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Culture, Communication and Media EdD
The EdD is a research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields who would like to extend their professional understanding and develop skills in research, evaluation and high-level reflection on practice. The student cohort provides an important element of the programme.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
The taught courses and Institutional Focused Study are completed in 2-3 years. Completion of the award of EdD is expected within 4-7 years.
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
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. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
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.
Select your country:
Overview
Research undertaken on the EdD programme can be based in any area of education, subject to the applicant being able to identify suitable principal and subsidiary supervisors within UCL Institute of Education. Potential candidates should explore UCL IRIS and the IOE department and centre list to identify appropriate supervisors before submitting an application. Applications submitted without agreement from a principal supervisor from within Culture, Communication and Media cannot be considered.
Research areas
Each EdD student is based within one of the six IOE departments depending on where the principal research supervisor (nominated and approached by the candidate and approved by the supervisor before application) is located:
- Culture, Communication and Media
- Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
- Education, Practice and Society
- Learning and Leadership
- Psychology and Human Development
- UCL Social Research Institute
You will apply for Culture, Communication and Media if your confirmed principal supervisor is located within Culture, Communication and Media.
About this degree
Taught element
Students work with tutors and EdD students in developing professional understanding and insight and research skills.
The taught element consists of three assessed taught modules:
- Foundations of Professionalism in Education
- Methods of Enquiry 1
- Methods of Enquiry 2
and an assessed portfolio reflective statement.
In addition, students should complete at least two research courses (non-assessed), drawn from the Centre for Doctoral Education's Advanced Research Training Programme and the UCL Doctoral Training Programme.
The Institution Focused Study (IFS) is unique to the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) EdD programme. It enables students to study an institution or organisation concerned with educational provision, organisation and support and with which students are professionally connected, under the guidance of the student's research supervisors. Supplementary support is provided through the eight compulsory IFS workshops in years 2-3. The IFS is the transition phase between taught modules and thesis phase. The IFS is submitted as a 20,000 word research report.
The thesis, (no more than 45,000 words in length) will make a distinct contribution to the knowledge in the field of study and afford evidence of originality and a capacity for autonomous research. The thesis usually relates to the IFS and the work carried out in the taught part of the programme. We provide support through meetings with your specialist supervisors and regular thesis workshops. The thesis is submitted between years 4-7.
There are two main modes of delivery for each taught module on the EdD - an intense week (face-to-face) or three weekends a term. Some modules can be taken face-to-face, blended, or online. EdD students can move between these modes termly. In term 1, attendance at the one-day Doctoral School Welcome event/EdD specific induction is expected and this is combined with the first two days of the first module, i.e. attendance would be anticipated for all students on Friday, Saturday and Monday for the first module commencing at the end of September. Dates for the next academic year are available on request.
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 is subject to change.
Additional costs
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
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.
Funding
It is appropriate for EdD students to apply for full or partial funding from their employers. EdD students are usually eligible to apply for the UK Doctoral Loan scheme
Doctoral Loans are available to UK nationals and UK residents (information available at https://www.gov.uk/doctoral-loan).
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
IOE Centenary Doctoral Scholarships
- Value:
- Full tuition fees and accommodation (Up to 4 years)
- Eligibility:
- Overseas
- Criteria:
- Based on both academic merit and financial need
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
EdD graduates are currently working as teachers, university and college lecturers and researchers, college principals and directors, policy analysts and education consultants.
Employability
Research undertaken at UCL Institute of Education will help students build connections between education and other related areas, such as economic and social status, employment, medicine, health and welfare, child development and families. In searching out answers to major questions and looking for solutions to fundamental social issues, our students will develop careers which have a direct bearing on all members of society. Through their research, students will make a contribution to both professional and academic knowledge.
Networking
You can share information about your research interests via your own research page on the IOE website. The Doctoral School Virtual Learning Environment noticeboard outlines current events and opportunities. Our website also provides information about IOE facilities, training courses, conferences and other events, and advice on applying to study at the IOE. The induction and UCL Doctoral School welcome events provide the foundation stone to networking opportunities and to the research community. These events support the development of the EdD cohort identity irrespective of which department you have applied to.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The IOE EdD programme has been running since 1996. This is one of the longest-running EdD programmes within the UK and consistently recruits the largest EdD cohort in the country, granting our EdD students access to a unique selection of fellow education practitioners to work with during the programme. It is based at the IOE, rated number one for Education in the QS world rankings for eight consecutive years.
Based within an education institute with an exceptional reputation for high-quality research we offer access to a very experienced and well-regarded EdD programme team. In addition, each EdD student will work with both a principal and subsidiary research supervisor.
We offer a flexible design for the taught modules, comprising both face-to-face and blended/online delivery. This enables the EdD student to select the delivery at different stages of the programme that best suits their needs.
Department: Institute of Education
Application and next steps
Applications
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.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 30 July 2021
Before you apply for the EdD you should contact a potential principal supervisor: see guidance and find a supervisor. Applications will not be considered without agreement and confirmation of a principal supervisor.
Applicants should provide a 2,000 word research proposal summarising their proposed research should they be admitted to the EdD, stating how the programme would enhance their professional development.
All students are interviewed by the programme leader and potential principal supervisor before being offered a place on the EdD. Interviews usually happen within six weeks of the complete application being received. The EdD has a rolling application process so early application is advised if a place is to be secured for the coming academic year. Potential supervisors may not be available in July and August. Therefore securing a principal supervisor before July is strongly advised.
For more information see our Applications page.
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Page last modified on 28 August 2021