Program Overview

Programme Description

The Doctor of Education programme, offered since 1997, was the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The first group of students graduated in 2001. The Doctor of Education programme is a professional doctorate that includes both coursework and research components. It offers a variety of relevant courses and supervised thesis research. The Doctor of Education programme aims to help experienced professionals to develop a deep understanding of their chosen areas of study, to encourage them in the search for innovative approaches to educational inquiry and practical insights, and to assist them in resolving educational problems.

The Doctor of Education programme is designed to suit the needs of professionals who seek to meet the challenges of educational change effectively and desire to have their work thoroughly grounded in the theory and practice of defined areas of study. Over the years, the majority of students admitted by the programme are school principals, senior teachers, lecturers and administrative staff in universities, and other professionals working for government agencies and social organisations. Their thesis studies have produced valuable indigenous knowledge to inform educational decisions and improve educational practices. The doctoral graduates are an important driving force in serving and leading our local / regional educational community.

Areas of Study

Applicants are required to choose one of the following areas of study:

• Curriculum and Instruction This specialisation is designed for education practitioners and professionals who aspire to conduct research into curriculum and instruction. It aims at guiding students to understand issues surrounding the design, implementation and evaluation of curriculum and instruction from multiple perspectives, to explore the theoretical foundations of effective strategies for curriculum development, and to conduct systematic inquiry on the social and individual factors influencing curriculum and instruction in schools. This specialisation attaches great importance to the connection between theory and practice. Students will be required to develop their rigorous theoretical exploration based on solid school practice and robust research data. Major areas of inquiry include curriculum development, instructional design, curriculum reform and implementation, curriculum evaluation, assessment in learning, and subject curriculum and teaching. Required Courses:
  • Teaching: Theory, Design, Research and Application
  • Curriculum Organisation
  • Curriculum Inquiry: Paradigms
• Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Education is having profound changes and challenges at many different levels. These changes have inevitably brought a paradigm shift in educational policies and governance, as well as in educational administration, management and leadership. This specialisation is designed for experienced professionals who are leaders, or aspiring to be leaders in education-related institutions, and policy makers, or students who are interested in educational policy studies. It offers a well-structured and integrated coursework to students, to support them to have high levels of understanding of the foundations of educational leadership and policy studies. It also aims to equip candidates with advanced skills and knowledge in theoretical enquiry and educational research, to allow them to formulate their own proposals and investigations into important and critical educational issues. The Department can offer supervision for the following major areas of inquiry: policy analysis and studies, higher education, comparative education, economics of education, sociology of education, educational administration, management and leadership, school improvement and change, and other related fields or issues. Required Courses:
  • Foundations of Educational Administration and Policy
  • School Reform in a Global Context
  • Educational Organisation and Leadership
• Educational Psychology As the highest professional degree in educational psychology, the Doctor of Education programme in Educational Psychology provides training in some of the major knowledge domains and specialisations constituting the field. These include learning and instruction focusing on the cognitive and motivational processes of student learning and classroom teaching, child and adolescent social and academic development including parenting and other socialisation and acculturation influences, student counselling and guidance and helping students with special needs, and psychological and educational testing and assessment. Students are expected to take courses in most of these specialty knowledge domains and are expected to conduct research in one of these or other areas of specialisation. Required Courses:
  • Selected Topics in the Science of Learning
  • Organisation and Implementation of School Guidance and Counselling
  • Selected Topics in Psychosocial Development

Study Scheme

The study scheme for the Doctor of Education programme includes:

• Coursework Requirements
  • Students are required to complete a minimum of 21 units of coursework, to present and pass the thesis proposal in an open presentation, before the granting of Doctor of Education candidature.
  • The coursework requirements include:
    • Required Courses: 9 units
      • Specialization: Curriculum & Instruction - PEDU7101, 7102, 7103
      • Specialization: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies - PEDU7206, 7207, 7208
      • Specialization: Educational Psychology - PEDU7307, 7308, 7309
    • Research-related courses: 6 units
      • Any 4 courses to be chosen from the following: PEDU, , , , , , 7303, 7304
        • *The pre-requisite for PEDU7303 and 7304 are PEDU6401 and 6402 respectively. Students have to fulfill the pre-requisites requirement before reenrolling these 2 courses.
    • Elective courses: 6 units
      • 2 courses (except PEDU8000) to be offered by the Division of Education. Students should consult their advisors to determine what electives to be taken.
• Qualifying Examination
  • Applicable to students admitted in and thereafter
    • Advancement to Doctor of Education candidature is conditional upon the satisfactory completion of the followings:
      • 21 units of coursework requirement, and
      • presentation and passing of thesis proposal (PEDU8010) within 18 months after the completion of coursework requirement.
  • Applicable to students admitted in and before
    • Advancement to Doctor of Education candidature is conditional upon the satisfactory completion of the 21 units of coursework. No further qualifying examination is required.
• Other Requirements
  • Students must fulfill the Term Assessment Requirement of the Graduate School.
  • A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in order to fulfil the graduation requirement, unless special approval is granted by the Graduate Council.
  • Students who fail in thesis monitoring course shall be put on academic probation. Students shall be required to discontinue studies unless 13.3 of General Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies applies.
  • Attending PhD Programme Annual Seminars / Doctoral Thesis Proposal Presentations (with effect from academic year of , irrespective of the admission year)
    • All full-time and part-time students are required to attend 8 sessions of annual seminar / thesis proposal presentation before graduation.
  • Within 18 months after the completion of coursework requirement, the student has to register for the course PEDU8010 (9 units), and to present and pass the thesis proposal in an open presentation. After the thesis proposal has been approved, the student will be granted Doctor of Education candidature. The candidate, under the supervision of her/his supervisor, should submit a thesis and pass the oral examination within a prescribed period of time for graduation. Should the student fail to obtain candidature within 18 months after completion of coursework, the student may seek approval for further extension of 6 months with solid justification. Students who fail to advance to candidature within the extended period will be required to discontinue studies, unless special approval is granted by the Faculty Board.