PhD Scholarship Call 2026 – School of Communications, DCU

The School of Communications at DCU is home to almost 1,000 students at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels. With a tradition stretching back more than 40 years, the School is defined by excellence in both teaching and research in communication, journalism and multimedia studies.

The School’s academics undertake research that contributes to national and international debates and public policy formation. They also lead research projects supported by national and international funders. This cutting-edge research is across a range of (inter)disciplinary fields including, but not limited to, (new) media studies, media history, journalism studies, science communication, political communication, social media studies, online safety, media & gender, film and television studies, music industry studies, advertising, and cultural studies. 

Scholarship holders are required to contribute to the academic life of the school and are assigned paid tutoring duties as part of their career development. 

For the three funded PhD scholarships across a four-year duration, we invite applications in the following thematic areas:

Deepfake, Nudification, and other Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Technologies. 

The doctoral research will be part of a project applying a longitudinal analysis of related technologies, algorithms responsible for app/software outreach, and the social and behavioural aspects of usership. The project’s scope extends to (1) a detailed analysis of user experience design (e.g., affordances, technical features), (2) application walkthroughs, (3) recommender algorithms and other pathways of access (i.e., the ways in which users come into contact with these platforms), and (4) user experiences (obtained through interviews and/or surveys). The exact scope of the research may depend on the candidate’s expertise and interests. The project may involve industry collaboration, which opens a wide-range of career opportunities post-PhD. 

The ideal candidate holds a master’s degree in a relevant field, including, but not limited to, digital media studies, human-computer interaction, computer science, or equivalent. For further information, contact Prof. Debbie Ging (debbie.ging@dcu.ie) and Dr. Kata Szita (kata.szita@dcu.ie).

Documentary Subjects: Consent, Rights and GDPR. 

This scholarship is particularly interested in the intersection of documentary practice with the evolving legal and ethical landscape shaped by data protection regulations, specifically the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Ireland. Scholars will have the opportunity to examine the right to privacy in documentary filmmaking, analysing how these laws affect the representation of individuals and communities. 

Furthermore, the concept of consent remains paramount in documentary practice. Researchers are encouraged to interrogate the nuances of informed consent, considering how power dynamics and ethical considerations shape the relationships between filmmakers and subjects. This inquiry will foster a deeper understanding of the responsibilities documentary practitioners bear towards their subjects in an increasingly scrutinised media environment.

Lastly, candidates may investigate the repurposing of archival materials, contemplating the ethical implications and potential narratives that emerge when historical footage is re-contextualised. There is scope for this area to intersect also with the topic of consent in the longer term: what rights are afforded to those, living or deceased, who may appear in such archive material whose contemporary use may differ from the original context. 

Ideally, candidates should be holders of master’s degrees in a relevant field. Practice based doctoral projects are eligible. Industry experience and working knowledge cultural production are desirable. For further information contact Dr. Dragana Jurisic (dragana.jurisic@dcu.ie) and Dr. Tom Burke (tom.burke@dcu.ie).

Generative AI & Memory Studies.

This scholarship is particularly interested in critically examining the intersection of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Memory Studies. Memory Studies investigates how societies remember, forget, share, and construct narratives of the past - examining the politics, policies, practices, and technologies of memory across individual, collective, and cultural registers. The emergence of GenAI technologies (LLMs, Diffusion Models, Agentic Systems, etc.) introduce profound questions about the computational mediation of memory: How do these systems influence what and how we remember? What new forms of remembering and forgetting do they enable or foreclose? How can AI hallucinations, inaccuracies, or threats to authenticity be reconciled?

This Scholarship supports doctoral research which critically examines GenAI's role in memory formation, preservation, distortion, remediation, or augmentation, with particular attention to cultural, ethical, and social implications. We welcome applications from candidates proposing original research that could include - but is not limited to - the following themes, as they intersect with GenAI: synthetic memory production or augmentation; public memory, commemoration, or memorial systems; archival practices and cultural memory; algorithmic memory cultures and practices. A successful proposal will bridge technology and humanities, contributing to responsible AI integration and deeper understanding of memory in the digital age. 

