The Doctoral School is a leading centre of excellence in doctoral education in conjunction with CARPE, the School of Film, Music & Theatre's Centre for Arts Research and Practice. The FMT Doctoral School aims to promote the development of a thriving and collaborative community of researchers working to international standards across the three disciplines of film, music and theatre.

 

Lecturer in Music and Director of FMT Doctoral School, Dr Alex Khalil, said: "Film, Music and Theatre has an active community of around 50 PhD students and 30 research and taught postgraduate (MPhil and MRes) students in the School. The FMT Doctoral School offers these postgraduate students more opportunities to come together as a cohort, to learn from each other and collaborate, forming a new creative ecosystem at UCC." 

 

He added: "Previously, postgraduate students from the three disciplines of film, music and theatre at UCC might come across each other's work accidentally, and through this school, we are creating a structured environment for cross-learning and collaboration, fostering even more creativity across film, music and theatre."

 

The FMT Doctoral School held its inaugural FMT Doctoral School Research Week in April. During the four-day event, 33 doctoral students presented their work in person or online to their peers and staff from the School of Film, Music and Theatre. The event was a success and will become an annual event.

 

The postgraduate students are at the heart of the FMT Doctoral School, and a Postgraduate Research Committee was set up to organise future school events, including the Annual FMT Research Week.

 

Phil Maguire is a member of the committee and an artist and composer who works with sound. Phil came to Ireland in January and is studying for a PhD in Music. He presented his work at the FMT Doctoral School Research Week and felt it benefited students and staff. 

 

Phil said: "I look forward to working with the committee and creating some exciting plans for the Doctoral School together. We have many ideas, and our first task is to debrief on this year's Research Week and make some recommendations for next year's event."

 

We can't wait to see what the future holds for the FMT Doctoral School. Stay tuned, everyone!