EdD National (Wales) Doctor of Education

What you will study

In your first year, you will build on your master’s-level study and professional experience to prepare for doctoral research.

Through a compulsory taught module, online learning, a residential summer school and participation in a Community of Practice, you will develop your research ideas alongside fellow education professionals.

You will benefit from expertise across the partner universities and opportunities to discuss and refine your thinking within a supportive national cohort. This phase provides the foundations for progressing to your supervised research and doctoral thesis.

Modules

Planning for doctoral study and thesis preparation (Core): You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to design your doctoral research and prepare for your EdD thesis. You will critically explore educational research, engage with theoretical debates and consider how different methodologies can inform your proposed study. Through guided learning and discussion, you will refine your research focus, review relevant literature and develop a conceptual framework. You will examine ethical responsibilities, your position as a researcher and practical decisions about collecting, analysing and presenting data. Attention to sampling, bias and the quality of evidence will help you strengthen your research design. You will also develop your doctoral writing and bring these elements together in a coherent plan for your thesis.

Entry requirements & applying

You should hold the National MA Education (Wales) or an equivalent UK-recognised master’s degree with a clear educational focus, comprising 180 credits, including 120 taught credits at Level 7.

How to apply

Applications need to be made directly through the national website or you can complete the form from this page.

Visit the National EdD (Wales) website for application guidance and deadlines, funding eligibility, programme structure and frequently asked questions.

Please note: National applications for the January 2027 intake have now closed, and the form will reopen in Summer 2027 for the January 2028 intake. 

In addition to the direct application form, applicants for this programme are required to apply for enrolment purposes via our university apply link.

You may need to complete the Recognition of Prior Learning Application Form if claiming RPL with your application. This completed form should be emailed to admissions@wrexham.ac.uk on completion.

You can view Fees and Funding to check if you are eligible for any Welsh government funding.

Due to the complexity of the application and funding application process for the National EdD (Wales) Doctor of Education, we will communicate whether your application has been successful as soon as possible, but at this point we are not able to provide a detailed timeframe for response. If you have any questions about the status of your application at any time, do please contact us at enquiries@wrexham.ac.uk.

Teaching & Assessment

Assessment is designed to support the development of your doctoral research. During the taught phase, you will complete assessed work demonstrating your understanding of research design, methodology and the practical requirements of your proposed study. You will receive formative feedback from your supervisory team to help you refine your work before submission. The compulsory 60-credit module is assessed on a pass/fail basis and must be passed.

During the research phase, you will produce a doctoral thesis based on original research relevant to your educational or professional context. Your thesis will be examined by a panel of examiners, and you will discuss and defend your research in an oral examination, known as a viva voce.

Career prospects

Our dedicated Careers and Employability team is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals. They provide personalised advice, useful resources, and extracurricular employability events to prepare you for the job market.

Graduates of this course can pursue careers in: 

• Senior education leader
• Education policy adviser 
• School improvement adviser
• Educational consultant
• University lecturer in education

Fees & funding

Welsh Government funding is available to a limited number of candidates.

Learn more about eligibility