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king's college

PhD Study at MMLL

Which of the faculty's sections offer phd study.

PhD study is offered in each of the Faculty's Sections: French , German , Italian , Slavonic Studies , Spanish & Portuguese ,  Theoretical and Applied Linguistics , and also in the Centre for Film and Screen Studies .

Overview of a PhD course

A PhD (formally known as Doctor of Philosophy) is a substantial piece of original scholarship, for which the research and writing-up can be reasonably expected to be completed in three to four years (or for part-time students, where this is offered, five to seven years).  In MMLL the maximum word limit is 80,000 words. For the purposes of a PhD, the notion of originality means that the thesis should represent a significant contribution to learning, through the discovery of new knowledge, or through the connection of previously unrelated facts, or the development of new theory, or the revision of older views, or some combination of these different criteria. 

During the period of research, students will  work closely with a Supervisor who is a specialist in their research area. Students are additionally assigned an Advisor who acts as a second point of contact for academic advice. In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students.

Requirements

Please see the central prospectus for the exact requirements (you will need to search for the particular PhD course you are interested in).​  It is noted that language skills in a particular area may   be required depending on the specific nature of your research proposal.

How to Apply & Funding

You can apply online at the Postgraduate Admissions website.  Their site also provides detail on the course structure and content, fee rates, information on the College system, and information regarding the application process. 

Please find further information regarding applications and funding on our Applying and funding page and our Applying: PhD page .

Supporting Documents

When you apply online you will be asked to upload your supporting documents:

  • Academic transcripts for any degree-level courses you have taken.
  • Evidence of your English ability (if you are not a native English speaker).
  • A sample of writing, of approx 5,000-10,000 words. The sample can be either an essay produced during master's-level studies or a section of a dissertation, and must be a single-authored work. 
  • A research proposal, approx 500-1,000 words, written in English.
  • Your curriculum vitae (CV ​ ).

In the applications portal you will be asked to enter details of your nominated referees. They will then be sent an automated email asking them to provide an electronic reference via the applications portal. It is recommended that you allow several weeks before the application/funding deadline to allow time for this process.

Further information on supporting documents can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website.

Finding a Prospective Supervisor

Doctoral study is a team effort. It is conducted under the supervision of at least one member of Cambridge’s academic staff. Before submitting a PhD application to Cambridge, students are strongly recommended to approach relevant professors and enquire about the possibility of their service as a Supervisor. This approach is normally done via email, and it is completely informal. Its purpose is help you determine the availability and degree of research fit of relevant professors at Cambridge. As a first step, explore the Faculty's Sections and Centres (see Which Sections? above and then follow the relevant link to staff pages) and familiarise yourself with the publications and projects undertaken by our professors. Once you have identified a potential supervisor, please send an expression of interest to them via email with your CV and as much of your research proposal as possible. Please do not reach out to more than one professor at the same time. Making such an approach will help you nominate a Supervisor when you eventually submit your application. The Faculty will take this nomination into account, although there is no guarantee that this Supervisor will be formally appointed if you are accepted to the PhD. The MMLL Degree Committee regularly monitors the supervision load for each member of academic staff and may decide to appoint another suitable Supervisor, if necessary. Please note that admission to the PhD is made by committee at the Faculty level in accordance with University standards and guidelines; potential Supervisors can only contribute to admission decisions.

Consideration of Applications

Applicants who apply for US Gates funding by the October funding deadline may normally expect to receive an admissions decision in December.  All other applicants who apply by the funding deadline in January may normally expect to receive a decision before the end of March, and the majority of offers are made in February and March.  Following the funding deadlines, applications are processed on a rolling basis and applicants may normally expect a decision within 12 weeks following the submission of their completed application and required supporting documents.  Occasionally, applicants may not receive a decision within the normal timeframe due to being placed on a reserve list.  If this is the case then the Faculty will be in touch to let applicants know.  Normally the latest date for decisions to be communicated is the end of June.

Consortium in Latin American Cultural Studies 

If you are applying to the Section of Spanish and Portuguese and wish to work on any topic within Latin American literary, visual, or cultural studies, you may wish to read about the  Consortium in Latin American Cultural Studies for PhD students.

