PG: Education

Education

Discover your research degree study options, including areas of expertise for our academic supervisors.

Why you should join us

Our research degrees will help you advance or change your career, deepen your expertise, and expand your research and practical skills.

Work with leading education experts

100% of our research impact in education is rated world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Choose from our flexible pathways

Study full- or part-time, on campus or by distance learning.

Discover our state-of-the-art facilities

The Brooks building has outstanding specialist facilities for education researchers.

Develop your personal and professional skills

We provide a comprehensive development programme for research students.

Join a thriving research community

Our Education and Social Research Institute pioneers education methodologies, practices and policies.

Benefit from real-world expertise

Our external partners network includes practitioners, community partners and social researchers.

Our research areas

Discover our areas of expertise and browse our experts. We encourage you to discuss your research ideas with us – even if your topic is not listed.

  • Democracy and education: citizenship education and politics of education
  • Digital and innovative pedagogies
  • Early childhood studies
  • Equity and justice in education
  • Global education: policy trends and global issues pedagogy (including climate crises education)
  • Mathematics learning
  • Post-developmental childhood studies
  • Theoretical and methodological innovation in education (arts-based, co-productive and post-qualitative)
  • Teacher education and teacher professionalism
  • Youth and community learning

Research with real-world impact

Discover our five research missions.

Go to research missions
Researcher tightening bolts inside a test chamber

Qualifications you can study

You can do a research degree on campus or remotely through distance learning. Choose from one of these programmes:

  • PhD Education — three years full-time, six years part-time
  • PhD Education Research — three years full-time, six years part-time

Find out about the research degrees we offer.

Start dates

The majority of our PhD students start their studies in October. Only under very exceptional circumstances do we allow students to enrol at other times of the year.

Application information

Entry requirements

To apply, you’ll need a first or 2.1 honours degree, or an equivalent qualification.

International students must have strong English language skills.

We welcome applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We’ll take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other relevant achievements into consideration.

Find out more about our standard entry requirements.

How to apply for a research degree

Discover the key steps in the application process.

Go to application guidance

Scholarships, fees and funding

A student on placement looking around the offices she works in

Scholarships

Discover the support available to help with study costs.

Go to scholarships

Postgraduate research fees

What will your research degree cost?

Go to fees

Postgraduate research funding

Find out how to fund your research degree.

Go to funding

Contacts

Contact us

About this subject

For an initial discussion, contact the relevant research degrees co-ordinator:

General admissions

For further information on the application process, contact the admissions team at [email protected].