Award Options
- Single Award: Institut Brittany d’Enseignement Supérieur (IBES) or
- Dual Awards: IBES + UTAMED
- Dual Awards: IBES + VERN
Programme Aims
The programme aims to develop the ability to plan and conduct research and evaluation studies with a clear purpose to improve educational lives of others and, based on findings, make recommendations to improve future educational practices.
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 of self‑evaluation, reflection, feedback, and developments in theories and evidence‑based practices to improve their ethical practice in a variety of contexts.
- Ability to 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.
- Proficiency in applying systematic, rigorous research methodologies, design, and processes when undertaking original research and presenting the thesis in a scholarly manner.
Awards to be Conferred
Single Award: Institut Brittany d’Enseignement Supérieur (IBES)
- Award Title: Docteur en Éducation (Doctor of Education – Ed.D) by IBES
OR
Dual Awards: IBES + VERN University, Croatia
- Award Title:
- Docteur en Éducation (Doctor of Education – Ed.D) by IBES and VERN
OR
Dual Awards: IBES + UTAMED
- Award Title: Docteur en Éducation (Doctor of Education – Ed.D) by IBES
- Award Title: Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) by UTAMED
Programme Structure (Research Mode – Thesis Only)
The Ed.D by Research follows a ‘Thesis Only’ route with 3 stages, totalling 120 ECTS credits.
| Stage | Component | Weight | Word Count | Indicative Duration |
| Stage 1 | Thesis Preparation (Research Methodology module) – mandatory, not graded | – | – | Up to 4 months (in total for Stage 1) |
| Thesis Proposal | 25% | 4,500 – 5,000 words | Up to 3 months after Research Methodology | |
| Stage 2 | Final Doctoral Thesis | 75% | 40,000 – 45,000 words | 12 – 18 months |
| Stage 3 | Oral Defence (Viva Voce) – mandatory, not graded | – | – | Scheduled after thesis submission |
- A supervisor is assigned to each student after proposal approval.
- The Research Methodology module must be completed (or exemption granted via APL) before starting the thesis proposal.
Assessment Strategies
- Assessment components:
- Thesis Proposal: 25% of total mark
- Final Thesis: 75% of total mark
- Oral Defence: mandatory for award (not graded)
- Grading scheme (per component and overall):
- Distinction: 70–100%
- Merit: 60–69%
- Pass: 50–59%
- Fail: below 50%
- Ed.D Degree Classification (same bands as above)
- Referrals: Maximum two resubmissions allowed per module; pass mark for referral is normally 50%.
- Compensation: One compensated pass possible if overall mark is not less than 45%.
Entry Requirements
- A Master’s degree in any field; OR other qualifications recognised by IBES as equivalent to a Master’s degree.
- English language proficiency (one of):
- IELTS overall band 6.0 or equivalent
- Previous undergraduate, postgraduate, or professional qualification taught and assessed in English
- Qualification examined in English at EQF Level 2 or above (subject to approval)
- Passing an ESOL Awards English test at B2 level (contact IBES)
Advanced Standing / APL:
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is available for the Research Methodology module (and any other taught modules, though this is a research‑only route).
- APL can be based on certificated learning (APCL) or experiential learning (APEL).
Delivery Mode
Two modes are available, both following the same research‑only structure:
- Blended Learning Mode
- Fully Online Mode
Supervision hours:
- Stage 1 (blended): 12 hours face‑to‑face supervision
- Stage 1 (online): 8 hours online supervision
- Stage 2 (both modes): 20 hours supervision (face‑to‑face or online)
All other work is independent research and writing.
Duration / Notional Hours
- Maximum duration for the full programme (including Research Methodology and thesis): 36 months
- Maximum duration for students exempted from taught modules (thesis only): 24 months
- Total notional hours: circa 2,400 hours (for the research mode)
Approximate breakdown (Fully Online mode):
- Stage 1 – Research Methodology: 200 hours
- Stage 1 – Online supervision: 8 hours
- Stage 1 – Thesis Proposal preparation: 200 hours
- Stage 2 – Online supervision: 20 hours
- Stage 2 – Final Thesis research and writing: 2,200 hours
Total ≈ 2,628 hours
