Overview

The Education (EdD) professional doctorate is a programme specifically designed for professionals - policymakers, leaders and managers, academics and teachers - at all levels of education, from early childhood through further and higher education, to lifelong learning. A professional doctorate provides a rigorous programme of advanced study and research, equally rigorous to the purely research-orientated PhD.  

Programmes are delivered using blended face-to-face and online means, as students are usually in full-time work whilst on programme. The Doctorate in Education is a 4-8 year part-time course, normally completed in 6 years. During the first two years, students take taught modules with assessments that are designed to explore and structure the research project.  After successfully completing these assignments, students undertake their research project under the guidance of supervisors. The final degree is awarded on the successful submission and examination of a thesis (of 60,000 words) in the same way as for a PhD.

 Specifically, the EdD aims to:

• Promote an understanding of research evidence and methodologies relevant to professional practitioners
• Develop a critical awareness of the policy context in which professional practice takes place
• Enable participants to undertake a research study of relevance to their professional activities.

"Blow the dust off your brain, practice your theories and theorise your practices with this challenging, stimulating and thought-provoking programme." Visit the testimonials tab to read more.

Course content

The EdD has one entry point a year, in October. 

The modules that students take in the first two years each last about four months, and each begins with an intensive two-day block of input and discussion. Tutors guide participants through the first four modules and associated assignments. You are allocated a supervisor at the stage where you devise your formal research proposal. The proposal is assessed orally and in writing before you can proceed to conduct your thesis. The thesis is undertaken by independent work under the supervision of your supervisor. 

Alternative exit point for the EdD

All students register as Professional Doctorate students. We do understand that sometimes it may not be possible to complete the full programme and for this reason, there may be an alternative exit point offered. If a student successfully completes the taught part of the EdD programme and a 15-20,000 word mini-thesis, they may be awarded an MRes (Education).

Entry requirements

A candidate for the EdD should:

1. Usually hold a Masters Degree of this University or of another deemed equivalent; and,
2. Hold that qualification normally in the general field of education, policy and/or management and/or social sciences or it's equivalent in professional experience and a professionally accredited programme; and,
3. Have access to email and the internet for the e-supported parts of the programme.

*Applicants without a Masters degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis, where they can provide evidence of relevant professional experience or other experiential prior learning.

There is no deadline for applications but you are strongly encouraged to apply before 1st August to secure your place and to receive the preliminary course information.  

Contact details

Administrator: Course administrator

Telephone: +44 (0) 1782 734256

Email: socialsciences.profdoc@keele.ac.uk

Testimonials

 'This is a high quality programme that makes a major contribution to students’ academic and professional development.'

Professor James Avis
(previous) EdD and DBA External Examiner 

 'I congratulate the programme team on the success of this very distinctive professional doctorate.  The students that are recruited have an invaluable opportunity to develop their professional awareness and understanding and are able to relate this to their own biographies. 

I wish the course continuing success in the future, it has been a valuable experience of me, and I will be pleased to think that I have played some small part in the development of the programme over recent years.

I continue to be deeply impressed by this programme and the obvious dramatic effects it has on students, as well as by the quality of work that is produced.'

Professor Ian Menter
EdD External Examiner  2007-2010 

"I have found my first year of the EdD to be challenging, demanding and extremely stimulating, I have moved forward in many ways, personally and academically. The personal support offered by [tutors] has given me the confidence to believe I can achieve success in what I perceive to be the most challenging period of my career to-date."

- A Senior Lecturer in IT

"A thoroughly enjoyable, yet challenging experience. I look forward to our Course Sessions and personal supervisor support meetings. I feel my work is enthusiastically received and feel welcome amongst an emerging community of researchers and scholars. Life will never quite be the same for me. Through the EdD I have come to learn how to connect more closely with work colleagues and students and respond more appropriately to the many adverse pressures threatening to affect the quality of my work."

- A Principal Lecturer in Accounting and Ex-Head of Department.

"Blow the dust off your brain, practice your theories and theorise your practices with this challenging, stimulating and thought provoking programme."

- A Senior Tutor at a College of Further Education

"The programme is making me read, and reflect on, theories and their application in professional practice, in ways for which I have previously not made time. It is demanding, mostly because of the time needed when the day job is more than full time. But it's also worth it, and already paying dividends in the way work looks at me and vice versa."

- A County Manager for Educational Standards

"I am so glad I chose this programme as I am really enjoying the opportunity to explore all these issues."

- A Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management

Expertise

Areas of expertise and research interest

Keele especially welcomes applications from doctoral students interested in researching the following areas of educational policy and practice: international education and higher education, critical policy analysis, educational 'capitals', inclusion, identity and belonging, stereotyping, aspirations and attainment, policy and practice, the history of education in Britain, critical pedagogy, progressive education, secondary education, educational and higher educational finance, markets and marketisation.