Location
St Luke’s Campus, Exeter
An MPhil/PhD from the University of Exeter will enable you to gain an in-depth grounding in educational research methods through ESRC recognised training. You will benefit from holistic support including content and methodologies relevant to your research, as well as the opportunity for a personal mentor. Research students in the School are integrated into the research culture and welcome to participate in the School’s annual staff-student conference, external conferences and the School’s research seminar series.
The School embraces a considerable variety of research activity, from large-scale externally funded programmes to small-scale collaborations with local teachers. Many of these involve links with leading researchers worldwide.
Because of our size and the fact that we are not wedded to any one research paradigm, the School can offer research supervision in many areas of educational research. The School is one of only 31 educational research training outlets recognised by the ESRC and one of only 18 to receive ESRC studentship quota awards. We are also the only recognised outlet for four-year PhD (full- and part-time), distance learning and CASE research training.
There are three routes to a PhD available within the School:
Four-Year PhD
This is the recommended route for students with little research experience. You can apply directly for the Four-Year PhD which includes as its first year the MSc in Educational Research . The MSc provides research training required for carrying out research in the PhD phase of the programme. Following successful completion of the MSc, you will concentrate on your personal research as guided by your supervisors.
MPhil/PhD
With this route, you register for an MPhil and undertake the generic research training (currently four MSc research training modules) in the first year. During this time you will work with supervisors on a personal research programme and submit a conversion paper (research plan) which, if successful, allows you to transfer from the MPhil to a PhD. This normally takes place within your second year of full-time study, resulting, after a total period of three to four years, in the production of a thesis.
PhD direct entry
The PhD direct entry route is only available for students who have already completed our MSc in Educational Research or a similar programme and may apply to register directly onto the three-year PhD.
