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PhD Degrees in Film Studies

History, theory, criticism and research: film and cinema studied as an academic discipline. This list includes phd degrees in the field itself, degrees with an officially named film studies concentration, and broader film degrees whose published curriculum substantially covers it. Each card says which.

14 programs

Sort:A–ZDeadlineAnnual tuitionStipendRecently verified

Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking — editorial selections are published separately under Top Schools. What we list

Harvard University logo

Harvard University

PhD in Film and Visual Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Visual Studies
Location: Cambridge, MA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Five to six years (expected timetable)
Funding: Fully funded (all admitted)
Tuition: $59,048 per academic year · All students — Full tuition, required for the first two years (PhD students may receive tuition grants) · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026
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New York University logo

New York University

PhD in Cinema Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Cinema Studies
Location: New York, NY
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Fully funded (all admitted)
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

PhD in Screen Cultures

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Screen Cultures
Location: Evanston, IL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Fully funded (all admitted)
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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Temple University logo

Temple University

Documentary Arts and Visual Research PhD

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Documentary Arts and Visual Research
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (broader film degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $974 per credit · In-state — Graduate, Theater, Film, Media Arts, PA resident, per credit hour · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

PhD in Film & Media

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film & Media
Location: Berkeley, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Five years (10 semesters) funded period
Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)
Tuition: $6,861 per semester · All students — Graduate: Academic tuition (residents and nonresidents) · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
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University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Cinema & Media Studies (PhD)

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Television — Cinema & Media Studies
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $15,066 per academic year · In-state — UC Systemwide Tuition (graduate students) · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
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University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

PhD in Film and Media Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Media Studies
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus. · Full-time
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Five to six years on the M.A./Ph.D. track (M.A. in two years, Ph.D. about three years after the M.A.)
Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)
Tuition: $13,722 per academic year · In-state — Resident graduate tuition · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026
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University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

PhD in Film and Digital Media

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Digital Media
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Normative time six years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $24,118.58 per academic year · In-state — Graduate academic student fees, total California resident (includes waivable UC SHIP) · 2026-2027
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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University of Chicago logo

University of Chicago

PhD in Cinema and Media Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Cinema and Media Studies
Location: Chicago, IL
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Typically 6 years
Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)$37,000 stipend (year)
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Autumn 2027
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University of Iowa

PhD in Film Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film Studies
Location: Iowa City, IA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Fully funded (conditions apply)
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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University of Pittsburgh logo

University of Pittsburgh

PhD in Film and Media Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Media Studies
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Format: Format not verified
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $27,412 per academic year · In-state — Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences graduate, Pennsylvania residents, full-time two terms · 2026-2027
Deadline: January 10, 2027 · Fall 2027
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University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

PhD in Cinema & Media Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Cinema & Media Studies
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Duration not verified
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: Tuition not published
Deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
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Yale University logo

Yale University

PhD in Film and Media Studies

PhDDoctor of Philosophy in Film and Media Studies (stand-alone or combined track)
Location: New Haven, CT
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Studies (dedicated degree)
Duration: Students are expected to graduate after year six; some finish a year earlier
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $26,200 per term · All students — Graduate School of Arts and Sciences full-time tuition · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 15, 2026 · Fall (matriculation year not printed)
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How phd film studies programs are classified

  • Dedicated degree: The degree itself is in this field.
  • Named concentration: An officially named concentration, specialization or track inside the degree.
  • Broader film degree: A broader film degree whose official curriculum substantially covers this field.

Film studies programs ask for academic writing samples (often a critical or research paper) rather than films. PhD applicants usually submit a statement of research interests.

See the full Film Studies field guide or every phd program.