Program Overview

Overview

The Doctor of Education is a research degree for experienced educational professionals and is equivalent to the PhD. It differs from the PhD in providing formally assessed research training during the first year. The course recruits from a wide variety of educational contexts and offers a comprehensive programme of study and training in quantitative and qualitative research techniques. One of the strengths of the course is the sense of group cohesion, which is developed in year one.

Key Information

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for enrolment on the EdD are a Master's degree or an equivalent professional qualification, normally with a classification of merit or distinction, in a discipline appropriate to the proposed programme to be followed.

• A research proposal of between words (plus bibliography) outlining your area of research interest will be needed as part of your online research degree application.
• Your concepts will be reviewed to identify supervision providing the expertise and knowledge necessary to guide you through your research.
• It is understood that the taught modules will influence your research aims and objectives prior to your progression into the research phase.
• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification.
• The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent.

Start dates

• 22 September 2025

Application deadlines

• For September 2025
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For October 2025
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For January 2026
  • 17 October 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 14 November 2025 for Home Students
• For April 2026
  • 23 January 2026 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 20 February 2026 for Home Students

Duration

The maximum duration for a Doctor of Education (EdD) is 3 years (36 months) full-time or 6 years (72 months) part-time with an optional submission pending (writing-up) period of 12 months.

• Sometimes it may be possible to mix periods of both full-time and part-time study.
• If studying on a part-time basis, you must establish close links with the University and spend normally not less than an average of 10 working days per year in the university, excluding participation in activities associated with enrolment, re-registration and progression monitoring.
• You are also expected to dedicate 17.5 hours per week to the research.

What can I research?

You can apply by:

1. Proposing your own research topic.
2. Applying for one of the research topics listed in this section or for a specific research area within the School.

• Places are always subject to eligibility, a review of your proposal and supervisory capacity.

Teaching and Assessment

• As a minimum you can expect to meet with your supervisors at least once a month (once every two months for part-time students).
• In practice you may meet with your supervisors more frequently.
• This time should include at least an hour of one-to-one supervision with each student.
• Self-directed study is to be agreed in liaison with you and your supervisor.
• Self-directed study and supervision time should equate to 35 hours per week (for full-time research degrees).

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.

• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
• Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Tuition fees - part-time

In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.

• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
• Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

• Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control.
• Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.
• Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study.
• However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control.
• If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing.
• If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.