Education

Entry requirements

Applicants will hold

• an Honours degree or equivalent and a Master’s award of high standing
• evidence of previous academic and practical excellence, as well as future potential

How to Apply

Applicants are required to complete an application form (available via the ‘Apply’ button above) and to provide a doctoral proposal. On application, you will receive a form to be completed. This requires you to consider:

The focus (topic) of your research and/or evidence (e.g. leadership, curriculum development etc.)

- An introduction to existing literature reflecting your focus

- How at this point you think you will carry out the work

- The impact you feel this could have on educational practice

- Your motivations for carrying out this work at this time and an introduction to your own educational context

Your application will be assessed against a number of different criteria. These include:

- The suitability of your topic as one that has the ability to be developed at this level

- Your ability to communicate effectively in English

- The way in which your area of interest relates to your own professional experience and background

- Your academic record to date

Applicants should have a focus linked to their professional remit and provide evidence that significantly contributes to the application of knowledge that is relevant locally, nationally and internationally. Potential applicants are welcome to contact the School of Education and speak to the Programme Director prior to application.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Course outline

Our Doctoral Programme in Education by Professional Record promotes and endorses the highest level of knowledge, skills and experiences of leaders in schools and education in the belief that this recognition will impact significantly on practice.

The Ed.D is unique in that it:

• can be completed in 3 years of part-time study
• involves itself in the professional practice of school leaders and accredits a record of evidence rather than a traditional thesis
• incurs a highly competitive course fee

Course content

The University of Buckingham EdD is offered to experienced practitioners and postgraduate students who already hold an MA or equivalent. Doing a doctorate is likely to be one of the most intellectually challenging experiences of your professional career. Despite its challenges it is hoped that you will also find the experience hugely rewarding. The programme aims to enable those working in education to develop expertise through critical evaluation of research and scholarship in their chosen field of interest. Students will develop skills that allow them to critically analyse, engage in and reflect on educational issues. Whilst the intensity of the doctorate might seem daunting, the programme is designed for students to complete alongside their work in education. Students will contribute to wider debate on education and reflect on the implications of their study for educators and learners.

We offer two routes to achieving an EdD at Buckingham: a traditional thesis or a professional portfolio route. Many people will be familiar with the structure of the doctoral thesis. It is a pathway that encompasses a review of literature followed by the pursuit of a research project and as the EdD is a professional thesis, this would also include an evaluation of the implications for practice that the work would have within a particular educational context. A thesis consists of a continuous narrative, divided up into chapters that form a whole. Each chapter contributes to the main idea and builds a logical sustained argument cumulatively from start to end.

By comparison a doctorate by submission of a professional portfolio reflects on a particular area of focus and interest through the production of a collection of different papers that together form a whole. It is important to recognise that both require the same level of academic rigour. A thesis is an extended piece of research that presents an argument supported by evidence and reference to relevant research. For the portfolio, it is the overriding argument that binds the varied contents of the portfolio together. Both pathways would also require an ability to be critical both in terms of one’s own position and also in the development of your own critical voice when encountering a range of alternative views. Both pathways will also contribute something unique and original to existing knowledge. Originality may lie in the discovery or collection of material never before used; or it may lie in a new approach to more familiar material.

Each student is assigned two supervisors and receives guidance on the development of their doctoral thesis or portfolio. There are two residential stays each year where you meet with supervisors and attend lectures and workshops that contribute to the development of your thesis/portfolio.

Fees and funding

Please visit our website to see the latest information relating to our tuition fees, scholarships and bursaries.