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• Best Online Doctorates In Education

Best Online Doctorates In Education Of 2024

Updated: May 15, 2024, 10:59am

If you’re a rising or mid-career education professional, you may have considered earning a doctorate in education, whether it’s a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

A doctoral degree can lead to higher earning potential and better job opportunities, including leadership roles in education, government, and both the nonprofit and private sectors. But earning that doctorate involves a multiyear commitment—and often a hefty price tag.

Earning your doctorate in education online can make this career step more accessible. Online degree programs often cost less than their on-campus counterparts, and they offer more flexibility, allowing you to keep working while you complete your studies.

To help jump-start your program search, we ranked the 10 best U.S. colleges and universities offering online doctorates in education according to metrics such as affordability, flexibility and student outcomes. Get the details on each program, learn why accreditation is critical for any degree and find out what to consider before committing to online study.

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Our Methodology

We ranked 149 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online education doctoral programs in the U.S. using 14 data points in the categories of student experience, credibility, student outcomes and affordability. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of February 2024. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• Portion of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

• In-state graduate student tuition and fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Student loan default rate

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 86% or higher.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

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Best Online Doctoral Degrees in Education

Should you enroll in an online doctorate in education program, accreditation for online doctoral degrees in education, how to find the right online doctorate in education for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about online doctoral degrees in education, johns hopkins university, endicott college, university of central florida, alverno college, union institute & university, gwynedd mercy university, university of southern mississippi, ball state university, indiana university bloomington, liberty university.

Program Tuition Rate

$2,100/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Baltimore, Maryland-based Johns Hopkins University offers a four-year Doctor of Education Program that emphasizes social justice, critical thinking and effective communication.

Designed to accommodate working practitioners, this part-time program is fully online. Students focus on a “Problem of Practice”—a topic of concern that they’ve encountered in their work—which becomes the subject of a culminating dossier-style dissertation project. This project is required for graduation and can take the form of an oral presentation, public-facing or scholarly writing, or a video.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on Your Schedule
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $80
• Degree Credit Requirements: 48–54
• Program Enrollment Options: Part time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Foundations of education, applied research and evaluation
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: No

$1,113/credit

A private institution in Beverly, Massachusetts, Endicott College offers online Ed.D. and Ph.D. in education programs that combine research with practical field experience. The school’s Ed.D. program in educational leadership with a concentration in pre-K-12 education promotes an innovative mindset. This program features primarily online coursework along with residency weekends.

Endicott’s two research-based, fully online Ph.D. programs train students through coursework, mentorship and doctoral apprenticeships. The curriculum and teacher education concentration centers on teacher preparation and development and curriculum theory, while the higher education concentration delves into the administrative, financial, legal and sociocultural dimensions of present-day higher education.

• Application Fee: $50
• Degree Credit Requirements: 51–60 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Advanced qualitative methods, current issues in educational policy
• Concentrations Available: Curriculum and teacher education, higher education, pre-K–12 education
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, in the Ed.D. in educational leadership program

$327/credit

The fully online Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Florida in Orlando allows students to choose among 13 specialization areas such as curriculum and instruction, health and human performance, and educational psychology.

Core coursework covers topics like learning and motivation, organizational theory in education and identifying complex problems of practice. All specializations include a “Laboratory of Practice” that gives students practical leadership and research experience in a professional setting.

• School Type: Public
• Application Fee: $31
• Degree Credit Requirements: ​​54–57
• Program Enrollment Options: Part time, full time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Evaluation of school programs; data, assessment and accountability
• Concentrations Available: Curriculum and instruction; education psychology; English language arts; exceptional student education; gifted education; global, international and comparative education; health and human performance; instructional design and technology; ; methodology, measurement and analysis; reading education; social science education; TESOL; K-8 mathematics education; signature research area (mindfulness and meditation in education)
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, a field-based “Laboratory of Practice”

$1,043/credit

Alverno College is a private, Catholic women’s college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that offers coeducational graduate programs. The college’s online Ed.D. in education offers three concentration options: K–12 leadership, higher education leadership and teaching and learning in higher education.

Each program places students in a cohort of fellow education professionals who proceed through the program in unison. Small class sizes foster personal and professional connections with fellow students and instructors. All three concentrations provide resources and support for the concluding dissertation from the first semester.

Although Alverno’s online Ed.D. is primarily online, students in all concentrations are expected to attend two on-campus weekend residencies.

• Application Fee: Free
• Degree Credit Requirements: 54–57
• Program Enrollment Options: Accelerated
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Equity in diverse educational settings, higher education curriculum and assessment
• Concentrations Available: Higher education leadership, K–12 leadership, teaching and learning in higher education
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, two on-campus weekend residencies

$795/credit

The Ed.D. Program at Cincinnati’s Union Institute & University emphasizes issues surrounding equity and social justice. Majors in pre-K–12 educational leadership and higher education leadership help students develop the skills needed to lead organizations and institutions toward real-world change.

Structured for maximum flexibility, the 100% online program comprises three terms per year (spring, summer and fall), with a virtual residency at the start of each. Union also allows eligible students to transfer up to 24 credits of previous graduate coursework for an accelerated timetable.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 66
• Program Enrollment Options: Accelerated, part time, full time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Schools, society and culture; education and social justice; research methods
• Concentrations Available: Educational leadership, pre-K–12; higher education leadership

$980/credit (in-state)

Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU), located outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers an online executive Ed.D. featuring four concentrations geared toward leadership positions in all levels of education (pre-K through college) and in education-related nonprofits and government. Coursework covers topics like assessment, education research and teaching, faculty management and community relations.

Each concentration takes about three years to complete and consists of online coursework, two on-campus residencies, field experience and one week of international study in Limerick, Ireland (costs of the latter are included in tuition).

The program provides a high level of dissertation support from the outset. GMercyU also offers an 18-month ABD variant for students who have completed Ed.D coursework but not the dissertation.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on a Set Schedule
• Application Fee: N/A
• Degree Credit Requirements: 54
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Designing interventions and assessing outcomes, school law and policy in special education
• Concentrations Available: Teaching and learning in higher education, leadership in pre-K–12 schools and school districts, leadership in special education, leadership in higher education
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, on-campus and global residencies

$535/credit

The University of Southern Mississippi ’s fully online Ed.D. in higher education administration dispenses with a dissertation requirement in favor of a capstone research project. This project focuses on real-world problems students have encountered in their professional lives. Capstone courses are scheduled in parallel with the content courses so that students finish the capstone in tandem with their required coursework.

