St Mary’s EdD offers a cohesive and coherent doctoral study experience as part of a community of student peers and of research practitioners.
Students are part of a vibrant research culture where the focus is on the process of development as a researcher in relation to personal and professional concerns and practices. Sessions are conducted both face-to-face and online.
The curriculum and learning and teaching methods foster reflection on personal, professional and academic values and on the links between them. This knowledge is then related to evolving professional identities and roles as researchers.
Modes of learning and teaching forge meaningful links to policy, political and practitioner contexts. Readings, video and audio images, graphics, and online forums are some of the various stimuli provided to provoke thought and critical debate in weekend sessions and in personal student engagement.
Why St Mary's
The programme benefits from its location in St Mary’s School of Education, which has plentiful and robust partnerships with schools and other professional educational settings and contexts. The School is credited as an outstanding provider of teacher education.
Students are well supported through our individualised mentoring system and our consultative approach with students. In the first year, each student in each cohort is assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will be their first point of contact throughout the first part of the programme. A Student Staff Consultative Committee meets regularly to share and address concerns or queries and cohorts develop their own peer-support networks through regular contact and sharing of ideas and resources.
Once students enter Part 2 of the EdD programme, they are assigned a supervisory team who provide tutorial sessions, professional guidance and research mentoring. Further support for research development is provided at this stage so that students are able to develop and refine their research, writing and presentation skills.
For more information please submit an enquiry to the course lead.
Dr Christine Edwards-Leis
Associate Professor - Education
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Course content
Modules
These modules are the modules that were available to students in the 2023/24 academic year and are illustrative of what may be offered for 2024/25.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
Entry requirements
You will need to submit:
- A 1000-word outline of your professional context and possible areas of research that offer potential for you to demonstrate how the research could transform your practice;
- A CV which demonstrates that you have at least three years’ significant and relevant experience in a professional area appropriate to the programme of study;
- A Master’s degree which matches the descriptor for a Level 7 qualification in the UK Framework of Higher Education Qualifications; OR An equivalent academic qualification; OR Evidence of equivalent experience and learning acquired in a professional context;
- Evidence of proficiency in spoken and written English at IELTS 6.5 in accordance with St Mary’s standards for English language requirements; and,
- Two professional referees.
Once your application has been reviewed, we will invite you to an interview which may be conducted either face-to-face or via an online platform (Zoom, TEAMS)
Additional requirement information
Equality Act 2010
St Mary's is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and nurturing an inclusive and diverse student population. As such, we welcome applications from all those interested in pursuing an academic programme of study. Throughout the application process and while a student is enrolled at St Mary's, we will ensure that individuals will not be discriminated against based on any of the characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.
Fees & funding
September 2025
Home
£3,630
International
£8,640
Additional costs
*Please note: Tuition fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
Funding
Some research degree students may be eligible for a government loan of up to £25,000 to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
How the degree is taught
Teaching methods
Teaching weekends
Formal teaching sessions are a combination of face-to-face and online and are held 5 weekends each year in October, December, February, March and May. Weekend sessions include Friday evening usually from 5pm to 7pm and Saturday from 9am to 4pm.
Tutorial support sessions
Other group tutorial sessions are held throughout the year to support scholars in their development of critical research, writing, and reading skills. They are usually held mid-week online and are recorded so students can view them when suitable for their work and study schedule.
Assessment methods
The assessment strategy is intended to build student skills in rigorous and original research; it is also designed to foster a critical integration of academic and professional knowledge and values. Thus, critical reflection on the student’s own practice is a sustained element of the assessment strategy, alongside assignments designed to enhance skills and knowledge in selected fields of study and in the theory and practice of research. Assessment will derive from reflection and discussion about key matters relating to research and professional interests.
Outcomes in Part 1
By the end of their studies students should be able to:
- Analyse and critically evaluate demanding texts and ideas in the field of educational research, both orally and in writing, and relate this to specific professional contexts;
- Evaluate, from an informed knowledge base, practitioner approaches to educational research;
- Construct and communicate effectively sophisticated arguments relating to educational research and practice, with appropriate theoretical and evidential underpinning;
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct research which connects knowledge, ideas and concerns arising in academic and professional domains;
- Critically assess and apply a variety of philosophical methodologies; and,
- Conceptualise and design a significant and original research project in an area related to your professional practice.
Outcomes in Part 2
- Successfully complete a piece of rigorous and original research in an area related to your professional practice and which demonstrates transformation of your practice;
- Appropriately analyse and discuss their data, demonstrating originality and creativity in its interpretation;
- Reach appropriate conclusions and findings, demonstrating a detailed knowledge and systematic understanding of the research process and any limitations of your research project; and,
- Effectively communicate the ethical considerations within your research.
Apply now
September
Make sure to check our step-by-step guide to application process.
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