Education - Higher & Adult Education - Research

The Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education (DHAE) brings together practitioners with substantial experience in the design, implementation and delivery across a wide range of higher and adult education contexts.



The programme supports educational practitioners to develop research capacities to the highest level. It fosters research on professional practice in support of transformative learning, critical thinking and democratic education. Successful applicants will have an interest in exploring innovative and critical education research that can inform practice across a range of disciplines.



The course is structured and supervised in a way that allows practitioners to position their research in education research and academic fields, and to develop their doctoral research project incrementally. Department staff have extensive experience in supporting doctoral research through individual and group supervision, where peer learning and support is also is a central element. By working together, exchanging ideas and supporting each other, students form learning communities which are collaborative and creative.



The Department of Adult and Community Education is firmly committed to equality and social justice. We believe that education is a fundamental human right and collaborative, critical adult education has the power to transform individuals and change society for the better. We have an outstanding track record in supporting postgraduate research programmes and have established the leading centre for research on adult education in Ireland, building an excellent international reputation for our work on higher and adult education.



This is a 4-year programme, comprising of required modules. Typically, modules are offered one day per week on 12 dates annually during years 1 and 2. Students attend 6 - 7 workshops in year during the reminder of the programme and are supported in the research through individual and group supervision and the department's research centre.

Applicants should have:



- successfully completed a Masters programme in adult, community or higher education or an equivalent programme at level 9,



- current and significant experience in teaching in higher or adult education,



- proven ability in academic writing.



Minimum English language requirements:



Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.



Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

Applications are open for the 2025/6 academic year. Visit our online application portal to start your application.

We are here to support you throughout the admissions process.



For queries on your postgraduate course options please contact pgstudies@mu.ie

For queries or support on your application process please contact pgadmissions@mu.ie



If you are an international (Non-EU) applicant please contact internationaladmissions@mu.ie

4 years.

Applications for this programme are bi-annual, the next intake will be Sept 2025

While the participants on the Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education programme will be skilled professionals on entry to the programme, experience over the four years will prepare them to further advance in their professional and academic careers in the areas of research, policy development, teaching and engagement across a range of disciplines.

Research interests include current educational issues and challenges in higher, further, adult, and community in Ireland and globally. Research topics include critical analysis of the policy and practice-based knowledge and experiences of educators and learners in the adult and higher education sectors in Ireland and internationally. A list of previous research projects by doctoral students in the Department of Adult and Community Education is available at: http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie/view/ethesisdivisions/dept=5Fadu.html