Synchronous classes take place weekly, typically in the evening, allowing students to form a genuine learning community with instructors and classmates. Applicants need a current educator license and at least three years of teaching experience.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn Around Your 9-to-5
• Application Fee: $60
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Public school finance, school law

$464/credit (in state)

Ball State University ’s online doctorates in education include three Ed.D. programs and two Ph.D. programs. These programs cater to educators and school administrators who aspire to higher-level teaching positions or leadership roles in policy or administration.

Located in Muncie, Indiana, Ball State’s programs are among the few online doctoral programs in the Midwest. Students may continue working full time through their programs and can choose a start date in the fall, spring or summer to accommodate their schedules. Some programs include an in-person field experience in areas like clinical work, college teaching or in-service training.

Note: The stated 91 to 97 credits may sound like a lot, but Ball State University encourages doctoral candidates in education to transfer credits from their master’s degrees. Students must complete a minimum of 48 credits through Ball State.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 91–97
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Statistical methods in educational and psychological research; behavior studies
• Concentrations Available: Elementary education, literacy/reading education; early childhood education, higher education, community college leadership, adult and community education
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, field experience

$500/credit (in state)

Indiana University Bloomington lets applicants choose among five online doctorates in education—an Ed.D. in literacy, culture and language education, an Ed.D. in instructional systems technology, and an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction with specializations in art, math and science education.

All four programs require 60 credits and a successfully completed dissertation for graduation. Fully online and asynchronous, these doctorates serve working practitioners who want to teach at colleges and universities or advance to high-level administrative positions in those and other institutions (such as museums, in the case of the art education specialization).

• Application Fee: $70
• Degree Credit Requirements: 60
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Theoretical issues in the study of language and literacies; research seminar in literacy, culture and language education
• Concentrations Available: Literacy, culture, and language education; science education; math education; art education; instructional systems technology

$565/credit

Liberty University is a private, Christian institution in Lynchburg, Virginia. The university’s online doctoral offerings in education consist of six Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs with a wide array of specializations available in areas like curriculum and instruction, higher education leadership and special education.

All courses are fully online and asynchronous, with each course lasting eight weeks to offer learners maximum flexibility. Ph.D. students conclude their course of study with a dissertation, while Ed.D. programs culminate in a research-driven capstone project, developed with a faculty mentor, that addresses a real-world challenge in the education field.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 54–60
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Advanced learning theory and research, history and future of special education
• Concentrations Available: Educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, elementary education, instructional design and technology, middle grades education, online teaching and learning, secondary education, special education, higher education administration, assessment and evaluation, organizational leadership, student affairs, educational law

An online doctorate in education can be a practical option if you need the flexible schedule and lower costs that come with remote learning. However, consider these key questions before you commit to earning a doctorate online:

• Is the program accredited? Before anything else, verify that an accrediting organization approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education has accredited any school or program you have in mind. Accreditation ensures that the program meets minimum quality standards and that future employers will recognize your doctorate.
• How do you prefer to learn? Consider which mode of online learning best suits your learning style. Synchronous delivery means you log into class at set times every week, whereas asynchronous delivery means your learning schedule is in your hands. Hybrid learning combines these two modes. Decide whether you benefit from more built-in structure or if you’re comfortable creating your own.
• Will distance and location affect your availability? Even though most of their coursework takes place online, some programs listed here require students to attend residencies or other activities on campus. Think about whether factors like travel time or the need for childcare or a pet sitter will affect your ability to fulfill in-person requirements.

Two kinds of accreditation are critical for anyone considering an online doctorate in education. Institutional accreditation confirms an educational institution’s overall quality and effectiveness. It attests to the school’s academic rigor, faculty qualifications, financial governance and student services, among other criteria.

Verify a school’s accreditation via the accreditation page on its website or use CHEA’s directory to research accredited schools, departments and programs.

Programmatic or specialized accreditation applies to specific programs or departments within an institutionally accredited school. In the U.S., the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is the most prominent accreditor of degree programs in education. You can verify your program’s accreditation using CAEP’s online directory .

Consider Your Future Goals

Settling on the right doctorate in education program is a major decision that will shape your academic and professional trajectory. Before you start researching, ask yourself what you want to get out of your doctoral study. Are you interested in teaching, research, administration, policy or some other aspect of education? Defining your objectives can help you choose a program that fits your needs.

Next, you can begin assessing individual doctorate in education programs. Ph.D. programs often emphasize research and academia, while Ed.D. programs may focus more on practical applications in educational leadership and administration. Decide which type of program matches your career goals and learning preferences.

Finally, examine the student outcomes for any potential program. Consider where graduates have found jobs, how far they’ve advanced in their careers and what contributions they’ve made to the education field. Alumni networks and testimonials can give you insight into the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for the careers they want.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Tuition costs for the online doctorates covered on this page range from less than $20,000 to more than $110,000. Financing options differ by program, and your eligibility for assistance depends on your financial situation at the time you apply. To find out what types of aid you qualify for, you’ll need to do some research.

Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs. Online students are usually eligible for federal aid, but some programs may have specific eligibility requirements, so ask your school’s financial aid office for more information.

The financial aid office may be able to point you to some of the following resources as well:

• Scholarships and grants. Some doctoral students, including those enrolled in online programs, may qualify for these forms of gift aid. Grants and scholarships can be merit-based, need-based or specific to certain disciplines.
• Employer tuition reimbursement. If you’re currently working, ask your employer whether they offer tuition reimbursement or sponsorships. If your doctorate is relevant to your present role or a potential future role within the organization, some employers may be willing to cover at least part of your tuition costs.
• Fellowships. Occasionally doctoral programs will offer fellowships: financial support in the form of a stipend or tuition remission in exchange for research or teaching assistance.
• Student loans. Private loans from banks, credit unions or online lenders are a potential resource, but remember that private loans typically mean higher interest rates and less-flexible repayment options than federal loans.

Scrutinize all terms and conditions, ideally in writing, before you agree to any financing option, to avoid any potentially adverse effect on your financial status after you graduate.

Is it worth getting a doctorate in education?

The value of a doctorate in education depends on several factors, including career goals and financial considerations. If you suspect you’re not fully committed to several more years of academic study, explore other ways you could achieve your career goals in education, such as a professional certification or a specialized training program.

How long does a doctorate in education take?

Earning an online doctorate in education typically takes from three to seven years. Factors that can affect completion time include specific program requirements, whether the student already holds a master’s degree in education and whether they enroll full time or part time.

What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a doctorate?

The terms Ph.D. and doctorate are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are important differences between them. A Ph.D. is a research-oriented doctoral degree in a wide range of academic disciplines, such as the humanities, sciences, social sciences, education and engineering. A “doctorate” refers to a broader category that encompasses all types of doctoral degrees, including Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., M.D. and Psy.D. degrees.

