Research overview
The School of Education’s Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) offers an advanced programme tailored for educational professionals looking to elevate their expertise and make significant contributions to the field through research. Crafted for full-time professionals, this part-time course integrates face-to-face instruction with self-directed study, ensuring flexibility and promoting a collaborative learning atmosphere. Four foundational modules form the basis of doctoral-level research preparation, culminating in a substantial independent research project. By emphasising collaborative, active learning and integrating scholarly inquiry with professional experience, the EdD prepares educators as researchers to lead and innovate in their respective fields.
Programme Highlights
- Research-focused development
Encourages the growth of researching professionals through critical engagement with educational issues in participants’ contexts, emphasising impactful, practice-relevant research. - Engaged learning
Combines critical inquiry with hands-on research preparation activities relevant to participants’ professional expertise, promoting the development of practical, scholarly, and dispositional knowledge. - Collaborative environment
Leverages participants’ collective expertise, enhancing professional knowledge and practice. - Key outcome
Completing a thesis (50–60,000 words) that demonstrates significant, original contributions to professional educational scholarship.
You will benefit from:
- our links to practice - allowing you to draw on your own educational experiences
- weekend and summer classes - our course has been designed for busy professionals who may be studying alongside a full-time job
- a cohort of experienced education practitioners
- exit routes, where appropriate, for those who, for whatever reason, are not able to complete the full course
Supervision and teaching
Supervision is offered by colleagues across our research centres in the School of Education and if appropriate, we may be able to work with academic colleagues elsewhere in the university to offer joint supervision across schools. Applicants are not required to identify a supervisor before applying for the programme.
You will be taught by an established team of nationally and internationally recognised education researchers who boast a wide range of expertise and experience in research, teaching and policy work.
Alumni
Read our alumni profiles to see their experience of of the EdD and how it has helped with their career.
Contact
Please contact Course Leader, Professor Kathleen Pithouse-Morgan if you have any academic questions about the EdD.