PhD Creative and Cultural Industries

Humanities PGR Open Week 2026

Find out what it's like to undertake a PhD at the University of Manchester. Join our Humanities PGR Open Week sessions (21 - 28 October) to meet researchers, explore funding and support, and get expert guidance on the application process.

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Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by 11 January 2027.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2026 entry: 30 June 2027
• For January 2028 entry: 30 September 2027
  

Before you start your application , you must:

1. Develop your own r esearch proposal and project title.
2. Find a supervisor by browsing our academics profiles . We strongly encourage you to confirm that your chosen supervisor interests align with your proposed research and that they are willing to support your project.
3. Consider how you plan on funding your research and discuss this with your supervisor.

When you submit your application, you must include each of the below required documents:

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal ; Please state the word count on page 1 of the document.
• A copy of your Bachelor's academic transcript and certificate.
• A copy of your Master's academic transcript and certificate. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• If you have completed more than one Bachelor's or Master's degree, please provide evidence for each. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must provide an official English translation. If your weighted average mark or GPA is not included on these documents, please also include an official document from your university verifying this information.
• An up-to-date academic CV summarising your academic record, employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• The names of two academic referees, including one from your most recent institution. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following the submission of your application form. You may wish to notify your referees to submit their references promptly, as this is part of the review process.
• A certificate or evidence demonstrating your English language ability and proficiency. Applications can be considered without this evidence but any offer would be conditional on meeting minimum requirements.
  

Our PhD Creative and Cultural Industries programme supports advanced research into the social, economic, political and cultural dynamics shaping contemporary cultural production. The programme approaches the creative and cultural industries as fields of labour, policy, digital innovation and value making. It provides an interdisciplinary doctoral environment that brings together perspectives from the arts, humanities and social sciences.

You will undertake an original research project within the broad field of creative and

• cultural industries. Areas of research may include:
• creative labour, inequality and structural inclusion;
• digital transformation and artificial intelligence;
• cultural policy and governance;
• intellectual property and regulation;
• cultural leadership and organisational change;
• global creative economies and the creative industries in the Global South;
• creative-industry infrastructures and regional development;
• media, performance, festivals and events;
• cultural value, participation and sustainability;

You will benefit from supervisory expertise in creative justice, including inequalities of race and class, as well as cultural policy, digital cultures, creative labour, festivals and events, media and performance industries, and regional and global cultural production. You will also be able to participate in research seminars, workshops and interdisciplinary networks across the University.

The programme offers both a standard thesis route and a practice-based research route. The standard route comprises a thesis of up to 80,000 words. The practice-based route combines an appropriate practical component with a written thesis of between 20,000 and 50,000 words. Both routes are examined through the submission of the thesis or portfolio and a viva voce examination.

The programme is based primarily on independent doctoral research supported by regular one-to-one supervision. You will normally have a minimum of 12 supervisory meetings each year.

Alongside your individual supervision, you will participate in cohort-based training, research-led seminars and interdisciplinary workshops. You will have access to research and professional development opportunities offered through Methods@Manchester, My Research Essentials and the University’s Researcher Development Programme.

With the approval of your supervisory team, you may also audit selected MA Creative and Cultural Industries course units, such as Cultural Policy, Creative Labour and Global Cultural Industries, to strengthen your theoretical or methodological foundations. These units are non-credited and do not form part of the formal PhD award.

Throughout the programme, you will receive support in research design, methodology, fieldwork, academic writing, publication development and career planning. This training will prepare you for careers in academia, cultural policy and the wider creative economy.

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on our Humanities PGR blog .

Research and teaching in arts management is supported by rich resources within our library. Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

We also have one of the largest academic IT services in Europe - supporting world-class teaching and research. There are extensive computing facilities across campus, with access to standard office software as well as specialist programmes, all connected to the campus network and internet.

Every student is registered for email, file storage and internet access. If more demanding computer access is required, our specialist computing division can provide high-end and specialist computing services.

Find out more about facilities for Institute for Cultural Practices students.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help support you with your goals for the future .