Program Overview

Doctor of Education (DOC)

About this course

Our Doctor of Education programme will enhance your understanding of education in the broadest sense, helping you to directly relate your learning to current practice.

• Ideal for professionals working in the education sector
• Harness your passion and experience
• Take your personal development and pedagogical knowledge to the next level
• Enhance your understanding of how education works
• Relate your learning back to your practice

This specially designed programme gives you the chance to reflect on how you deliver your role and how you can transform practice — for both yourself and others.

Focusing on education in its broadest sense, the EdD is relevant to people who work in a wide variety of educational settings, including: the compulsory and non-compulsory sectors, formal and non-formal education settings, and professional, workplace and life-long learning.

At LJMU's School of Education, we are an active community of academics and students, who are committed to education that inspires learning and enriches communities.

Our high quality research and teaching environment, encourages students to analyse the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and technological context of educational theory and practice.

You will join a dynamic and diverse group of people who share a deep commitment to the investigation and enhancement of educational experiences of individuals, families and communities in a wide range of settings and in collaboration with many different partners. These include schools; early, further and higher education providers, as well as voluntary, public and private sector organisations.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

There are four taught modules, a thesis and a reflection module.

• Thesis (240 credits) Students will undertake research in an area relevant to their own professional practice.
• Reflection (60 credits) Students will undertake a reflective process capturing their personal development, experiences and the knowledge, skills and understanding developed throughout the programme and including a potential impact analysis and dissemination plan.
• The Education Professional (10 credits) Students will look at their professional work in education alongside key academic ideas about identity, culture, leadership and change.
• Theory, Practice and Policy in Education (20 credits) Students will interrogate literature, research findings and policies that shape education practice.
• Planning for Educational Research (30 credits) Students will consider the different key elements of appropriate and effective educational research design.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Assessment

An insight into teaching on your course

• Study hours The programme is in two parts: a two-year taught element followed by a two and a half year thesis phase. The first part is delivered via bootcamps (Friday evening/Saturday all day), which take place once a month from September (exact dates will be confirmed and the frequency may vary slightly). The second part involves working closely with a supervisor in the development, management and writing of a significant piece of research.
• Teaching methods The Doctor of Education degree programme emphasises the development of leading edge knowledge to enhance professional practice in education. Your supervisor will support you to:
  • contribute to the creation of new knowledge through original research and other aspects of advanced scholarship
  • extend the forefront of educational practice by producing academic work that merits publication
  • systematically analyse a substantial body of contemporary knowledge associated with their area of professional practice
  • conceptualise, design and implement research that generates new knowledge, applications or theoretical understanding at the forefront of professional practice in education
  • critically reflect on the relationship between theory and practice in education

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Part-time per year: £4,080

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

• Accommodation
• Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
• Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Entry requirements

You will need:

Home International

Qualification requirements

• Postgraduate degree (required for research programmes)
  • to demonstrate successful masters level study or equivalent
• Undergraduate degree
  • a good first degree (usually 2:1)
• Alternative qualifications considered
  • experience commensurate with undertaking a professional doctorate. This usually means that you will have a professional role in a compulsory, tertiary, workplace or lifelong educational setting.
  • In exceptional cases, students with a Masters in a different subject area who can demonstrate substantial experience in education may be eligible

Additional requirements

• Relevant work experience
  • experience commensurate with undertaking a professional doctorate. This usually means that you will have a professional role in a compulsory, tertiary, workplace or lifelong educational setting.

International requirements

• IELTS (or equivalent) score of 7.0, with at least 6.5 in each category

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.