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University of Warwick: Education
| Institution | University of Warwick View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | Centre for Education Studies |
| Web | https://warwick.ac.uk/ |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Education Studies is committed to high quality, rigorous interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the broad and diverse field of Education. Our research spans a range of research areas as well as a range of international and local context. The Department’s ethos is that educational research and scholarship exist to find solutions to questions of ‘what works’ in terms of policy and practice, but also to problematise existing policy and practice by posing new questions about the purposes and the future of education, in the UK and globally. This provides a space for meaningful and multi-disciplinary collaborations across the Department and beyond. The University of Warwick's Doctorate in Education welcomes world-class applicants with a commitment to educational research and challenge.
Course overview The PhD is designed as a programme combining advanced research methods training and individual, supervised research, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. The thesis is expected to be a substantial original contribution to knowledge and, in principle, to have the potential to be developed into peer-reviewed publication.
Teaching and learning The PhD programme has an Advanced Research Methods training element that is compulsory, and all students complete an Upgrade examination (a written portfolio and oral examination) in order to progress from MPhil to PhD. The research methods training takes place via online mode on Saturday mornings spread out over the first year. Students work with their supervisors on their independent projects throughout the course. We have research student work rooms within the department with desktop computers available.
This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements A Master’s degree in Education, any relevant Social Sciences or Humanities discipline, or another relevant discipline if justified. English language requirements - Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
Education Studies is committed to high quality, rigorous interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the broad and diverse field of Education. Our research spans a range of research areas as well as a range of international and local context. The Department’s ethos is that educational research and scholarship exist to find solutions to questions of ‘what works’ in terms of policy and practice, but also to problematise existing policy and practice by posing new questions about the purposes and the future of education, in the UK and globally. This provides a space for meaningful and multi-disciplinary collaborations across the Department and beyond. The University of Warwick's Doctorate in Education welcomes world-class applicants with a commitment to educational research and challenge.
Course overview The PhD is designed as a programme combining advanced research methods training and individual, supervised research, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. The thesis is expected to be a substantial original contribution to knowledge and, in principle, to have the potential to be developed into peer-reviewed publication.
Teaching and learning The PhD programme has an Advanced Research Methods training element that is compulsory, and all students complete an Upgrade examination (a written portfolio and oral examination) in order to progress from MPhil to PhD. The research methods training takes place via online mode on Saturday mornings spread out over the first year. Students work with their supervisors on their independent projects throughout the course. We have research student work rooms within the department with desktop computers available.
This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements A Master’s degree in Education, any relevant Social Sciences or Humanities discipline, or another relevant discipline if justified. English language requirements - Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
Education Studies at Warwick includes three overarching strands: Learning, Society and Cultures. These strands group academics with a shared interest in educational research and scholarship, providing a space for meaningful and multi-disciplinary collaborations across the Department and beyond. The Department’s ethos is that educational research and scholarship exist to find solutions to questions of ‘what works’ in terms of policy and practice, but also to problematise existing policy and practice by posing new questions about the purposes and the future of education, in the UK and globally. The University of Warwick's Doctorate in Education welcomes world-class applicants with a commitment to educational research and challenge. The Department of Education Studies was ranked 6th in the UK for Education (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022).
Course overview The PhD is designed as a programme combining advanced research methods training and individual, supervised research, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. The thesis is expected to be a substantial original contribution to knowledge and, in principle, to have the potential to be developed into peer-reviewed publication.
Teaching and learning The PhD programme has an Advanced Research Methods training element that is compulsory, and all students complete an Upgrade examination (a written portfolio and oral examination) in order to progress from MPhil to PhD. The research methods training takes place via online mode on Saturday mornings spread out over the first year. Students work with their supervisors on their independent projects throughout the course. We have research student work rooms within the department with desktop computers available.
Specific departmental guidance is available on preparing applications to the Department of Education Studies and on Preparing a Research Proposal.
What does it mean to study and research Education? Education provides us with an essential foundation for a fulfilling life in a thriving and equitable society – it underpins how we act and see the world and is the engine of social and cultural change and reproduction.
Education gives the basis for innovation in thought, culture and technology; it nurtures a sense of citizenship and social participation; it underpins our political and economic robustness; and is the foundation of the knowledge and skills that society shares.
Education is fundamentally about human development, knowledge and social justice. Education is something that everyone experiences: it is life-long and society wide; it is local as well as global; it takes place in the home, in prisons, in refugee centres, in places of worship, in the workplace, on the sports field, in the theatre, in the pub as well as in the classroom.
Education, like Politics, is inherently interdisciplinary – it is an applied field of study which draws on a range of disciplines including: sociology, psychology, history and philosophy. It is necessarily pluralist and eclectic, drawing upon a range of theoretical, conceptual and methodological perspectives.
Therefore, in studying and researching Education we work to understand the fundamental questions about why we educate, how we educate, who we educate and what purpose education serves.
Find out more about us on our website.
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements A Master’s degree in Education, any relevant Social Sciences or Humanities discipline, or another relevant discipline if justified. English language requirements - Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
Education Studies at Warwick includes three overarching strands: Learning, Society and Cultures. These strands group academics with a shared interest in educational research and scholarship, providing a space for meaningful and multi-disciplinary collaborations across the Department and beyond. The Department’s ethos is that educational research and scholarship exist to find solutions to questions of ‘what works’ in terms of policy and practice, but also to problematise existing policy and practice by posing new questions about the purposes and the future of education, in the UK and globally. The University of Warwick's Doctorate in Education welcomes world-class applicants with a commitment to educational research and challenge. The Department of Education Studies was ranked 6th in the UK for Education (The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022).
Course overview The PhD is designed as a programme combining advanced research methods training and individual, supervised research, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. The thesis is expected to be a substantial original contribution to knowledge and, in principle, to have the potential to be developed into peer-reviewed publication.
