PhD in Film Studies – University of Television and Film Munich

Institution providing the doctoral degree

University of Television and Film Munich (Hochschule für Fernsehen und Musik)

Location

Munich | Germany (Bavaria)

Name of PHD

PhD in Film Studies

Research Clusters
  • Film Studies
  • Other fields

Duration

Doctoral status granted for 5 years, extendable once by up to 2 years.

Public / Private institution

Public University

Financial terms of the PHD position
  • Self-funded PhD – you must provide both tuition and your own maintenance
  • PhD Fully or partially externally funded, with a stipend, through private or public foundations, scholarships, grants, one or more companies, or public institutions that you have to find on your own

Fees: no tuition fees but semester contributions apply.

Funding resources: PhD students must secure their own funding through external scholarships, grants, or sponsorships.

Depending on the topic of the project one may try receiving funds from the following scholarship foundations:  
https://www.boell.de/
https://www.rosalux.de/
https://www.boeckler.de/
https://www.fes.de/
https://www.evstudienwerk.de/
https://www.studienstiftung.de/

The following database may as well help: https://www2.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/datenbank/en/21148-scholarship-database/

Final output

  • Dissertation
    • Independent, unpublished monograph in German that makes an original contribution to media-studies research (film & television).
    • Submit 3 bound copies when you request the opening of the doctoral procedure.
    • Two reviewers (one HFF professor, one from the partner university) assess it within 3 months; the period may be extended once by up to 3 months.
    • If the reviews differ by more than one full grade, or if major revision/rejection is suggested, a third reviewer is appointed.
    • A single revision round is possible (max. 1 year).
  • Disputation / oral defense
    • Public, in German, lasting 90–120 minutes.
      • Starts with a 30-minute presentation of your thesis and key theses (text must reach the committee 14 days beforehand).
      • Followed by a scholarly Q&A; only the five-member examination committee may ask questions.
    • Immediate closed-door grading on the 0.5 – 3.0 scale (summa → rite).
    • If failed, the defense can be repeated once within one year (normally within 6 months).
  • Publication & deposit
    • After passing, you receive printing permission once any mandatory corrections are approved.
    • You must publish the dissertation within 12 months of receiving the overall grade.
    • Deposit: 5 bound copies with the committee plus
      • 30 additional copies for the HFF Library or
      • 5 copies if a commercial publisher prints an edition of ≥ 150.
    • Purely digital submission is not sufficient.
    • The doctorate certificate is issued after the copies arrive; the official date of the PhD is the day of the disputation.

How to apply

Acceptance as a doctoral candidate (before research starts)

            •           Submit to the Promotionsausschuss:

• qualifying degree certificate and transcript

• proof of advanced knowledge in film/TV history, analysis & theory

• curriculum vitae

• declaration of any previous or ongoing doctorates

• written supervision agreement from an HFF media-studies professor

• provisional dissertation title, detailed research proposal with timeline

            •           The committee decides; admission is granted for 5 years (extension up to 2 years possible) and allows you to enrol at HFF for max. 6 semesters as a doctoral student. 

            2.         Opening the doctoral procedure (after the manuscript is finished)

            •           Prerequisites: attendance at ≥ 3 doctoral colloquia and an approved supervisor.

            •           Submit:

• CV and letter naming supervisor + proposed examiners

• official proof of the three colloquia

• three bound copies of the dissertation

• sworn originality statement

• declaration of earlier doctorate attempts • statement that the thesis is still unpublished.

Entry requirements
  • Path A – HFF Diploma (Department I “Medienwissenschaft”): final grade ≤ 1.7 (≈ first-class honours / GPA ≤ 3.3). 
  • Path B – External Master/Magister in Media or Communication Studies at a university: final grade ≤ 1.7. 
  • Path C – Excellent FH diploma or ≥ 3-year Bachelor (top 5 % of cohort) in a relevant field plus all of the following:
    • Complete the HFF exam course (incl. oral exam) and the “Abschlusskurs” with a major term paper, each with ≤ 1.7.
    • Doctoral subject must match the previous degree content.
    • 10-page (min.) written research proposal with bibliography.
    • Pass three one-hour written exams set by HFF in
      • Film & Television History
      • Film & Television Theory
      • Film & Television Analysis.
  • Confirmation that an HFF professor will supervise and supports the application. 

Applicants from any path must demonstrate advanced subject knowledge and secure a supervisor before applying.

Contact / Web page

Eva Faistenhammer / Kathrin Maus (Department 1) | Abteilung1@hff-muc.de | +49 (0)89 68957-1000

https://hff-muc.de/en_EN/abteilung-1-promotion

Additional information

Languages used within the program and for thesis writing and discussion: German and English

PhD with only theoretical outcomes – no artistic projects/concerts/exhibitions as part of the final project

General information about research in Germany: https://www.research-in-germany.org/en.html 

Visa information for extra-EU doctoral candidates: https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Arbeit/Wissenschaftler/wissenschaftler-node.html