Location
Streatham Campus, Exeter
The Film Studies’ research culture at Exeter is varied and rich. All members of academic staff are active researchers, and the wide range of expertise in film studies is reflected in the diverse range research projects that our current PhD students are working on. These projects include the following areas: the political thriller in the 1950s, the politics of costume in 1950s French cinema; sound style and practice in contemporary US cinema; concepts of slow cinema; re-evaluating the western; HBO television and brand identity; female criminality in postwar US cinema; representations of history in Taiwanese cinema; rethinking narrative cinema; female fan culture in British silent cinema; visual perception in the films of Polanski; pop music and the Beatles films; the films of Nic Roeg and chromophobia.
Film Studies’ postgraduates are part of a vibrant research culture at Exeter. Staff and research students regularly present their research in the Centre for Research into Film Studies forum, which also hosts visiting speakers. Film studies staff and students also regularly organise conferences. As well as receiving research training, mentoring and supervision to support their research projects, many PhD students undertake training and practice in teaching, leading to a recognised qualification in higher education teaching.
Students also get to meet film practitioners on a regular basis to test out their ideas and work. We have two honorary professors of film, Don Boyd and Nic Roeg, who make termly visits to deliver workshops and tutorials.
What is an MPhil or PhD?
Both MPhil and PhD research degrees involve an extensive investigation of a particular topic.
MPhil research takes a maximum of three years to complete full-time, or five years part-time, and is assessed by the submission of a dissertation of up to 60,000 words. The PhD takes a maximum of four years full-time and seven years part-time and the results of your research will normally be assessed by a written thesis of up to 100,000 words and oral examination. The PhD is only awarded when the results of your investigation make an original contribution to knowledge in the field.
A PhD is the highest qualification that a university can award and offers a challenging and exciting opportunity to work at the cutting-edge of research: if you have these qualities Exeter can offer a very supportive environment in which to pursue research.
Advice for PhD applicants
Our online learning resource 'Considering a UK PhD?' provides lots of helpful advice and information from staff and students about the PhD experience at Exeter.
You may wish to read our general advice for PhD applicants webpages, which give tips on how to put together a successful research degree application.
Applicants for research programmes are also advised to visit the College's webpages to check for specific advice (see further information link). Here you will be able to find out about staff research interests and make preliminary enquiries about supervision. We advise that you do this before applying.
