PhD Programme
The PhD in Education can be taken on either a full- or part-time basis. The PhD is a research degree, the main purpose of which is to prepare a substantial piece of original research, designed to be completed within three years of study (or five years part-time). Students wishing to apply for the part-time PhD should live within four hours travelling time of Cambridge. Those living at a greater distance than this are unlikely to be admitted to the part-time programme.
The PhD course is taught principally by individual supervision. Apart from the educational research training in the first year (two years for part-time students) it has no specific course requirements, although instruction in specialist disciplines and appropriate training is offered (in addition to the various Graduate Training opportunities in which students in all three years are encouraged to participate). The final award of the degree is decided solely on the results of the candidate's research presented in the PhD dissertation and on the candidate's performance in the oral examination.