Journalism, Digital Media and Democracy: Fully funded PhD Studentship in SRC Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences WGSSS Journalism, Digital Media and Democracy - Media Studies pathway (RS894)

The funding providers: ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50% 

The subject areas: ESRC WGSSS Studentship Journalism, Digital Media and Democracy – Media Studies Pathway 

The Project start date: 1st October 2026 (enrolment opens from mid-September). **(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.) 

Supervisors: This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC WGSSS website. The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Prof Richard Thomas, richard.h.thomas@swansea.ac.uk, might be able to advise you. 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Journalism, Digital Media and Democracy – Media Studies 

Project Description: 

Media, Communications and Public Relations at Swansea has been consistently recognised for its excellence and is placed right at the top in UK league tables for various elements of its delivery. Priding itself on a strong sense of community, staff and students are involved at the cutting edge of the study of contemporary media and its impact. Our mix of esteemed practitioners and globally acknowledged scholars has expertise across a broad range of sub-themes within the Journalism, Democracy and Digital Media pathway.  

For example, while we attend to the traditional aspects of print and broadcast journalism and the way that these cover key areas such as politics, conflict, financial affairs, the climate crisis and sport, our expertise extends into alternative digital news media, fact checking, disordered information, hate speech, racism and misogyny. Colleagues have extensively researched social media and all its dimensions, the metaverse, virtual and augmented reality, the wider implications of surveillance and technological interventions into all elements of contemporary life. We have strong impact in the fields of digital access for minority groups and the ways that news and journalism are both governed and regulated, and overarching all of this, our film and TV studies scholars offer insight into how all such elements are represented to wider audiences. Our public relations scholars are research active in looking at both the corporate functioning and the more disruptive elements within that profession, and how organisations digitally manage and maintain crises and brand identities. We would welcome applications that tap into these themes and add new and important dimensions.    

Our strong links with the media sector itself - via our own Industry Panel – ensure the contemporary nature of our activities and provide a wide range of internship and work experience opportunities. In sum, studying a Media PhD at Swansea combines the benefits of accessing the most up-to-date experts in “media” in its widest sense with becoming part of a close-knit community of scholars who prioritise community and collegiality. We have research methods experts covering both quantitative and qualitative methods, and the pathway lead is a former recipient of ESRC funding both as a student and a researcher and is heavily invested in maximising the benefits of these excellent opportunities to develop stellar academic, industrial or public sector careers.

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. For further information, please see the English Language Requirements - Swansea University.  

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page. 

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). Students also have access to a Research Training Support Grant.

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) 

To apply, please complete the entire application form.

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS894 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

1. In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  

• the RS Code, RS894 and 

• the scholarship title.   

2. Please leave 'Proposed Supervisor' field blank 

3. Please leave 'Research Project' (if applicable) blank 

4. In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) please select Yes 

5. Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.  

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:  

• Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.  
• Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).  
• Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.  

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards. 

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email): 

• WGSSS_Studentship_Application_Form_2026.pdf  

• CV 

• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 

• Two academic or professional headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference. 

• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable). 

• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable) 

• Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Assessment:    

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions  

Duration of study:    

The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent).      

The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.    

Research in practice placement:    
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.     

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:   

WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co-funding of a scholarship project is applicable.

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.