What is a doctoral degree in education?

A doctoral degree in education, sometimes known as a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D. in Education), is the most advanced degree in the education field. It prepares teachers, researchers, administrators and other professionals to contribute to the education field through scholarly inquiry, critical analysis and the practical application of knowledge.

Jeff Tompkins is a writer and teacher of English as a Second Language living in New York City. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1967 and was educated at Brown University and University College London. His articles and reviews have appeared in CHA Review of Books and Films, the Brooklyn Rail, the Chicago Review of Books, PopMatters, Words Without Borders, and other outlets.

Centre for Doctoral Education

Information for IOE students

Doctoral students at IOE follow the guidance and procedures laid out in the UCL Academic Manual , and the UCL Doctoral School . This page contains additional information for current IOE doctoral students.

You may also find it helpful to look at the Student Registry Services  particularly the Support and Wellbeing Resources  where you will find a series of introductory videos.

For our International Students there are a number of helpful webpages on the central UCL website here –  International Students  – including the the International Student Online Orientation Programme  designed to help make the transition into life in the UK and studying at UCL as smooth as possible.

Student representatives

Study spaces, finances and studentships.

• Conference grants

IOE Doctoral Summer Conference

The research student log, the annual progress review (apr), the research training programme, library support and training, first term form, ioe research culture: getting involved.

• Feedback Expectations

Training for doctoral students who teach or facilitate sessions

Research ethics and integrity, graduate research degrees code of practice 2023-24, writing for publication, study leave, interruption of study, completing research status (crs), preparing for submission of the thesis, support when resubmitting a thesis, tier iv visas and changes to registration status, doctoral extension scheme, honorary postdoctoral fellow scheme for ioe doctoral graduates.

Your Students’ Union is there to make sure students have the best possible time while they’re studying at UCL. One of the ways we do that is by working with departments and faculties to ensure that every student is represented and has a voice in the way that the university works.

Every student at UCL will have a Course Representative or a Research Student Representative who will be your eyes, ears, and voice. They’ll work closely with staff in your department to make sure that they understand what you most value, and take action to deal with things you’d like to see improve. They’ll also work with representatives in your faculty and the Students’ Union to make things better across the whole of UCL.

If you take up a representative role, the Students’ Union will work closely with you to provide training, support, and advice, and you’ll be able to change the experience of everyone on your course or in your department for the better. Course and Research Student Representatives are appointing during early October – if you’d like to take up the role, staff in your department can tell you how.

A list of your representatives is available on the CDE Moodle page.

Further information:

Academic Representation website

Find your Representative

Become an Academic Representative

Rooms 543, 545 and C3.10 are study spaces available for research students. These rooms work on a “hot desk” policy and students are asked to respect the needs of other students by clearing desks after use. Each room has a digital lock on the door – please ask [email protected] for the password. There are lockers available for use in these rooms on a first come, first served basis; they are keyless and no registration is required. Instructions on how to set the lock code is inside each locker.

C3.10 is the newest study space available for research students. This room has an integrated kitchen.

The Newsam Library (Level 4) at the IOE has a dedicated room for postgraduate study. You can of course use other study spaces within the Library – to check availability follow the link here .

There is individual powered desk spaces and group working tables available in the Wing, Levels 2 and 3.

Please note: a kitchen available for PGR use is at the very end of the corridor before you get to 26 Bedford Way on Level 5, just past room 580.

You can find full details of study spaces across wider UCL here – Postgraduate Research Student Study Spaces

UCL has provided guidance about how studentships are set up and processed . If you are a studentship holder, please review this information, which includes answers to frequently asked questions. Information about funding available to current students can be accessed through the same links provided for prospective students – UCL’s database includes a filter that allows users to indicate whether they are prospective or current students.

Conference Grants

There is provision in the Centre for Doctoral Education fund to help IOE (Postgraduate Research students) doctoral students with the cost of conference attendance and expenses. Research degree students that have been accepted to present a paper or a poster at a conference are eligible to apply to the Centre for Doctoral Education, for a maximum grant of £1000 towards expenses.   Note this is the amount available for the total duration of a student’s registration with the IOE. The scheme will only cover conferences that are complete before the thesis is submitted for examination .

Grants are available to those who are self-financing or who hold scholarships. Students must be registered as enrolled at the time of the conference. Students are eligible to claim a total of £1000 in one claim, or can divide the amount. The fund can also be used to contribute towards student membership with the Society for Research into Higher Education ( SRHE ), since student membership allows free attendance at their events, most of which take place in their London office (near King’s Cross) and include sessions targeted at doctoral researchers.

The amount of funding available each year is limited, and students are advised to apply as early as possible. For this reason, it is advised that applications for funding must be submitted prior to a conference.

Applications should include the abstract of the conference presentation and written confirmation that the paper has been accepted. The completed application form should be endorsed by your supervisor and then returned, along with supporting documentation to [email protected] or to the Centre for Doctoral Education, via the Student Helpdesk on Level 5, Core A Wing, 20 Bedford Way, London W1CH 0AL.

Students will be told as soon as possible if their application has been successful. Documentation will then be sent to complete and return to the Doctoral School within 28 days of the conference.

Claims must be submitted within 28 days of returning the conference, or the funding is at risk of being released for other students to access.

Application Form  – Conference Grants

For any queries about this fund, please contact [email protected]

Later in the academic year, we will be inviting students and staff to attend the Centre for Doctoral Education’s Summer conference. Traditionally this has an exciting programme of presentations and panels, featuring 40-50 presentations of doctoral research from across all six departments in the IOE. The Conference will take place on Thursday the 4th of July, 2024 . Full details of the Summer Conference Programme will be given nearer the time.

A page of common questions and answers relating to the Log is now available.

Doctoral students (MPhil/PhD and EdD) are expected to review their progress with their supervisors on an annual basis.  This exercise is undertaken during the Summer Term. The Annual Progress Review helps students, supervisors, the Advisory Panels, and the Departmental Graduate Tutors to monitor the work being undertaken by students.  The aim is to ensure that each student’s training, supervision and support needs are being met, and to identify difficulties the student might be experiencing, and ways to address these. Students will receive notification via moodle of the guidance, forms and deadlines. The APR process involves a discussion between supervisor(s) and students, and completing a form which will be reviewed by a departmental panel. Any students who wish to discuss any aspect of their study in confidence can contact their Departmental Graduate Tutor, the MPhil/PhD Programme Leader, or the EdD Programme Leader.