For further information contact: Dr Declan Tuite (declan.tuite@dcu.ie); Dr Dónal Mulligan (donal.mulligan@dcu.ie)

Projects outside the listed thematic areas

In addition to these funded scholarships, the School may consider suitable applicants whose proposed projects fall outside the thematic areas listed above, provided that candidates are willing and eligible to pursue a PhD through alternative funding routes (e.g. Research Ireland/Government of Ireland scholarships, self-funding, or other external funding sources to be identified by the candidate).

How to apply

Candidates can apply to only one of the three thematic areas listed above and should clearly indicate which area their application addresses. If candidates have applied (or are going to apply) for other scholarships at DCU, this must be clearly stated in their emails to the potential supervisors. If candidates apply for more than one thematic area, their applications will not be considered. Proposals falling outside these thematic areas may be considered for non-scholarship PhD places, subject to supervisory capacity and funding availability; however, proposals aligned with the listed thematic areas will be prioritised for the allocation of funded scholarships.

NB. Applicants must contact the relevant supervisors prior to submitting an application. Two co-supervisors are indicated at the end of the description of each topic area. Candidates are invited to contact both co-supervisors for the thematic area of choice as soon as possible. Applications submitted without prior contact with listed supervisors may be disqualified. 

Applicants are invited to submit:

• A 2,000-word research proposal 

• A brief CV detailing academic qualifications and professional experience to date.

• A personal statement (personal statement guidelines are provided here: https://www.dcu.ie/registry/personal-statement-guidelines) 

Indicative components of the research proposal are: 

1. a preliminary literature review, locating the work in the appropriate field(s); 

2. clearly defined research questions; 

3. proposed methodology (please be specific on the methods you plan to apply); 

4. indicative contribution of the research to disciplinary knowledge; 

5. a bibliography (not included in the word count).
    

NB. All applications should be submitted to Ms. Eileen Myers, Secretary, School of Communications, DCU (commsschooloffice@dcu.ie), clearly indicating the thematic area under which they are applying and the names of the two co-supervisors associated with the topic area. Applicants proposing projects outside the listed thematic areas should clearly indicate this in their submission and note the intended or potential funding route (e.g. external scholarship application, self-funding).

Closing date for applications:  13 March 2026. 

Eligibility

Applicants must: 

• Hold a relevant undergraduate degree at 2.1 or first-class honours level (or equivalent). Ideally, they should also hold a relevant Masters qualification. Candidates who are currently completing a Masters qualification are welcome to apply. 

• Meet, where relevant, the English language requirements for non-native speakers of English. 

DCU Entry Requirements apply, which are detailed here

Criteria for assessment and next steps

The initial assessment of the proposal is based on the criteria below: 

1. Quality of the research proposal (strong research question, relevant literature / theoretical frameworks, etc.) 

2. Merit of the proposed research methodology

3. Compatibility of proposed topic/field of scholarship with the thematic areas defined above

4. Suitability for research student teaching and related professional development

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to conduct an interview (either in person or online) to discuss their research proposal, academic and professional background and achievements, and their motivations to undertake PhD level research at DCU. The interviews will take place in April/May 2026. 

Criteria to assess the interviews include: 

1. Knowledge of topic / ability to speak competently to proposal 

2. Communication skills 

3. Prior publications / conference contributions and commitment to publish during 

studies 

4. Suitability for teaching and professional development 

5. Professional experience / ability to complete projects / meet deadlines; 

6. Motivation for taking on the challenge of a PhD project and awareness of what is involved. 

Successful candidates then will be required to apply formally to be admitted as PhD scholars, and may also need to show proficiency in the English language. Successful candidates will begin their studies in September 2026 and are required to be normally resident in Dublin for the duration of their studies.

Further information

For the scholarship details and fees please consult the FHSS scholarship policy, which is linked here.

General information on making a Postgraduate Research application is available from the Graduate Studies Office.