Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education sets students up for their research thesis by providing a supportive and collaborative cohort-based learning experience. The support students give each other is a key element in this programme.

The programme has two parts:

• Research portfolio (four courses)
• Thesis

The research portfolio comprises four 30-point courses that will develop your research competency, and enable you to make the transition from practitioner to researcher. All students are expected to attend portfolio blocs (usually four Saturdays each semester) throughout the year. You will have the support of your peers and the Doctor of Education team.

The 4 courses are taken sequentially, one per semester:

• EDUCX01 EdD Research Portfolio Part I
• EDUCX02 EdD Research Portfolio Part II
• EDUCX03 EdD Research Portfolio Part III
• EDUCX04 EdD Research Portfolio Part IV

The portfolio development is designed to heighten your awareness of the broader context of education and develop critical academic and research skills. The research portfolio is integral to preparing your thesis, and satisfactory completion of the portfolio is required before starting your thesis.

Your thesis is an advanced study, based on independent research, aimed at contributing new knowledge to a relevant educational issue. You will have two supervisors for your thesis, who will have been identified during the portfolio development.

• Make an appointment with the course leader, Professor Jane Gilbert (jane.gilbert@aut.ac.nz) to discuss your proposed area of research interest.
• When applying, you will require a current CV and transcripts showing evidence of postgraduate qualifications and research capability (such as publications). This will be assessed to ascertain eligibility for entry to this doctoral programme
• Working with the course leader, you will complete a research proposal (PGR2) to submit to the doctoral board for approval
• A place on the programme is offered once board approval has been received, followed by your enrolment in the first research portfolio course

While you can apply at any time, the initial candidature process for enrolment in the programme can take up to two months. There is one cohort annually, and the closing date for the following year is the first Monday of September in the preceding year. The EdD is generally regarded as a domestic qualification, so international students are encouraged to apply for the PhD programme.

Admission to a doctoral programme

You need to complete four courses over two years (part-time) followed by a thesis component, which you should complete within two years full-time or four years part-time.

We require the following information:

• Academic transcripts
• Grading scale for postgraduate qualification
• Degree certificates (undergraduate and postgraduate)
• 1-2 page document (maximum) outlining your proposed research project (develop this after initial discussions with the course leader)
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• If English is not your first language you need to provide evidence of English language proficiency - IELTS (Academic) test results or recognised equivalent. If your postgraduate study was completed in English within three years, this may be waived
• Evidence of a minimum of two years' relevant professional experience