PhD in Education and Social Justice
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.
Key information
accordion
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:
- teachers working in schools, further education, higher education, and lifelong learning; policy makers; managers; researchers working with social justice issues; youth workers;
- activists and advocacy workers;
- people with equity or social justice portfolios in a variety of institutions; education support personnel;
- consultants; researchers and workers in charities and NGOs; and civil servants;
- people who are retired from, or taking a break from, professional educational work.
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, Ali Wilkinson.
Email: esjphd@lancaster.ac.uk
How to Apply
The next start date is 1st October, 2025.
Entry requirements
For admission to this programme applicants should normally have:
- a good honours degree from a British university or CNAA, and a good taught Master's degree; or
- qualifications of a comparable standard from a university or recognised degree awarding body in another country.
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.
Language proficiency
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.
Apply online
The next start date is 1st October, 2025.
Typical Cohort Number: 30
Initial Closing date for applications: 28th February, 2025.
Please note that any applications received prior this date will be held for consideration during March/April 2025.
Applications received after the end of February will be considered on a first come-first-served basis until the Cohort is full.
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.
What to include
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.
Personal statement
This should contain the following:
- A statement of reasons for applying for this programme in particular;
- A statement of how you will benefit from this programme;
- A statement about your work experience trajectory and how it relates to the kind of research you are likely to undertake;
- A statement about potential research interests and purposes.
Fees and funding
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:
- 24/25 is ?5,410 per academic year, for four years minimum, for UK students and ?9,670 per academic year, for four years minimum, for international students.
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.
Applicants from the European Union can read more information about Research Fees (from Lancaster University) following the 2016 Referendum.
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.
Structure and modules
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.
- Part One (years 1 and 2) - consists of five modules that offer participants guided study in key areas of education and social justice nationally and internationally.
- Part Two (year 3 onwards) - participants carry out an original piece of research under the supervision of a member of staff and produce a thesis (45,000 words). There is also a module aimed at supporting you in Part Two.
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.
Programme staff
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.
View Staff
Dr Richard Budd
Lecturer in Higher EducationCentre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Dr Kathy Chandler
Lecturer in Technology Enhanced LearningCentre for Technology Enhanced Learning
Dr Melis Cin
Senior Lecturer in Education and Social JusticeCentre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Dr Bethan Garrett
Lecturer in the Morecambe Bay CurriculumCentre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Professor Carolyn Jackson
ProfessorCentre for Gender Studies, Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Dr Carmen Martinez Vargas
Lecturer in Education and Social JusticeCentre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education
Professor Jo Warin
Professor in Gender and Social Relationships in EducationCentre for Gender Studies, Centre for Social Justice and Wellbeing in Education, Richardson Institute for Peace Studies