The IOE provides an extensive programme of courses, workshops and reading groups for all doctoral students. Full details of this can be found in Moodle . (All doctoral students should have access to this Moodle space.)

There are two compulsory courses. The first, IMPCorC, provides an introduction to doctoral study; this runs four times each year, in a variety of formats to ensure that it is available to all students. The second, Information and Digital Literacies, focuses on the centrality of the literature review for the doctoral thesis. This runs three times a year in both face-to-face and online formats.

Students should also discuss their training needs with their supervisors within their first few tutorials, and revisit this regularly (for example, as part of the annual review of progress). Further training can be taken from the introductory, advanced or generic courses offered as part of the IOE’s Research Training Programme, from UCL’s skills development programme , from other members of the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network (BPSN) , or elsewhere, with the support of their supervisors.

Research students should make a brief note of any training that they have completed in the Research Student Log . Courses provided centrally by UCL can be booked through the Log, and will be recorded within the system automatically.

The IOE’s Research Training Programme courses are classed as ‘departmental training’ by UCL, and can be recorded on the Research Log: instructions on how to do this are here .

Note that many other activities, including attendance and research seminars and conferences, also constitute research training, and can be recorded manually on the Log. Information about how to do this is available in Section 4 of the guidance notes for students .

UCL requires all students to complete a minimum amount of training each year. Information about this is provided on the skills development website . Participation in departmental seminars, the IOE’s poster and summer conference, and participation in external conferences all count as training for the purposes of this record.

Nazlin Bhimani supports students and staff in all areas of research, including training on  skills,   subject guides and research project support 

From Autumn 2021 all new students and their supervisors should complete a first term form within a month of the start of their studies. Copies should be uploaded to the Research Log and sent to the departmental research administrator to store. We hope this will help to address many of the questions that are raised each year by both supervisors and students and help to raise awareness of their mutual responsibilities.

There are many Research Centres and Special Interest Groups which Doctoral Candidates are welcome to join and participate in. Here is the current Research Culture List  which we will update regularly. If you discover any new ones which need adding please tell your supervisor! Feedback Expectations

According to UCL regulations for feedback (see  link ) the guidance states that formative feedback should be ‘received by students in good time’ (5.3). We suggest that good practice is for the supervisor and student to negotiate a reasonable deadline together, including whether feedback is expected to be written and returned before the next supervision, and ‘within one month’ is usually a reasonable expectation. General expectations for writing and feedback should also be discussed at the outset via the ‘First Meeting Form’.

UCL runs a dedicated training programme, called Arena One , for postgraduates who teach (usually called PGTAs). The ‘Gateway’ workshop is mandatory for any doctoral students teaching on accredited programmes.

The site also contains information about the optional Teaching Associate Programme (TAP), which provides further development and a pathway to Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and UCL Arena Associate Fellowship (AFHEA).

Further sessions on key issues, called UCL Arena Essentials , are also available.

Ethics and integrity are important throughout the doctoral process, and all research students are advised to familiarise themselves with UCL’s policy and practice in this area . These issues also form a core part of the compulsory training session provided to all doctoral students in their first year, and optional advanced sessions on ethical issues are also provided as part of the Research Training Programme.

All IOE students are required to submit a form seeking ethical approval before undertaking any empirical work. The process that must be followed has been laid out as a flow char t . The forms, guidelines and an overview of the process that must be followed are provided on the IOE’s research ethics website . For this, it may be useful to review UCL’s statement on research integrity, as well as policies on topics such as research data management . Please note that the IOE faculty operates a slightly different process, and uses a different form, from the rest of the university.

The IOE’s research ethics committee includes doctoral student representation. Currently, Emma Brooks is the student representative.

The Code of Practice aims to set out what you as a research student can expect from your supervisory team and from UCL, and what your Supervisors and others in UCL can expect from you. It is important that you read this document carefully and keep it for reference.

Many students seek to publish their doctoral work, either during or after their studies. Guidance on this has been provided on a separate page of this site .

Students following the conventional MPhil/PhD programme full-time are expected to apply for study leave if they wish to be away from UCL for more than four weeks. This includes time away for fieldwork. The full rules covering study leave, and the form needed to apply for this, can be found on the UCL website.

It may sometimes be necessary for students to interrupt their studies. To arrange this please download the interruption of studies form from the UCL website, please note there is a separate form for research students that can be found towards the bottom of this page . Interruptions should normally be for no more than 12 months, and students who interrupt due to health and/or wellbeing issues may be required to meet with the Student Support and Wellbeing team as a condition of their return.

Please note that during a period of interruption, there will be no formal supervisory meetings and library access will be suspended. Students on maternity leave, however, continue to have access to UCL facilities, including library access .

All students following the MPhil/PhD programme are initially registered for the MPhil.

The IOE follows UCL’s guidelines for upgrading, with some minor variations. These have been implemented so that it resembles more closely the final viva process. This allows the upgrade to provide an early opportunity to practice and prepare for the final examination.

Details of these variations are provided on a dedicated page of this blog .

If you are eligible you may register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you write up your thesis. You will only be permitted to move to CRS status with the approval of your supervisor and/or the Department Graduate Tutor – see IOE CRS Application . If you have already been granted completing research status you may apply for an extension under certain circumstances. As a response to the Pandemic, any student who was registered as of 1 March 2020 will automatically be given 18 (FT) or 36 months (PT) of CRS (writing up) status at the time they take this up.

You are reminded that CRS is intended to be a time during which you are largely working on your own ‘writing up’ your thesis, with no need for regular ongoing supervision.

CRS guidelines

All students sitting for the PhD, or MPhil, examination should enter for the examination four months before they plan to submit their thesis. This is done online via the Portico tool. You can find out information here about the examination entry process.

All students will be on UCL regulations for the examination, except for those who first registered at the Institute of Education before September 2015. Students who first registered before September 2015 will be offered a choice of sitting the examination under UCL or IOE Regulations .

If successful, all students will be awarded a UCL degree, whether they take the examination under UCL or IOE Regulations. Students who first registered prior to April 2008 may be eligible for a University of London award.

Once the student has entered for the examination, the student’s principal supervisor will need to fill in a nomination of examiners form .

UCL has prepared general advice about the procedure for viva examinations , including how to prepare and some things to expect during the viva.

There is more information on the UCL website on how to submit, format bind and submit your thesis . You no longer need to submit a physical copy of your thesis

For information about thesis submission and remote Vivas taking place during the Covid-19 pandemic, please see information on the Response plan to coronavirus for UCL’s Postgraduate Research students .

For all IOE doctoral examinations, an independent chair will be appointed. Further information is available about the role of the independent chair.