Teaching and learning The PhD programme has an Advanced Research Methods training element that is compulsory, and all students complete an Upgrade examination (a written portfolio and oral examination) in order to progress from MPhil to PhD. The research methods training takes place via online mode on Saturday mornings spread out over the first year. Students work with their supervisors on their independent projects throughout the course. We have research student work rooms within the department with desktop computers available.
Specific departmental guidance is available on preparing applications to the Department of Education Studies and on Preparing a Research Proposal.
What does it mean to study and research Education? Education provides us with an essential foundation for a fulfilling life in a thriving and equitable society – it underpins how we act and see the world and is the engine of social and cultural change and reproduction.
Education gives the basis for innovation in thought, culture and technology; it nurtures a sense of citizenship and social participation; it underpins our political and economic robustness; and is the foundation of the knowledge and skills that society shares.
Education is fundamentally about human development, knowledge and social justice. Education is something that everyone experiences: it is life-long and society wide; it is local as well as global; it takes place in the home, in prisons, in refugee centres, in places of worship, in the workplace, on the sports field, in the theatre, in the pub as well as in the classroom.
Education, like Politics, is inherently interdisciplinary – it is an applied field of study which draws on a range of disciplines including: sociology, psychology, history and philosophy. It is necessarily pluralist and eclectic, drawing upon a range of theoretical, conceptual and methodological perspectives.
Therefore, in studying and researching Education we work to understand the fundamental questions about why we educate, how we educate, who we educate and what purpose education serves.
Find out more about us on our website.
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements A Master’s degree in Education, any relevant Social Sciences or Humanities discipline, or another relevant discipline if justified. English language requirements - Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
MA
Summary
This flexible MA course is perfect if you are seeking to understand education within its broader contexts. You will be asked to engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will learn to pair foundation theories with in-depth study of arguments disputes and issues present within the educational sphere today.
Course overview We encourage you to link theoretical and practical understanding of issues in education, while developing knowledge, skills and understanding of the questions involved in conceptualising and designing educational research.
You will engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will receive a grounding in research methods and a core module which explores current debates and issues in education, both domestically and internationally. This course will help you to better understand the theories, practicalities and significance of educational issues, whilst also enabling you to develop an appreciation for the role that research plays in illuminating these.
By the end of the course, you will be excellently positioned to take the knowledge you have learned and the academically critical skills you will have developed into many aspects of your working life.
Skills from this degree - Develop and evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within an educational context
-
Comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use in educational research
-
Independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development
-
Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice
-
Engage critically with current research related to the field of education
This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements English language requirements Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
This flexible MA course is perfect if you are seeking to understand education within its broader contexts. You will be asked to engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will learn to pair foundation theories with in-depth study of arguments disputes and issues present within the educational sphere today.
Course overview We encourage you to link theoretical and practical understanding of issues in education, while developing knowledge, skills and understanding of the questions involved in conceptualising and designing educational research.
You will engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will receive a grounding in research methods and a core module which explores current debates and issues in education, both domestically and internationally. This course will help you to better understand the theories, practicalities and significance of educational issues, whilst also enabling you to develop an appreciation for the role that research plays in illuminating these.
By the end of the course, you will be excellently positioned to take the knowledge you have learned and the academically critical skills you will have developed into many aspects of your working life.
Skills from this degree - Develop and evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within an educational context
-
Comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use in educational research
-
Independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development
-
Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice
-
Engage critically with current research related to the field of education
This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements English language requirements Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
This flexible MA course is perfect if you are seeking to understand education within its broader contexts. You will be asked to engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will learn to pair foundation theories with in-depth study of arguments disputes and issues present within the educational sphere today.
Course overview We encourage you to link theoretical and practical understanding of issues in education, while developing knowledge, skills and understanding of the questions involved in conceptualising and designing educational research.
You will engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will receive a grounding in research methods and a core module which explores current debates and issues in education, both domestically and internationally. This course will help you to better understand the theories, practicalities and significance of educational issues, whilst also enabling you to develop an appreciation for the role that research plays in illuminating these.
By the end of the course, you will be excellently positioned to take the knowledge you have learned and the academically critical skills you will have developed into many aspects of your working life.
Skills from this degree - Develop and evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within an educational context
-
Comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use in educational research
-
Independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development
-
Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice
-
Engage critically with current research related to the field of education
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements English language requirements Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Summary
This flexible MA course is perfect if you are seeking to understand education within its broader contexts. You will be asked to engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will learn to pair foundation theories with in-depth study of arguments disputes and issues present within the educational sphere today.
Course overview We encourage you to link theoretical and practical understanding of issues in education, while developing knowledge, skills and understanding of the questions involved in conceptualising and designing educational research.
You will engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will receive a grounding in research methods and a core module which explores current debates and issues in education, both domestically and internationally. This course will help you to better understand the theories, practicalities and significance of educational issues, whilst also enabling you to develop an appreciation for the role that research plays in illuminating these.
By the end of the course, you will be excellently positioned to take the knowledge you have learned and the academically critical skills you will have developed into many aspects of your working life.
Skills from this degree - Develop and evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within an educational context
-
Comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use in educational research
-
Independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development
-
Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice
-
Engage critically with current research related to the field of education
This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | Minimum requirements English language requirements Band B International qualifications |
| Location | Main Site Academic Office University Road Coventry CV4 7AL |
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is ranked 74th in the QS World University Guide 2026, is the youngest member of the Russell Group and are listed within the top ten UK universities in all three major national league tables. However, we are so much more than our rankings.
We are renowned for seeking out and addressing complex global challenges with era-defining innovative thinking. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs.
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