Aggression on social media (Communication and Information)

OR 70

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS admission requirements

IELTS - The International English Language Test System (IELTS) tests your English-language proficiency on a scale of 1 – 9. The score refers to the combined average score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading).

6

Credits

30 ECTS

• Courses for PhD students (approximately 30 ECTS credits)

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

• Vilnius, Lithuania

Disciplines

Area & Cultural Studies, Communication Studies, Sociology

Overview

This research topic addresses the impact of contemporary digital technologies on participatory culture by investigating aggressive communicative practices on social media. Enabled largely by Web 2.0, these practices reflect and contribute to ongoing intercultural and intracultural social change. Social media platforms (ranging from discussion forums to networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, and similar spaces) play a central role in online interaction, with aggression and entertainment among its core functions.

What you'll study

The topic invites a multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary investigation of selected aggressive practices on social media, potentially geared towards entertainment. While no specific methodology or analytical framework is imposed a priori, the proposed research is meant to be grounded in close investigation of public user discourse. The studies may examine various shades of aggression, ranging from genuine to mock (pretended) forms. Specific practices may include (but are not limited to) humour, trolling, scambaiting, flaming, or cyberbullying. Visit the programme website for more information.

Overall, the research is meant explore how these rapidly evolving practices are deployed and interpreted across social media communities and affinity spaces, how they contribute to the construction or erosion of social relationships, how they participate in negotiating norms of appropriateness and acceptability, and how they shape and reflect the collective sense of normalcy of digitally networked societies.

The selected candidate will work on the PhD thesis under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Marta Dynel. The successful applicant will have to attend scientific conferences, meetings and internships in the other universities.

Programme Structure

Curriculum includes:

• Independent research under supervision;
• Courses for PhD students (approximately 30 ECTS credits);
• Participation in research networks, including placements at other, primarily foreign, research institutions;
• Teaching or another form of knowledge dissemination, which is related to the PhD topic when possible;
• The completion of a PhD thesis.

Admission requirements

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL® IBT: TOEFL iBT® is accepted by more than 13,000 universities and other institutions in over 160 countries. The test can be taken at a test center or at home. The test measures your English-language abilities in an academic setting. The score refers to the total score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading), each subject has a range of 0 - 30.

OR 70

IELTS: The International English Language Test System (IELTS) tests your English-language proficiency on a scale of 1 – 9. The score refers to the combined average score of 4 subjects (writing, listening, speaking, and reading).

6

Other requirements

General requirements

• Postgraduate diploma (or higher)
• The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English.
• You must take verified copies of the entry qualification documents along with you when you finally go to the university.
• At least 2 reference(s) must be provided.
• Certified copies of the Master’s degree diploma and its supplement with grades or higher education equivalent to it;
• Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• List of scientific publications and their copies or research proposal (if scientific publications are not included);
• Copy of a personal data page of a passport or a copy of a personal ID;
• Other documents that an applicant wants to submit.
• FCE (First Certificate in English): A
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English): C
• CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English): C
• B2 Certificate in English

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International - Non-residents: 20,530 AUD / year (≈ 12,680 EUR / year)

Living costs

Vilnius, Lithuania: 793-1,386 AUD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

The PhD studies can be financed by the companies or enterprises financial resources or a PhD student‘s personal finances.