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Film and Screen Studies

Entry requirements.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Distinction).

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Applicants should hold a strong honours degree in a relevant field, with clear evidence of research potential, and a distinction or equivalent in a master's such as an MPhil.

Months of entry

January, October

Course content

Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies papers are made available to PhD students from their second year onwards. Students also take leading roles in organising research events, including an annual postgraduate conference.

In British universities, the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years. It's also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.

During their research, students will have the opportunity to work closely with a supervisor who is a specialist in their research area. In addition to the supervisor, students will normally also be able to draw on the help and support of one other lecturer, who will form part of the supervisory team.

In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students. The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, specialist linguistics training, and film-making. The University runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD skills training, to language training and writing and editing skills. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching from colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in language teaching in the Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

Information for international students

Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score

Listening 7.0

Writing 7.0

Reading 7.0

Speaking 7.0

TOEFL Internet Score

Listening 25

Speaking 25

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by thesis

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This MPhil by Thesis provides an opportunity to study the theory and history of film and other screen media in a vibrant interdisciplinary context. The moving image is explored in relation to the development of modern and contemporary culture, as well as the history and theory of other media (literature, music, the visual arts, architecture, and the digital). Students are immersed in a research environment that emphasises work on geopolitics, early cinema, art cinema and the avant-garde, theory, aesthetics, and gender and sexuality.

The MPhil by Thesis is for students who already have a substantial level of familiarity with the study of film and literary texts in the relevant culture and who already know the area they wish to research for their thesis. To be eligible for consideration, applicants will need an appropriate level of linguistic and/or cultural expertise and a clear idea of the area in which the thesis will be written.

The full-time course runs from October to June, with a submission date of early June.

It is also possible to take a part-time route. The expected timeframe would be 20 months, with a thesis submission date of early June in the second academic year of study.

The main aims of the course are:

  • to develop and test the ability to carry out a substantial advanced project of independent research in an area of  film and screen studies, presented in the form of a 30,000-word thesis
  • to develop and test the ability to make a significant contribution to learning via dedicated Masters-level research that reflects the course length

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme students will have:

  • developed a deeper knowledge of the history and theory of film and screen studies in a cultural context
  • developed a conceptual understanding of the debates which have shaped that field of study, and of current research methods
  • acquired or consolidated skills appropriate for research in their chosen area
  • demonstrated independent judgement based on their own research
  • participated effectively in seminar discussions
  • managed a sizeable research project (culminating in a 30,000-word thesis), which will represent a considerable achievement in its own right and prepare students for longer research projects (in particular, a PhD).

If you wish to continue from the MPhil in Film and Screen Studies (by Thesis) to a PhD then you will need to:

  • submit an application for the PhD
  • acheive a minimum of a pass in the MPhil
  • demonstrate your suitability to undertake doctoral-level research. 

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages .

Key Information

9 months full-time, 21 months part-time, study mode : research, master of philosophy, faculty of modern and medieval languages and linguistics, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2025.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.

Similar Courses

  • Film and Screen Studies by Advanced Study MPhil
  • Film and Screen Studies PhD
  • Literature, Culture and Thought (Taught) MPhil
  • Literature, Culture and Thought (Research) MPhil
  • Digital Humanities PhD

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About Cambridge Film & Screen

Cambridge Film and Screen is the home of research and teaching in film and screen studies at the University of Cambridge.

We host vibrant MPhil and PhD programmes, as well as an annual calendar of research events and residencies. Our mission is to combine Cambridge’s tradition of rigorous intellectual inquiry and its history of innovative interdisciplinary methods with a focus on the theory and history of moving image media.

The University of Cambridge has fostered teaching and research on the subject of film since the 1970s, but lectures on film topics in various faculties were delivered to undergraduates at least as far back as the 1960s. Stephen Heath and Colin MacCabe undertook pioneering work in film studies at Cambridge in the 70s and early 80s, including a seminar on British television taught by Heath, MacCabe and Raymond Williams in 1980. Film rose in prominence as a subject of undergraduate and postgraduate study and as the object of academic research in several departments and faculties across the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.These strengths and initiatives were synergised with the launch of an MPhil degree in 2007 and a PhD degree in 2016.

