Education Cohort PhD

Program Overview

The Cohort PhD in Education is a 48-month, full-time program designed for professionals seeking advanced knowledge and skills in education research. Combining 40 credits of coursework with a 60,000-word thesis, the program aims to enhance professional practice and expertise through collaborative learning and rigorous research training. Graduates pursue careers in various educational settings, including teaching, university lecturing, and policy analysis.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Cohort PhD in Education is a full-time, cohort-based program that runs for 48 months from the date of first registration. It involves completing high-level research work leading to the submission and examination of a PhD Thesis (up to 60,000 words). The thesis is completed and submitted for assessment at the end of Year 4. To support thesis preparation, candidates take a minimum of coursework/research training modules worth 40 credits over the first three years of the program. The program aims to enhance high-level professional practice in the field of education by enabling professionals to articulate existing and new expertise and develop the knowledge and skills required of an expert. The program develops expertise by meeting professional research needs within a structured learning environment. The central aim is to enable education professionals to develop advanced knowledge and analytical skills necessary to interpret and undertake varied kinds of research to enhance policy and professional practice in a wide range of educational settings.

Outline:

The program involves the completion of a PhD Thesis (up to 60,000 words) and coursework/research training modules worth 40 credits over the first three years. The program is structured as follows:

• Year 1-3: Coursework/research training modules (40 credits)
• Year 4: PhD Thesis completion and submission

Assessment:

The program culminates in the submission and examination of a PhD Thesis (up to 60,000 words). The thesis is assessed by a panel of examiners.

Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of faculty members with expertise in education research. The program emphasizes a collaborative and supportive learning environment.

Careers:

Cohort PhD researchers have been or are working in various educational settings, including:

• Schools (teachers and school management)
• Adult/further education sectors
• Third-level (lecturers in university)
• Agencies and government departments
• Cognate areas of professional practice with an interest in developing expertise in teaching, learning, assessment, and/or policy analysis.

Other:

The introduction of the Cohort PhD in the School of Education in 2008 was a response to the demand for doctoral-level work in the field of education in Ireland. It was also a response to changing views about doctoral study reflected in the international critique of the solo scholar/supervisor model of the traditional PhD, particularly concerning the need for more systematic training in a broader range of advanced research methodologies. The Cohort PhD offers a cohort experience from the beginning of the four-year program, requiring the kind of collaboration and responsibility expected in high-level professional practice.

Deposits If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January. Fee payment Fees are payable in two equal installments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January. page. Any questions?