Digital Media PhD

Program Overview

The Digital Media PhD program at the University of Sussex is a research-based degree that aims to understand the transformations in everyday life and social worlds brought about by digital media technologies. Students work with experts who guide them through their research, developing specialist methods to conduct original research and enhance their critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills. The program offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and has a strong reputation for research outputs in the field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Digital Media PhD program at the University of Sussex is a research-based degree that explores the rapid development and distribution of digital media technologies in everyday life. The program aims to understand the transformations in everyday life and social worlds brought about by these technologies. Students will work with expert faculty who will guide and supervise them throughout their research project.

Objectives:

• To develop specialist methods and approaches to understand the transformations in everyday life and social worlds brought about by digital media technologies.
• To conduct original research that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge or understanding in the field of digital media.
• To develop critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze complex issues related to digital media.
• To enhance communication and presentation skills.

Teaching:

• The program is taught through a combination of individual supervision, seminars, workshops, and conferences.
• Students will have the opportunity to participate in the Sussex Humanities Lab, which is dedicated to developing and expanding interdisciplinary research at the cutting edge of digital humanities and digital media.

Other:

• The program welcomes research proposals in areas such as critical theory, technology, digital humanities, computational media, the political economy of computation, software and algorithm studies, and philosophy of media.
• Projects can be co-supervised by faculty in another school as appropriate.
• The program is ranked 8th in the UK for research outputs in Communications, Cultural and Media Studies in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education).
• The program is ranked =16th in the UK for Communications and Media Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
• The program is ranked 17th in the UK for Communications and Media Studies (Complete University Guide 2024).

Fees for self-funding students Home students: £4,786 per year for full-time students Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £4,786 per year for full-time students International students: £21,500 per year for full-time students