The Journalism, Media & Communication (JMC) PhD is taken within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and supported by a team of internationally renowned academics.
PhD students in JMC are expected to undertake research which results in a thesis that contributes to the wider literature and/or practice in the field, thereby making an original contribution to current knowledge. Students can also expect to contribute to the vibrant research culture in the subject, including research seminars, the MediaComm Jam and the Graduate School research student network.
A PhD in JMC at Strathclyde may incorporate more than one of the following areas:
At Strathclyde, we can offer supervisory expertise in a variety of areas within JMC, including:
Daily Mail University of the Year Awards 2026
The Sunday Times' Good University Guide 2026
Daily Mail University Guide 2027
All fees quoted are per academic year unless otherwise stated.
Entrants may be subject to a small fee during the writing up period.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study. Any annual increase will not exceed 10%, and in practice this may be lower (for example,. a 6% increase was applied in 2027/28 academic year).
| Scotland |
|
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland |
|
| Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| International |
|
| Additional costs | International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
| Funding | Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information. You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities. |
| Postgraduate research opportunities | Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
The PGR Enhancement and Development programme at the University of Strathclyde provides a comprehensive, student-centred research and training environment designed to support the growth and development of current and future research talent.
The PGR Enhancement and Development Team works closely with all four Faculties to enhance the postgraduate research experience, providing opportunities for researcher development and collaboration, and ensuring that training and support provision is of the highest quality.
Throughout your research degree, you’ll have access to a wide range of training, development opportunities, events, and support designed to help you make the most of your postgraduate research experience.
Journalism, Media and Communication is an interdisciplinary research area within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. We regularly work in conjunction with colleagues from Government & Public Policy, Social Policy, Psychology, Modern Languages, English, History, Psychology, Marketing, and others.
The research community in Strathclyde is robust – it is built on integrity, innovation, research, diversity, and mutual respect. Both home and international students from Africa, Asia, the US, Canada, and Australia are provided with a serene environment based on best practices.
Among the highlights of this journey has been the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and participate in academic conferences, which has significantly broadened my academic and professional network.
All PhDs have two supervisors, and the supervisory team may be comprised of colleagues from different subject areas or Schools within the Faculty. Interdisciplinary applications are strongly encouraged. The specialist areas of supervisors within JMC are listed below:
| Supervisor | Area of interest |
|---|---|
| Karen Boyle (Professor of Feminist Media Studies) |
|
| Petya Eckler (Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Media & Communication) |
|
| Lesley Henderson (Professor of Science Communication, Journalism, Media and Communication) |
|
| Michael Higgins (Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Media & Communication) |
|
| Redi Koobak (Lecturer in Journalism, Media & Communication) |
|
| Raquel Martinez Martin |
|
| Esperanza Miyake (Chancellor’s Fellow in Journalism, Media and Communications) |
|
| Rhiannon McGlade (Lecturer in Hispanic Studies) |
|
| Fiona McKay (Lecturer in Journalism, Media and Communication) |
|
| Kate Mitchell (Senior Lecturer in Italian) |
|
| Camila Mont'Alverne (Lecturer in Journalism, Media and Communication) |
|
| Dayei Oh (Chancellor's Fellow and Lythe Lecturer in Media Analytics in Journalism, Media & Communication) |
|
| Chamil Rathnayake (Lecturer in Journalism, Media & Communication) |
|
As a postgraduate researcher in Journalism, Media and Communication, you'll also be a member of our Faculty Graduate School. We're members of the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities and the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science. All registered PhD students are members of one or both of these Schools (depending on your subject discipline), which provide training, event and funding opportunities. They also encompass the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (SGSAH) and the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership (SGSSS), which offer fully-funded studentships. The university-wide lead for AHRC PGR/SGSAH and ESRC PGR/SGSSS is Dr Mark Ellis.
The Graduate School is also a well-equipped physical space, which further facilitates our strong emphasis on interdisciplinary working.
While pursuing your PhD or MPhil in JMC, you'll also undertake the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD), which provides comprehensive professional and personal development training for all postgraduate research students.
The programme offers a tailored suite of workshops, courses, events, online provision and resources designed to meet the development needs of postgraduate research students. PhD students will graduate with the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development. This is a unique qualification, where students can gain credits for academic-related activities, such as conference presentations and organisation. The aim is to develop skilled, confident researchers and effective and valuable potential employees.
The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation. Take a look at our careers service pages to get more information.
From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.
For PhD, normally, a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, plus a Masters degree in a relevant area.
If you're interested in studying for a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, the first thing you need to do is to find out if there’s a supervisor available to oversee your studies. You can find that information in the supervisor's tab.
The other key element is your research proposal. Read our guidelines on writing proposals.
Applications are via our Pegasus online portal using the apply buttons below.
When applying, you'll be asked to upload:
The University is aware of the temptation to use Generative AI (including ChatGPT), however, these tools do not always generate accurate and up-to-date information.
Our academics, who are experts in their field, are very good at identifying when text has been generated in this way and expect your research proposal to be written in your own words.
We need to know that you have the academic skills required to write a thesis and can only support you on your journey when we see your own work.
If you're an international applicant and don’t have a degree from a UK University (or a University where the primary medium of instruction is English), you'll also be required to provide an IELTS certificate (overall minimum band score of 7 with no individual test score below 6.5, the test must be taken within two years of the programme start date).
Most PhD students start in October, so they move forward as one cohort, but you can start at any time of year (people often have to defer until they find funding). Keep an eye on our funding databases (PGR Opportunities and University Scholarships) for any forthcoming Strathclyde research studentship opportunities.
Stage 1 – applicants must apply online and have uploaded the required documentation by the closing dates. Late applications will not be accepted.
Stage 2 – applicants selected from Stage 1, will be called for interview.
Enquiries for the PhD Journalism, Media and Communication can be directed to potential supervisors.
