MPhil/PhD Data, Networks and Society

From social media to AI and big data, we’ve seen the transformation of the media, communications and technological landscape over the past 10 years.

This interdisciplinary programme explores the social impact of the datafication and digitisation of our society. You’ll analyse how data and networks shape social structures, influence regulation and transform our lives. You’ll also look at the benefits and risks of data-driven and networked technologies in either addressing or exacerbating social, political and economic inequalities. Optional courses allow you to delve into topics such as digital platforms, governance, and technology and justice.

The programme includes rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative data analytics. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute original research to the field on the role of data and networks in society. Current PhD students are completing research on wide-ranging topics from utopian and dystopian discourses around Meta (aka Facebook) to gender inequalities in rural India driven by the digitisation of education.

You’ll begin on the MPhil and progress to the PhD (subject to meeting certain requirements).

We have a welcoming, supportive community of students, researchers and world-leading academics. Our department is rated top in the UK and sixth in the world for media and communications (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026). In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 96% of our research was rated "world-leading" or "internationally excellent". This is partly achieved through our commitment to promoting diversity in our doctoral cohort as well as our faculty, we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and perspectives.

Our graduates pursue interesting and challenging careers in academia, government and industry, influencing policymaking and research.

• Baym N. K. (2010) Personal Connections in the Digital Age. Polity
• Boltanski l. and Chiapello E. (2001) The New Spirit of Capitalism. London: Verso
• Carey J. W. (1989) Communication as Culture New York. NY: Routledge
• Chadwick A. (2017) The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power – 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Chesher C. Crawford K. and Dunne A. (2014) Understanding the Internet. Language, technology, Media, Power London: MacMillan. Palgrave
• Chouliaraki L. (2013) The Ironic Spectator. Solidarity in the Age of Post-humanitarianism. Cambridge: Polity
• Couldry N. (2012) Media, Society, World. Cambridge: Polity
• Lievrow A. L. and Livingstone S. (eds.) (2006) The Handbook of New Media (updated edition). London: Sage
• Mansell R. (2012) Imagining the Internet. Oxford: OUP
• Papacharissi Z. (2014) Affective Publics. Oxford: OUP
• Rogers R. (2013) Digital Methods. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press
• Wacquant L. and Bourdieu P. (1992) Introduction to Reflexive Sociology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
• Silverstone R. (2006) Media and Morality. On the Rise of Mediapolis. Cambridge: Polity.

All First year students are MPhil students until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD students.

In addition to satisfactory completion of the training below, all MPhil students will be required to submit a thesis proposal of 10,000 words to their thesis committee. This paper needs to include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for completion.

Together with any examination(s) for quantitative methodological courses, the thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva, will determine whether students are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year.

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

All upgraded PhD students not submitting their thesis must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

Full time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their fourth year; part-time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their eighth year.

All upgraded PhD students not submitting their thesis must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

The Department of Media and Communications is a world-leading centre for education and research in the field. Our department is ranked first in the UK and sixth globally for communication and media studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026).

We offer students a wide selection of programmes, including master’s degrees, doctoral research training and short courses. At any one time, we have around 270 master’s students and 30 PhD students from around the world – all varying in age, professional experience and backgrounds.

Within the department, our research is organised around four key themes: media culture and identities, media participation and politics, communication histories and futures, and communication technology, rights and justice. The outputs from our research are shared with organisations such as the BBC, Facebook, Google, UNICEF, Ofcom and the UK/EU governments.

LSE’s location at the heart of London, one of the world's media capitals, allows us to foster close links with media and communications industries and policymakers.

Graduates from our programmes progress to interesting roles in broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in the public and private sectors.

Department of Media and Communications

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of our staff at LSE. For this reason, we recommend that you take a look at our staff research interests before applying.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications)
• statement of academic purpose
• references
• CV
• outline research proposal
• sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Please note that LSE allows part-time PhD study only under limited circumstances. If you wish to study part-time, you should mention this (and the reasons for it) in your statement of academic purpose, and discuss it at interview if you're shortlisted.

Research proposal guidelines

Applicants for doctoral study with the Department of Media and Communications are required to submit a research proposal of no more than 2,500 words summarising and justifying their proposed research.

The research proposal will provide selectors with an idea of topics of interest, and help in matching candidates to potential supervisors. If your application is accepted, you may be permitted to re-negotiate your topic, subject to the department’s ability to supervise the new topic.

The final project proposal should feature the following sections:

• Title: A clearly stated title/research question at the beginning of your proposal
• Preferred potential supervisor: Please indicate clearly on the first page of the proposal who you wish to supervise your project. Available supervisors can be found on our list of academic staff (please note LSE Fellows cannot supervise PhD projects).
• Keywords: Please include on the first page of the proposal up to 10 keywords or phrases which accurately reflect the content of your project (eg, "internet governance", "data privacy", "children's media use", "feminism", "representation", "platform studies").
• Introduction to research question(s): What question(s) will you attempt to answer? Why is the topic interesting and important? Is there a theoretical and empirical "gap" that your research will seek to fill? What core theories and concepts will you draw on?
• Literature Review: Summarise the relevant literature and the field(s) to be contributed to. What are the main theories in the area? What are the critical empirical phenomena in the area? Specify the key references relevant to the proposed research. How do you position yourself vis-à-vis the theories and concepts you propose to use?
• Methodology: How will you address the empirical aspects of the research? Which methodology is appropriate and why? If the research question requires a combination of different methodologies, how will they be related? Do you foresee any practical difficulties in pursuing the research (e.g. finding suitable participants or data sources)? If so, how might they be overcome?
• Conclusion: What is the added value of the project? How will your research take our understanding forward in your chosen (sub-)field?
• Bibliography: A list of texts used in preparing your proposal. (Not to be included in the word count).

The application deadline for this programme is 14 January 2026.

If you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by this application and funding deadline.

See the fees and funding section below for more details.

The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with fee levels recommended by the Research Councils.

Learn more about fee status classification.

The fee is likely to rise over the full duration of the programme in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, four per cent each year).

Learn more about fee status classification.

Progression and asssessment

You'll initially register for the MPhil and follow a taught programme involving coursework which is formally assessed. Towards the end of your first year, you'll submit a 10,000-word research proposal. This paper will include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for its completion. Evaluation of this paper, together with an oral examination based on the thesis proposal and the submission of satisfactory coursework, will contribute to assessing whether you are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into your second year.

You'll be assigned a Thesis Committee consisting of your two supervisors and a senior member of the department’s faculty as Chair. This committee will act as the review panel at the end of the first year of registration and in the decision to upgrade you from MPhil to PhD. The Thesis Committee also provides feedback on draft chapters submitted at the end of the second year and remains responsible for overviewing your progress in subsequent years.

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document at the end of their second year and each subsequent year in which they are not submitting their thesis.

Learn more about the progress review and upgrade process

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.