Program Overview

Doctor of Education [Research]

Overview

This is a professional doctorate by research. It offers advanced study for experienced professionals in education and related fields and caters for people in, or aspiring to, leadership roles in educational settings.

Fast Facts

• Location: JCU campuses or study centres where you can study this course. 'Online' means the course can be studied off-campus using a combination of online resources, printed material or other technologies. Some online courses include on-campus workshops and travel for professional placements.
  • Online
  • Townsville
  • Cairns
• Commencing: The month(s) you can start the course. For courses offered at JCU Singapore and JCU Brisbane, see 'How to Apply'.
  • Online: January, July
  • Townsville: January, July
  • Cairns: January, July
• Fees: Indicative, annual cost of your course. Some courses are supported by the Australian Government with the government paying some of your fees. This is the Commonwealth Supported fee. The tuition fee is the fee payable if Commonwealth Support does not apply. You can defer your fees if eligible with HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. The Student Services & Amenities Fee is a required payment from most students.
  • Course fees are not applicable for Domestic students
  • Student Services and Amenities fee payable
  • Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
• Duration: The time it will take you to complete the course as a full-time student. Also specifies if the course is available part-time. This section will indicate if some online courses may have a longer duration due to their different delivery method.
  • 4 years full-time
• Entry Requirements: This is usually a score given to Year 12 students upon completion of their studies. Non-school leavers can have their qualifications and work experience assessed to obtain an equivalent score. The score displayed is the minimum adjusted ATAR/rank that was required for entry. Some subjects are required for entry into a course. Whereas assumed knowledge indicates a minimum level of knowledge
  • Higher degree by research requirements

Course Detail

What to Expect

Take the next step in your career and become a leader in the field of Education. JCU’s Doctor of Education is designed for professionals currently working in Education or who hold formal Education qualifications and wish to contribute to their field through research and discovery.

To complete this doctorate, you will identify a research topic (a theoretical or practical issue of educational significance) and design and carry out a research project to investigate that issue. You will then write a substantial thesis that discusses relevant literature, the perspective and methodology adopted in the research, and the findings and significance of your research.

Study flexibly with the option to undertake the Doctor of Education online while still being able to access support on-campus if you choose to visit.

Pursue your passion for Education and contribute to the advancement of your industry through JCU’s Doctor of Education. Upon graduation, you can pursue further research, academic teaching and research positions, and leadership roles within Education.

Your Research Topic

Applicants need to discuss their proposed research topic with an appropriate research supervisor.

To look for an appropriate supervisor, use the Find an Advisor service from the Graduate Research School.

Career Opportunities

A Doctor of Education (Research) from JCU will empower you to contribute your original ideas to the ever-developing field of Education. The advanced research skills and knowledge base that you accumulate will enhance your career as an educator.

With a Doctor of Education (Research), you might find a passion for educational research. Those who continue on as research and teaching academics contribute to an expanding body of research on educational strategies and pedagogy. You may find yourself presenting findings at conferences, both in Australia and internationally, and examining student data to identify and explore trends.

A Doctor of Education (Research) from JCU will also provide you with the knowledge and skills to progress your career within schools. You may return to the classroom and use the insights you have gained to further develop your teaching. You could explore opportunities within school leadership, as a Principal or Deputy Principal. Your high-level communication skills and experience managing workloads will assist you greatly in this pathway.

You may also find yourself working for various educational organisations, helping to supervise curriculum, teacher accreditation, or educational policy. Depending on your area of research specialisation, there are numerous opportunities for you to explore.

Handbook

Visit the JCU Course and Subject Handbook.

Fees and Scholarships

JCU, with the support of the Australian Government’s Research Training Program, will cover the costs of tuition fees for Australian citizens/permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

All candidates can also apply for a competitively-awarded stipend to help with living and tuition costs.

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Pathways to JCU

Explore pathways into this course through the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Research Methods. If you have no previous research methodology study, you may wish to apply for the Graduate Diploma of Research Methods. If you have previously studied a research methodology subject, discover how the Graduate Certificate of Research Methods can assist you in transitioning into Higher Degree Research.

For more information on your pathways into research, contact our friendly JCU Future Students Team.

How to Apply

To be eligible for entry, applicants must have attained at least one of the following:

• a) a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class, Division A (Honours) in a degree program that included a total of at least a semester of supervised project work, the results of which contributed to the Honours grade;
• b) a postgraduate qualification which included: (a) supervised research component(s) of at least one semester or equivalent and resulted in the production of output(s) graded at the equivalent of Distinction or better, and (b) at least one research methods subject;
• c) a Research Masters degree, where at least two thirds of the degree consisted of a supervised research component and resulted in the production of a thesis or equivalent;
• d) enrolment at this or another Australian university in a higher degree by research for the equivalent of at least 0.5 EFTSL with demonstrated satisfactory performance in the supervised research component(s);
• e) a combination of qualifications, research training and experience, considered equivalent to the above by the Dean of the College to which the Candidate is applying, e.g., senior authorship of at least one peer-reviewed publication plus completion of an appropriate research methods subject.

Visit the Graduate Research School website for more information, and then complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.