For the PhD, Mphil, Education Doctorate Programme, MA/MSc by Research and MRes

A research application form can be obtained by contacting Barbara Ashcroft, Research Administrator. After returning the Research Application Form (which can be done electronically), applicants will then be invited to attend an interview (usually with the Institute’s Research Degrees Co-ordinator) to discuss the level of study most appropriate to them, their experience of education and of research, the area of educational interest they wish to pursue and if, and how, we can support them. For EdD students there will be a formal interview involving two members of academic staff. On the satisfactory completion of this stage, we will then ask students to enrol formally and to make a financial commitment. Information regarding current fees can be obtained from the above contact person.

Entry Requirements for MPhil, EdD and PhD Programmes

Normally a Master’s degree or evidence of having written at that standard, and a minimum of four years working in a professional educational or training role.

Entry Requirements for MRes, MA/MSc by Research

Normally a good Honours Degree or equivalent.

For the MRes programme overseas students should note that the medium of instruction and examination is English and they will need to demonstrate their spoken and written competence in English. A minimum score of 7.0 in the IELTS examination is our normal requirement.

Programme Content for the EdD

The programme aims to enhance the professionalism of educators through focusing on the actual notion of professionalism and on the matter of “intervening” as professionals especially in order to improve policy and/or practice. It addresses the notions of evidence-based and research-based professional practice and throughout, there is a concern to integrate theory, research and professional practice.

The programme is in two parts. Part A consists of a core curriculum relating to professional issues. This addresses personal, institutional and system features of professionalism and draws on relevant aspects of educational evaluation and research, management theory, philosophy and social theory and policy sociology. The modules are: professionalism; intervening as professionals; research methodology and methods (double module); the dissertation proposal. Part B is the dissertation itself.

Special Features
The teaching of Part A will take place on up to ten full weekends (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) over two years. The professional and the research modules will run concurrently and will stretch over much of the two years, the dissertation proposal study being undertaken in the latter part of the second year. The dissertation proposal module and the dissertation itself will be largely undertaken through individual tutorials.

Assessment
Each module in Part A is assessed by way of a 4,000 – 5,000 work assignment and at least one of these must be a paper submitted to a journal. Part B of the course is assessed by just one component; the dissertation and its oral examination. The dissertation is normally between 40,000 and 60,000 words in length.

Career Opportunities
This course is appropriate for all educators, eg school teachers, headteachers, nurse educators, police trainers, university and college lecturers, education advisors. It will be of interest especially to those who wish to address the central concerns of professionals, and not least those who desire the provision of opportunities for practical and theoretical innovation and intervention.

The Master of Research: Education and Society

This is a 1-year, full-time programme, comprising 4 taught units and a dissertation. It is a research training programme for students who wish to go on to study for a PhD and for research workers in education and the social sciences.

The course can be taken as a free-standing qualification and as a research training programme. It covers all key areas of research methods preparation, including: qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, data collection techniques, methods of analysis, developing theoretical, methodological and ‘real world’ skills for researchers.

The course structure is designed to provide a collaborative, student-centred approach that makes the best use of digital technologies to increase flexibility, collaboration and insight into the latest research and practice. Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Educational Research and Postgraduate Diploma in Social and Educational Research exit awards will also be available.

Enquiries

For further information and application details for ESRI studentships, please contact:
Barbara Ashcroft, Research Administrator
Institute of Education
Research Centre
Manchester Metropolitan University
799 Wilmslow Road
Didsbury
Manchester
M20 2RR

Tel: 0161 247 2320
Fax: 0161 247 6353
e-mail: b.ashcroft@mmu.ac.uk

For an informal discussion prior to making an application please contact:

Professor J. Schostak
Head of Research Students Programmes Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Education 799 Wilmslow Road Didsbury Manchester M20 2RR Email: j.schostak@mmu.ac.uk