Our PhD in Digital Media Arts is an innovative programme that cuts across art, technology, and science, bringing together new forms of interactive storytelling and immersive experiences with contemporary film-making and game design, as well as film, media, and games history and criticism. The fast changing world of digital media means this study is more relevant than ever, with the video game and interactive entertainment industries expected to be larger than the film and television industries combined before the year 2020.
Our Guildford home is one of the largest creative communities in Europe, with the Guardian referring to Guildford as the ‘Hollywood of video games’. The area is home to video game developers such as EA/Criterion, Epic, Supermassive, Media Molecule, nDreams and Hello Games, as well as Pinewood’s Shepperton film studios. We’re also less than an hour from video effects houses in London, and home to many music, audio and video production studios. As a digital media arts researcher you’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with local companies like these through the local G3 Futures Symposia and our 5G Digital Gaming Initiative.
We have close links with the University’s electrical engineering, life sciences and performance studies teams, as well as with industry organisations such as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH).
You could be supervised by former video game studio directors, technical directors, film and television directors, screen writers, composers, visual effects compositors and supervisors, technical artists, software developers, film and media theoreticians and historians of digital media.
We’re part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council TECHNE PhD funding and training consortium, and could support your PhD with studentships and funding.
Our PhD in Digital Media Arts draws together the study of contemporary film-making and game design, as well as film history and games studies into the broader study of culture and mass media. We also consider a wider context of contemporary screen and digital media related activity, including digital culture and multimedia production.
As a student of our PhD in Digital Media Arts you will develop the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research with scholarly integrity. You will develop a substantial body of work through original research, which could potentially be published, exhibited, and/or performed nationally and internationally. You will engage with major developments in current and emerging media and technologies and demonstrate an awareness of the significance of work in digital media arts.
As a student studying for a PhD in Digital Media Arts you will have two supervisors, who will guide you through your PhD. Your supervisors will be experienced with creative visual media and at least one will be a researcher in digital media arts. As a cross-disciplinary programme, the PhD in Digital Media Arts allows you to have a mixed supervisory team, with one supervisor from outside the Department of Music and Media. Your second supervisor could come from engineering, computer science, life sciences, or another part of the University. Your supervisor will help you refine your research, assist with your methodology, and be able to read your work.
You will be required to present your research to your peers and our staff at least twice during your studies, normally once around your confirmation and again around the time of your viva.
You’ll be able to join a wide-ranging programme of research and doctoral student training events throughout each year of your course, including conferences, visiting speaker sessions, research meetings, and training workshops. We’ll also provide you with training in research skills, including training provided by the TECHNE research consortium. You’ll also benefit from University-wide training offered by the Researcher Development Programme, which can benefit your personal effectiveness, research management and engagement with stakeholders.
| Qualification | Study mode | Course length | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Full-time | 48 months | July |
| PhD | Full-time | 48 months | January |
| PhD | Full-time | 48 months | April |
| PhD | Full-time | 48 months | October |
| PhD | Part-time | 96 months | January |
| PhD | Part-time | 96 months | April |
| PhD | Part-time | 96 months | July |
| PhD | Part-time | 96 months | October |
There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey. Find out more.
Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees.
The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.
Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF).
Applicants are expected to hold a good honours degree and usually a MA in a relevant Arts subject or appropriate professional experience.
Candidates submitting proposals that include practice-based research will be required to provide evidence of appropriate experience and expertise.
View entry requirements by country
IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection is based on applicants meeting the expected entry requirements, assessment of application, successful interview and suitable references where required.
| Study mode | Start date | UK/EU fees | Overseas fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | July | £4,195 | £16,000 |
| Full-time | January | £4,195 | £16,000 |
| Full-time | April | £4,195 | £16,000 |
| Full-time | October | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| Part-time | January | £2,100 | £8,000 |
| Part-time | April | £2,100 | £8,000 |
| Part-time | July | £2,100 | £8,000 |
| Part-time | October | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Please note these fees are for the academic year 2017/18 only. All fees are subject to annual review.
Overseas students applying for 2018 entry should note that annual fees will rise by 4% rounded up to the nearest £100.
| Supervisor(s) | To be confirmed |
|---|---|
| Funding | Doctoral College, University of Surrey |
| Application deadline | 13 November 2017 |
Before completing your application, please get in touch with the relevant department to discuss your proposed area of research – see below for contact details.
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