Following the viva, students will continue to have access to UCL’s facilities until any required amendments have been submitted. This situation is analogous to CRS, and the expectations of staff and student should be guided by this. Students will be entitled to their supervisor’s comments on their final draft, but not to regular tutorials.

In a situation where a student has been asked to resubmit, it may be possible by mutual agreement with the supervisor for the student to re-register. Doing so would allow them to have regular tutorials, and to receive repeated feedback on their work, if needed.

A Tier 4 student who moves to Completing Research Status (CRS) remains registered and therefore continues to receive Tier 4 sponsorship. Although a student on CRS has reduced supervision, they should continue to hold short, monthly meetings with their supervisor, confirming that they have been working on their thesis; supervisors will then follow-up with the respective departmental graduate administrator.

When a Tier 4 student changes to part-time status, UCL’s visa compliance team will advise them that their visa will no longer be valid. Students who move to part-time status but wish to return periodically to continue their studies at UCL will need to obtain a Short-term Study visa, and should also obtain a letter from UCL which confirms that they have changed from full-time to part-time studies. This letter should be carried when entering the UK, along with a copy of their UCL Student Status letter, which can be either requested from the UCL Student Centre or downloaded from Portico.

Students should always check the immigration requirements for the UK before leaving their home country.

Students on a Tier IV visa can apply to this scheme in order to gain an additional 12 months of Tier 4 immigration permission in which to gain experience in their specific field or seek skilled work. Students who have almost finished their doctorate can apply by following the information provided by UCL .

The Institute of Education Centre for Doctoral Education is delighted to announce the launch of a new scheme for IOE doctoral graduates – The Honorary Postdoctoral Fellow scheme (HPDF). The HPDF provides support for doctoral graduates who want to publish or continue with their research but don’t currently have another academic affiliation.  See here for further details and FAQ and  application form

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Course type

Qualification, university name, doctorate degree education courses at ucl (university college london).

6 courses available

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• Doctorate Education
• Doctorate Education Studies
• Doctorate Education Theory and Philosophy
• Doctorate Education, Training and Learning
• Doctorate Sociology Of Education
• Doctorate Teaching and Training: Specific Subjects

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Education (Online) MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) has specialised, research-active staff who are able to supervise students in education and related Read more...

• 3 years Online degree: £7,580 per year (UK)
• 5 years Online degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

Education, Practice and Society MPhil/PhD

The Department of Education, Practice and Society is one of the largest at the IOE, with research-active staff specialising in a wide Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £7,580 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

Education, Practice and Society EdD

The EdD is a research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields who would like to extend their professional Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £3,790 per year (UK)

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment MPhil/PhD

The Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy & Assessment has specialist, research active staff able to supervise postgraduate research in the Read more...

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment EdD

Division of medical education mphil/phd.

UCL Medical School has a significant and vigorous educational research profile. Academics and research staff from a variety of Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Course type:

• Full time Doctorate
• Online Doctorate
• Part time Doctorate

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

• FindAMasters
• Masters Courses

University College London

We have 17 university college london, online & distance learning masters degrees.

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University College London, Online & Distance Learning Masters Degrees

Studying for a graduate degree at UCL gives you a deeper understanding of your chosen field and the opportunity to develop the cultural fluency and global outlook that are prized in today’s job market. You will join courses led by world-renowned experts and shaped by collaborations with people at the forefront of their field. Whatever you choose to study, the potential for discovery is boundless.

Faculty of Medical Sciences

UCL is the perfect place for you to gain a medical sciences education. We’re acknowledged as a world leader, and you’ll benefit from our excellence in teaching and research, outstanding facilities, and the superior career prospects for our students. We were named University of the Year 2024 (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide). We carry out pioneering studies into cancer, COVID-19, surgery and genetics. Working with esteemed partners in the NHS, pharmaceutical giants and ingenious tech companies, we ensure our research directly benefits patients. The Faculty of Medical Sciences itself spans medicine, surgery, dentistry, infection and immunity, cancer and a medical school. With the expertise from within the faculty and across UCL, we work to solve the toughest healthcare challenges. We’re a uniquely multidisciplinary university and this drives our innovation. Our educators are at the very top of their fields, you’ll be inspired by them and our progressive pedagogical approach.

Faculty of Population Health Sciences

Welcome to the UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences. We are a global leader in public health research working across disciplines to unravel the complex urgent health challenges facing everyone today. We utilise the best scientific approaches including innovation in clinical trials, informatics, omics, data science, social science research and epidemiology to solve societal health problems. Our experts are leading the way in advancing our understanding of heart disease and cancer, mental health, as well as examining the impacts of climate change on our health.

Advanced Clinical Practice in Ophthalmology (integrated degree apprenticeship) MSc

University college london faculty of brain sciences.

The aim of this programme is to develop clinical practice and to contribute to the advancement of eye care delivery in primary, secondary, or tertiary care settings. Read more

Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice PG Dip

This PG Dip programme is a unique opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of child mental health and psychopathology, with a special focus on childhood trauma. Read more

Clinical Neurology (by Distance Learning) MSc

The Clinical Neurology MSc is aimed at medical doctors who are looking to further their knowledge and skills in clinical neurology. Read more

Clinical Neurology (by Distance Learning) PGCert

The Clinical Neurology (by Distance Learning) PG Cert, is led by experts based at Queen Square in London, a world-renowned centre for clinical neurology and neuroscience, and delivered fully online. Read more

Clinical Neurology (by Distance Learning) PGDip

The Clinical Neurology (by Distance Learning) PG Dip, is led by experts based at Queen Square in London, a world-renowned centre for clinical neurology and neuroscience, and delivered fully online. Read more

Clinical Trials MSc

University college london faculty of population health sciences.

Clinical trials are essential in discovering whether new healthcare interventions improve outcomes for patients and the public. This distance learning programme will provide an excellent grounding in clinical trials and enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in the field. Read more

Enhanced Practice in Ophthalmology Apprenticeship PG Cert

UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is offering you a rewarding postgraduate certificate programme (PG Cert) in Enhanced Clinical Practice (ECP) in Ophthalmology as a funded apprenticeship. Read more

Global Management MBA

University college london faculty of engineering sciences.

In the midst of today’s rapid-fire iteration, innovation and growth, entrepreneurs and business leaders in the 21st century need to do more than simply keep up. Read more

Health Professions Education MSc

University college london faculty of medical sciences.

