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Education MPhil/PhD

Distance learning programme

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) offers world-leading doctoral courses in education and related social science. Our Education MPhil/PhD distance learning students undertake a research project, working closely with their supervisors to develop each stage of their research. Supervision takes place online (e.g. using Teams/Zoom and email). Students also engage in a tailored course of online research training courses and activities available from the IOE Research Training Programme, UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and other sources.

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£7,580

£3,790

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£31,300

£15,650

Duration

3 calendar years

5 calendar years

Programme starts

October 2026

February 2027

May 2027

Applications accepted

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but should be submitted at least three months prior to your preferred start date.

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.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

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.

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

IOE has specialised, research-active staff who are able to supervise students in education and related social sciences and humanities, including leadership, management, and teaching and learning in all phases of education, from early years through schooling and post-compulsory education to professional and lifelong learning. Other areas include health, the life course and economics.

Who this course is for

The MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest in an aspect of educational and social research, which may be understood broadly across the life course, in relation to other subject areas and wider social, economic, political and cultural changes. You may have a background in education or a cognate area of study. It is suitable for both recent graduates and those progressed in a career.

Read about what it takes to become a UCL graduate research student

What this course will give you

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 (2025), the Institute was ranked first for education for the twelfth year running, ahead of Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge. In the UK's recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), we were ranked first for research strength and research power in Education, according to the Elsevier REF 2021 Results Analysis Tool. We attract extensive research funding each year and host many prestigious research centres and projects.

There are no residency requirements and the course has been designed to engage students in distance learning so it is not necessary to attend.

Students undertake their research project, working closely with their supervisor(s) online (e.g., using Teams/Zoom and email) to develop each stage of their research, whilst engaging in online research training courses modules and activities.

The viva examination takes place in-person at UCL or online. Students are welcome to visit and use campus facilities including the library, attend seminars etc.

Find out how your research could have an impact

The foundation of your career

IOE doctoral graduates progress to a diverse range of careers in research, policy, management and practice, within education, cultural sectors and related areas of social science.

Employability

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.

Networking

IOE is a leading centre for education and social science research. Students will have the opportunity to network with other doctoral students from around the world, as well as with world-leading academics within their field of study. The institute hosts several online seminar series as well as both national and international conferences. In addition, students are encouraged to take part in conferences elsewhere, expanding networking opportunities.

Teaching and learning

Distance learning students engage in similar teaching and learning as face-to-face. The main difference is the mode of study is online with students engaging in independent learning supported through: (i) individualised online supervision (e.g., via Teams/Zoom and email) and (ii) peer group research training through asynchronous and synchronous courses relevant to their doctoral research. However, students are welcome to visit and use campus facilities to engage in in-person research training, access the library, attend seminars etc.

In addition, as with face-to-face students, distance learning students are expected to complete two compulsory training courses available online to support their progression (Upgrade) from the MPhil to PhD: (i) the IOE MPhil/PhD Core Course and the, (ii) Digital Information and Literacies Course. Full time students typically upgrade within the first 12 months, and part-time students within the first 18 months, from the commencement of their doctoral study.

Students with prior learning have flexibility in opting to engage in advanced online courses from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE Research Training Programme, Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network and other sources, as agreed with supervisors.

Assessment is undertaken through completion of a thesis and viva examination. The maximum word length for a PhD degree thesis is 100,000 words. This includes footnotes, tables and figures but excludes bibliography, appendices and supporting data. In some instances, supervisors may wish to recommend a shorter length. Students should therefore consult with their supervisors on the length of theses in their subject area or topic, including the minimum length. The viva examination takes place in-person at UCL or online.

You must ensure you have adequate time to devote to this research, at least six hours a day or 30+ hours a week 2-3 days a week, or 12-18 hours, part time. You would usually meet with your supervisors at least monthly and would also be expected to attend online training and relevant seminars and events, which may equate to 2-5+ hours a week.

Research areas and structure

Applicants to the IOE Education MPhil/PhD course must apply to one of the six departments within the IOE: Culture, Communication and Media; Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment; Education, Practice and Society; Learning and Leadership; Psychology and Human Development; or the UCL Social Research Institute.

Applicants should look at the departmental websites to find out more information about the work of each department, and to identify one or more potential supervisors for their work. Even though applicants apply directly to the MPhil/PhD courses in the department of their principal supervisor, the course they follow once enrolled will be identical.

Research environment

You will have the opportunity to access to the wider UCL community. The Institute’s course 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.

As a research student at the IOE, you have the opportunity to participate in online seminar groups when engaging in distance learning as well as in-person seminar groups when visiting campus, along with seminars organised by research centres or according to interest groups. This promotes collegiality and enriches learning.

The length of registration for the research degree courses is 3 years for full-time.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-18 months after initial registration.

IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. Courses are available from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty’s Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources. The training offers a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic non-credit bearing academic skills courses, as well as student led workshops and reading groups which you can attend.

Full-time MPhil/PhD students are required to fulfil minimum 20 ‘points’ of training activity in their first year, and are encouraged to fulfil the same in their subsequent years of study. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent.

Other activities such as attending and presenting at conferences also count towards research training. Students may undertake additional training beyond these minima, as relevant to their research and/or as agreed with their supervisors.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status towards the end of your first year of study if full-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Processes aimed at assisting you during your course of study include the Research Student Log (an online project management tool), and periodic reviews of students’ progress.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

The length of registration for the research degree courses is 5 years for part-time.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 15-24 months after initial registration.

IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. Courses are available from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty's Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources.

The training offers a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic non-credit bearing academic skills courses, as well as student led workshops and reading groups which you can attend.

Part-time students are required to fulfil minimum 12 ‘points’ of training activity in each year of study. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status at around 18 months if part-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Processes aimed at assisting you during your course of study include the Research Student Log (an online project management tool), and periodic reviews of students’ progress.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Professional Doctorates - Doctor of Education (EdD)

IOE's impactful research leads the world in education and related social science. It informs our doctoral courses, supporting the largest cohort of education students in the UK. We welcome you to book your place at our Virtual Open Event. You will meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Research courses: MPhil/PhD including Integrated Research Methods routes

IOE's impactful research leads the world in education and related social science. It informs our doctoral courses, supporting the largest cohort of education students in the UK. Meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£7,580	£3,790
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£31,300	£15,650

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their thesis and should account for these costs when planning their finances.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: China Scholarship Council - UCL Joint Research Scholarship (IOE)

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme)

Criteria Based on academic merit

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE Centenary Doctoral Scholarships

Deadline: 4 May 2026 23:55 (BST)

Value: Full fees, accommodation and stipend (Up to 4 years)

Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need

Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Next steps

After choosing a course to apply for, you should develop a research proposal and identify a potential supervisor. For more information, visit our website to find a supervisor and get in touch with departmental graduate tutors.

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

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.