UTS course code: C12002
Testamur title: Doctor of Education
Abbreviation: EdD
Course Coordinator: Dr Bob Pithers
Course fee: to be advised (international)¹

Footnote:
1: This course is not offered to local students.

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Assessment
Rules and regulations
Other information

Overview

This course is by flexible delivery to international students. The degree of Doctor of Education meets the needs of practitioners by providing extended advanced study for those whose background and experience is appropriate for leadership in the various sectors of education (e.g. teachers, trainers, administrators, planners, managers, and policy advisers, in both school and postschool education; and those working in government, industrial, commercial, or community settings).

Course aims

The purpose of this course is to enhance, through advanced coursework and research, the practitioner's capacity to question, analyse, critique and develop the profession and its practices. It is a research-based degree since its purpose is to assist professionals in the field to become aware of the relationship between research and their professional activities in areas such as policy development and appraisal, innovation and administration. In this context the aims are to:

• investigate and improve the professional practice of educators who are, or aspire to be, in positions of leadership and influence
• further advance the knowledge, skills and techniques of practitioners through applied research focusing on the problems, topics and issues of education
• promote the extension and use of knowledge and research to serve and develop educational policy, practice and administration, and
• promote a critical and reflective perspective on the part of educational professionals and thus enhance the relationship between theory and practice in educational endeavours.

Admission requirements

Applicants for the Doctor of Education program who have not previously studied at tertiary level in the English language are expected to provide proof of English proficiency to the level of at least IELTS 7.0 (7.0 in written English), or a TOEFL score of at least 575 and 5.0 in TWE (test in written English).

Normal admission

Formal educational requirements: Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours (Division 1) or above, or a Master's degree in education or a related discipline.

Pre-entry occupational requirements: Three years' work experience in an education/training context.

As part of the application process, applicants are required to provide a previous thesis or example of academic writing (e.g. a Master's essay) on which the quality of their work may be judged.

Other prerequisites: A capacity to carry out research, analyse educational issues, and apply reflective practice as demonstrated by course and/or workplace achievements. Students who meet this criterion but do not have a history of formal research subjects may be required to undertake specified research subjects at Master's or Doctoral level. An ability to nominate and justify an area of research suitable for a Doctoral dissertation in the Faculty is also required.

Special admission

Applicants who do not qualify for normal admission may be admitted if they can demonstrate a history of achievement in research and policy analysis through, for example, scholarly publications or a major involvement in research projects.

Applicants wishing to complete the Doctor of Education who hold a Master's degree in Education or a related discipline but who do not meet the research requirements, need to undertake the two Master of Education (Honours) research subjects (013348 Research Perspectives and 013349 Research Design).

Attendance

The Doctor of Education is offered on a part-time basis.

The Doctor of Education (EdD) is implementing an innovative delivery strategy for higher research degrees with the aim of providing students studying in distance mode with the opportunity to enhance critical thinking, analysis and synthesis with peers and supervisors.

The delivery strategy involves students working in common interest groups focused on a broad, practice-based problem/issue. Students identify specific research questions or themes within a 'field' that they wish to explore following consultation with and approval from Faculty of Education staff. The interest group provides a forum for each student to explore research methodology, develop ideas and test findings. Each student prepares an independent dissertation proposal and thesis. The establishment of networks and common areas of interest within the student group aims to provide support for the offshore students.

Approved Faculty staff acting as supervisors are available for face-to-face discussion at least once a semester during the second and third years of the EdD. Further supervision for students is provided from Australia using a range of communications technology such as email and audio conferencing

Course duration

Part-time students complete the degree in a minimum of six semesters and a maximum of nine semesters from the time of registration for the program. Under special circumstances students who are specially qualified in a relevant discipline may be allowed to complete in less than the normal minimum time, with permission from the University Graduate School Board (see Rule 3.5.4.1).

Course structure

The first year of the EdD consists of a combined mode of delivery for the four compulsory subjects involving a combination of distance learning, self-directed study, study group meetings and intensive weekend seminars. The main goal of this degree is to undertake a dissertation related to an issue or problem arising from practice. The dissertation is 40,000–60,000 words and comprises two-thirds of the course load.

You are required to complete four compulsory semester-length subjects (9 credit points each). The main goal of this degree is to undertake a dissertation related to an issue or problem arising from practice.

The four compulsory subjects in the degree are:

016716 Introduction to the Doctor of Education 9cp
023999 Research Literacies 9cp
016714 Dissertation Development and Appraisal 9cp
016715 Analysing Professional Practice 9cp

The dissertation is 40,000–60,000 words and comprises two-thirds of the course load:

019981 Thesis (EdD)

Assessment

Before, or at the end of the first four semesters (part time), after the completion of your coursework, you present your work for the doctoral assessment. This requires a seminar presentation and a developed research proposal of about 10,000 words.

Rules and regulations

You should also be aware that in accordance with Rules 3.3.6.1, any postgraduate coursework candidate in the Faculty of Education who records failures in any one subject twice or in any two subjects is deemed to be making unsatisfactory progress and may have his or her registration discontinued by the Faculty Board.

Other information

For further information about this course, contact:

email hkma@hkma.org.hk