This award-winning online programme from UCL Medical School equips clinicians from all professional backgrounds to deliver the highest standards of education. Read more

Pain Management MSc

This specialist Pain Management MSc is aimed at clinical professionals from all backgrounds involved in the delivery of integrated pain services in primary or secondary care. Read more

Performing Arts Medicine (by DL) PG Cert

Assessing a performing artist requires specialised skills and the ability to associate health issues with their particular artistic activity. Read more

Performing Arts Medicine MSc

This distance-learning MSc / PGDip in Performing Arts Medicine provides specialised training for health professionals who want to be equipped to work with musicians, dancers, actors, circus artists and other performers. Read more

Periodontology (Distance Learning) MSc

This part-time, three-year blended-learning master's programme offers busy general dental practitioners the chance to learn the latest, most optimal techniques in periodontology. Read more

Physics and Engineering in Medicine by Distance Learning MSc

This programme pathway is identical to the campus-delivered radiation physics stream but is designed for students unable to travel to London because of their work duties or international location. Read more

Statistics for Clinical Trials MSc

This flexible online programme will provide you with an excellent grounding in statistics for clinical trials. You will learn about all types of trials, from early to late phase trials and simple to complex interventions, from both a design and analysis perspective. Read more

Showing results to of 17

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UCL School of Management

University college london, phd in management.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully funded scholarships to all admitted students Application deadline: 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time). A late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time), although we encourage you to apply early as places are limited and applications are subject to close sooner if places are filled. Entry:  Minimum of a first class bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ' Level 1 ' (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

PhD students pursue their studies in one of the Operations & Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics, and Organisations & Innovation groups. All four groups offer a unique education and research experience to a small number of highly motivated students, with the intent of preparing them for scholarly careers at the highest level.

PhD studies in Operations and Technology

Across the different research themes , there is a shared interest in management science, operations management and business technologies. Topics of interest include R&D management, innovation and new product development, service systems, supply chain management and healthcare operations. For candidates in this area, a degree in engineering (e.g. industrial, electrical, computer, mechanical etc), economics, mathematics, statistics or operational research is preferred. 

PhD studies in Strategy and Entrepreneurship

S&E faculty research  focuses on understanding what makes firms successful, how they cope with a complex and dynamic environment, and what leads to new business formation and growth. Doctoral training involves close collaboration between the doctoral student and faculty members on shared research interests, coursework at UCL and other institutions, and independent research. Doctoral students also benefit from the S&E group’s collaborative research community, a lively program of research speakers from other institutions, and links with researchers worldwide. Topics of interest include digitization, big data analytics, machine learning, information environment, platform ecosystems, new organisational forms, learning, innovation, competition, interorganisational relationships, corporate strategy, entrepreneurial strategy, entrepreneurship for development, social innovation. 

PhD studies in Marketing and Analytics

Topics of interest in this group include branding, retailing, advertising, pricing, product development, marketing channels, business marketing, marketing strategy and e-commerce. The researchers in this group use diverse quantitative methodologies that include big data analytics, regression analysis, choice models, field experiments and Bayesian econometrics.

PhD studies in Organisations and Innovation

O&I faculty research focuses on understanding individual and team outcomes within organisations. Group members engage with a variety of perspectives and approaches including network research, experiments and ethnographies. There is a shared interest in the topics of creativity, innovation, social networks and diversity. For applicants to the PhD programme, prior training in social science (e.g. social psychology, sociology or economics) is highly relevant. 

PhD studies in Financial Economics

Our MRes and PhD Programme in Financial Economics with UCL's Department of Economics now has more information about how to apply and what you can expect from the programme on a brand new programme page, please see the specific entry requirements and programme structure here . 

PhD Structure

• The programme typically consists of five years of full-time study, starting with one year of modules registered as MRes. These modules are typically advanced postgraduate modules to provide rigorous methodological training to prepare students for their PhD research. Along with the School’s modules, students typically take some of these from other UCL departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), the London Business School, Bayes Business School, and Imperial College Business School.
• In addition to methods modules, students also undertake a first-year research project under the tutoring and supervision of a faculty member later in the MRes year (Term 3 + Summer period).
• Progression from MRes to PhD is not automatic . Superior performance in taught modules and independent, original research is required for progression from MRes to PhD.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or engineering department of a world-class university
• PhD applications are reviewed once a completed application form has been submitted online . 

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project:

• MSIN0135 - MRes Research Project: 8,000-10,000 words . 105 credits.

Students take 75 credits of taught modules, of which the following three are compulsory modules:

• MSIN0131 - Research Presentation and Critical Writing Skills . 15 credits
• MSIN0132 - Seminar in Organisation Theory . 15 credits
• MSIN0240 - Designing Management Research Projects.  15 credits

Finally, students choose elective modules (15 credits each) among those offered by the School of Management, other UCL Departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology), and partner universities in London.

Students can take additional (non-credit) modules at UCL and our partners schools in the remaining years to complement their learning, but there is no requirement to take modules after the MRes year.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion based on case studies and other activities. Student performance is assessed through simulations, presentations, coursework, group projects, class participation, and examinations. 

Students typically study 3 compulsory modules over Terms 1 and 2. Students will also typically study 2 optional modules which may take place in Terms 1, 2 or 3. Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually be undertaken over Terms 2 and 3. 

Each taught module is delivered over 10 weeks, with 3 contact hours per week comprising lecture content and interactive components. 

In addition, students typically spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What our students say:.

'The UCL School of Management PhD programme is designed to provide students with skills that lead to academic excellence. Candidates are part of a dynamic and vibrant group and benefit from the programme's flexibility, as they can choose from a wide range of disciplines. The frequent cooperation with world-leading faculty members enhances our knowledge and skills and ultimately leads to high-quality research output, laying the foundations for a subsequent successful academic career.' 

UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF. 

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Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

We seek to recruit highly motivated, ambitious students with strong educational backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a first-class Bachelor's degree from the UK or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard from a leading university. We encourage students from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g, engineering, economics, business, mathematics/statistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, among others) to apply to our programme. Also, notice that a Master’s or graduate level degree is not required for admission, you can apply with only an undergraduate (e.g. bachelors) degree. 

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand – you do not need to do so. In fact, applicants are discouraged from randomly contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

All MRes/PhD applicants are normally expected to take either a GMAT test or GRE test (UCL's institution code is 3344, but also make sure you include a scanned copy of your test result on your online application), although the School has no minimum score requirements.  

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 1” English qualification which corresponds to:

• IELTS: Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
• TOEFL: Score of 92, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 20/30 in the listening and speaking subtests.  

