Postgraduate Research Programmes

The School of Education offers a supportive and stimulating research environment, testified by our excellent results in the 2008 national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and 1+3 funding status for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) full-time studentships.  We currently have over 200 research students studying at the School of Education on our PhD, EdD and Research Masters degrees, who alongside our academic staff contribute to our vibrant research culture.  We welcome applications from potential students who wish to follow either full- or part-time study and welcome applications in any field of educational research.

We are committed to delivering the highest possible levels of academic and pastoral support for individual research students. As well as high quality supervision, we have excellent facilities including a dedicated and newly refurbished accommodation block for full-time research students, which provides students with personal study space and computing facilities, as well as a kitchen and social area.  Our departmental Research Development Fund provides our students with the opportunity to apply for financial support for activities which support their research career development, such as conference attendance.  Our research students meet regularly for discussion groups, seminars, and social activities, while our annual Research Seminar Programme (public seminars and lectures by researchers of national and international standing) is well attended by staff and research students alike.  Research students in the School of Education are supported in their study by a supervisory team with whom they meet regularly (or in the case of our distance students maintain regular contact with through email, telephone and video-conferencing such as Skype^TM).  Students have access to in-house and University research training sessions including the Doctoral Training Programme.

To find out more about the research programmes offered in the School of Education, click on the links below:

• PhD in Education
• Doctorate of Education (EdD)
• Research Masters by Thesis degrees

Students who are interested in a career in educational research but do not possess a taught masters degree which includes substantial research methods training may wish to consider our MA in Research Methods (Education), a programme designed to equip students with the knowledge needed to become an educational researcher, as well as the broad analytical skills that would be an asset in furthering a career in any field.  This programme is an excellent route onto our PhD programme and funding may be available to eligible applicants from the Economic and Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 route.

Please refer to our staff research page to find out if your research interests align with those of a potential supervisor.