for our doctorates. Meet an alum here .
• Teaching assistantships and fellowships support your progress through the PhD and MA  programs.
• The Walter Chapin Simpson Center for the Humanities offers fellowships, research opportunities, and a diverse program of events, lectures, and symposia in the Humanities.
• UW Libraries offer an extensive collection of non-English literature, hard to find film, and television, and special librarians for Comparative Literature and for  Cinema and Media .
• The MediArcade offers vintage 16mm film, digital video editing equipment, a music archive, and video game consoles.
• A chance to work across disciplines within the Humanities and outside of it with DXARTS and the Performance Studies programs.
• Local cultural institutions such as the Seattle Art Museum , Wing Luke Museum , Northwest Film Forum , and the Museum of Pop Culture .
• The Seattle International Film Festival !

The Graduate Program of the Department of Cinema & Media Studies offers the following options, programs, and certificates:

• M.A. in Cinema and Media Studies
• Ph.D. in Cinema and Media Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Cinema and Media Studies

After choosing the program that is right for you, you may Apply to the Graduate Program .

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Fully Scholarship

Fully Funded Scholarships

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Cinema and Media Studies

A fully funded PhD program in Film Studies provides an excellent opportunity for students interested in exploring the intricacies of cinema and film-making. This program enables students to delve into various aspects of film, including history, theory, and aesthetics, and gain an in-depth understanding of the medium.

Students who pursue a fully funded PhD in Film Studies will receive financial support throughout their program, including tuition, living expenses, and research funding. This allows them to focus solely on their academic pursuits without worrying about financial burdens. During the program, students will work closely with faculty members who are experts in the field, gaining access to valuable insights and resources. They will also have the opportunity to collaborate with peers, attend conferences, and present their research findings to a wider audience.

A fully funded PhD in Film Studies is an excellent choice for individuals who are passionate about cinema and want to contribute to the field through original research. This program not only provides an excellent academic foundation but also prepares students for various career paths, including academia, film criticism, and film-making.

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York University, PhD in Cinema & Media Studies:

York University offers a fully funded PhD program in Cinema & Media Studies, which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of film and media in a global context. The program aims to equip students with critical skills to analyze and interpret the role of cinema and media in shaping cultural, social, and political values.

The program covers a wide range of topics, including film history, media theory, cultural studies, and digital media. Students can also focus on a particular area of interest, such as documentary, animation, or sound studies. The program is designed to help students develop original research projects and produce high-quality scholarship.

As a fully funded program, students receive financial support to cover tuition, research costs, and living expenses. The program also provides opportunities for students to work as research assistants, teaching assistants, or course instructors.

The faculty members at York University are renowned scholars and experts in the field of Cinema & Media Studies. They provide students with personalized attention and support to help them achieve their academic goals. Students also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the York University Film Department, the Film and Video Resource Centre, and the Sound Studio.

Graduates of the PhD program in Cinema & Media Studies at York University go on to pursue careers in academia, film and media production, cultural institutions, and government agencies. The program provides students with a solid foundation to excel in a rapidly evolving media landscape and to make valuable contributions to the field of Cinema & Media Studies.

University of Chicago, PhD in Cinema and Media Studies:

The University of Chicago offers a highly regarded PhD program in Cinema and Media Studies that prepares students to engage with the complexities of contemporary media culture. The program focuses on interdisciplinary research and covers a range of topics, including film and television studies, media theory, sound studies, and digital media.

As a fully funded program, students receive financial support to cover tuition, research costs, and living expenses. The program also provides opportunities for students to work as research assistants or teaching assistants, allowing them to gain valuable experience and develop their teaching skills.

The program is structured around seminars that encourage critical inquiry, analysis, and debate. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who are renowned scholars and experts in the field of Cinema and Media Studies. Faculty members provide students with personalized attention and support, helping them to develop their research interests and produce original scholarship. The University of Chicago’s Cinema and Media Studies department is housed within a vibrant intellectual community that includes other departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the Smart Museum of Art and the Film Studies Center. The department hosts numerous events, including screenings, workshops, and conferences, providing students with ample opportunities to engage with their peers and scholars from around the world. Graduates of the PhD program in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago go on to pursue careers in academia, film and media production, cultural institutions, and government agencies. The program provides students with a rigorous and comprehensive education that equips them to make valuable contributions to the field of Cinema and Media Studies.

Cornell University, PhD in Performing and Media Arts:

Cornell University offers a highly regarded PhD program in Performing and Media Arts that prepares students for careers in academia, arts administration, and related fields. The program combines theoretical and practical approaches to performance and media, allowing students to develop their creative skills alongside their critical and analytical abilities.

The program is interdisciplinary and includes courses in theater, film, television, and digital media. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who are renowned scholars and artists in the field of Performing and Media Arts. Faculty members provide students with personalized attention and support, helping them to develop their research interests and produce original scholarship. The Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University is housed within a vibrant intellectual community that includes other departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the Cornell Council for the Arts and the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. The department hosts numerous events, including performances, screenings, and exhibitions, providing students with ample opportunities to engage with their peers and scholars from around the world.

Graduates of the PhD program in Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University go on to pursue careers in academia, arts administration, and related fields. The program provides students with a comprehensive education that equips them to make valuable contributions to the field of Performing and Media Arts.

University of British Columbia (UBC), Phd in Cinema and Media Studies

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a PhD program in Cinema and Media Studies that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the theory, history, and aesthetics of cinema and media. The program is interdisciplinary and covers a range of topics, including film studies, television studies, digital media, and sound studies.

As a fully funded program, students receive financial support to cover tuition, research costs, and living expenses. The program also provides opportunities for students to work as research assistants or teaching assistants, allowing them to gain valuable experience and develop their teaching skills. The program is structured around seminars that encourage critical inquiry, analysis, and debate. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members who are renowned scholars and experts in the field of Cinema and Media Studies. Faculty members provide students with personalized attention and support, helping them to develop their research interests and produce original scholarship. The Department of Theatre and Film at UBC is housed within a vibrant intellectual community that includes other departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery and the Pacific Cinematheque. The department hosts numerous events, including screenings, workshops, and conferences, providing students with ample opportunities to engage with their peers and scholars from around the world. Graduates of the PhD program in Cinema and Media Studies at UBC go on to pursue careers in academia, film and media production, cultural institutions, and government agencies. The program provides students with a rigorous and comprehensive education that equips them to make valuable contributions to the field of Cinema and Media Studies.

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Fully Funded PhD in Film Studies and Media Studies at University of Pittsburgh

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Welcome to the University of Pittsburgh, located in the vibrant city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! If you’re passionate about delving into the realms of Film Studies and Media Studies, our fully funded PhD program awaits you. Our PhD program in Film and Media Studies, affiliated with the Department of English, offers a unique and interdisciplinary experience. This program places a strong emphasis on the history, theory, and aesthetics of global cinema, video, television, and new media.

PhD Program Requirements

Applicants should possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. We welcome individuals with diverse educational backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and enriching learning environment.

PhD Funding Coverage

As a PhD student in Film and Media Studies, you’ll have access to teaching assistantships and non-teaching fellowships provided by the Department of English. This support package covers full tuition, a stipend to meet your living expenses, and includes valuable medical benefits.

Application Requirement

It includes transcripts from your previous educational institutions, letters of recommendation, a compelling statement of purpose, and a writing sample showcasing your academic prowess.

Application Deadline

December 10, 2024

Application Fee

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