Program Overview

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Education

Overview

We offer high-quality supervision by internationally-recognised scholars in areas including educational psychology, education policy, sociology of education, higher education, teaching and learning in schools, professional development, learning in the city, non-formal education, lifelong learning, and assessment.

Academic staff include experienced researchers with methodological expertise in advanced quantitative methods, experimental methods, a range of qualitative research methods and mixed methods. You will be part of a large, diverse doctoral community in an atmosphere that is exciting, creative and welcoming.

You can expect:

• Membership of a research centre, network and/or faculty-wide research group that includes staff and postgraduate researchers.
• Accredited research methods units.
• Networking opportunities with other doctoral researchers across disciplines and neighbouring universities through membership of the South West Doctoral Training Partnership and Bristol Doctoral College;
• Support for developing as a researcher, including attending conferences and publishing research;
• Opportunities to apply for short-term paid research assistant and teaching assistant roles;
• Access to professional development and short training courses tailored for postgraduate researchers;
• Access to a dedicated school library on site, faculty and other University libraries;
• Dedicated study spaces within the School of Education and in the wider university;
• Opportunities to participate in seminars (often featuring national and international visitors), research student seminars, reading groups and specialist methodological workshops.

Key Information

Programme Duration

Up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.

Start Date

September 2025

Application Deadline

We welcome applications at any time of year. Early application is advised.

Delivery Method

On-Campus

Location

Clifton

Awards Available

PhD

Programme Structure

A PhD is focused on carrying out research that leads to a dissertation. With the support of academic supervisors to guide you, you will undertake research training and then design and conduct your own research project.

World-Leading Research

The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).

94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

An upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) and normally a merit at MSc/MA level (or equivalent).

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level C.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and Funding

Home: Full-Time

£4,850 per year

Home: Part-Time

£2,425 per year

Overseas: Full-Time

£21,300 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Alumni Discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and Scholarships

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Law offers 1+3 and +3 ESRC-funded scholarships.

Applicants may also be interested in applying for funding from the University of Bristol scholarship fund or alumni PhD scholarship fund.

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

Career Prospects

We offer academic and personal development opportunities to equip you for the intellectual, social and personal challenges you will encounter during your career. Our overarching goal is to enable our graduates to display the following characteristics:

• Equipped to demonstrate impact, excellence and distinctiveness in your chosen field;
• Visionary, imaginative, innovative, reflective and creative;
• High ideals and values, including a strong sense of social justice;
• Highly employable throughout the world;
• Adaptable, with the potential to be a leader in work and in the community.

Meet Our Supervisors

The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.

• Dr Jessica Abrahams
• Dr Shazza Ali
• Dr William Baker
• Dr Ioanna Bakopoulou
• Dr Katherin Barg
• Professor William Browne
• Dr Simon Brownhill
• Professor Alf Coles
• Professor Gemma Derrick
• Dr Sarah Eagle
• Professor Keri Facer
• Dr Marina Gall
• Dr Frances Giampapa
• Dr Carolina Gordillo Bravo
• Dr Lyndsay Grant
• Dr Rob Gruijters
• Dr Kate Hawkey
• Dr Tracy Helliwell
• Professor Elena Hoicka
• Dr Philippa Howard
• Professor Paul Howard-Jones
• Dr Jon James
• Dr Lucy Kelly
• Dr Navin Kikabhai
• Dr Cathryn Knight
• Professor George Leckie
• Dr Lisa Lucas
• Professor Helen Manchester
• Professor Angeline Mbogo Barrett
• Dr Rafael Mitchell
• Dr Alison Oldfield
• Dr Janet Orchard
• Dr Ioanna Palaiologou
• Dr Jo Rose
• Dr Paulina Ruiz Cabello
• Dr Felicity Sedgewick
• Dr Robert Sharples
• Dr Lorna Smith
• Professor Sally Thomas
• Professor Leon Tikly
• Dr Sue Timmis
• Dr Maria Tsapali
• Dr Sharon Walker
• Dr Nicola Warren-Lee
• Professor Liz Washbrook
• Professor Richard Watermeyer
• Dr Lucy Wenham
• Professor Guoxing Yu

Research Groups

The overarching mission of the School of Education is to develop learning and leadership for a changing world through research and teaching that promotes achievement, opportunity and social justice. The aim is to build intellectual and practical leadership among policymakers, practitioners, students and the wider research community, which is urgently required to enable education to adapt and thrive in a time of rapid local and global change.

Research in the school is concentrated into five main areas of inquiry and expertise within these five research centres:

• Centre for Higher Education Transformations
• Centre for Comparative and International Research in Education
• Centre for Multilevel Modelling
• Centre for Psychological Approaches for Studying Education
• Centre for Teaching, Learning and Curriculum

As a doctoral student you will join one of the research centres associated with these key areas of research and work with staff and other doctoral students who have similar research interests. Please see the School of Education research centres and networks for more information.