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Professional Doctorate in Education - EdD

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Are you interested in undertaking research into your own professional practice in education? Then our professional doctorate in Education, the EdD, is the course for you.

  • Level Postgraduate Research
  • Study mode Part Time
  • Award EdD
  • Start date September 2025

This course is:

Overview

Are you interested in undertaking research into your own professional practice in education? Then our professional doctorate in Education, the EdD, is the course for you.

This course is not open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

On the course you will get a grounding in the essential skills required to articulate and interrogate the key issues relating to education policy, the changing role of social institutions, aspects of pedagogy, and the implications for multiple and fluid professional identities on everyday education practice in a context of global interconnectedness and interdependence.

During the course you will improve your practice and make a significant contribution to your continuing professional development. We know you’re busy practitioners, so the course is tailored to that and will enable you to embed your research in your everyday practice.

You’ll explore the relationship between knowledge, theory and practice and demonstrate your understanding of how it is possible to make and influence change. To do this we’ll help you develop creative and innovative approaches for integrating academic and professional knowledge as well as design and implement research which draws upon your appreciation of knowledge that occurs in professional settings.

This intensive course offers a range of teaching and learning approaches in small groups, led by academics who are writing and publishing in a range of related areas. This course encourages innovative and creative approaches to educational research and draws on a wider pool of experts from across the University to support work in visual methods and new media.

On completion of the course, our aim is that you have developed intuitive judgement, foresight and ability to conceptualise problems that typically impact on organisations, are able to develop appropriate solutions to problems by applying theoretical concepts, and a range of research skills and approaches that you’re able to employ. You’ll also have skills to communicate academic principles and concepts effectively to professional colleagues and the scholarly community.

OPEN DAY

Join us for a virtual Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Event: 5 February 2025

Register your interest

Research Interests

Research Interests 

We offer supervisory expertise in the following areas of research interests, which all tend to be related to professional practice in education:

  • Assessment
  • Creativity
  • Childhood Studies
  • Early Years
  • Post-16 Provision
  • Education Policy
  • Music Education
  • Professional Learning and Development
  • Workplace Learning
  • Student experience in higher education
  • Teaching and learning in higher education
  • Management and leadership in education
  • Historical research into education

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: EdD

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 4-7 years
  • TBC

International students

Sorry, this course is not available to International students.

If you’re unable to use our online application form for any reason, please email Research.Admissions@bcu.ac.uk.

Access to computer equipment 

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

Printing 

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365 

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

Key software 

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

Excess printing (optional) 

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

Research costs (optional) 

Due individualised nature of doctoral research, the costs associated with completion of your PhD will vary. You will need to budget for necessary equipment, books, printing and travel for conferences and/or fieldwork.  

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

 

UK students
Essential

Professional doctorates are designed for mid-career and senior professionals who have previous higher level study, and significant professional experience. They are also suited to those who have recently completed an MA or MEd in Education. 

The emphasis is on developing links between theory and professional practise through an extensive process of reflective and reflexive learning.

Professional doctorates are not designed as a teaching qualification; rather they provide evidence of advanced study and research in a relevant education area.

Research proposal

You must complete a research proposal and upload this as part of your application. Please note that we will not be able to process your application without having received your research proposal.

Applicants are required to submit as part of their application an EdD Research Proposal which identifies a particular area for potential research and some of the related literature. The Research Proposal should also discuss – if only briefly – other related interests in methodology and theory that may be relevant for the research area. Your Research Proposal should be no more than 1500 words (excluding bibliography/references).

Download the research proposal template

Course in Depth

Modules

Download course specification

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Course structure

You will be introduced to an array of new techniques and emerging philosophies that are available to develop your ability to critically analyse practice and the relevance of theoretical concepts which underpin them. Furthermore you will investigate the relevance of digital technologies as a means to deepen your understanding of the mobility of people, ideas, networks and meanings derived from multiple geographical and historical origins.

A major outcome will be that you will enhance your own professional skills and be in a position to influence others in the development of your organisation. At the same time and notwithstanding national policy requirements and professional practices, you will recognise a global reconfiguring of social relationships largely disconnected from national origins.

Central to this will be the need to engage in reflective and reflexive practice in order to understand the potential consequences of actions and plan for professional change in the context of the global circulation of educational ideologies, discourses and practices.

The framework of the programme incorporates components intended to develop research skills and a willingness to adopt an approach which is explicitly enquiring and involves the critique of existing practice and encourages challenges to established theory. Assessment strategies will provide you with opportunities to develop and demonstrate a range of doctoral level skills including multi-model approaches (visual and verbal) in addition to the more traditional forms of critical writing.

You will be awarded a professional doctorate on successful demonstration of the following:

  • The creation and interpretation of new knowledge and contribution to professional practice through scholarly research of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the subject and merit publication;
  • Significant development in key aspects of professional practice;
  • A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an area of professional practice;
  • The general ability to conceptualise, design and develop a project for the generation of new professional knowledge, and to modify and influence practice in the light of contextual considerations, as appropriate;
  • A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for both research and advanced academic enquiry.

The EdD programme is undertaken in three phases.

Phase 1 - you will undertake the first two Critical Perspectives modules through which you are introduced to key concepts in educational research methodology within the policy and political contexts of educational practice.

Phase 2 - in the second phase you will extend your experience of research methodologies and engage with a range of contemporary and experimental approaches and undertake a pilot project in an area of your choice. In phase 2 you will also undertake the university-wide PG Certificate in Research Practice which provides the opportunity to discuss and write a research proposal for the EdD thesis.

Phase 3 - you will complete a 50,000 word thesis in an area of your choice.

Employability

Employment opportunities

After you've completed this course, you will be able to make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate your ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

You'll also continue to undertake theoretical and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas, or approaches.

The course will also give you the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

Facilities & Staff

Our facilities

Our School of Education and Social Work is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

We’ve spent £41million expanding the education facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice. Alongside classrooms and lecture theatres, we also have a range of specialist teaching and learning spaces for specific subjects including science, design and technology, drama and physical education.

As well as subject-specific rooms, our facilities include the Primary Innovation Lab, which houses £24,000 worth of LEGO. This room is a special resource for our education students, offering an innovative and creative way to approach subjects across the curriculum – from computing to English, mathematics to art. The lab responds to research that children and young people learn best from practical experience.

Our Social Work students have access to a home environment room and mock hospital wards which offer an opportunity to gain experience of working with service users in different situations.

Computer facilities

The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.

Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:

  • Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
  • Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Research and statistical software
  • Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home

Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.

In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.

Our staff

Dr Anthony Armstrong

Director of PGR Degrees in Education and Social Work

Tony's teaching and supervision commitments are undertaken at doctoral level which involves our EdD and PhD provision. He also teaches at Level 7 on the PG Certificate in Research Practice which is offered to doctoral candidates in the early stages of their research work.  Tony worked for many years in the area of Initial Teacher...

More about Anthony

Dr Amanda French

Reader

Amanda has worked in higher, further, adult education and the voluntary sector for 30 years as a lecturer, writing developer and researcher. Her research interests include academic writing, learner development in higher education, participatory research, transition experiences in education, employment literacies, widening participation and social...

More about Amanda