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Education Doctor of

  • Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate research
  • Start Date(s): January 2025 (TBC)
  • Duration: Can be completed in four to eight years, part-time
  • Study Mode(s): Part-time
  • Campus: Clifton Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

Education research at Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

The Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) is designed for those in a range of education and education-related professions and provides an opportunity to study part-time for a doctorate in an area connected to professional practice.

Designed to combine with the work commitments of full-time professionals, the professional doctorate is a part-time modular programme which culminates into the submission of a doctoral thesis and examined by a viva voce oral examination.

The programme of study supports students to produce research that generates new knowledge within professional domains in order to advance the field. Research is developed in stages and students will, through a process of supervision and cohort workshops, produce and submit a series of documents based around a research topic with direct relevance to the candidate’s own professional interest and working life.

What you’ll study

This course will provide you with an opportunity to undertake a research study in a subject that supports your practice and contributes to academic and professional knowledge.

The Doctor of Education is convened into two main stages: pre-thesis stage and thesis stage. In the first part of the doctorate you will study two modules that will help support the development of your research plans. The first module will support the development of your research plan and proposal. The second more substantive module will support the gradual development of your research through the production of three documents consisting of a critical literature review, a methodological rationale and approaches in data collection and analysis.

On completion of modules 1 and 2, you will transfer to stage 2 of the Doctor of Education. At stage 2, you will work towards your final thesis and a reflexive document that closes the gap between theory and practice in relation to your final thesis.

Supporting the processes at all stages of the research process are a series of workshops that align to the modules you study and the documents you submit. They are:

  • Research workshop one: Research plan, questions, aims, professional context and ethics
  • Research workshop two: Critical literature review
  • Research workshop three: Research design and methodology
  • Research workshop four: Generating data and data analysis
  • Research workshop five: The thesis, the viva and being the reflexive researcher.

How you’re taught

The Doctor of Education is taught via workshops and supervision.

Workshops

Workshops are delivered in 2-day blocks, usually on a Friday and Saturday. There are five blocks to attend in total delivered over a minimum period of four years. Workshops are co-taught and delivered collectively to candidates studying a range of Professional Doctorates in related areas of practice. The professional doctorates have been drawn together by commonalties in:

  • the philosophy of public and social professions
  • the particular view of the nature of professional doctorates and professional development
  • the structure for carrying out research and completing the doctorate
  • the way in which the professional doctorate is assessed

Workshops are discursive and supported by access to online resources. Learning and teaching approaches are diverse and continually monitored and developed to take account of new research, external reports and through staff development.

Supervision

Supervision is provided throughout the course of study. You are assigned to at least two supervisors who you will work with on an individual basis from start to the completion and submission of your thesis.

The programme of study has been structured around the process of research but you will be expected to develop your understanding of particular subjects pertinent to your own research projects as an integral element of the enquiry process rather than being taught particular subjects within the programme.

How will I be assessed?

Unlike the PhD, which is assessed by a single thesis delivered at the end of the project, the professional doctorate structure involves students in shaping their research project around a sequence of four documents. The first two documents are submitted and assessed during the first four years of the programme of study. The remaining two documents are completed during the remainder of your time with us and are assessed by a viva voce examination.

The documents you will submit are:

Pre-thesis stage:

  • Document 1: Research plan (5,000 words accounting for 20 level 8 credits)
  • Document 2: Critical literature review, methodology, data collection and analysis (consisting of 3 x 10,000 word submissions for formative assessment followed by a 30,000 word submission for summative assessment all together accounting for 160 level 8 credits)

Thesis stage:

  • Document 3: Thesis (45,000 words accounting for 160 level 8 credits)
  • Document 4: Reflective document (5,000 words accounting for 20 level 8 credits)

Awards

A student who completes the pre-thesis stage of the course may be awarded the early exit award of MPhil.  To qualify for the MPhil, a student must demonstrate achievement of the Phase one learning outcomes by passing an MPhil thesis based upon Documents 1 and 2 (at least 360 credits including 180 at level 7 with the remainder at level 8) and also an oral examination.

A student who completes both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the course (including the viva voce examination and any consequent amendments) may be awarded a Professional Doctorate in Education and bear the named award of Doctor of Education.

Teaching and learning

The Doctoral School is committed to enhancing the quality of experience by providing a learning and teaching framework that supports independent and lifelong learners. Learning and Teaching approaches are diverse and continually monitored and developed to take account of new research, external reports and through staff development.

Careers and employability

The EdD is designed to enhance knowledge and practice for a range of professionals including practitioners, policy-makers, leaders and managers, academics, teachers and teaching-related staff. It is suitable for professionals working at all levels of education from early education, primary and secondary sectors, adult and further education, higher education as well as alternative sectors of education such as community education and alternative education.

Campus and facilities

Entry requirements

You will need:

  • A Masters-level qualification awarded by an approved university in an appropriate subject, or equivalent.
  • An alternative qualification or qualifications and / or evidence judged by us as satisfactory indication of potential to conduct research at higher degree level.

Applicants with non-standard entry requirements and / or relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

As you're applying for a research degree (MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorates), you will need to submit a statement about the subject you wish to research. Please see our Doctoral School pages for more information about this.

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

You will need:

  • A Masters-level qualification awarded by an approved university in an appropriate subject, or equivalent.
  • An alternative qualification or qualifications and / or evidence judged by us as satisfactory indication of potential to conduct research at higher degree level.

As you're applying for a research degree (MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorates), you will need to submit a statement about the subject you wish to research. Please see our Doctoral School pages for more information about this.

International qualifications

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

English language entry requirements

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Fees and funding

Fees

See our Fees page for details.

Funding

Please take a look at our postgraduates’ guide funding page for information about sourcing grants, bursaries and scholarships, and much more.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service. Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Fees

See our Fees page for details.

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your postgraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:

Paying fees

Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

How to apply

  1. Complete an application form
  2. Produce a research proposal
  3. Provide two references
  4. For a step-by-step guide and to make an application, please visit our how to apply page.

    Keeping up to date

    After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

    Getting in touch

    For further information, please contact the Doctoral School Administrator at doctoralschool@ntu.ac.uk

    Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.