PhD Media Studies at University of Virginia

Programme overview

Doctoral programme preparing students for academic careers through critical media studies drawing on communication, cultural studies, film studies, political economy, sociology and science and technology studies, focused on media, power, equity, global circulation and technological change.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Media Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Original research, professional development and teaching experience across media histories, theory, infrastructures, race, gender, sexuality and disability in relation to media, and qualitative, historical and computational methods.

Career pathways

Academic researcher or university professor, media policy analyst, public policy researcher, media technology or digital culture analyst.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (all programmes): online application with a 500-1,000 word statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts of all postsecondary work, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation (programmes may require more), and an $85 non-refundable application fee. International applicants whose undergraduate degree was not earned entirely in English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores: TOEFL iBT 90 overall (22 speaking, 22 writing, 23 reading, 23 listening) for tests taken before 1/21/26, IELTS 7.0 in each section, Duolingo 130 overall; committees may still consider scores below these minimums. GRE is not required for this programme. PhD application deadline: December 15.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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