The Warwick Institute of Education (WIE) is a major centre for educational studies located within one of the UK’s top research universities. With more than 150 academic and support staff it is one of the UK’s leading centres for teacher education, education research and professional development. If you choose to study with us, you are choosing to work with some of the best minds in education – our dedicated academics and researchers. You are also opting into sharing ideas with enthusiastic and able people like yourself, who make up our learning community.

We offer a wide range of courses, taught and research, which will appeal to educational professionals wanting to update their knowledge and engage in educational research. For those teachers who have gained M level credits during their teacher training we offer a seamless progression to a Master’s degree and then a doctorate.

The Institute works with many UK partners, namely: The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, United Learning Trust, Royal Shakespeare Company, Economics and Business Education Association, Teach First, Birmingham Catholic Partnership. Internationally, we work in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Republic of Seychelles; Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam; Dipont Education A level centres, China; KLC Institute, Singapore; The British School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Research Groups

Leadership

The group focuses on research and postgraduate teaching, working in partnership with major national, regional and local bodies, and with schools and colleges. The group has made a significant impact on policy and practice in England and internationally. For example, the research on the new South African principals’ qualification will inform programme design and the Minister of Education’s decision on whether this programme should become mandatory for newly appointed principals.

Teaching and Learning

Members of this group are largely, although not exclusively, academics with a strong involvement in teacher education, including the initial training of primary and secondary teachers, and continuing professional development. As such they have many professional and research interests. The group engages in leading edge research in the pedagogy area, where their key fields of study include pedagogies in mathematics, literacy, ICT, Modern Foreign Languages and RE, and the development of theoretical frameworks that illuminate learning and teaching.

Cultural and Creative Learning

Current research projects include: Dance and Drama Awards Evaluation Project; Evaluating e-learning Resources for Theatre Education; Entrances and Exits: mapping access to study and training in the performing arts; How the Arts Impact on Young People’s Levels of Aspiration; Intensive Drama Intervention Programme – Using drama to improve writing attainment.

Urban Childhood

In a world in which increasing numbers of people are living in urban areas, we are interested in the many different ways in which children’s lives take place in, and make, such spaces. Our research explores issues of mobility, citizenship, sustainability, emplacement, planning and participation as they pertain to urban childhood.

Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (WRERU)

The Unit undertakes externally funded research and development projects in religions and education and related fields. It has specialist expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and in applying the findings of research to fields such as religious education, intercultural education, citizenship education, peace education, human rights education, teacher training, clergy training and medical education. The unit operates as part of an international network of research centres dealing with education, religion and society.

Centre for New Technologies Research in Education (CeNTRE)

With the support of colleagues within the Department of Computer Science and the Learning and Development Centre, CeNTRE explores new technologies and their impact on teaching and learning in its widest context. They take a critical view of new technologies, taking account of the opportunities, but recognising the difficulties, they present for learners, their teachers, and for wider communities. CeNTRE seeks to contribute to the deliberate use of technology and help inform the development of new learning spaces.

Research Degrees

Master’s by Research (MA/MScR)

Standard Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

The Master’s Degree by Research allows you to examine one area of education in depth and is focused on producing a 40,000-word dissertation. This is an alternative route to gaining a Master’s level qualification, which appeals to students with a clear focus for their study.

• More information on the Master’s by Research (MA/MSc)

Master/Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil/PhD)

Standard Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time

Based within one of the Institute’s research groups, PhD candidates are able to research a topic of interest to them with support from an academic with expertise in that area. Initially, students register for the MPhil, but upgrade their registration to PhD after one or two years. The thesis is expected to be a substantial original contribution to knowledge and, in principle, to be capable of peer-reviewed publication. Candidates are supported with an individual research methods consultation to help them design a suitable package of modules to attend from the Institute’s extensive portfolio. This route is suitable for those who intend to follow an academic career or who have a definite idea of the research they wish to follow. Prior to making an application, the Institute strongly advises potential applicants to seek advice from someone who works in the area they are interested in. Staff research interests can be found on the WIE website: www2.warwick.ac.uk/go/wie/staff/teaching-research

• More information on the Master/Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil/PhD)

Doctorate in Education (EdD)

Standard Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time

The EdD provides postgraduate students with the opportunity to acquire a doctoral qualification by combining taught study in particular areas of interest with an extended piece of research. The programme aims to involve small groups of professionals with a common interest, researching the rapid changes taking place in education to generate the knowledge needed to enhance learning within professional communities as well as between teachers and parents. It is open to all suitably qualified professionals who work in education or child-related services but is specifically designed to be of interest to full or part-time professionals who would prefer a more gradual path to a doctorate than the PhD provides.

• More information on the Doctorate in Education (EdD)

Download prospectus entry

Prospectus Entry

Related Links:

Institute of Education Homepage

Postgraduate Research Study at the Institute of Education

Fees and Funding:

Postgraduate Fees

Funding your study

“Warwick University was my first chance to experience campus life, while it also allowed me the valuable opportunity of making friends with a diverse range of people from different backgrounds and cultures from all around the world.

My background included a science degree as well as working as a music teacher with young children back home in Iran. Therefore, as a person who did not have any academic background in the education field, completing this course has been very beneficial in giving me different mindsets to the terms of “teaching” and “learning”. On a wider scale, I have a greater knowledge of different educational issues in the UK and internationally, while gaining a better understanding about educational research.

I hope by completing my PhD in Education I will be able to help children to fulfill their real potential and enjoy learning while giving them a voice to be heard all around the world.”

Monireh Partovi / PhD / Warwick Institute of Education