Doctor of Education
EdD
Key facts
Start dates
September 2025 / September 2026
Location
Course length
Part time: Normally five years: two years on the taught phase and three years writing the thesis. Maximum length of study: six years
Overview
On this course, you’ll gain a deep understanding and awareness of what it means to be a professional in an educational setting.
You'll have the opportunity to engage with educational research, focussing on the areas that interest you.
You'll build advanced specialist research skills and critical analysis skills. You'll also have the space and time to reflect on your academic writing. You will be able to make use of academic support and guidance to advance your writing with a view to publishing academic articles.
You'll also become an independent, reflective and effective educational researcher. You'll carry out relevant research, creating new knowledge that will contribute to the field of education.
We are based within the School of Education, Humanities and Languages, a vibrant and inclusive research community with strong international links to schools and other educational organisations. We currently supervise over 70 research students in Education, including on the EdD, all of whom have access to a wide range of training and other events.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You should normally have
- at least two years’ experience in a relevant professional area
- a good Master's degree (usually merit or distinction) from a recognised university
You will need to provide
- a dissertation extract or an equally substantial piece of academic writing
- a statement in support of your application (1,000 words max) which should indicate:
- a possible research area for your thesis. This should indicate the area of enquiry (e.g. early years assessment practices). We don’t expect you to specify a defined question
- research methods or approaches that you would be interested in employing (or of which you have prior experience)
- theoretical or conceptual perspectives on educational research that you would like to explore
- why you want to join the programme
- how you feel that it will enhance your professional development.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Selection process
Successful applicants will be invited to interview.
Successful applicant interviews will be held on the last Wednesday of each month from January 2024 to July 2024 and on two dates in August 2024, dates to be confirmed.
English language requirements
An IELTS score of 7 is required for those students whose first language is not English and who have not studied for their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in English.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
International applications
International students must attend face-to-face taught sessions in Years 1 and 2, which will be at weekends. As the course is only available in part-time mode it may not be possible for some international students to meet visa requirements which normally stipulate full-time study. International fee levels may apply.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
The application deadline for this Doctorate is 31 July 2024.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
Continuation fee The continuation fee, where it is payable is compulsory, but not applicable to Masters by research or PhD by Published Work, detailed as follows:
|
£1455 |
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
Resubmission fees If following viva, examiners recommend that a student is required to revise and resubmit their thesis for re-examination, they must pay the resubmission fee for the duration of that period. |
£1455 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
On the course you'll develop a critical understanding of social research. You'll advance your academic writing and build the skills to become an independent researcher.
In your first year you'll build your knowledge of educational theories and research. You'll have the support and guidance to write at a doctoral level. You'll also start to focus your expertise and prepare for your research project.
In your second year you'll focus on developing your research skills and using the knowledge and experience you've gained so far to develop the proposal for your thesis.
Throughout the course you'll work with fellow students and the academic team. You'll develop relationships through your research project with stakeholders and participants.
Over the final years of the course you'll work on your thesis focussing on a specialist area that interests you. You'll have support and guidance from your two supervisors. Your thesis will make a valuable contribution to knowledge in the field of education.
Study modules
You'll take 160 Masters level credits and 380 Doctorate level credits to achieve the award of EdD
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
Through the course you'll become an active and independent researcher and academic writer.
Your learning will include:
- face-to-face lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- online conferencing
- student-led learning
- individual tutorials
- supervised sessions.
During the EdD you’ll gain the skills for intellectual autonomy.
You'll attend seven teaching days spaced across the academic year and a one day colloquium. These will all take place on Saturdays 09.30 until 16.00.
Once you've successfully completed the taught modules, you'll start your thesis. This will involve regular meetings with your supervision team and optional workshops with other EdD students three times a year.
You will also have access to the Faculty’s and University’s training programmes for doctoral students.
Our research groups are listed in the research section below.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Your assessment in the taught modules will be through:
- assignments
- online discussions
- peer reviews
- presentations
- oral assessment
The assessment of the thesis is through a viva.
Through your assessments you'll gain experience of academic activities - such as conference presentations and writing for publication. You'll also build the skills and knowledge you need for your thesis.
Research
Our research groups are:
- Children and Young People
- Applied Linguistics and Language in Education
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)
- Professional Learning and Leadership
- Higher Education and Lifelong Learning
We also have the following research conferences:
- the school of education research conference
- the EdD colloquium
Research is published in leading peer-reviewed journals. Emeritus, Honorary and Visiting Research Fellows contribute to our research programmes and outputs.
All students are invited to attend the annual research seminar series.
Members of the School engage in a variety of funded and unfunded research projects, including the Fulbright-Peabody scholarship. Funded research studentships are offered to doctoral applicants, when feasible.
We strongly recommend that prior to submitting a full application you identify and make contact directly with a potential Director of Studies. Please look at our staff profiles to help you identify appropriate individuals who could supervise your research.
After you graduate
Career prospects
EdD students are typically experienced professionals in education, healthcare and related fields. During the programme and after graduation many will go on to promoted posts in these areas.
As a doctoral qualification, the EdD also provides opportunities for those seeking employment and promotion in the higher education sector.
Related courses
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.