Education (Flexible)

Entry requirements

An upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) and normally a Merit at MSc/MA level (or equivalent) and normally at least three years' appropriate professional experience (eg employment in organisations that have an educational function or roles related to any aspect of education, training or individual learning).

Months of entry

September

Course content

Flexible, part-time doctoral study

The University of Bristol's flexible PhD in Education has been tailored for professionals working in schools, colleges, universities, or policy and development settings and others who want to undertake self-funded doctoral study. It offers the structured support of a taught component, factoring your personal and academic circumstances, allowing you to study alongside your professional commitments, from anywhere in the world. It will be of particular interest to international doctoral researchers keen to undertake an original research project independently, with expert guidance.

Why choose this PhD?

• Flexibility: Plan your own pathway through part-time study (typically over six to eight years) guided by two supervisors appointed at the outset who bring expertise linked to your project
• Recognition: Gain a globally recognised PhD while benefiting from the structured, supportive elements traditionally associated in the past with our distinguished EdD programme.
• Blended delivery: Take preparatory units taught either wholly online or intensively over three days on campus. Please note, a minimum of three weeks must be spent on campus across the degree, including required in-person attendance at one unit, Philosophy and Research Design (PRD) and one of the annual study schools we will organise to ensure meaningful engagement between peers and academics.

Why choose a PhD with us?

Build advanced research skills while continuing your professional practice. We offer the opportunity to work with leading experts in education, known internationally for research in fields including educational psychology, higher education, international education, language learning, curriculum and pedagogy and more, to achieve your academic goals, specifically.

• A vibrant research community: Join a dynamic, diverse postgraduate research community and access specialist research centres and networks with methodological expertise across quantitative, qualitative, digital, and mixed methods.
• Career enhancement and opportunities: Opportunities including research assistant roles, conference participation, and professional development tailored for postgraduate researchers will be available to you.
• Membership of research centres, networks and/or faculty-wide research groups that include both staff and postgraduate researchers at the University of Bristol and run regular online seminars and reading groups featuring global speakers. Further networking opportunities across disciplines and neighbouring universities include the South West Doctoral Training Partnership and The Bristol Doctoral College.
• Full online access to School of Education and wider university libraries and resources.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.