As a place to study film and screen media, Cambridge’s distinction is felt in its dedication to thinking carefully about the art of the moving image in an interdisciplinary intellectual environment. This comparative intellectual ambience enables our students to pursue work of both great rigour and startling originality. The publications of our teaching and research faculty bear witness to the richness of our research culture in film and screen studies.

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Film and Screen Studies

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Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies.  Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies papers are made available to advanced PhD students in their third year. Students also take leading roles in organising research events, including an annual postgraduate conference.

In British universities the PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a dissertation, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD dissertation is generally expected to take three years, and most funding is based on this assumption. It's also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be five years.

During their research, students will have the opportunity to work closely with a Supervisor who is a specialist in their research area.  In addition to the Supervisor, students will normally also be able to draw on the help and support of two other lecturers, who will form part of the supervisory team.  

In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students. The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, specialist linguistics training, and film-making. The School of Arts and Humanities runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD skills training, to language training and writing and editing skills. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching from colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in language teaching in the Faculty.

Feedback on progress is provided through regular meetings with the Supervisor.  Termly Supervision reports are written and are made available to the student online.  

There is a normal word limit for the thesis of 80,000 words (including footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography). The thesis should represent a significant contribution to learning through the discovery of new knowledge or through the connection of previously unrelated facts, or the development of new theory, revision of older views or some combination of these. In writing the thesis you are expected to take account of previously published work on the subject and the thesis should be clearly and accurately written, paying due attention to English style and grammar. Candidates for the PhD in Cambridge are guided by a supervisor, though they will normally also discuss their work with a number of other experts in their field.

Following submission of the thesis, an oral (viva) examination is held.

Annual progress interviews for all PhD students should normally take place between the start of the Easter term and the end of the academic year. The annual interviews constitute a system for the formal monitoring by the Degree Committee of the progress of all students working towards a PhD.

Graduate students are admitted in the first instance for a probationary period during which they are not registered as a candidate for the PhD degree. The first-year interview is the context in which registration as a candidate for the PhD is formally considered. Satisfactory progress is a condition for being registered as a doctoral student and for remaining on the register.

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  • Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
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  • Research Proposal. 500-1000 word research proposal written in English
  • Sample of Work. A sample of recent research writing of approximately 5,000 - 10,000 words.  The sample can be either an essay produced during masters-level studies or a section of a dissertation, and must be a single-authored work. 
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MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by Advanced Study

University of cambridge.

The MPhil in Film and Screen Studies at Cambridge provides advanced training in study of the theory and history of film and other screen Read more...

  • 9 months Full time degree: £13,554 per year (UK)

MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by thesis

The MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by Thesis at Cambridge provides an opportunity to study the theory and history of film and other Read more...

  • 9 months Full time degree: £6,777 per year (UK)
  • 21 months Part time degree: £13,554 per year (UK)

PhD in Film and Screen Studies

Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on Read more...

  • 3 years Full time degree: £9,858 per year (UK)
  • 4 years Part time degree: £5,915 per year (UK)

Course type:

Qualification:, related subjects:.

COMMENTS

  1. PhD » Cambridge Film & Screen

    PhD. Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in programme in Film and Screen Studies in a supportive, disciplinary-specific but intellectually heterodox context. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture at Cambridge and participate in our annual research seminar series.

  2. PhD in Film and Screen Studies

    PhD in Film and Screen Studies. The University of Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies situated in the University's rich interdisciplinary research culture. Students on the programme join the vibrant Centre for Film and Screen and participate in our annual ...

  3. Cambridge Film & Screen

    Contact. Cambridge Film & Screen. Email: [email protected]. Tel: +44 (0)1223 335057. Cambridge Film & Screen is the home for the University's activities in Film and Screen Studies, including its MPhil and PhD programmes, as well as its research seminars and events.

  4. MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by Advanced Study

    The Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics (MMLL) offers this MPhil as a nine-month full-time programme and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. The programme provides advanced training in the study of the theory and history of film and other screen media in a vibrant interdisciplinary context.

