The Doctor of Education (“EdD”) is a 120 ECTS credits (240 UK credits) programme designed to lead to a doctoral award by Brittany Université and VERN University
Awards to be conferred:
Doctor of Education (EdD) from Brittany University
Doctor of Education (EdD) from VERN University
Aims
The Doctor of Education programme is practitioner-oriented and designed to be of functional significance to the practice of education management. The EdD will be managed and promoted by Brittany Université
The Doctor of Education programme equips senior education practitioners and high-potential individuals with both knowledge as well as the applied and research skills needed to become executive-level organisational leaders, industry innovators, consultants and policymakers. Students ethically address complex and practical education related challenges and learn how to transform education management practices to create organisational relevance, advancement, growth and sustainability
This holistic programme aligns applied scholarly research with professional practices and provides the opportunity to theoretically learn and reflect on activities and practices to be applied in a professional context.
Programme Learning Outcomes
On completion of this programme, students will be able to demonstrate the:
- Knowledge and skills to apply educational organisational theories, management skills, leadership strategies, and data research to transform organisations.
- Use self-evaluation, reflection, feedback and developments in theories and evidence-based practices to improve their ethical business practice in a variety of contexts.
- Communicate key education issues effectively and creatively using numerical, graphical, oral and written skills.
- Ability to select, interpret, and apply theories, models and research to address a variety of compelling and complex issues in education.
- Demonstrate proficiency in applying a systematic, vigorous research methodologies, design and process when undertaking an original research and presenting the thesis in a scholarly manner.
Assessments
Assessment instruments will mainly be in the form of either management reports or proposals with a word count of between 4,000 – 4,500 words for the taught modules.
The Thesis will have a word count of between a minimum of:
- 20,000 to a maximum of 30,000 words for the Route 1 – Mixed Mode and;
- 40,000 to 45,000 words for the Route 2 – Research Mode.
Entry Requirements
- A Master’s degree in the relevant field; or
- Other qualifications recognised by Brittany Université as equivalent to a Master’s degree; and
- Demonstrate English language proficiency in order to participate in the programme taught in English.
- Proficiency of English shall include either a recognised English proficiency testing score of IELTS overall band of 6.0 or equivalent. Those having undertaken either an undergraduate, postgraduate or professional qualification taught and assessed in English will also be accepted as having met the English proficiency.
Advanced Standing/ Exemptions/ Credits Transfer (APL)
Consideration for the above for students admitted onto the programme may be considered either at the beginning of a programme or beyond the beginning of a programme, through an assessment of that student’s prior learning (whether certificated or un-certificated). The process for making such a decision – known as the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)- is a matter of academic judgment exercised by the appointed panel considering applications and approvals of APL.
APL for the taught modules, including the Research Methodology module, can either be based on Accreditation of Certificated Learning (APCL) or Accreditation of Experiential Learning (APEL).
Where cohorts of students are to be admitted with advanced standing on a regular basis, the arrangement should be subject to an Academic Progression Agreement.
Programme Structure
The EdD has a total of 120 ECTS credits and there are two routes to an EdD degree.
Route 1: Mixed Mode
The Mixed Mode comprises of 5 taught modules at 10 ECTS credits each and a Thesis at 70 ECTS credits as follows:
- Understanding Learning and Learners
- Creating A Conducive Learning Environment
- Managing and Leading Digital Education
- Leadership and Organisation Transformation
- Education Research and Methodology
- Thesis (20,000 – 30,000 words)
There is a mandatory oral defence of the Thesis
Route 2 – Research Mode
This is a more extensive ‘Thesis only’ route comprising:
Thesis preparation and Thesis Proposal of 4,500 – 5,000 words (25% of the marks)
Final Thesis of 40,000 – 45,000 words (75% of the marks)
Stage 1 – Thesis Preparation
Students must undertake a Research Methodology module prior to commencing their thesis research or be exempted from it should students have already undertaken a similar or equivalent Research Methodology module prior to enrolling on to the programme.
Following the Research Methodology module, students have up to three months to submit a Thesis Proposal for grading and approval before progressing to Stage 2.
A supervisor will be assigned to a student who, under the guidance of the supervisor, shall continue to work towards completing the Final Thesis.
Stage 1- Should be completed in 4 months.
Stage 2– Thesis Proposal Approval, Research and Documentation
Stage 2 Commences once the Thesis Proposal has been approved and graded and should be completed within 12-20 months.
Stage 3 – Oral Defence of Thesis
Once the supervisor has vetted the Thesis submitted by the student, the student must contact the Thesis Oral Defence Committee to arrange for the oral defence.
Mode of Delivery
* The Mode of Delivery is either fully online or blended learning, where some face-to-face classes are conducted at BU centres outside France.
Blended Delivery Mode
| Self-Instructional Learning Material |
Face-to-Face Tutorials |
Online Discussions |
| Students are given a complete set of learning materials to facilitate independent study, which can be downloaded from the designated Learning Portal. |
Face-to-Face classes are conducted at a learning centre for 12 hours per module. |
Learners are encouraged to participate in online discussions with other learners and their tutors for at least 18 hours per module. |
Fully Online Mode
| Self-Instructional Learning Material |
Online Discussions |
| Students are given a complete set of learning materials to facilitate independent study, which can be downloaded from the designated Learning Portal. |
Learners are encouraged to participate in online discussions with other learners and their tutors for at least 18 hours per module. |
Notional Hours
Notional hours are defined in terms of the amount of time it should take a learner to achieve the learning outcomes. Each ECTS credit requires, on average, 25 notional hours of a learner’s time.
Guide to Learning Hours / Student Learning Time
This Level 8 Programme accrues 120 ECTS credits spread over 5 taught modules plus a doctoral thesis requiring 3,000 notional hours. The programme can be completed within 18 to 36 months, depending on the status of accreditation of prior learning of the students.
