Educational Research (Independent Study)

Entry requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) usually a taught Master's degree or its equivalent.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application, you will also need to provide a viable research proposal. Guidance for writing a research proposal can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Why Lancaster?

• Join a department that specialises in doctoral study and work alongside experts in higher education, social justice, technology and enhanced learning
• Prepare for a career in academia, educational administration, or NGO work, by exploring an issue that interests you with support from an expert in that area
• Access training and support in a range of practical, research, and career areas through both the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Research Training Programme, as well as bespoke sessions run by the department.
• Benefit from our membership of the ESRC North West Doctoral Training Partnership which provides access to funding and specialist training opportunities
• Become part of a supportive, international community of PhD researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds and careers around the world
• Through carrying out your own research you’ll develop your skills and actively contribute to the field of education

A strong research culture and supportive community are hallmarks of our department, making Lancaster an excellent choice to deepen your insight into education and educational research. Develop yourself as a confident, competent researcher and contribute new ideas to this thriving and diverse field.

Extensive expertise in education

As a PhD researcher, you’ll be welcomed into our community of highly regarded scholars. We’ll connect you to academics within our three departmental research hubs:

• the Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation
• the Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
• the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning

Regular research seminars, reading groups and postgraduate group meetings take place both in real time and asynchronously, and they’re a great way to create connections within our community.

Although you’ll be studying independently, you won’t be on your own. Many colleagues will have expertise to share and you’ll be part of exciting conversations about work in this area. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from our relationships with scholars in other universities in the UK and overseas, as well as local schools and colleges.

Contribute to the field

You’ll carry out research into an issue that interests you and write a thesis. This is your opportunity to contribute new knowledge to the scholarly community. Although the journey may be challenging, you’ll have extensive support from your supervisors, peers and other staff. You can join in regular discussions to broaden your knowledge and skills base, and we’ll assist you to overcome any challenges that you may encounter. Discussions and support can take place either online or in person.

Our PhD researchers look at a range of topics including higher education policy, teacher training development, students’ experiences, experiences of online learning spaces, women’s leadership and decolonising education. Others have explored racial social justice, academic identity, human rights education, digital skills development, student motivation and intersectional pedagogy.

Interested in applying? Read the Search for a Supervisor information on our departmental web pages to match your research interests to the specialisms available in the department.

Information for international students

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in the reading and writing elements and 5.5 in the speaking and listening elements. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Learn more at our fees and funding page.