doctor of education nz

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Doctor of Education

UC's Doctor of Education (EdD) is a specialised doctorate for professionals in education and related fields. Built on a cohort model of inquiry, it provides a structured, supportive, rigorous approach to doctoral study. Learn more about studying an EdD through Te Kura Tāura | UC Graduate School.

TUITION FEES

2024 tuition fees estimate per 120 points:

• Domestic — $7,627
• International — Not available to international students

Introduction

The Doctor of Education is a specialised doctorate designed for professionals in education and related fields. Built on a cohort model of inquiry, the Doctor of Education provides a structured, supportive, rigorous approach to doctoral study.

The Doctor of Education builds leadership and commitment, fosters scholarly excellence, and allows candidates to connect educational research with questions of professional practice.

What will my study involve? keyboard_arrow_down

Why study a edd at uc.

Doctor of Education graduates will:

• Meet high international standards in the quality of their scholarly work
• Adopt an investigative, probing, open-minded, reflective, dialogical stance in addressing scholarly and professional problems
• Draw on insights from their studies in seeking to make a worthwhile difference in the lives of others
• Be able to link, in a coherent and rigorous manner, theory and research to questions of professional practice
• Be adept at presenting their work in conferences and seminars, and in publishing their findings
• Value the process of peer review in advancing scholarly and professional understanding
• Be willing and able to demonstrate leadership in their domains of professional endeavour
• Have a strong sense of global awareness and participate actively in wider scholarly and professional communities.

Entry requirements keyboard_arrow_down

Entry requirements.

Every student, before enrolling for the degree, must be approved by the Amo Rangahau | Dean of Postgraduate Research (or delegate) as having adequate qualifications, experience, and ability to pursue the proposed course.

You must have either:

• an Aotearoa New Zealand bachelor’s degree with First or Second Class Honours; or
• a master’s degree with Distinction or Merit; or
• an approved qualification of equivalent standing.

You will normally need to have a minimum of five years’ experience in a relevant professional role. Most students usually continue to work in a relevant professional role while completing Part I of the degree.

In special circumstances, the Amo Rangahau | Dean of Postgraduate Research may approve the enrolment of a graduate who does not hold one of the qualifications above, but who has produced satisfactory evidence of adequate research experience, training, and ability to pursue the degree.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements .

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Doctor of Education or use the admission requirements checker .

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply for Doctoral degrees .

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

Fees keyboard_arrow_down

2024 tuition fees estimate (per 120 points):

2023 tuition fees estimate (per 120 points):

• Domestic — $7,419

SSL estimate (per 120 points):

• 2024 — $1,100.40
• 2023 — $992.40

Domestic tuition fees

International tuition fees

Student Services Levy (SSL)

Funding your study

Planning my degree

Degree structure keyboard_arrow_down, how do i plan my degree.

The EdD contains two parts:

• Part I – a research portfolio (120 points)
• Part II – a thesis (240 points)

This qualification tends to take between 4–5 years to complete, as a mixture of part and full-time study (or part-time only for up to 6 years). Part I can only be completed part-time over 2 years.

EdD students start as a group on 1 March.

For full requirements, see the Regulations for the Doctor of Education .

Postgraduate Prospectus 2024

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Doctor of Education

Designed specifically for educational professionals, this qualification is a supervised professional research degree designed to provide you with high quality, advanced research skills to extend your leadership credentials and abilities in education.

360 points, 3 years

• School of Education

School of Graduate Research

Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)

Why study a EdD?

The Doctor of Education (EdD) will extend your academic knowledge and expertise so that it can be applied in the wide range of settings in which educators work. This programme is specifically designed for professional educators who have at least three years of experience as an educator and who have a desire to further their knowledge and skills in their educational practice and gain a doctorate.

Globally, this qualification has the same status as the PhD and is a benchmark in terms of researching education policy and practice. The EdD programme brings together professionals from a range of education contexts and backgrounds. This diversity adds richness to the learning experience and enhances your ability to engage in robust and innovative research.

Most educators study for the EdD part-time over 6-8 years whilst continuing their educational practice, but full-time study over 3-4 years is possible.

