Overview

While the participants on the Further, Higher and Adult Education at University of Northampton will be skilled professionals on entry to the programme, experience over the three or four-year period will prepare you to further advance in your professional and academic careers in the areas of research and offer an excellent opportunity to move into higher management and research positions within Education and engagement across a range of disciplines. The researcher will receive the highest degree that any UK university may grant upon successfully defending the final thesis. Discover more information about the Centre for Education and Research.

Highlights

You study within a cohort of fellow researchers who act as critical friends and an informal support network during the programme and, if you wish, a continued network throughout your career
When you come to campus you can participate in person in our programme of research events
Make an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area/s
Design research projects, and collect and analyse appropriate data
Membership to the Centre for Education and Research and to its Special Interest Groups

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The Further, Higher and Adult Education PhD programme is to provide an opportunity for higher education professionals to become autonomous researchers and to a gain deeper and more critical insight into their own and others’ professional practices and concerns.
The programme supports research students to develop research capacities to the highest level. It fosters research on professional practice in support of transformative learning, critical thinking, and education.
The course is structured and supervised in a way that allows research students to position their research in education research and academic fields, and to develop their doctoral research project incrementally. 
As a member of the Centre for Education and Research you will also benefit from extensive experience in supporting doctoral research through individual and group supervision, where peer learning and support is also a central element.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months
Part-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-03-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-11 00:00:00
Starting 2027-10-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-08-01 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

7

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Northampton, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Adult Education

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

7

IELTS & PTE Test Preparation

E2 Language Test Prep

Trusted by 7M+ Students

Start Studying Today

Admission to your dream university starts with a high IELTS or PTE score. Earn your target score with E2's guided test preparation.

Study on your own schedule
Live classes with current and ex-examiners
Accurate score assesment, always
E2 Score Guarantee - Get your score or your money back!

Other requirements

General requirements

For admission to this PhD applicants should have:
successfully completed a Masters programme in adult, community or higher education or an equivalent programme at level 8, or
qualifications of a comparable standard from a university or recognised degree awarding body in another country, or
students with related experience but lower-level degrees or degrees in a different field will also be given consideration on an individual basis.
The selection procedure will include an interview with every qualified applicant.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

16850 GBP / year

≈ 16850 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

5850 GBP / year

≈ 5850 GBP / year

Additional Details

PhD

UK Part Time: £2,900
International: Part Time: £7,850

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by published works

UK Part Time: £3,700
International: Part Time: £8,100

Living costs

Northampton

United Kingdom

796 - 1510 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.