  5. Current PhD Students » Cambridge Film & Screen

    Modernity on Screen: Cultural Import into Soviet Cinema (1923 - 1929) Karim Townsend. Ecological relationality and the Anthropocene in contemporary film and television: politics, neoliberalism, community. Harrison Whitaker. Labor, Types, and Gender in New Hollywood. Haotian (Walden) Wu. Nostalgic dwelling: Becoming at home in cinema.

  6. PhD in Film and Screen Studies

    Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series.

  7. PhD in Film and Screen Studies at University of Cambridge

    Course Summary. Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies ...

  8. Applying: PhD

    Overview of a PhD course. A PhD (formally known as Doctor of Philosophy) is a substantial piece of original scholarship, for which the research and writing-up can be reasonably expected to be completed in three to four years (or for part-time students, where this is offered, five to seven years). In MMLL the maximum word limit is 80,000 words.

  9. Film and Screen Studies, Ph.D.

    View 69 other PhDs in Film Studies in United Kingdom. Students on the Film and Screen Studies programme at University of Cambridge join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies papers are made available to PhD ...

  10. Film and Screen Studies

    Course content. Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on the programme join the active and varied film and screen studies research culture and participate in our annual research seminar series. Opportunities to teach on undergraduate film studies ...

  11. MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by thesis

    If you wish to continue from the MPhil in Film and Screen Studies (by Thesis) to a PhD then you will need to: submit an application for the PhD; ... Gates Cambridge US round only Oct. 16, 2024. These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.

  12. PDF Film and Screen Studies

    University of Cambridge I School of Arts & Humanities. ilm and Screen Studies"The carefully tailored core course consolidated my interests in philosophy, aesthetics, film form and history, while the range of optional units prompted connections with fields as diverse as arch. tecture and new media. During the MPhil, I benefitted greatly from ...

  13. PhD Funding » Cambridge Film & Screen

    PhD Funding. There are many funding opportunities at Cambridge from a wide variety of sources including the Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge, Colleges, Research Councils, and central University funds. Competition for funding is extremely high so we strongly advise that applicants apply for as many funding opportunities as possible.

  14. About » Cambridge Film & Screen

    Cambridge Film and Screen is the home of research and teaching in film and screen studies at the University of Cambridge. We host vibrant MPhil and PhD programmes, as well as an annual calendar of research events and residencies. Our mission is to combine Cambridge's tradition of rigorous intellectual inquiry and its history of innovative interdisciplinary methods with a focus on the theory ...

  15. StudyQA

    Students are encouraged to attend the Cambridge Film and Screen Studies Research Seminars. Lectures: ... Graduate students are admitted in the first instance for a probationary period during which they are not registered as a candidate for the PhD degree. The first-year interview is the context in which registration as a candidate for the PhD ...

  16. 3 Postgraduate Film Studies Courses at University of Cambridge

    PhD in Film and Screen Studies. University of Cambridge. Cambridge offers the opportunity to pursue doctoral study in a specifically designated programme in Film and Screen Studies. Students on Read more... 3 years Full time degree: £9,858 per year (UK) 4 years Part time degree: £5,915 per year (UK) ...

  17. PhD

    66 Research Projects. PhD Opportunities. 4-year MRes + PhD studentships in Cancer Biology within the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. Cambridge MRC Doctoral Training Programme iCASE PhD Studentships. Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine Doctoral Training Programme in Medical Research (DTP-MR) EPSRC CDT in 2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT ...

  18. Film Studies and Media Studies MPhil, PhD

    Film Studies and Media Studies MPhil, PhD. Research ( full-time, part-time) Cambridge. January, April, September. Distance-learning supervision available on this course. This programme is located in Cambridge School of Creative Industries. Find out more about our research. Apply online. For application deadlines visit our how to apply page.

  19. Film and Television Production MPhil, PhD

    Film and Television Production MPhil, PhD. Research ( full-time, part-time) Cambridge. January, April, September. Distance-learning supervision available on this course. This course is located in Cambridge School of Creative Industries. Find out more about our research. Apply online. For application deadlines visit our how to apply page.

  20. Film Studies and Media Studies

    About. Our Film Studies and Media Studies PhD research programmes at Anglia Ruskin University will allow you to join one of our research projects or explore your own interests in Film Studies and Media Studies, supported by the expertise of our staff. The TOEFL iBT® is given online through the internet at designated testing site. The test ...