This unique PhD in Education and Social Justice (by thesis and coursework) is a part-time structured PhD programme that is undertaken entirely online, over a minimum of 4 years.
It provides a well-defined and supported route to a PhD for people around the world. The programme is designed so that participants can study entirely from home and whilst in full or part-time employment.
Tutors are internationally renowned researchers/practitioners, based in one of the best Education Departments in the UK, in a University ranked in the top 200 world-wide and top 10 in the UK. The Department has an established and excellent reputation for doctoral provision. There are close links between the Education and Social Justice doctoral programme and the Department's Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education. We also offer an online MA in Educational and Social Justice which you can join from anywhere in the world.
We have designed the programme to enable issues, theories, methods and evaluations to be applied specifically to the particular concerns, contexts and priorities of the organisations and environments in which participants are working. The programme builds a mutually supportive spirit among participants who all have overlapping professional and academic interests. This means that participants benefit tremendously from studying within a cohort of doctoral researchers who act as critical friends and an informal support network during the programme, and a continued network throughout their careers.
The programme is for professionals world-wide who are working to promote social justice in or through education (in its broadest sense).
The programme will be of benefit to a wide range of people, including, but not limited to:
The programme and assignments are mainly designed for participants to focus on, and research, issues that are at the heart of their own professional practice and concerns. Non empirical library based assignments can also be undertaken.
If you have any questions, or would like further information about this programme, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator, Alice Jesmont.
The next start date is 1st October, 2025.
For admission to this programme applicants should normally have:
Preference will be given to applicants who have degrees in cognate areas (normally social science).
As this is a PhD by coursework and thesis we do not require a research proposal at this stage, but your Personal Statement (max 1,000 words) should outline your potential research interests and purposes and also explain why you wish to join this programme and how you hope to benefit from it. Please see the "What to include" tab for further information.
Applicants will need to have an acceptable fluency in written and spoken English.
For students whose first language is not English, an English Language Test Certificate will be required, that is, IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 for reading and writing.
Further information can be found at: English Language Requirements.
The next start date is 1st October, 2025.
Typical Cohort Number: 30
Initial Closing date for applications: 14th February, 2025.
Please note that any applications received prior to this date will be held for consideration during March/April 2025.
Applications received after this date will be considered on a first come-first-served basis until the Cohort is full.
We hold regular Applicant Webinars between November & February, details can be found on the Educational Research Department Events Website.
Please visit Applying for postgraduate study to apply.
As this is a PhD by coursework and thesis we do not require a research proposal at this stage, but you should explain why you wish to join the programme and how you hope to benefit from it.
Please contact the admissions team if you have any questions about applying to study at Lancaster University.
As this is a PhD by coursework and thesis we do not require a research proposal at this stage, but your Personal Statement (max 1,000 words) should outline your potential research interests and purposes and also explain why you wish to join this programme and how you hope to benefit from it.
This should contain the following:
The fee for each cohort is set annually by the University and represents the part-time fee for that academic year. Once a student is on the programme the fee will be increased in line with inflation for each subsequent year of the course.
The course fee for:
Fees are subject to a small increase each academic year.
To help finance your postgraduate study at Lancaster, you can apply for funding from charities and other funders: further details are available on the Fees and Funding webpage.
When you apply you will need to indicate your likely source of funding for your fees. If you are not self-funding you should investigate possible sources of finance as soon as you can for the full period of your study. Many students have been supported by their employing institutions.
The programme is divided into two parts and has a modular structure. All modules are compulsory. The five modules in Part One, a thesis proposal, and the final thesis are assessed.
Whilst this programme is undertaken entirely online, the Certificate produced on successful completion of the course will say "Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Social Justice", with no mention of the mode of delivery.
The staff who teach and supervise programmes and modules can vary due to staff changes including research and other types of leave. However all academics leading modules are highly-qualified specialists in their fields.
Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education, Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning
Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Centre for Gender Studies, Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Centre for Gender Studies, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education, Richardson Institute for Peace Studies
