Find out more about studying Doctor of Education at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
EdD - Doctor of Education
Stoke-on-Trent Campus
Part Time
Mar 2027
2 Year
The Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) is a research degree for professionals working in a wide range of education and learning settings. Building upon your existing knowledge and skills, the EdD will enable you to investigate and advance your own practice. Aimed at a wide range of education professionals in schools, colleges, universities and the lifelong learning sector, the EdD is the progression route of choice for those who have completed a masters level qualification with us or another UK university. You’ll conduct in-depth, empirical study related to your professional practice, together with the critical analysis of relevant policy and theory, with a view to addressing current problems and improving future practice in education. By developing and enhancing knowledge and understanding of key education issues, as well as skills such as problem solving, critical inquiry and reflection, the EdD aims to impact positively on practice in the wider organisations associated with education. During your studies, you’ll critically debate contemporary education issues, further develop your research skills and academic scholarship, and deepen your professional understanding. This will enable you to make an original contribution to practice, and equip you to bring tangible benefits to your organisation. On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Doctor of Education Education
This module will enable you to develop and demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of aspects of educational policy making and policy enactment that shape and influence the parameters of professional activity within your particular sector of education provision. It will allow you to develop knowledge of relevant literature in your chosen area of study and an extended understanding of appropriate policy related concepts and issues in the field of Education. It will also support you to develop the ability to effectively deploy theoretical concepts in pursuit of new perspectives on education policy and approaches to professional practice.
This module will enable you to develop and demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of key theories and conceptual frameworks that are used to interpret and make sense of current educational research, policy and practice, which you can then apply to your chosen context of education and developing research questions. It will allow you to develop systematic knowledge of key theoretical literature which is currently applied in your chosen area of study and enable you to further develop your potential research questions in the light of issues raised by the theory.
In this module you will consider relationships between methodology, epistemology and ontology, examining critical readings on the methodology of social science research; on the debates concerning different paradigms of research; and on specific investigations in educational research. Major forms of data gathering and the strengths and weaknesses of different research paradigms in educational research will be evaluated in the light of your own professional needs in general, and the kind of research you intend to carry out in particular. You will then be supported to design, conduct and evaluate a small pilot study. This will involve in-depth discussion of the following topics: The potential and limitations of small-scale research by professionals and the value of conducting pilot studies-Framing research questions and designing research for addressing those-A range of research methods and tools for collecting and analysing data.-Relationships between methodologies and methods-Ethical considerations and research practices.
The content of the module will include: What makes an effective research proposal?-Evaluating example research proposals-Designing research questions-The role of the literature review in developing a research proposal-What makes an effective literature review?-Communicating research design in relation to specific research questions.
In this module you will carry out an investigation that makes an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area of education practice. You will implement the approved research project design, but also, in consultation with your supervisors, be prepared to extend and adjust this.
