StudyQA — PhD: Education — Oxford Brookes University

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Description

The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a professionally focused, cohort-based doctorate, aimed primarily at experienced professionals working in education, health and related fields. It is an opportunity to pursue doctoral study in the context of your professional role, combining taught courses with independent research. It aims to promote critical self-reflection through a sequence of structured learning experiences, culminating in a thesis that is an original and substantial piece of professionally-oriented education research. Your work will enable you to develop and use advanced research skills and so become an independent, reflective and competent researcher.

The EdD is open to professionals who are currently practising in education, healthcare or a related setting, and who normally have a minimum of four years experience and a master's qualification. The programme of study is structured specifically to meet the needs of people who are in full-time employment.

* The taught component comprises a number of assessed modules which take place on Saturdays throughout the year (6 in total)
* The independent research component is led by specialist supervisors from the School of Education, who will help you to develop a research project in your chosen field.
* Minimum enrolment time is five years part time. A full-time route is not currently offered.
* The 2013-14 course fee is £2440.

The course is highly collegial. Sessions draw upon the rich and varied experiences that EdD students bring with them, and the exploration of commonalities across disciplines is integral to the programme of study. You are actively encouraged critically to explore your own practice and to be engaged as fully as possible in the learning process. Each academic year begins with a weekend residential (Friday night to Saturday) early in the Autumn Term. Further lectures, seminars and workshops normally take place on five further Saturdays throughout the year at our Harcourt Hill campus. We employ flexible, blended learning which incorporates face-to-face teaching, online discussion, one-to-one tutorials and individual supervision.

Why Brookes?

The School of Education at Oxford Brookes is one of the largest Schools of education in the UK, combining high quality teaching and significant research and consultancy activity in an outstanding location, with superb sporting, recreational and study facilities.

As a Postgraduate student you will be joining a University which is widely regarded as a major contibutor to the improvement of education and learning, locally and nationally. The School of Education is a focal point for lively, informed debate on education through its seminar and lecture programmes, including the high profile Oxford Education debates. We are proud to be co-sponsors of the Oxford Academy, a community secondary school, where Oxford Brookes staff and students provide practical support to pupils and teaching staff.

We work in close partnership with hundreds of schools and colleges and other organisations.

Our 110-acre Harcourt Hill campus offers all the benefits of a complete academic community on one site. You will be working with highly regarded academics who are at the forefront of their subjects. Drawing on our cutting-edge, research-led teaching, our courses will advance your knowledge and develop your professional skills. Academics work alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds, and with the support of a caring and efficient administrative staff, provide a rich and diverse intellectual and social environment.

There are two specialised routes through the EdD: learning and teaching and leadership and managment in education.

Master's-level modules in Years 1 and 2:

* Researching the real world
* Writing for academic practice
* Specialist module in learning and teaching or leadership and management in education.

Doctoral-level modules in Years 3, 4 and 5:

* Advanced research methods
* Doctoral thesis.

Your thesis will be about 45,000 words in length and will focus on a specialist area of your choice. It will make a distinct contribution to knowledge in the field of study and demonstrate your capacity for original, autonomous research. Support in writing your thesis is provided through meetings with your assigned supervisors and through regular thesis workshops.

Requirements

You should normally have at least four years experience in a relevant professional area, and should hold a postgraduate master's degree from a recognised university. We will be looking for a good grade (usually merit or distinction) in your master's, and you will need to provide an extract from your dissertation or from an equally substantial piece of academic writing.

A portfolio route is open to those with extensive professional experience who do not currently hold a master's degree. Please contact the course directors for more information.

We also ask you to provide a statement in support of your application, not exceeding 1,000 words, which should indicate:

* Possible areas of research for your thesis (we recognise this may change during the course of your doctoral studies)
* Why you want to join the EdD programme
* How you feel that it will enhance your professional development.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band: 6 TOEFL iBT® test: 78

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa.

The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.