Expressions of interest and applications are welcome from those interested in pursuing doctoral studies within the School of Media, Culture and Society at the University of the West of Scotland. The School has an impressive research culture. In REF 2014, across the two major Units of Assessment to which our work was submitted, 86% and 88% of the work overall was rated as internationally recognised (2* or higher) with at least one-third of the work in each submission rated as internationally excellent or world leading. In UoA 36 our research environment was assessed as 100% internationally recognised (with 60% internationally excellent - 3*). In this element of our submission, the impact of our research was entirely graded at the highest two levels (3* and 4*), with 30% considered to be ‘world leading’ (4*).

Currently we are seeking applications for PhD studentships in our Cluster in Culture and Creativity, which address the following themes:

• Theoretically and critically informed practice-based work in film, performance, popular and commercial music, visual arts, broadcasting, digital media and creative writing
• Cultural policy and critical events studies including arts and community regeneration, social impact and critical approaches to urban regeneration
• Digital media, culture and society, including citizen/participatory media, social media and cultural impediments to digital inclusion/exclusion, digital media, cultural memory and archiving
• Place-based studies employing methodologies drawn from the arts and humanities with a particular focus on diverse contexts of cultural participation and cultural memory in Scotland
• Media studies including critical discourse analysis of news media and work which engages with contemporary cultural politics, including debates about social inclusion/exclusion, cultural production and cultural entrepreneurship, and the politics of identity and belonging

Funding Notes:
UWS studentships offer an annual stipend of £13,863 per annum for three years and payment of tuition fees (current value £3900). Funding will be considered as part of a competitive round and there is no guarantee that projects submitted by applicants will be awarded funding.

Studentships are open to Home/EU candidates with a first degree in a relevant discipline. Non-EU students can apply, but will not receive the stipend and will be required to pay fees.

Candidates must be available to commence their studies 1st October 2015.

References:
For further information on the activities of each of the research clusters or for an informal discussion about your research proposal, please contact Professor David McGillivray, School Postgraduate Research Student Coordinator ([log in to unmask]" rel="shadowbox;height=550;width=640" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; -webkit-transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; outline: none; color: rgb(137, 199, 88);" class="">[log in to unmask]) or Professor Robert Pyper, Assistant Dean (Research and Enterprise) ([log in to unmask]" rel="shadowbox;height=550;width=640" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-style: inherit; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; -webkit-transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; outline: none; color: rgb(137, 199, 88);" class="">[log in to unmask]) in the first instance. Applications received will be considered by the School after the closing date on 15th May and it is expected that a round of competitive interviews will be scheduled soon afterwards.

Postgraduate Degree by Research Applications should be completed online: further details here:

Please note that we are unable to consider applications without a research proposal.

The closing date for applications is 15th May 2015.