Doctor of Education (EdD)

Key features

The Doctorate of Education (EdD) is a professional doctorate. The aim of the EdD programme is to provide a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of educational research. The EdD comprises a taught element and a research element. The programme provides flexibility in the choice of modules, when these are taken, and in the design and format of the research study and thesis.

The EdD is primarily designed to appeal to experienced professionals who work full-time within the field of education (e.g. schools, further education or higher education), and who wish to undertake doctoral study part-time (although the full-time route is also available).

Students take compulsory research methods modules to provide a grounding in research, and they complement this with optional (specialist) modules related to their own professional situation. They then complete an empirical research study, which should be related to an issue of professional concern or interest.

Length of study

3-5 years for full-time students; and 6-8 years for part-time students.

Objectives of the EdD

The EdD enables students to:

  • Gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of education.
  • Couple a deep theoretical understanding of educational concepts with their practical application within their own professional context.
  • Undertake a general training in research methodologies within education.
  • Undertake a specific training in research methodologies relating to an approved research project in education.
  • Conceptualise, design and implement a research project which will make an original and significant contribution to knowledge and understanding in education.
  • Critically evaluate educational literature.
  • Communicate their research and ideas clearly and effectively to an academic and practitioner audience.
  • Gain a range of professional and key skills which will enable them to engage in teaching and/or research at an advanced level in higher education or in a senior professional capacity in other fields of employment.

Course structure

The EdD is worth 540 credits. It consists of:

  • A taught stage (200 credits) and
  • A research stage (340 credits)

During the taught stage, students must complete research methods modules worth 40 credits – these are the compulsory modules. This leaves 160 credits to be gained from optional (specialist) modules.

The research stage consists of a thesis of approximately 50,000 words.

The taught stage

Students must take modules to the value of 200 credits at taught stage.

40 credits worth of research methods modules are selected from:

Students must then choose specialist modules to total 160 credits (when added to their research methods modules). The modules on offer change from year to year, but could include:

The timetable for 2010-11 can be found here.

The research stage

The research stage (340 credits) consists of a thesis of approximately 50,000 words.

When an EdD student has completed 200 credits at taught stage, they are asked to write a research proposal and to identify potential supervisors – from a ‘Supervisors list’. Information on the teaching and research profiles of academic staff in ECLS can be obtained from the following website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/staff

Entry requirements

  • Most participants will be UK teachers/lecturers working in any subject area and any phase
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is essential for TDA subsidised places (2008/9)
  • Other teaching qualifications (e.g. QTLS) and/ or experience (e.g. in HEIs) are also relevant

More information

For more information on fees, funding and how to apply for this programme Doctor of Education (EdD)

Newcastle University staff may be eligible to pay the reduced staff rate (known as ‘staff PhD rates’). This is subject to approval from the relevant Heads of School and also the Postgraduate Dean. If approval is granted, there is one payment to begin with (‘on approval of candidature’), and a final fee on submission of your thesis. These fees are given in the Fees Schedule - Section 8 ‘Fees for staff candidates for higher degrees’: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/fees/

If you have further queries, please contact the Degree Programme Secretary:  

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 3471, E-mail: ecls.ppd@ncl.ac.uk