Doctorate in Education (EdD)

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Grow your expertise and put your research skills to work with a Professional Doctorate in Education from University of Stirling.

Key facts

Award Doctorate
Start date September 2021, January 2022, September 2022
Duration EdD full-time; 36 to 60 months, EdD part-time: 60 to 96 months
Mode of study Part-time, Full-time, Stand-alone modules, Mixture of online and classroom delivery

Overview

Our Doctorate in Education is an ideal development opportunity if you’re a senior education professional seeking to enhance and utilise your research expertise. Whatever your area of education – from schools, colleges and universities to professional, work-based and lifelong learning, or policy development – earning a Professional Doctorate will position you as a leader in your field.

Our Doctorate in Education is tailored to the needs of busy professionals, and combines an excellent grounding in research methods and educational theory with the opportunity to put your research to work in improving professional policy and practice.

You’ll work towards your EdD either full or part-time under the guidance of expert teachers who have helped to secure the University’s reputation in the study of Education.

Top reasons to study with us

Top 5 in Scotland and Top 10 in the UK for Education (The Complete University Guide 2022)

Ranked 4th in Scotland and top 20 in the UK for Education (The Guardian University Guide 2021)

Work around your career commitments by studying for your EdD part-time

Course objectives

The EdD will enable you to develop research on your own chosen topics in ways that are deeply connected to important professional interests, practices, policies and impacts. Like the PhD, the EdD meets the requirements for the production of a significant, original and rigorous contribution to the field. Distinctively, the EdD course starts with taught modules before the supervised research phases begin. The taught modules look at theories and paradigms of research and orientations to methodology and inquiry.

Flexible learning

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

Research overview

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, Educational research at the University of Stirling had the highest quality of research outputs of any Scottish university, with 100% classed as either world-leading or internationally excellent. Our expert teaching team are on hand to introduce you to cutting-edge empirical and theoretical research in a multi-disciplinary and professional environment.

Entry requirements

Please select your country of residence:

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to the degree, you’ll normally have a good honours degree in Education or related subject from a Higher Education institution in the UK, or a degree of equivalent standard from an institution outside the UK. In exceptional cases, you may be considered for the course if you have extensive professional experience in the field. Candidates are expected to have good numeracy skills and a willingness to engage with in-depth statistical analysis.

English language requirements

Due to disruption in English Language testing caused by COVID-19, we are accepting alternative English Language tests (including online English Language Tests).

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Indicator 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in speaking and listening
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 176 overall with a minimum of 176 in reading and writing and 169 in speaking and listening
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 180 in reading and writing and 169 in speaking and listening
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with a minimum of 62 in reading and writing and 60 in speaking and listening
IBT TOEFL 80 overall with a minimum of 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 21 in speaking and 19 in listening
IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition Test 80 overall with a minimum of 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 21 in speaking and 19 in listening
Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a minimum of Merit in speaking and listening and distinction in reading and writing, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
Duolingo 105 overall with a minimum of 105 in reading and writing and 95 in speaking and listening
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

If you are from India, Ghana or Nigeria please also check your country/region specific page for any additional, or changes to, English language requirements.

For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.

Course details

Refine your Education expertise and gain the skills needed to exact change with a Doctorate in Education.

After completing the six core modules, you will go on under supervision to complete a ‘Professional Practice’ enquiry module before commencing the thesis stage.

Modules

The module information below is intended only as an example of what you may study and features details for the current academic year (2021/22). Modules are regularly reviewed and are subject to future changes.

Course Details

Teaching

The Doctorate in Education (EdD) is an innovative interdisciplinary course, offered on a flexible full and part-time basis. The course comprises six core modules, which are taught both online and face-to-face. Study of the modules is followed by the conduct of an empirical study focused on an aspect of professional practice and, thereafter, the production of a doctoral thesis of up to 60,000 words.

Candidates not proceeding to the EdD thesis may aim to complete the Master of Science or Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Research.

Students who pass modules EDRP001, ASRP002, ASRP004, EDRP002, ASRP001, ASRP005 and ASRP021 will successfully exit with a Masters.

Students who pass modules EDRP001, ASRP002, ASRP004, EDRP002, ASRP001, ASRP005 will successfully exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.

Modes of Study

	EdD	MSc	Diploma
Full time	3 years min, 5 years max	30 months	12 months
Part time	5 years min, 8 years max	3 years	18 months

Assessment

You’ll be assessed in each course module through assignments approximately 3,000 words in length. The EdD also leads into the production of a thesis (up to 60,000 words) under expert supervision by Education staff from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Course director

Dr Greg Mannion

greg.mannion@stir.ac.uk
+44 (0)1786 467614

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

2020/21 fees
	Home / EU students	Overseas students
Full course fee	£14,150	£39,950
Full time students annual fee (charged years 1-3)	£4,717	£13,317
Part time students annual fee (charged years 1-5)	£2,830	£7,990

2021/22 fees
	UK students	Overseas students
Full course fee	£15,565	£43,945
Full time students annual fee (charged years 1-3)	£5,189	£14,649
Part time students annual fee (charged years 1-5)	£3,113	£8,789

If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

This fee is charged as an annual course fee. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fees policy.

Doctoral loans

If you're domiciled in England or Wales you may be eligible to apply for a doctoral loan of up to £25,700 from your regional body:

English students can apply for a loan from Student Finance England.
Welsh students can apply for a loan from Student Finance Wales.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Scholarships and funding

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

European Union and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

Previous students taking the Doctorate in Education have included school teachers, early years, and Further Education staff, senior leaders in education provisions, educational policy professionals, and professional educators in areas such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, accountancy, surveying and life sciences. These students have drawn extensively on their newly developed research capacity and original studies to improve their personal, organisational, and wider professional spheres of practice and policy.

Gain the skills to exact change in professional policy and practice
Become a leader in your field and join a network of professional experts
Continue your career as you study and put your growing expertise straight to work

What our students said

View more student stories

Alexandra Morris
Scotland, United Kingdom

My work as a college lecturer in a further and higher education college has been greatly benefitted through my learning. I feel more current and up to date in my field and it has challenged me to think more deeply about what I do in my professional practice.

Read Alexandra's story

Heather Bain
Scotland
Doctorate in Education (EdD)

I enjoyed the relation this programme had to my professional practice and that throughout the doctorate journey I was able to influence policy and practice

Read Heather's story

Elaine Cook
Scotland
Doctorate in Education (EdD)

The support I have received during my studies has been outstanding. I know the University of Stirling Faculty of Social Sciences was the right choice for me and would urge others to come and enjoy it too.

Read Elaine's story

View more student stories

Changes at Stirling

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Doctorate in Education (EdD)

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Doctorate in Education (EdD)

Key facts

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

Course objectives

Flexible learning

Research overview

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

English language requirements

Pre-sessional English language courses

Course details

Modules

Course Details

Teaching

Assessment

Course director

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

Additional costs

Scholarships and funding

Cost of living

Payment options

After you graduate

What our students said

Changes at Stirling

What next?

Which course would you like to apply for?

Doctorate in Education (EdD)

Key facts

Top reasons to study with us

Course objectives

Flexible learning

Research overview

What our students said

Related courses

What next?

Which course would you like to apply for?