Doctorate in Education MRes Professional Doctorate (MRes PGCert)
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Overview
This innovative EdD programme is intended for experienced, practising education professionals. It supports an individual's development as a researching practitioner with a critical and interrogative approach to the understanding of their educational practice. Students on the programme represent a range of formal and informal educational settings in schools, youth work, further and higher education, and other organisations with a focus on education. Students currently on the programme include those involved with teacher education, business school, language teaching, nursing and midwifery, medicine and physiotherapy.
The programme provides a research-based, flexible and practice-focused experience, advancing professional knowledge in practice. Most students are already successful practitioners who wish to retain their professional practitioner focus; the programme design is founded on this premise and aims to support practice through critical enquiry at doctoral level. However, it also aims to induct participants into a community of researchers and to give them the confidence to become central to this community through writing and discussion. The programme has been offered since 2000, and is consistently given very positive evaluations of the quality of teaching and student work from external examiners.
Brighton is ranked as the leading modern university in terms of the quality of its research by Research Fortnight. The Times Higher Education moved the university from 80 in 2001 to 59 in 2008. Results from the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) have confirmed that 79 per cent of the university's research output is of international standing.
Programme structureThe EdD comprises two parts: Stage 1 comprising three assessed assignments and Stage 2, the thesis stage, comprising a research plan and a 50,000 word thesis. Stage 1 usually takes two years to complete and Stage 2, the research element, a further three years. The assignments and modules in Stage 1, together with a viva voce examination at the end of this Stage form a Master of Research in Education (MRes).
In each of the first two years (Stage 1) students attend three intensive two-day, and one one-day study blocks, and in each of years 3, 4 and beyond, students are invited to attend these days and are supported to develop their own action learning sets. There are also monthly Saturday morning methodology sessions designed to introduce methodological concepts to students in Stage 1. Stage 2 students are expected to present work in progress at these sessions. These structured elements of the programme introduce students to research methods, tools for critical reflection, theoretical perspectives and research ethics.
The teaching and learning process developed in the programme draws upon a spiral curriculum module within which ideas, issues and theories are introduced, revisited and further developed over time.
Teaching within the programme and the organisation of the programme is designed to suit the needs of part-time students. A distinctive feature of the programme is that students should take advantage of opportunities offered by a small cohort of similarly interested professionals.
The structure of the EdD allows for significant emphasises in collaboration and discursive learning during Stage 1, with a greater emphasis on individual work with supervisory support, together with continued opportunities for continued networking during Stage 2.
Course duration
Part-time: 5-8 years
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Course content
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Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of 7.5 will be required.Degree and/or experience:
A qualification, normally at masters level in a relevant subject or appropriate research experience. An application made by someone with research experience but with no masters level qualification will be considered on its merits and will normally require independent academic references. Applicants will normally have at least four years of appropriate professional experiences. -
Location
Location
Moulsecoomb -
Career opportunities
This doctorate will enhance the careers of senior managers with educational responsibilities in any form of organisation, whether in the public or private sector.
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The EdD programme is run on a part-time basis only. To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
Please contact us directly for exact tuition fees for this course. -
More details
Support in completing the EdD
Within Stage 1, you will be allocated one Professional Doctorate Advisor (PDA) with expertise and academic interest in your chosen area of study. Your PDA will support you in completing your three assignments during Stage 1. Your PDA in Stage 1 usually becomes a member of your supervisory team in Stage 2, along with at least one other academic member of staff, chosen to provide appropriate expertise in the focus of your study. Your supervisory team will jointly guide you through the various stages and formal requirements of producing your final thesis. It is usual for PDAs and supervisors to offer feedback to students on their work via email as well as through face-to-face (or Skype or other technology) sessions.
In addition to individual PDA and supervisory support, there are varied modes of study and support for group and individual work:
- The programme includes cohort introduction to the EdD programme and the university, intensive study days including assignment workshops (three - seven per year), taught research methods sessions (monthly Saturday mornings) and a series of evening research seminars offered by the Education Research Centre. The university also offers research training courses at various times in the academic year.
- Students are encouraged to take part in cohort-based action learning Sets and to present work in progress at the annual postgraduate conference, as well as to participate in a series of conferences and seminars presented by the Centre for Learning and Teaching.
- Online education and methodology journals are accessible on-line off campus at all times.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to study at 'doctoral level'?
Doctoral level work is expected to make a contribution to knowledge. In the context of the Professional Doctorate, students are expected to make a contribution to professional knowledge within practice.
What is the difference between a PhD and an EdD in Education?
The EdD and the PhD both lead to a doctorate level qualification, however, there are fundamental differences between the two programmes.
- The EdD includes structured study days and research methodology sessions, whereas the PhD includes only a research methodology element.
- The EdD is assessed by three written assignments and a 50,000 word thesis, the PhD is assessed by a 80,000 word thesis. . A viva voce examination also forms part of the assessment for both the PhD and the EdD.
- The EdD has an expectation that students will research in their own professional environment. This is not a requirement for the PhD students.
- The EdD focuses on a contribution to professional practice, whereas the PhD focuses on a contribution to theory.
- At the University of Brighton the EdD is only available for part-time study. However, the PhD is available for part-time and full-time study.
Essentially, the EdD is designed to meet the needs of professional people who want to pursue scholarly inquiry and develop knowledge in an aspect of their own professional practice. It is usual for EdD students to work full time and to undertake the EdD on a part time basis.
How does doctoral study differ to masters level study?
- Masters level work focuses on enabling students to master skills, whereas at doctoral level, students are expected to have already mastered skills and will use these to conduct research, which will make an original contribution to knowledge.
- At masters level students use theory to demonstrate their understanding. At doctoral level, students challenge the work of others and design and develop their own theory.
- At doctoral level students are expected to work more independently than at masters level and to critique their own work and the work of others. Much of the learning at doctoral level is self-initiated.
Do I need to know what topic I would like to research before I apply for an EdD?
Students applying for the EdD are expected to have an idea of the area of their professional practice in which they plan to focus their research on before submitting an application.
The deadline for students applying for the EdD to start at the Mauritius Institute of Education, starting in December 2012 is Friday 28 September 2012.
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Apply online
You should not apply unless you can meet all the entry requirements for this course. Please contact the course team before applying if you are unsure about any of the specific entry requirements.
Entry requirements
For non-native speakers of English:
For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of 7.5 will be required.Degree and/or experience:
A qualification, normally at masters level in a relevant subject or appropriate research experience. An application made by someone with research experience but with no masters level qualification will be considered on its merits and will normally require independent academic references. Applicants will normally have at least four years of appropriate professional experiences.
Helen Mclaren
01273 641931
h.l.mclaren@brighton.ac.uk
This course is designed to meet the needs of professional people who want to pursue scholarly inquiry and develop knowledge in an aspect of their own professional practice.
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