Doctor of Education

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Admission Requirements

3. Course Aims

4. Learning Outcomes

5. Program of study

6. Progression

7. Exit award

8. Thesis

9. Assessment

These rules apply to the degree of Doctor of Education (EdD), which is a higher degree byresearch.

1.  Introduction

1.1 The Doctor of Education is a professional doctorate comprising:

i. 27 units of advanced coursework topics (one-quarter of the course), and

ii. 36 units of research-related coursework topics, plus a time-based, supervised research project culminating in a thesis (three-quarters of the course).

1.2. The course enables its students to make a significant, original contribution to knowledge in education policy, management and practice, and provides its graduates with:

i. an advanced understanding of the politics and ethics of education policy, research and management, and

ii. the ability to integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress education policy, management and practice.

1.3 The course equips its graduates to undertake a variety of advanced professional roles in education.

2.  Admission Requirements

2.1 An applicant must:

i. have at least one of the following Australian qualifications, or the equivalent qualification, as approved by the Dean (Research):

• a Bachelors degree with Honours class 1 or 2A
• a coursework or research Masters degree, completed within the last 10 years, with an average grade of Distinction or better
• a Bachelors degree or a Masters degree by coursework plus a peer reviewed publication(s) as first author or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant.

ii. have at least five years’ relevant work experience in education or an education-related area, demonstrating seniority and expertise in their employment context (e.g. state and national education departments or education-related human service organisations)

iii. meet the English language requirements specified by the University

iv. demonstrate commitment, innovation, and excellence in practice in their field, and

v. satisfy the University that they are reasonably likely to be able to successfully complete the requirements of the award within the maximum duration.

2.2 To enable the University to assess whether applicants meet the admission criteria listed above, applicants must submit an application in the specified format.

2.3 Exceptions to 2.1 can be approved in accordance with the Higher Degrees by Research Policy. 

3. Course Aims

The Doctor of Education provides candidates with advanced and specialist studies enabling them to develop advanced skills and knowledge to undertake a variety of advanced professional roles in education. It is expected that graduates of this award will be able to integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress education policy, management and practice.

The course also enables candidates to make an original, sustained contribution to knowledge in education policy, management and practice through a major research dissertation and to develop an advanced understanding of politics and ethics of education policy, research and management.

4. Learning Outcomes

• Develop, integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress education policy, management and practice
• Utilise knowledge gained of research principles and methods in order to plan, execute, and communicate a research study and its results
• Undertake research that makes an original, sustained contribution to knowledge in education policy, management and practice
• Develop an advanced understanding of, and contribute to, the politics and ethics of education policy, research, leadership and management.

5.  Program of study

5.1 For a student to qualify for the degree of Doctor of Education, the student must:

i. pass the following topics:

Year 1

EDUC9971 Key Issues in Education (9 units) - Advanced coursework 
EDUC9972 Preparation for Research (9 units) - Research 
EDUC9973 Critical Scholarship and Research Design (9 units) – Research 
PLUS one of either* 
EDUC9974 Researching the Profession (9 units) - Research 
EDUC9975 Research Project (9 units) – Research 

Year 2 Semester 1

EDUC9976 Educational Futures (9 units) - Advanced coursework

Year 2  Semester 2 

EDUC9977 Research Transfer: From Scholarship to the Profession (9 units) - Advanced coursework 
EDUC9978 Research Practice and Analysis (9 units) - Research, and

ii. Year 2, Semester 1 and Year 3

receive a determination that the degree be awarded following thesis examination (EDUC9979A).

*You should only select EDUC9975 when exiting with the Master of Education by Research.

5.2 For the time-based research project, the student will undertake a supervised research project, culminating in submission of a thesis.

6. Progression

6.1 Students must gain at least a Credit grade in EDUC9973 Critical Scholarship and Research Design and successfully complete a Confirmation of Candidature Milestone to proceed to EDUC9974 in semester 2 of Year 1 and the time-based research project in Year 2.

6.2 For topics, the award of a grade of Fail (F):

i. in the same topic more than once, or

ii. in more than one topic may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress and will be dealt with under the Review of Student Progress Policy.  

6.3 Progression in the time-based research project is governed by the Higher Degrees by Research Policy.

7. Exit award

7.1 Students who have successfully completed EDUC9971/2/3 in year 1 of the award (27 units) and who:

i. do not wish to continue in the professional doctorate, or 

ii. are not permitted to continue under Rule 4.1 may choose to exit with the Master of Education (Research) by completing (EDUC9975).

8. Thesis

8.1 The thesis submitted as an outcome of the time-based, supervised research project must meet all requirements for presentation and lodgement specified in the Higher Degrees by Research Policy and must not contain:

i. material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma, or

ii. any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis or in the notes.

9. Assessment

9.1 Assessment of coursework topics will be in accordance with the Statement of Assessment Methods for each individual topic.

9.2 The thesis examination will assess whether the student has demonstrated the following attributes:

i. a significant original contribution to knowledge in education policy, management and practice

ii. ability to conduct an original investigation or testing of ideas

iii. competence in independent research or experimentation

iv. a thorough understanding of the appropriate techniques in the field demonstrated both by their application and a thorough review of the literature

v. critical use of source material, experimental results (where appropriate) and published works

vi. appreciation of the relationship of the special theme of their research to the wider field of knowledge or area of professional practice

vii. the capacity to present well-written work, and

viii. a high degree of independence of thought and approach.

9.3 A significant original contribution to knowledge means uncovering new knowledge by:

i. the discovery of new facts

ii. the formulation of theories, or

iii. the innovative re-interpretation of known data and established ideas.