Education - PhD

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in Education
School: School of Education and Social Sciences
Campus(es): Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and London
Start date: October, February, April, or June
Admissions
Deadline: September, January, March, or May
Duration: Minimum of 36 months full-time or 72 months part-time
Fees: Tuition Fees for Research Degrees

Education Research

The Division of Education - within the School of Education and Social Sciences (ESS) - has been a top-ranking provider in Education over the past decade. Over the years, many of our graduates have gone on to careers in academia, industry, and other relevant professions such public service.

A PhD in Education is designed to enhance specialised knowledge through academic study and research across a wide spectrum of areas in Education.

As a doctoral student in the Division of Education, you will become part of an active, diverse, and supportive research community and wider UWS doctoral student-body that will support you in developing your independent research project in education.

Current Research Themes & Areas of Expertise

We welcome applications from anyone whose research ambitions links, however broadly, with these areas, and members of the Division are happy to discuss the possibility of developing studentship and funding applications.

Our broad-based research themes and active areas of expertise include:

Active areas of interest include:

  • Professional Learning and Development
  • Initial Teacher Education
  • Higher and Further Education
  • Educational Theory
  • Social Justice, Citizenship and Values
  • Anti-Racist Education
  • Decolonisation and Education
  • Philosophy of Education
  • Teacher Agency and Identity
  • Sociology of School Culture

Active areas of interest include:

  • Language in Early Year Play Settings
  • Childhood Studies
  • Children’s Voices in Education
  • Heteronormativity in Early Years
  • Metacognition and Early Learning
  • Place-responsive Pedagogies in Early Years

Active areas of interest include:

  • Community Development
  • Youth Studies
  • Adult Learning
  • Home Schooling

Active areas of interest include:

  • Global English and language Ideologies
  • Comparative and International Studies
  • Language policy
  • Culturally Responsive Pedagogies
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages

Active areas of interest include:

  • School Leadership
  • Educational Policy Studies
  • Leadership of Learning

Active areas of interest include:

  • Religion, Worldviews and Education
  • Art Education and Visual Methodologies
  • Holocaust Education
  • Science Education
  • Foreign Languages
  • Intercultural Education
  • Inclusive Practice
  • Curriculum Design and Evaluation
  • Mental Health and Education

United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

We can confidently state that our research activities in education directly map to 4 UN SDGs:

SDG 1 - No Poverty; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities.

UWS aims to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the United Nations SDGs by placing them at the heart of our Strategy 2025.

In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, UWS was officially recognised in the top 400 universities worldwide as assessed against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UWS was recognised as the 2nd most impactful university in Scotland, and 16th globally, for 'reducing inequalities' (UN SDG 10).

Find out more about UWS and UN SDGs

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for an applicant for registration for the degree of MRes or MPhil or for the degree of MRes/MPhil with the intention of transfer to PhD shall be a first or second class honours degree of a university in the United Kingdom, or of an equivalent qualification.

Applicants holding qualifications other than those specified in (above) shall be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed.

Direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University if the applicant holds an MRes/MPhil degree of a United Kingdom University, or an MRes/MPhil degree of equivalent standard of a non-UK University, provided that the MRes/MPhil degree is in a subject area which is appropriate to the proposed programme of work.

Exceptionally, direct registration for the degree of PhD may also be approved, at the discretion of the University, even if the applicant is not the holder of an MRes/MPhil degree, but does hold an exceptionally high-quality honours degree or taught master’s degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline, AND has appropriate research experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in significant peer-reviewed publications, and where verifiable evidence of accomplishment is supplied.

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0

how to apply

Applying for postgraduate research study at UWS has never been simpler. Click the link below to find more information about:

  • Postgraduate Research step-by-step guide – everything you need to know to submit a successful application  
  • Link to our online application system

Applying for research degrees

Last updated: 14/10/2024

Search Research System

PURE is the University's research information management system and provides a single source of research information for UWS. It is used to record and manage research activity with details of research outputs, funding applications, conference contributions, external impact and staff profiles.