Doctorate in Education

Entry requirements

Please see our website

Months of entry

September

Course content

This course has been specially designed for professionals working in educational settings, enabling you to gain a doctorate level qualification.

Learning on this course is situated firmly with you, as a practitioner, researching and developing your own knowledge and generating impact within your organisation and for your learners.

The first year modules focus on research as a professional practitioner, examining policy and preparing to design your own research project. The second year modules will help you to develop an in-depth understanding of academic writing and theoretical perspectives in research in education. You’ll also begin your own research project.

We’ll enable you to make a contribution to both theory and practice in relation to your professional role in education. And you’ll advance your practice through making an original contribution to professional knowledge.

Why study with us

• You’ll be allocated a supervisory team and have access to module tutors and the course leader, who have expertise in doctoral level study.
• You’ll be part of a thriving and supportive community of academics who are active researchers. Everyone on this course is a highly experienced, skilled and knowledgeable professional.

What you'll do

• Throughout the course you’ll benefit from attending regular seminars and guest lectures hosted by high profile experts from various educational fields.
• As part of becoming a Doctor in Education, you will be invited to become a member of a growing number of practitioner-researchers, and to contribute to annual network events and conferences sponsored by the University’s research community and a range of national and international professional academic bodies.

Learning and assessment

This course is all about researching and developing educational practice, so your work environment will play a central role in your learning.

Study days and contact time with tutors and supervisors will involve you engaging with a lively community of professional practitioners and researchers. We’ll encourage you to take an active part in this community by getting involved in face-to-face and online discussions and debates, seminars and research events. You’ll come together in monthly sessions which are structured around the modules. In addition, you’ll be allocated a supervisory team for one-to-one meetings and will be able to access the excellent support programmes provided through our Graduate Research School.

Teaching and learning methods will include workshops, visiting speakers, directed and independent reading, case analyses, work-based learning, practice-focused assignments and research supervision.

Assessment methods will include written assignments, academic papers, oral presentations and critical debate, dialogue, progression meetings and reflective logs.

The final assignment is the doctoral thesis and oral examination.

Industry links

Participants on this course are all highly skilled professionals who are combining their work role with part-time study. So you’ll get to engage with a rich network of professionals drawn from various educational settings who possess a wealth of experience and expertise.