Program Overview

Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a supervised professional research degree designed to provide high-quality, advanced research skills to extend leadership credentials and abilities in education. This qualification is specifically designed for professional educators who have at least three years of experience as an educator and who have a desire to further their knowledge and skills in their educational practice and gain a doctorate.

Points and Duration

• The total number of points to gain this qualification is 360.
• The expected duration of this qualification is 3 years full-time.

Locations

• The qualification is offered in Hamilton.

Area of Study

• The qualification can be studied under the School of Education and the School of Graduate Research.

Start Dates

• The qualification can be started in Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July).

Why Study the Doctor of Education?

The Doctor of Education (EdD) will extend academic knowledge and expertise so that it can be applied in a wide range of settings in which educators work. This program is specifically designed for professional educators who have at least three years of experience as an educator and who have a desire to further their knowledge and skills in their educational practice and gain a doctorate.

Globally, this qualification has the same status as the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and is a benchmark in terms of researching education policy and practice. The Doctor of Education (EdD) program brings together professionals from a range of education contexts and backgrounds. This diversity adds richness to the learning experience and enhances the ability to engage in robust and innovative research.

Most educators study for the EdD part-time over 6-8 years whilst continuing their educational practice, but full-time study over 3-4 years is possible.

Program Structure

The EdD has two parts, a series of taught papers followed by supervised research. Part 1 comprises four taught papers, within which you can explore your specific study interest. These include choosing 2 out of 3 optional papers:

• EDUCA981 Advanced Education Inquiry: Pedagogies and Practices for Social Justice
• EDUCA982 Advanced Education Inquiry: Leading Educational Transformation
• EDUCA983 Advanced Education Inquiry: Policy, Context, Discourse

You will also need to complete the two compulsory papers:

• EDUCA980 Advanced Education Inquiry: Research Paradigms and Theories
• EDUCA990 Advanced Education Inquiry: Research Design

You need to obtain an average grade of at least B+ across your first three papers and pass Research Design (EDUCA990) to qualify for Part 2.

Part 2 is supervised, independent research into an aspect of your educational practice, and builds on your learning in Part 1. It culminates in writing a thesis about your research.

Alternative Pathways

If you are not sure about whether a full Doctor of Education is for you, or you are unsure about a research focus for your EdD, you can still get started with Advanced Education Studies through three other Advanced Education Studies pathways:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Education
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education
• Individual Paper Credit

Postgraduate Diploma in Education or Postgraduate Certificate of Education

A set of four taught papers that are selected from those available for Part 1 of the EdD, with the exception of EDUCAT990, which is specific to the EdD.

This Postgraduate Diploma in Education qualification allows you to get started on your papers whilst considering or searching for supervision. Once supervision has been secured you will be eligible to apply to transfer to the EdD, gaining credit for any of these papers that you have passed.

Or you may not wish to complete the whole Doctor of Education and instead take four Advanced Education Studies papers to get a qualification. This requires you to successfully pass four of these papers, normally within two years of part-time study.

A further alternative pathway is to successfully pass two of the Advanced Education Studies papers and take out a Postgraduate Certificate of Education, normally within one year of part-time study.

Individual Paper Credit

A single paper selected from available for Part 1 of the EdD, with the exception of EDUCA990, which is specific to the EdD.

This credit allows you to test the waters in doctoral study. The paper is completed within one trimester of study. If your study goes well and you wish to continue, you can then transfer this credit to the Postgraduate Certificate (two papers required), Postgraduate Diploma (four papers required) or full EdD (subject to supervision availability) depending on how much further you wish to go.

Flexibility and Planning

These pathways offer flexibility of study programs to suit your circumstances. You may also be able to pause your study between papers when required. For further information or to discuss a study plan, please refer to the relevant university resources.

Graduate Outcomes

As a graduate of the EdD, you will be able to contribute to the national and international scholarship of your chosen field as an experienced and competent professional practitioner. You will have developed an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the theoretical bases of empirical studies and professional practices in the relevant field of study to a level beyond that normally attained in master's programs. You will apply knowledge and understanding gained in professional settings with the objective of enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and leadership and the well-being of colleagues and students.

You will have produced advanced, original, applied research and will be able to provide leadership at national and international levels in your field of practice. You will confidently present and defend your work in an appropriate academic and professional forum.

Degree Information

Entry Requirements

To gain entry to the EdD, you need to:

1. Have qualified for the award of a recognized teaching or allied professional qualification and must produce evidence of at least three years of competent service as an education practitioner, and
2. Have qualified for the award of a New Zealand Bachelor's degree with Honours or Master's degree in a field relevant to the proposed research with at least Second Class Honours (First Division) or Distinction, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
3. Equivalent to these requirements.

You will be required to secure agreement from two eligible supervisors, one at least of whom is a continuing staff member of the University and the chief supervisor (normally this person would be in the Division of Education).

Fees and Scholarships

• Estimated fees: $9,640 per year
• Domestic tuition fees: Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
• Scholarships: Available through the university's scholarship finder.