PhD Digital and creative technologies postgraduate research degrees

The University of Portsmouth PhD Digital and Creative Technologies Postgraduate Research Degrees is a research-focused programme, where students research in areas such as animation, visual effects (VFX), cross reality (XR), user experience (UX), computer and video games, visual computing, and music technology using advanced equipment in studios and labs with students supervised by an expert team, benefitting from support from the Graduate School and participation in training, workshops and research seminars.

This course runs for three years full-time or six years part‑time. Students get professional development support from the Doctoral College. You can apply for a funded research project, work on a self-funded one, or propose your original research idea with guidance from the university.

The University of Portsmouth is a respected institution in the UK. The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across fields such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Business, and the Arts.

It is known for strong research performance, with 77 % of its research rated internationally excellent in REF 2021, and its gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, which shows its high-quality teaching standards.

PhD researchers benefit from excellent supervision, modern facilities, and active research communities.

Candidates for the PhD Digital and Creative Technologies Postgraduate Research Degrees at the University of Portsmouth must submit a personal statement that states their reasons for applying for this programme and relevant experiences. An academic or employer reference is also required, and applicants have the option of submitting their CV to show their work experience.

Grade Requirements:

• Applicants need an upper second‑class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a master’s degree in an appropriate area.
• Applicants with relevant professional experience or qualifications may be accepted.

English Proficiency:

• Candidates who do not have an English-speaking background need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section.
• An approved equivalent, such as TOEFL or Pearson PTE, is accepted.

International students of PhD Digital and Creative Technologies Postgraduate Research Degrees in the University of Portsmouth pay a range of £16,200 per year.

The university offers a limited number of scholarships for PhD students. One such is the Vice Chancellor’s Global Development Scholarship, which offers a £2,500 fee waiver on the first-year tuition for full-time postgraduate research students from eligible countries.

Graduates of the PhD Digital and Creative Technologies Postgraduate Research Degrees from the University of Portsmouth are prepared for roles such as:

• Academic Researcher
• Games Developer
• VFX Specialist
• XR Designer
• Graphics Hardware Developer

The University of Portsmouth PhD Digital and Creative Technologies Postgraduate Research Degrees applicants should visit the school's application portal to apply. You can speak to one of our trained counsellors for guidance.