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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.

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

Domestic students.

2024 annual fee estimate: $7,627 per 120 points 2025 annual fee estimate: $8,085 per 120 points

(Not available to international students)

Additional costs

Students pay a  Student Services Levy (SSL)  at a rate of $9.17 per point in 2024 ($1,100.40 for 120 points) and $9.72 per point in 2025 ($1,166.40 for 120 points). 

International students must have insurance while studying at UC. Studentsafe insurance is $810 in 2024 and $855 in 2025 (per year of study).

Domestic tuition fees

International tuition fees

Student Services Levy (SSL)

Insurance for international students

Funding your study

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

Whakatairanga tāura, international prospectus 2024/2025, domestic students.

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Doctoral study in Education

Why study with us.

• The University of Auckland is ranked first in New Zealand for the subject of Education and is the only New Zealand university to feature in the world's top 50 universities for Education. 1
• We are the top university in New Zealand for graduate employability, which means we are the leading provider of employable, high-quality graduates in New Zealand. 2
• The majority of our research is undertaken in partnership with practice communities.
• Doctoral candidates receive annual Postgraduate Research Student Support (PReSS) funding for research expenses.

1 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject. 2 2023 QS World University Rankings.

Research opportunities

When you join us for your doctoral study in Education, you will be able to help improve the educational and social wellbeing of communities. Our research harnesses the vast potential that diversity brings to address education and social justice issues – nationally, regionally and globally.

Faculty researchers explore educational and social science research from a wide range of perspectives, many of which are aligned to the central theme of superdiversity and the following key sub-themes:

• Leading learning
• Advancing equity for all sectors of society
• Enhancing indigenous opportunities
• Promoting lifelong wellbeing
• Supporting intercultural inclusiveness
• Pasifika research

We welcome research proposals on a wide range of topics, some of which contribute to projects being undertaken in our research centres/units and schools:

• The development of education and schooling success for diverse communities ( Woolf Fisher Research Centre )
• Educational leadership
• Māori and indigenous language revitalisation ( Te Puna Wānanga School of Māori and Indigenous Education )
• Pasifika education
• Enabling staff and postgraduate students to succeed in their academic careers (Centre for Learning and Research in Higher Education)
• Promoting leadership, equity, achievement and diversity in early literacy (The Marie Clay Research Centre)
• Increasing research and evaluation capacity through targeted support and networking in collaboration with the social services sector ( Centre for Community Research and Evaluation )
• Health, education and welfare ( Centre for Child and Family Research )
• Applied theatre with an international focus ( Critical Research Unit in Applied Theatre )
• Knowledge in education ( Knowledge and Education Research Unit )
• Parenting and family intervention aimed at preventing behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents ( Parenting Research Group )
• Critical studies in Health Education, Physical Education, and Sports Studies ( The Richard Tinning Research Unit )
• Higher education ( Higher Education Research Network )
• Statistical data analysis in research ( Quant-DARE - Quantitative Data Analysis and Research )

Find out more about out available supervisors and research projects you could join by clicking the link below.

Past and current research topics

• "Being the change: Disabled medical students navigating stigma through action" | Supervised by Professor Janet Gaffney and Associate Professor Jay Marlowe
• "Disruptive and decolonising? Subordinate youth practices in health education" | Supervised by Dr Katie Fitzpatrick and Dr Darren Powell
• "Collective leadership in the context of infant-toddler education and care" | Supervised by Dr Deidre Le Fevre and Professor Helen Hedges
• "Refining and enriching children’s working theories: A trialogical approach" | Supervised by Dr Rena Heap and Professor Helen Hedges
• "An exploration of attitudes towards success and their relation to subjective well-being among Korean high school and university students in New Zealand and the Republic of Korea" | Supervised by Professor Gavin Brown and Associate Professor Jason Stephens

Scholarships and awards

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships

James Bertram Scholarships for Asia

The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust Dame Dorothy Winstone Doctoral Completion Award - The University of Auckland

The Kate Edger Educational Charitable Trust First Year Doctoral Award - The University of Auckland

Marie Clay Literacy Trust Research Award - The University of Auckland

If you have any questions or queries, contact us using the details below.

Email: education@auckland.ac.nz

Phone: (09) 623 8883 (within Auckland)             0800 61 62 63 (outside Auckland)             +64 9 373 7513 (overseas)

Apply for doctoral study

Doctoral programmes.

• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Philosophy

Related subjects

• Early Childhood Education
• Educational Leadership
• Health Education
• Literacy Education
• Māori-medium Education
• Mathematics Education

Related links

• Doctoral applications
• Student support
• Find a scholarship

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 the Doctor of Education?

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

$9,094 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 13 September 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 .

$40,950 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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