PhD Anthropology, Media and Performance: The University of Manchester

Course description

The programme will be jointly managed by Drama in the School of Arts Histories and Cultures, and the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology/Social Anthropology in the School of Social Sciences. It is a practice-based programme, governed by the principles laid down for the presentation of practice-based theses in the guidelines approved by the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures.

After a year of academic formation and preliminary training in research methods and relevant craft techniques, students will be expected to carry out their projects on the basis of field research of a up to a year's duration. In the third year, students will be expected to return to Manchester and prepare the presentation of their results in textual or other media as appropriate.

Course aims

• To introduce students to potential interdisciplinary combinations of Anthropology, Applied Theatre/Performance Studies and Media Production so that they can produce original knowledge in one or more of these academic fields.
• To introduce students to cutting-edge theories and self-reflexive, critical research practice in all these fields
• To train students in a range of practical field research methods and media production skills sufficient to enable them to carry out the year-long fieldwork that is an integral and necessary aspect of the second year of the programme and to produce a combination of written dissertation and media and/or performance practice thereafter.
• To make students aware of the legal and ethical implications of their work and of the appropriate procedures for ensuring ethical clearance of their research.
• To encourage students in the development of a range of transferable skills in areas such as IT and AV media, as well as presentational, writing, team-working and foreign language skills

Career opportunities

The PHD programme will teach theory and method in Anthropology, Applied Theatre/Performance Studies and Media Practice, to prepare the students for an academic career. The programme is also designed to encourage students in the development of a range of transferable skills in areas such as IT and AV media, as well as presentational, writing, team-working and foreign language skills to enable the students to apply for jobs in the cultural sector.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview: A First or Upper Second Class Honours degree and a taught Masters degree, or their overseas equivalents. For the practice-based PhD, you must demonstrate in your application how your proposed practice will be part of your research process.

English language: If your first language is not English, you need a minimum score of IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 600 paper based or 250 computer based.