university of edinburgh doctorate in education

• Schools & departments

Postgraduate research degrees

Our research-based programmes - PhD and MSc by Research - allow you to make a significant contribution to knowledge in, and understanding of, your chosen field.

The University of Edinburgh was ranked first in Scotland for research power in Education and Sport (REF 2021, Times Higher Education) and we offer the largest concentration of researchers in education in a Scottish university, meaning you'll be supported by and collaborate with leaders in the field. Our research activities cover all aspects of education and learning - from pre-school to higher education and lifelong learning - and a wide range of aspects relating to sport, physical education and health sciences.

Postgraduate virtual open days

Join our online event to learn about Masters and PhD study at Moray House School of Education and Sport.

Date:  12-15 November

Location: Online

Learn more and register

Apply now   

Visiting research student

If you are a doctoral researcher and you would like to come to Moray House for a brief period of time, consider coming as a visiting research student.

Information about becoming a visiting research student

Incoming visiting research students

If your application to be a visiting research student at the Moray House School of Education and Sport has been approved, please get in touch with [email protected] to discuss whether your project will need ethical review in our School, or whether your ethics approval from another institution is sufficient. If ethical review is required, we recommend allowing 6-8 weeks for this process when planning your visit.

Email [email protected] 

PhD programme structure

Mscr programme structure, writing your phd research proposal, writing your mscr research proposal, supervisors and topics, fees, scholarships and funding, our pgr students, contact the pgr team, apply now: phd and msc by research.

• Schools & departments

Mathematics Education PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Mathematics Education

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us online on 12 to 14 November where you can learn more about postgraduate study through webinars, live panel sessions, and one-to-one chat.

Find out more and register

Research profile

By joining the School of Mathematics, you will have opportunities to interact with educational research groups in Mathematics as well as cognate disciplines such as the Edinburgh Physics Education Group, and the interdisciplinary Centre for Research in Digital Education. As a research student you will be part of a vibrant and dynamic community of educators, with expertise in educational research and opportunities to develop and pursue your research goals. You can be certain of a rich academic setting with opportunities available for students to gain a breadth of knowledge from leading experts.

You will enjoy excellent facilities, ranging from one of the world’s major supercomputing hubs to libraries for research at the leading level, including the new Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library at King’s Buildings.

Students have access to more than 1,400 computers in suites distributed across our University’s sites, many of which are open 24 hours a day. In addition, if you are a research student, you will have access to dedicated desk space with monitors and a laptop computer.

We provide all our mathematics postgraduates with access to software packages such as:

• Mathematica

Research students are allocated parallel computing time on ‘Eddie’, the Edinburgh Compute and Data Facility. You can also request use of the BlueGene/Q supercomputer facility for your research.

Career opportunities

Graduates are expected to find employment in positions at public universities, private schools, community colleges, and vocational institutions to teach students at associates, bachelors, masters, or even doctoral level.

Due to their area of expertise, many graduates with a PhD in Mathematical Education will focus on training the next generation of teachers and educational support staff for secondary schools. 


There are many other potential career paths for holders of a PhD in mathematics, including finance and IT.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK first class honours degree, or its international equivalent, in an appropriate subject; or a UK 2:1 honours degree plus a UK masters degree, or their international equivalents; or relevant qualifications and experience.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT : 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees, scholarships and funding.

Most PhD students in Mathematics receive full scholarships to cover their tuition fees and living costs.

Others may use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• scholarships
• taking out a loan
• family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• School of Mathematics funding opportunities
• Research scholarships for international students

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK's governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Graduate School Administrator
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5085
• Contact: [email protected]
• Programme Director, Professor Chris Sangwin
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5966
• Contact: [email protected]
• School of Mathematics
• James Clerk Maxwell Building
• Peter Guthrie Tait Road
• The King's Buildings Campus
• Programme: Mathematics Education
• School: Mathematics
• College: Science & Engineering

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD in Mathematics Education - 4 Years (Full-time)

Phd in mathematics education - 8 years (part-time), phd in mathematics education with internship- 4 years (full-time), phd in mathematics education with internship - 8 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available. All applications received by 20 January 2025 will receive full consideration for funding. Later applications will be considered until all positions are filled.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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Education PhD

The university of edinburgh, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Education Studies

Course type

The University of Edinburgh was ranked first in Scotland for research power in Education and Sport (THE Overall Ranking REF 2014) and we offer the largest concentration of researchers in education in a Scottish university, meaning you'll be supported by and collaborate with leaders in the field. Our research activities cover all aspects of education and learning - from pre-school to higher education and lifelong learrning.

Research community

As a postgraduate research student you will join a vibrant Graduate School community with over 150 research students. There are also several opportunities for optional training and development throughout your studies.

Research students are encouraged to attend and actively engage with the activities of School research thematic hubs, which include seminars, meetings and workshops. In addition, several academic and social events for research students take place throughout the year. We organise an annual series of around 25 trainings, talks and seminar events, as well as the student-led ‘Interweaving’ conference for research students and staff.

Training and support

Students following the PhD degree are normally supported in their research by two supervisors. The first of these will be a member of staff who has expertise in the general area of your proposed research topic and the second will be another expert in the field who may come from within the School, University or a field of practice.

Most students who are accepted begin a period of research leading to a PhD, however, the first year of the PhD degree is probationary and progression to year two is dependent on satisfactory progress.

We offer a number of courses in research methodologies, which research students are encouraged to take during their first year.

PhD students work closely with their supervisors, who are recognised experts in the field. All PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research training agreed with their supervisors. Our postgraduate research programmes provide core training in the research skills necessary to flourish at doctoral level and beyond.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject is normally required. Normally also a postgraduate degree with a 60% overall grade point average and 60% in the dissertation, or its international equivalent.

MA Education and Development

University of east anglia uea, ma mathematics education, msc education leadership and management, msc education leadership and management (part time), primary initial teacher education (5-11) with qts pgce, bristol, university of the west of england.