Application Deadline

The application window closes 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 01 February 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 2-3 page personal statement or research proposal* that clearly indicates: (i) which research group you are interested in (i.e., Organisations & Innovation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics or Operations & Technology, (ii) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (iii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iv) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE / GMAT  score report**
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

* While submission of a full research proposal is not required, you can send us one if you have already written it up.

** You can submit your application even if you don’t have a GRE/GMAT score —simply indicate when you plan to take the test.

Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year MRes/PhD scholarships in the UCL School of Management to all admitted students. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000, which is tax-free.

Additional costs 

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  

Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Apply today

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

Register for More Information

Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

Programme Information

Application process, admissions requirements, further information.

If you have any other questions regarding the programme that are not addressed on our web pages please email the programme team ( [email protected] )

ucl phd in education online

It’s incredibly difficult for online students in the United States to find a world-class university that is accredited and accepts credit from other institutions. Even if you do, you’ll need to still do the legwork to ensure that your credits will transfer.

Education, Practice and Society MPhil/PhD London, Bloomsbury

The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) offers world-leading doctoral programmes in education and related social sciences. Our MPhil/PhD students undertake research projects, working closely with their supervisors to develop each stage of their research, and undertake a tailored programme of training courses and activities. This programme is available to study both face-to-face and online.

UK students International students Study mode

Full-time UK tuition fees (2022/23) £7,580 Duration 3 calendar years Programme starts Research degrees may start at any time of the year, but typically start in September. Applications accepted Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply for this course Entry requirements The normal minimum requirement is a Master’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the programme to be followed, or a qualification of equivalent standard appropriate to the programme to be followed awarded by a university (or educational institution of university rank) outside the UK. The majority of our successful applicants hold a Merit at Master’s level, and may have additional relevant experience. Students without a Master’s degree who have completed the UCL PGDip in Social Science Research Methods, obtaining a grade B or above in any two or more modules, may also be considered for admission to this programme.

English language requirements Equivalent qualifications Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

Select your country Select a country About this degree Who this course is for Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student What this course will give you The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is a world-leading centre for research in education and related social science. We host the UK’s largest doctoral cohort in these areas. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2021), the institute was ranked first for education for the eighth year running, ahead of Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge. In the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014), we were number one for education research strength, with more world-leading researchers in education than any other UK University. A quarter of UK education research is carried out at the IOE and we are home to many prestigious research centres and projects.

Doctoral students at the IOE have access to the wider UCL community as well as the education cluster constituting the UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership. The Institute’s programme has been designed to provide comprehensive and broadly based research training and to meet the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the UK Researcher Development Framework.

Students work closely with their supervisor(s) to develop each stage of research; supervisors also help put together a programme of additional courses and activities to support progress towards completion of the final thesis. Doctoral students at the Department of Education, Practice and Society can participate in the department’s Research Students Seminar Group which further enriches learning.

Find out how your research could have an impact The foundation of your career Students gain experience of planning and implementing research methodologies, academic writing and presentation, management of their own research projects, and engagement with a wide range of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other groups relevant to their chosen topic.

Employability Department of Education, Practice and Society doctoral graduates progress to careers in education, university teaching, educational research, and policy and curriculum development. They can be found in almost every occupational field, and there are a wide variety of career paths.

Networking The Department of Education, Practice and Society pioneers research collaborations with external partners to diversify the contribution that educational research can make academically, professionally and practically for individuals and communities. We also strive to provide solutions to current and emerging pressure points in societies, such as economic change and social injustice, by creating networks and partnerships to support knowledge transfer between education, work and communities.

Teaching and learning In addition to UCL’s Doctoral Skills Development Programme, the IOE’s Centre for Doctoral Education provides a comprehensive Research Training Programme.

In addition to short compulsory courses, there is a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic academic skills courses, as well as student-led workshops and reading groups.

Research areas and structure There is a wide range of expertise including:

Comparative Education, including Education Policy Borrowing Education, Democracy and Diversity: citizenship education; civic participation; social cohesion; nation building; civic and ethnic identities Education and Wellbeing: health; sexual identity; education psychology; behaviour and disaffection; learning, studying and homework Further Education, Post-14 Education, and Post-Compulsory Education Global Youth Higher Education (HE): academic and professional identities; national, global and international HE; management, governance and leadership Sociology of Education: education policy; gender, ‘race’, and social class; migration, refugees and marginalisation; social justice; human rights History of Education: cultural, social and economic history of education and learning; universities; adult, popular and informal education; historiography and methodology International Development: economics, education, and education planning; education in developing countries Lifelong Learning, and Adult Learning, Literacy and Numeracy Philosophy of Education: disability ethics; personhood; theories of mind; theories of justice Post-Conflict / Peacebuilding Education Professional Development, Vocational Education, and Workplace Learning Research environment As a research student in the Department of Education, Practice and Society a wide range of research seminars will be available to you. Each of the four research centres in the Department run regular seminars and there are also Department-wide seminars which further enriches learning.

Since October 2014, we have also – in addition to the campus-based mode – offered the option to study online in a distance-learning mode. Choosing the distance-learning mode means that there are no residency requirements and it is not necessary to attend during doctoral study, although the viva examination is expected to take place in London. However, you are welcome to visit and use campus facilities including the library, attend seminars etc. In the first year of full-time study (and first two years of part-time study), distance learners take a series of compulsory research methods modules that are studied online. This typically involves provision of materials (articles, ebooks, videos etc.), forums to facilitate discussion of various tasks, and synchronous sessions to discuss the activities. Alongside these you will work with your supervisors on your research (e.g. using Teams/Zoom and email). In addition, there are other resources and training opportunities to support distance-learning students, e.g. sessions to develop generic skills.

Full-time Part-time Accessibility Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Fees and funding Fees for this course UK students International students Fee description Full-time Part-time Tuition fees (2022/23) £7,580 £3,790 The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master’s fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their thesis.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

ucl phd fees

The full list of postgraduate research fees for new students enrolling at UCL for the first time in the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

These fees are for new postgraduate research students starting in the 2021 academic year. Unless otherwise stated in the programme notes, the published fees are only for the first year of study and the fees in subsequent years may increase to reflect UCL’s increased costs in delivering the programme, such as operational costs, market forces and inflation. Any increase in fees won’t exceed 5% per year.

EU students

The UK has now formally left the EU. Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland who start their programme of study in 2021 or later will no longer be eligible for the UK (Home) fee status and will pay fees at the Overseas rate.

View the UK Government statement about EU student fees

Read more about UCL and Brexit

Jointly delivered programmes

Where a programme is jointly delivered with another university or college, the tuition fees may be set by the other institution. If that is the case, it will be noted with the programme listing below.

