Metadata
Title
Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z
Category
graduate
UUID
7086d01db38e4dc4bcd0201bca045b70
Source URL
https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/doctorateineducation/
Parent URL
https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T05:46:58+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z

Source: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/doctorateineducation/ Parent: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/

Postgraduate research

Education EdD: Online distance learning

Postgraduate & PGDE Open Evening: 23 April 2026, 17:00 - 19:00

Come along to the School of Education Open Evening to find out more about our wide range of Masters programmes, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) teaching qualification.

This online distance learning programme offers a professionally relevant and academically rigorous opportunity for advanced study in education. The programme is designed for professionals at all levels in education, training and development, and in education-related fields.

Computer requirements for studying online

Broadband internet connection

Internet Browsers

Our online learning platform Moodle is compatible with any standards compliant web browser. This includes:

Desktop:

Mobile:

For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.

Javascript needs to be enabled within your browser

Please note: legacy browsers with known compatibility issues with Moodle 3.3 are:

Computer specifications

Mobile device specifications

Other software

Advised hardware / software

Apply now

Overview

Our doctorate is comparable to a PhD in terms of scale and rigour. It differs in that it provides a structured programme of advanced study in the first three years that is relevant to your profession as an educator and focused on the inter-relationship of research, policy and practice.

We focus on collaborative learning, drawing on your own experiences and those of your academic colleagues.

This programme will give you the skills and confidence to further advance your career to the highest levels in education and education-related fields.

Study options

EdD

Duration: 5 years part-time

Years 1, 2 and 3

You will take six core courses (one per semester). Each requires attendance and participation in a study weekend in Glasgow.

Years 4 and 5

You will work towards the submission of a dissertation of 50,000 to 60,000 words, supported by an appropriate supervisory team.

Progressing at a normal pace, successful candidates can complete the Doctorate in five years. However, we realise that circumstances occasionally mean participants need to take a break from studies and the programme allows candidates to suspend their studies for a limited time period.

Entry requirements

Usually a Masters level qualification in education or a cognate subject and a minimum of five years of professional experience in education or a closely related field. As well as two academic references, you also need to submit samples of recent academic writing, such as an assignment or a dissertation, as part of your application.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme

TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

Pearsons PTE Academic

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

Oxford ELLT

LanguageCert Academic SELT

Password Skills Plus

Trinity College Tests

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2026/27

UK

International & EU

Fees are based on the annual fee for part-time study.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Possible additional fees

Support

The College of Social Sciences Graduate School draws together internationally recognised scholars and respected practitioners to offer a range of research programmes. Our programmes are based on thorough training in research methods and we encourage you to take part in numerous exciting seminars, conferences and events.

How to apply

Supervisors

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring in the dissertation stage of the EdD. You are not required to identify a potential supervisor in advance of your application.

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

  1. Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
  2. Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
  3. Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploadedas part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.  We can also accept confidential references direct to rio-researchadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk, from the referee’s university or business email account.
  4. CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area.

Apply now

Contact us

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Our research environment

Induction

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