Education Research Programmes

Summary

The research strategy of the School of Education focusses on Education in Society.  In the recent REF 2021, Education at Ulster was ranked joint first in the UK for research impact and the majority of our research outputs are ranked as world-leading and internationally excellent.

Mission:

To undertake quality research in education that contributes to, and has an impact on, scholarly knowledge, professional practice, and society, at local, national, and international levels.

Aims:

To facilitate social change and improve educational practice in a range of contexts and settings.

The PhD programme is an important part of the overall research environment within the School and we welcome applications to the PhD programme from interested individuals. Successful applicants will be joining a rich and vibrant unit that places a great emphasis on collaborative work and the sharing and development of ideas through regular research seminars, conferences and other events. They will particularly benefit from being able to learn from and share ideas with a range of other research students and academics working in related areas. In the application, applicants will be expected to illustrate clearly how they intend to interpret their chosen topic in terms of a clear set of aims and objectives and an appropriate research methodology.

About

Our research expertise is around the following six themes:

• Impact of Digital Learning in Education
• Multicultural and Language Education
• Education in Conflict and Crisis
• Improving Information, educational and social mobility
• Children, Young People and Adults: Educating for Inclusion
• Teacher Education and School leadership

We welcome interdisciplinary research proposals and may appoint supervisors from outside the Education unit of assessment. Applicants are encouraged to contact potential supervisors in good time to discuss draft research proposals. Allocation of supervisors will be made during the selection process.

A clear research proposal should be about 2000-3000 words and should have the following headings:

1) A tentative title

2) Research question(s) and any related hypotheses

3) Literature review/survey of existing scholarship

4) Methodology

5) Contribution of the conclusions

6) Assessment of feasibility

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study. We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Get additional information for International applicants

English language requirements

In order to be admitted to research study at Ulster, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of your application.

Get full details on the requirements for both home and overseas applicants can be found on our English language requirements page.

Careers and opportunities

PhD graduates are recognised by employers to hold valuable transferrable skills, as the nature of the degree trains candidates in creativity, critical inquiry, problem solving, negotiation skills, professionalism and confidence.

The most recent Ulster survey of PhD graduates found that 92% had secured employment within the first year since graduation (HESA Destination of Leavers Survey 2015), and while two thirds end up in the Higher Education or Research sectors, the range of skills acquired equips the remainder for employment in a wide range of contexts.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Details of tuition fees can be found under the fees schedule for the academic year of entry.

To work out for which fees you would be eligible and to find out more information about potential sources of funding, please view the Fees and Funding pages on the Doctoral College website.

Apply

We are delighted that you are considering Ulster University for your research studies.

Get full details on the application process and further guidance on how to apply, and what you will need to upload as part of your application.

Once you have identified supervisors, discussed a research proposal and are ready to make an application, please apply using the online application system.

Ulster University welcomes applications from all sections of the community and from persons with disabilities. It is University policy to assess all applications using academic criteria and on the basis of equality of opportunity and you should be assured that reasonable adjustments will be made should you require them.