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Postgraduate applications open

Apply now

You are viewing entry year 2024/25.

Our research degree (MPhil/PhD) is ideal for professionals in education and other fields to conduct unique research in education and training with support from experts in the field.

Develop your advanced doctoral research methods, theoretical knowledge and critical analysis skills with this research degree in education. You will be able to conduct research in areas including leadership in higher education, literacy, pedagogy and alternative education, supported by experts with vast practical and academic experience. You will meet regularly with your supervisory team, who will support you with the practicalities and challenges of producing a dissertation and defending it at viva.

With a PhD in education and training, you will open up career opportunities in middle and senior academic and management roles in colleges, universities and other educational institutions. You can also embark on consultancy and advisory careers, either privately or with public organisations.

We received Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. This recognises our outstanding performance in student experience and outcomes.

School

Education

Location

Greenwich Campus

Duration

  • 3 years full-time
  • 5-7 years part-time

Start month

September; January

Home/international fees 2024/25

£4,786 /£17,450

What you should know about this course

  • You enrol initially to the MPhil and upgrade to PhD once you complete a substantial piece of doctoral level work (usually within 18 months for full-time students and 36 months for part-time students).
  • Our teaching and supervisory teams draw on a vast range of practical and academic experience in educational research and doctoral supervision.
  • We expect you to commit to other activities apart from lectures. This includes attendance at doctoral weekends and at the education seminar series.

What you will study

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Course information is currently unavailable for this programme. Please contact course-info@gre.ac.uk for more information.

About the course team

Welcome to our MPhil/PhD in Education. Our course is supported by teams with a strong range of practical and academic experience, both in educational research and in doctoral supervision. Our research expertise covers a diverse range of practice in education and training, from childhood studies and alternative education to e-learning and pedagogy to leadership and management in education. Over 66% of our core team holds a teaching qualification. Other academics who contribute to your learning are also well-qualified and have extensive experience of supervision on both the Ed.D and PhD course.

Come and meet us

We are offering virtual events so that you can still experience how Greenwich could be the right university for you.

Next Open Days

Got a question?

To find out more about our Open Days and Campus Tours or if you need any assistance, please email opendays@gre.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have:

  • A Master's degree from within education, training and related professional fields
  • Normally at least three years' professional experience.

Required documentation:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the names of two referees (written references can also be provided using the reference form)
  • A detailed research proposal of about 1,500 words (for scholarship applications, please see specific instructions in the advert and include the scholarship reference to the personal statement section).

Available to overseas students?

Yes

Can I use Prior Learning?

If you have undertaken a part of this course of study in a UK university or a reputable university in another country, you might be considered for RPL. Each case will be considered on its own merit.

For entry: applicants are required to have:

  • A Master's degree during which the applicant undertook a research project and produced a high quality dissertation
  • A strong first degree (usually a first class or upper second class) will be considered.

How you will learn

Teaching

There are no lectures delivered on the PhD course. However, there are a number of training courses you will be required to attend. These will be established once you register for the course. There are other mandatory online courses that PhD students must complete before completing their studies.

During the thesis phase, your main focus will be on your dissertation. You will be supported in this by your experienced supervisory team.

Class sizes

Information coming soon.

Independent learning

As there are no scheduled lectures on the MPhil/PhD course. You will need to do a lot of reading on your own and it is important that you dedicate time to self-study.

Overall workload

While there are no lectures on this course, you are expected to demonstrate your engagement with the course. You will be provided with a log book which you will fill out and use as evidence of your engagement. Your supervisors will also monitor your engagement.

Assessment

PhD candidates are assessed through a thesis and a viva at the end of their research. However, there are mandatory courses and training you are expected to attend before completing your course. These will be set out in a log book you are given at the start of your course.

Feedback summary

Once a postgraduate research student has submitted their thesis for examination, the examination should take place within three months of the date the Faculty Research Degrees Committee approves the examination arrangements.

Dates and timetables

Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.

Fees and funding

Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Cohort Full time Part time Distance learning
Home £4,786 £2,393 per year N/A
International £17,450 £8,725 per year N/A

Accommodation costs

Whether you choose to live in halls of residence or rent privately, we can help you find what you're looking for. University accommodation is available from £126.35 per person per week (bills included), depending on your location and preferences. If you require more space or facilities, these options are available at a slightly higher cost.

Accommodation pages

Funding your study

There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.

EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.

Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.

Financial support

Although the faculty supports students to attend and present at external conferences, this support is not guaranteed. You may need to fund your attendance at external conferences. However this is neither compulsory nor seen as a requirement of your course.

Careers and placements

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

Many students on this course will already be well established in their careers. However, achieving the PhD. enables professionals to follow other pathways for advancement in their place of work or to take on leadership responsibilities in other areas, particularly areas that involve research, development and policy development. It also offers the opportunity to embark on academic careers in some cases.

Graduates of the PhD course have moved on to become head teachers, college leaders, academics, sector leaders in the health sector, senior civil servants and leaders in various sectors including in engineering, travel and tourism and in business amongst others.

Do you provide employability services?

The university has an employability service which all students are allowed to utilise. The Employability and Careers Service provides support when you are preparing to apply for new roles. It includes CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops. Each School also has its own Employability Officer, who works closely with the industry and will provide specific opportunities relevant to your own course.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

You will receive regular support throughout your registration, including a dedicated course leader, a course administrator, and a wide range of supervisors.

Research projects we have supported include:

  • Leadership in higher education
  • Work-based learning
  • Pedagogy and learning theories
  • Widening participation and access
  • Computational technology
  • Experiences of LGBT+ teachers and students
  • Childhood studies and early years.

You will be allocated an office space and provided with either a laptop or a PC to support you with the challenges of independent study.

The faculty will occasionally invite you to apply for funding to attend conferences and conduct research activities (though we don't guarantee success).

You can also access study skills support through our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

Support from the department

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

During your thesis stage, you will have the opportunity to attend a range of research and employment related training courses provided by the Research and Enterprise Training Institute (RETI). If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we might be able to arrange training.

Our services are designed to help you achieve your potential and support your transition towards a rewarding graduate career.

Accommodation information

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Not quite what you were looking for?

We've got plenty of other courses for you to choose from. Browse our postgraduate courses or check our related courses below.....

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Robert Morgan, Programme Leader talks us through the programme.

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Apply now

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study full-time then you apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

If you are a UK student or have settled/pre-settled status (EU) and you want to study part-time then you can apply directly via our online application form.

If you are from outside the UK, you can apply via UCAS, directly via our online application form or via one of our in-country representatives. If you require a student visa, you cannot study part-time at undergraduate level.