The EdD has two parts, a series of taught papers followed by supervised research. Part 1 comprises four taught papers, within which you can explore your specific study interest. These include choosing 2 out of 3 optional papers listed below (choice may be limited to when the papers are offered):

• EDUCA981 Advanced Education Inquiry: Pedagogies and Practices for Social Justice
• EDUCA982 Advanced Education Inquiry: Leading Educational Transformation
• EDUCA983 Advanced Education Inquiry: Policy, Context, Discourse

You will also need to complete the two compulsory papers listed below:

• EDUCA980 Advanced Education Inquiry: Research Paradigms and Theories
• EDUCA990 Advanced Education Inquiry: Research Design

You need to obtain an average grade of at least B+ across your first three papers and pass Research Design (EDUCA990) to qualify for Part 2.

Part 2 is supervised, independent research into an aspect of your educational practice, and builds on your learning in Part 1. It culminates in writing a thesis about your research.

If you are not sure about whether a full Doctor of Education is for you, or you are unsure about a research focus for your EdD, you can still get started with Advanced Education Studies through three other Advanced Education Studies pathways; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Postgraduate Certificate of Education and Individual Paper Credit, outlined below.

Postgraduate Diploma in Education or Postgraduate Certificate of Education

A set of four taught papers that are selected from those available for Part 1 of the EdD above, with the exception of EDUCAT990, which is specific to the EdD.

This  Postgraduate Diploma in Education qualification allows you to get started on your papers whilst considering or searching for supervision. Once supervision has been secured you will be eligible to apply to transfer to the EdD, gaining credit for any of these papers that you have passed.

Or you may not wish to complete the whole Doctor of Education and instead take four Advanced Education Studies papers to get a qualification. This requires you to successfully pass four of these papers, normally within two years of part-time study.

A further alternative pathway is to successfully pass two of the Advanced Education Studies paper and take out a  Postgraduate Certificate of Education, normally within one year of part-time study.

Individual Paper Credit

A single paper selected from available for Part 1 of the EdD, with the exception of EDUCA990, which is specific to the EdD.

This credit allows you to test the waters in doctoral study. The paper is completed within one trimester of study. If you study goes well and you wish to continue, you can then transfer this credit to the Postgraduate Certificate (two papers required), Postgraduate Diploma (four papers required) or full EdD (subject to supervision availability) depending on how much further you wish to go.

Flexibility and Planning

These pathways offer flexibility of study programmes to suit your circumstances. You may also be able to pause your study between papers when required. For further information or to discuss a study plan, please contact the EdD Coordinator, Chris Eames ( [email protected] ), or the EdD Administrator, Jinah Lee ( [email protected] ).

Graduate outcomes

As a graduate of the EdD you will be able to contribute to the national and international scholarship of your chosen field as an experienced and competent professional practitioner. You will have developed an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the theoretical bases of empirical studies and professional practices in the relevant field of study to a level beyond that normally attained in master's programmes. You will apply knowledge and understanding gained in professional settings with the objective of enhancing the quality of teaching, learning and leadership and the well-being of colleagues and students.

You will have produced advanced, original, applied research and will be able to provide leadership at national and international levels in your field of practice. You will confidently present and defend your work in an appropriate academic and professional forum.

Degree information

To gain entry to the EdD, you need to:

1. have qualified for the award of a recognised teaching or allied professional qualification and must produce evidence of at least three years of competent service as an education practitioner, and

2. have qualified for the award of a New Zealand Bachelor's degree with Honours or Master's degree in a field relevant to the proposed research with at least Second Class Honours (First Division) or Distinction, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or

3. equivalent to these requirements (see the regulations below for more details.

You will be required to secure agreement from two eligible supervisors, one at least of whom is a continuing staff member of the University and the chief supervisor (normally this person would be in the Division of Education). You may have relationships with University staff which you can explore for possible supervision. If not, you can access staff interests and contact details in the  staff profiles here . You can also contact the EdD Coordinator, Chris Eames,  [email protected] , for advice.

One or both of these supervisors may be secured by you prior to enrolment, or during your Part 1 studies, but must be secured before enrolment in the final Part 1 paper, EDUCA990. The Division of Education will support you to secure appropriate and available supervision.

EdD Regulations

Higher Research Degree Application Process

Estimated fees

$8,579 per year

Domestic tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

Scholarships

Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.

Relevant as of 20 February 2024.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees-free study .

$39,000 per year

International tuition fees

Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.

All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. 

Scholarships and prizes

Visit our  Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships.

PhD research opportunities

Browse our available PhD or Doctoral opportunities , our research areas and potential supervisors.

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Doctor of Education 2024

Cultivating Social Transformation

The Doctor of Education (EdD) is a professional doctorate designed to be taken part-time to prepare the next generation of practitioner experts and leaders in education. Developed with working professionals in mind, this programme provides a flexible and convenient approach to further study.