Non-Resident PhD Programmes

A deduction of £1,500 from the full-time fee and a deduction of £750 from the part-time fee will be applied to both UK and Overseas students.

Study leave

Fees will be charged at half of the full-time or part-time UK fee, depending on your registration status. 

Additional Fee Element (AFE)

A minority of PhD students have to pay an AFE, which covers additional costs not included in the tuition fee listed below. The AFE includes consumables, equipment, materials and other items, but doesn’t include student visas. As each PhD is unique, your AFE will be specifically calculated by your supervisor. Please contact your supervisor for advice on whether you will pay an AFE. Your offer letter will also confirm any AFE you will be required to pay.

There are five bands for AFE charges:

• Band 1 is £1,000
• Band 2 is £2,500
• Band 3 is £5,000
• Band 4 is £10,000
• Band 5 is for variable amounts above £10,000

Tuition fees

You can search for a programme by faculty, department, qualification or use the keyword search function. Use only one filter at a time to find the fee you’re looking for. Programme fee information will also be in your offer letter.

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Graduate tuition and fees

The net cost for a graduate education varies by individual student, graduate program, graduate assistantships (GA) and enrollment status.

Domestic student with GA

Tuition rates vary by graduate assistantship (e.g., 10-hours, 15-hours, 20-hours).

Domestic student without GA

Academic year 2024-2025 base tuition is $344.25 per-credit, but varies based on residency.

International student with GA

International student without GA

Online program tuition and fees

Tuition and fees vary by individual online graduate program.

• Online Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
• Online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity (MSCY)
• Online Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

Education MA

London, Bloomsbury

The MA Education encourages and enables students to think deeply and critically about education. This stimulating programme supports students in the process of beginning to articulate, explain and justify their own position within the complex and diverse field of education studies.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

• Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. (Please note: one or two optional modules may have additional, specific entry requirements).

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

For students starting in October, this programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting October only.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

We support students in their development as educational practitioners and researchers in various ways. We encourage and assist them to think deeply and critically about education and support them in the process of beginning to articulate, explain and justify their own position within the complex and diverse field of education studies. We encourage students to make a contribution to the field of education studies based on a grounded understanding of their own position and drawing on their own contexts. To do this we introduce various themes, such as curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and relationships between education and society, whilst encouraging students to relate these to their chosen contexts.

Who this course is for

The Degree is a broad based, generalist programme appropriate for those with a serious interest in education practice, policy and research. It suits those aiming to work in education policy, development or research as well as educators looking for career development in a wide range of contexts. The MA Education is not a teacher education programme and, since it does not include a practice component, it is highly unlikely to satisfy teacher certification requirements.

What this course will give you

The MA Education is based in IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, and draws on the breath of expertise available in this world-leading centre for education research. The MA Education team is deeply committed to the aims of the programme and passionate about the development of their students understanding.

Our students develop a wide range of academic and transferable professional skills that are of great benefit to them in their professional lives and our graduates are well placed to develop their careers further in exciting ways.

The foundation of your career

Our MA Education programme assists students to develop a wide range of transferable skills including the ability to:

• think critically 
• apply principles from one context to another
• build logical and balanced arguments based on careful consideration of evidence
• offer creative solutions to complex problems
• frame research questions, gather evidence and analyse it
• express ideas clearly in both writing and speaking

This year has shown me more possibilities for my life, helped me to learn more about myself, my research interests, and my philosophy of education. Also, I think I will gradually achieve my aims step by step. Yuxin Liu Education MA Q&A with Yuxin Liu

Employability

Graduates from the MA Education have gone on to be successful in a wide variety of contexts related to education. Those already teaching have often been promoted, sometimes to senior leadership positions. Others have found new opportunities in a different educational phase (from early years through to higher education) or in education policy or research. Some graduates go on to work internationally on education and development projects, whilst others have developed plans to open schools in their own contexts. A good number of graduates undertake further research on PhD programmes.

Read more about careers and employability and the careers support UCL provides

You will work with other students and tutors drawn from across the Faculty and University.

Teaching and learning

Teaching and learning is dependent on whether you study the programme on campus or on a distance-basis. On campus there are a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops which are supported by independent study and a rich online learning environment.

Modules are available as distance learning, face-to-face or mixed-mode (please note that some modules are not available in all modes). The programme is also offered flexibly, allowing students to take one or two modules a year and spread their studies out as they see fit.

Assessments include individual and group work; they vary across different modules and might be comprised of essays, presentations, creation of blog or video posts etc., depending on the module's focus and topic.

Each 30 Master's level credit module has 300 nominal learning hours. This is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, as well as a significant amount of independent study. Our diverse student body has come together in compulsory modules for town-hall style lectures, small group seminars. Students can choose to study from a range of optional modules alongside students from other programmes. At the heart of teaching and learning is the professional relationship between the student and their tutor. The tutor provides academic tutoring across the compulsory modules as well as personal tutoring and support.

All students on the programme take What is Education? and Understanding Research as common compulsory modules. The compulsory elements of each route, along with the optional elements, are as follows:

• What is Education? (Compulsory and non-condonable)
• Dissertation (Compulsory and non-condonable)
• Understanding Research (Compulsory and non-condonable)
• Optional module 1
• Optional module 2

The MA Education can be studied full-time (one academic year), part-time (over two years) or modular/flexible (up to 5 years). Your schedule for module completion will depend on the length of time that you have to complete the MA programme.

If you complete the programme full-time you will usually take two modules in the Autumn term and two in the Spring term. 'What is Education?' runs in the Autumn term, and 'Understanding Research' runs in the Spring term.

Part time students typically complete the programme as below:

Year 1 – Students complete three 30 credit modules - ‘What is Education?’ in term 1, ‘Understanding Research’ in term 2 and one option module. The option module can be taken in any term, although students usually find it easier to complete one module per term.

Year 2 – Students complete one remaining 30 credit module and the Dissertation.

Students have up to 5 years to complete the programme. We require that ‘What is Education?’ is the first module to be completed and in normal circumstances the Dissertation should be completed last.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Education.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis .

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their dissertation.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees and accommodation (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees .

Prospective students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

You are required to submit a personal statement, typed and no longer than two sides of A4 paper, which can be uploaded on the admissions portal.

The personal statement should clearly address the questions below.

It should not include descriptive biographical detail that does not directly help you answer these questions.

• Why do you want to study Education?
• Why do you want study the MA Education degree at IOE?
• How does your academic and professional background prepare you to meet the challenges of studying for our degree?
• What professional and personal benefits do you hope to gain from your studies with us?

We are not usually able to consider late applications.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes in any application cycle.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

[email protected]

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