Journalism PhD / MPhil
Overview
The Department of Journalism has a distinguished reputation as one of the leading providers of journalism training and education in the UK.
Our team of highly-experienced academics are recognised not only for their leadership in journalism education, but also for their professional expertise. We enjoy very strong links with the journalism industry, including our high-profile professors, visiting lecturers, and guest speakers.
Our faculty has expertise in a broad range of journalism topics, including: history; ethics, law and regulation; practices and processes in a digital context; effects of/on globalisation; representation and democratisation; business and leadership; scholarship of teaching and learning in journalism.
Research in Journalism has a strong inter-disciplinary focus and our research staff collaborate with academic staff at universities across the UK and internationally. A number of City Journalism MA graduates are now undertaking research degrees with the Centre for Law, Justice & Journalism.
Each of our research students is provided with a supervisory panel, comprising academics and practitioners, in addition to support from a designated lead supervisor.
Start Date:
The University offers two registration points for research degree students, in September and February each year.
Entry Requirements
You should have a track record of high academic achievement, demonstrated by a good undergraduate degree with a second class (upper division) pass or equivalent. A Masters-level degree would be desirable.
English Language Requirements
For students whose first language is not English, the following qualifications will meet the English language requirement for entry to a postgraduate course of study:
- A first degree from a UK university or from the CNAA.
- A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by the University as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions in Australia, Canada or the USA.
- GCE O-level/GCSE English language or English literature, grade C minimum.
- Cambridge ESOL CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) at grade C or above.
- An overall score of 6.5 in the English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 6.0 for each subtest.
- A score of 600 minimum (computer score 250, internet-based score 100) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Satisfactory standard in the verbal section of the Princeton Test (GMAT).
- US SAT with 500 in verbal performance.
- Warwick English Language Test (WELT) with pass grades of BBC minimum.
- Other evidence of proficiency in the English language which satisfies the board of studies concerned.
Visa Requirements
City University London retains Highly Trusted Status from UKBA, enabling us to sponsor international students to study in the UK.
The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:
- Students on courses of more than 6 months
- Students on courses of less than 6 months
- Students on a pre-sessional English Language course
For more information see our main Visa page.
Start Dates / Duration of Studies
Start Date
The University offers two registration points for research degree students, in September and February each year.
Duration of Studies
Full-time students are permitted a maximum of four years' registration. Part-time students are permitted a maximum of seven years' registration. Students must submit a thesis and be examined within this period.
As a full-time student, you will spend the majority of your working time in research at the University. You are expected to dedicate yourself full-time to your research. As a part-time student, you are expected to spend the equivalent of two days per week on your research. This period shall not exceed 15 hours of organised daytime study per week.
Students on graduate research programmes are initially registered for the degree of MPhil. Promotion to registration to PhD is not automatic, but contingent on the satisfactory outcome of a review process. This normally takes place towards the end of the first year of registration for full-time candidates and towards the end of the second year for part-time candidates. If the outcome is satisfactory, the student will be upgraded to PhD.
The programme will conclude with submission of your research in the form of a PhD thesis and attendance at a viva voce examination in front of at least two examiners, at least one of whom will be external to the University.
For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students.
Fees
- Full-time EU: £4,200 per year (2013 entry)
- Part-time EU: £2,100 per year (2013 entry)
- Full-time Non EU: £10,000 per year (2013 entry)
- Part-time Non EU: £5,300 per year (2013 entry)
Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination. Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration.
You pay the above fees (which usually increase each year in line with inflation) annually until you are ready to go into 'writing up' status, whereby you are no longer researching your research topic and are solely writing up your thesis for examination. You will not be required to pay further tuition fees but you will be charged the writing-up fee of £300 which will cover you for the duration of the writing-up period (a maximum of 12 months for full-time and 18 months for part-time students).
If a student fails to submit their thesis within the maximum writing-up period, they will be reverted to full registration (full-time or part-time depending on their status before moving to writing up) and will be required to pay the full fees. Students will only be expected to pay for the time taken to complete the thesis and once the thesis has been submitted the remaining proportional fees will be refunded to the student.
Fees are payable upon registration. Details of methods of the payment of tuition fees can be found on the University's website, at: http://www.city.ac.uk/study/why-study-at-city/fees-and-finance/paying-fees.
Funding
University Funding
The University offers doctoral studentships on a competitive basis each year.
Further information.Link for further information to http://www.city.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/fees/university-doctoral-studentships.
Preliminary Enquiries
For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students.
How to Apply
In order to apply for a place on the MPhil/PhD programme, please visit the following webpage to download an application form: www.city.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/application. Please submit the following documents to ensure there are no delays processing your application:
- One copy of the completed application form
- One copy of your research proposal
- Certified copies of your degree certificates and transcripts
- Two references - these may be submitted as hard copies in signed and sealed envelopes. If your referees would prefer to email the recommendation letters they can do so, as long as they send them directly to me from their official work (not private) email account
- Proof of your English language proficiency (if applicable).
Completed applications may be sent by email or post to the addresses below:
Richard Thornbury
Quality & Doctoral Administrator
City University London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7040 4841
Email: richard.thornbury.1@city.ac.uk
N.B. Please note that the maximum size of any individual file you send by email should be 1mb, and that the combined size of all files you email should be less than 2mb. If the size of any files you need to send are larger than this, you should consider re-sizing these, or uploading them to a website rather than sending by email.
When this information is received the application will be assessed by the relevant academic staff. Further information or an interview may be required. The applicant will be contacted if this is the case. The outcome will be reported to the applicant as soon as is practicable.
Writing Your Research Proposal
Your research proposal should give an outline of the research you intend to conduct, along with the research questions you will be attempting to answer, and an initial plan for how you will complete the research. A preliminary literature research which shows where you think your research will sit within existing knowledge would also be useful.
Supervision
Research students are normally appointed a supervisory team consisting of at least two supervisors. One of these will be designated as the first point of contact with personal responsibility for ensuring that effective supervision is provided.
Training Provision
Information on central provision for doctoral students can be found here: http://www.city.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/development.