This year’s exciting EdD programme theme, Cultivating Social Transformation , allows for a broad range of innovative research topics, enabling you to generate new knowledge and advance educational practice and policy in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

View the full programme overview here.

You will develop culturally sustaining conceptual and methodological tools, have training in advanced academic writing, and carry out work on your own research in a cohort.

The EdD provides a cohort approach to learning how to conduct applied research aimed at social transformation. During the first two years of part-time coursework, you will delve into an area of passion to create a research proposal that builds on what is known about your topic and proposes methods to undertake a study aimed at addressing systemic inequities in our schools, communities, and institutions.

• A world-class doctorate designed for working professionals in educational contexts
• Prepares candidates to better understand key concepts of social transformation
• Provides opportunities for candidates to reflect on social institutions and their impact
• Enables preparation for research projects and opportunities to develop advanced academic writing

Key features

• Undertake research that addresses issues related to social transformation
• Balance full-time work with part-time study
• Collaborate with knowledgeable experts who can help you create, refine, and complete an investigation that makes a significant contribution
• Work within a well-structured, supportive learning environment with access to peers and a scholarly community.

EdD Bursary Opportunity

A one-time doctoral fees-only bursary is available for an outstanding applicant for the Doctoral of Education (EdD) degree. The successful applicant will undertake an EdD with a supervision team from education and public policy.

Learn more here .

Any queries?

Contact Dr Jo Smith, Programme Director, for a private conversation about the benefits and opportunities of participating in the programme. Email:  smith.joanna@auckland.ac.nz

Related Links

• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctoral policies and guidelines

Meet our EdD students

• Mirko Wojnowski - Doctor of Education
• Mary Pottinger - Doctor of Education
• Riripeti Haretuku – Doctor of Education

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The University of Otago College of Education Doctor of Education (EdD) is a research degree designed for senior educational professionals.

The Doctor of Education provides the opportunity to:

• Engage in higher professional development
• Become a knowledgeable and critically reflective practitioner
• Acquire the knowledge and skills through coursework and supervised thesis research to conduct independent and high quality research in their workplace
• Contribute original knowledge to improving their profession

As an alternative doctoral-level degree to the PhD, the EdD is designed with an explicitly professional orientation. This programme graduates researching and scholarly professionals, rather than professional researchers, as is the expected outcome of the PhD programme.

Who Should Do an EdD?

You should be doing it if you are:

• A professional in education or related fields.
• Keen to acquire advanced research skills to study your own practice, investigate issues or problems that arise from the workplace, or to improve institutional practice.

What is the Programme of Study?

In the first year of the programme (July–June), you will complete a taught paper (EDDC 911).

Research Proposal

In the second year you will complete a research proposal and present it at a Confirmation Seminar.

Thesis Research

Thesis research will begin after confirmation of the thesis proposal. The thesis should be between 50,000 and 60,000 words in length.

Research to Practice Portfolio

As part of your thesis research you will submit a research to practice portfolio consisting of evidence documenting the connection between your research and professional practice and how the research has informed and enhanced your practice. The portfolio should be between 10,000 and 15,000 words in length.

The coursework will normally comprise part-time study while you complete EDDC 911 for a 12-month period, followed by 5–7 years of part-time study, or equivalent in full-time study. You should complete the whole programme in between six and eight years of part-time study, or equivalent in full-time study.

Entry Requirements

You should have:

• A Bachelor's degree in education or related fields, with first or upper second class Honours or equivalent; or
• A Bachelor's degree with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (with distinction or credit) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (with distinction or credit); or
• A Master's degree in education or related fields.

You are also required to show evidence of knowledge of research methods, and independent research experience. You should also have at least five years of professional experience in education or related fields.

What are the Delivery Methods?

• Primarily delivered as a distance programme.
• One-week compulsory residential school at the beginning of each year (early in July) for the first two years of study.
• Online seminars and workshops.
• Cohort-based, collaborative learning in a community of practice.
• Coursework taught by a team of senior academics and professionals.
• Theses supervised by leading researchers, facilitated by face-to-face meetings and/or advanced communication technologies.

Further information and application

Read more about the Doctor of Education and the postgraduate admission process . To apply, please use the yellow "apply now" button.

Applications open on 30 June and close 31 March annually. Please note that since this is a cohort-based programme, all applications are assessed together as a group, so you will not be informed of the outcome of your application until after applications close.

If you would like to talk to someone about the EdD, please contact [email protected]

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.