Applying for Film/Media/Cinema studies Ph.D programs for the fall of 2026

[MarshyMarsh94]

I made a thread this year about the cinema studies/film studies Ph.D programs this year.

I am applying for

UPENN

BROWN

YALE

NYU

STANFORD 

BERKELEY

USC

 

I am mad Harvard cancelled their visual Ph.D admissions this year but I also applied to Princeton, Columbia, and Harvard in musicology.

 

This is where we all keep in touch till we get our admissions letters. Is anyone else applying for film studies?

[SocialKonstruct]

Applied to the MA+P Ph.D. track at USC. That's the only one from this field apart from 4 other programs.

[FILMLVR]

Best of luck!

I am curious to know your results. I plan to apply to similar schools, but next year.

[jukane]

I applied to USC, UC Irvine, and UCLA for film studies (and some other disciplines since my research fits into a few different programs). Wish you all luck!

[Nuarmorg]

I applied to UW and USC for CMS (+UIUC for EALC). Best of luck to everyone! 

[SocialKonstruct]

Most likely rejected from USC MA+P PhD track. This week would have been the interview stage and I didn't get an invite so I am going to assume bye bye birdie for this program. Looking to see if I get into my creative writing or American studies/ethnic PhD. applications (1 MFA application) instead.

[Itsmeiva00]

Has anyone heard from NYU Cinema Studies PhD program? Do they usually conduct interviews before making decisions?

[Nuarmorg]

Hi! Any news from USC or UW? 

[Leni]

On 2/20/2026 at 10:27 AM, Itsmeiva00 said:

Has anyone heard from NYU Cinema Studies PhD program? Do they usually conduct interviews before making decisions?

I think they do, by now one person has posted, that they got an invite for an interview with NYU, exactly in the field Cinema Studies PhD, maybe you saw it already. I hope you got an invite too! 
Question in reverse: Does anyone know about Performance Studies PhD by NYU ? 

[ClaraHuang]

Has anyone received an offer from USC yet?

[Alex741]

That’s an amazing list of programs! I’m also interested in film/visual studies and it would be great to connect with others going through the same application process. Best of luck to everyone applying, and hopefully we’ll all have some good news to share soon!