Doctor of Education

The period of study shall normally be as follows:

The academic standards for the EdD and the PhD are the same. Whereas a PhD study contributes to the development and expansion of discipline knowledge within the broad field of education, the focus of the EdD study is on practice, and the knowledge generated contributes to the understanding and further development of professional knowledge, the application of policy within the field of practice and the implementation of educational change.

In particular, the EdD degree offered by our Faculty (i) has a more professional focus addressing education issues within workplace contexts; and (ii) has strong articulation between coursework and research components.

EdD studies can help students develop critical awareness of the implications of policies for practice; and develop high level skills of inquiry which will be applied to individual research studies of relevance to participants' professional work.

In order to be considered eligible for admission, applicants should hold:

1. a Bachelor's degree with second class honours and a taught Master's degree (which does not necessarily have to be an MEd degree)
   
   or
    
2. a Bachelor's degree with first class honours

and demonstrate a record of at least 4 years of professional experience in an educational institution or services in the education sector or services in other relevant sectors as judged appropriate by the Faculty.

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements will be considered on their own merit.

You may apply for admission to our EdD programme and if accepted, you must withdraw from the programme at another institution and start the HKU programme afresh. Applications for exemption from certain course requirements may be made with justification and evidence of equivalent courses taken in your previous programme of study. The minimum period of study, however, remains 4 years (part-time) and 3 years (full-time).

Candidates may apply for leave of absence for non-study purpose(s) with justification. Each period of non-study leave of absence must cover a full semester or full semesters. The application, supported by the supervisor, shall be considered by the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee.

Leave of absence for non-study purposes shall not be granted cumulatively for a period of more than twelve months (i.e. 3 semesters) for the entire period of study.

Classes are normally scheduled in late afternoons or evenings during weekdays, and/or on Saturday mornings or afternoons.

In the Academic Referee's Report form, referees are expected to comment on an applicant's ability to carry out graduate work at the doctoral level and rate his or her intellectual achievement compared with other students they have taught. It is to your best advantage to have referees who are in the position to make judgment on these issues. Referee's reports written by non-academics may also be considered.

Each EdD student will be assigned a Primary Supervisor and a Co-supervisor. In addition, lectures and workshops on research methodologies; academic writing; and the use of electronic databases and research software packages will be offered. Research seminars and individual consultation are given by international scholars and in-house specialists throughout the year.

The selection results will be announced around two months after the application deadline. Successful applicants will be informed of the result by e-mail as early as possible.