In May 2011 we will award one full studentship to an exceptional candidate, to enable them to pursue Film Studies at St Andrews from September 2011.
The award will support three full years of Ph.D. study, and is available to candidates from within or outside the UK/EU. The scholarship will be awarded by competition. Applicants are invited to apply via the Postgraduate Office for a place on the programme, and their applications will be considered for this scholarship along with those of other applicants.
To be eligible prospective students must have been offered a place on the PhD programme.
We may also offer fee waiver scholarships to exceptional applications.
If you wish to be considered for the full studentship, and/or any possible fee waiver scholarships, please simply include a brief statement to that effect with your application.
The PhD Programme
The PhD Programme offers three-years of supervision on your own research project, culminating in a dissertation.
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 includes:
- Statements on your research question
- Theoretical framework of your study
- Methodology
- 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 mid 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 May.
Funding
If you are applying for partial 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 four 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 your first full draft of the thesis. 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 year). Completed and submitted final draft of thesis. 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.
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 18 PhD students, making us one of the largest doctoral programmes in film studies in the UK.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS TO REACH US: 18th April 2011.
The source of Full Funded Scholarships for PhD Students in Film Studies
