Education - Research

Overview
You’ll be part of a dynamic doctoral research environment and will study alongside students from over 25 different countries; we supervise students undertaking research in key educational areas including: education in divided societies; effective education; children’s rights in education; educational assessment and inclusion, and social justice and inclusion.

As part of a lively community of over 200 full-time and part-time research students you’ll have the opportunity to develop your research potential in a vibrant research community that prioritises the cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovative practices.

Staff in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work publish world-class research which has local and global impact. Our funders and partners include research councils, government departments, the EU, the Council of Europe and large foundations. Our research informs the development of policies in many areas, including education, criminal justice, teaching and learning, the well-being of children, social cohesion and justice, mental health and trauma informed practice.

Students are encouraged to join one or more of eight research centres in the School.

The Center for Children’s Rights (CRC) is internationally renowned for its research on children’s rights aimed at improving their lives. The CRC focuses on substantive children’s rights issues, children’s participation in decision making and children’s rights-based research methods. The CRC has a reputation for its consultations with children and is known for its work with various UN organisations such as UNICEF.

The Center for Shared Education (CSE) is committed to promoting sharing in education as a mechanism for delivering economic, social and educational benefits to children, schools and society, particularly in post conflict societies. The CSE has three core aims: to increase understanding of school-based sharing; to develop and share the model of shared education; to foster expertise and support practitioners.

The Centre of Language Education Research (CLER) conducts research in language and education to make difference across local, national and international contexts. The expertise of spans language assessment, literacy studies and multimodality, academic discourse, language materials development, and heritage and minoritized language communities, among other topics.

The Centre for Applied Behaviour Analysis (CABA) focuses on the discovery of natural laws of behaviour, the study of how behaviour is shaped by environmental contingencies and how changes affect behaviour. ABA is based on a philosophy of inclusion, evidence-based effective education, and person-centred research and practice, and covers three distinct fields: radical behaviourism; experimental analysis of behaviour and applied behaviour analysis.

The Centre for Justice Studies (CJS) provides a focus for criminological research. The scope of CJS research includes the causes and correlates of crime and other forms of social harms, as well as the responses of the criminal justice system. The CJS aims to encourage and support world-leading research on crime and justice related topics; to facilitate linkages between researchers and justice agencies, reform and abolition groups; and develop international excellence in criminological research; to create a vibrant culture of criminological ideas.

The Centre for Technological Innovations in Mental Health and Education (TIME) develops technology based, inter-disciplinary research in the areas of mental health and professional education and training. Key strategic drivers relate to the new Northern Ireland. Mental Health Strategy. The Centre has a particular focus on developing partnerships with industry, service providers and policy makers.

The Centre for Inclusion, Transformation and Equality (CITE) focuses on inclusion, transformation and equality, addressing core themes of disability; gender & LGBTQ+; equality in education; and ethnicity, race and decoloniality. The four key drivers of CITE are Inter-disciplinarity and intersectionality; building a collaborative and inclusive research culture; impactful research; and participation and co-production.

The Centre for Child, Youth and Family Welfare (CCYFW) provides insights into the lives of children, young people, and families and to achieve better welfare outcomes and improve wellbeing. The centre undertakes high quality research impacting children, young people, and families across regional, national, and international contexts. Staff work collaboratively with policy makers, agencies, practitioners, children and young people, families to review existing evidence, knowledge, and interventions, identify gaps, and develop new theoretical insights, interventions, tools, and models to enhance service delivery.

Course structure
You are expected to take research training modules that are supported by the School. These modules focus on quantitative and qualitative research methods, and include participatory action research, arts-based research methods and multimodal interaction analysis, for example. Students will be provided with the SSESW PhD student training and engagement programme at the start of the academic year. You are also expected to carry out your research under the guidance of your supervisor.

Over the course of study, you can attend postgraduate skills training organised by the Graduate School. This training contributes to your training record which may be discussed at your annual progress reviews (APR).

You will normally register, in the first instance, as an 'undifferentiated PhD student' which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree. The decision as to whether you should undertake an MPhil or a PhD is delayed until you have completed 'differentiation'.

Differentiation takes place 9-12 months after registration for full time students and 18-30 months for part time students. You will be asked to submit work to a panel of two academics who will then meet you formally to explore your research at the 'Differentiation Panel'.

The Panel will make a judgement about your capacity to continue with your study based on the feasibility of your research design and commitment. Sometimes students are advised to revise their research objectives or to consider submitting their work for an MPhil qualification rather than a doctoral qualification, but this outcome is very rare.

To complete a doctoral qualification, you will be required to submit a thesis of approximately 80,000 words. You will defend your thesis at a viva voce [oral examination] with an external and internal examiner.

A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year (thesis only) should it be required.

The PhD is open to both full and part-time candidates and is useful preparation for a career within academia or consultancy.

Full-time students are often attracted to research degree programmes because they offer an opportunity to pursue an area of academic interest in some depth.

A part time research degree is an exciting option for professionals already working in the education field who are seeking to extend their knowledge on an issue of professional interest. Often part time candidates choose to research an area that is related to their professional responsibilities.

If you meet the Entry Requirements, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from our academic staff. Your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.

Subject Summary
You’ll be part of a dynamic doctoral study environment, alongside students from over 25 different countries working on a range of topics within the field of Education. We have a lively community of around 200 full-time and part-time research students. You’ll have the opportunity to become part of a supportive research community that lends emphasis to the cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation in the advancement of knowledge.

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider,or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work.

International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually.

This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year.

The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.

3 Academic Years (Full Time) / 6 Academic Years (Part Time).

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects
Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in educational practice, the public sector or within NGO’s. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability.

Employment after the Course
For further information on career development opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team on ahssdevoffice@qub.ac.uk / +44 28 9097 5175 The AHSS Development Officers will be happy to provide further information on your research area career prospects.

Research information
Associated Research
Our research comprises a variety of methodologies, among which are randomised control trials; ethnographic, children's rights-based, multidisciplinary, projective and constructivist methodologies, and large-scale attitudinal surveys. Innovations in methodology, as well as developing innovative practice, are key drivers of our research activity. The wider influence of research is also evident in the extensive involvement of staff and students in key national and international research networks and our ability to attract major international conferences to Queen's.

Research Success
The School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work provides a rich and vibrant context for educational research. The core discipline of Education at Queen's is one of the leading areas for educational research in the UK and Ireland and our education research has been ranked 4th within the UK in relation to research intensity with 87 per cent of the research undertaken within this subject assessed as 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' (REF, 2014).

PhD Opportunities
Our research is organised through a series of Centres and Networks in our core disciplinary research areas. Any project and funding opportunities can be found at the link below.

Research Impact
The Schools research funders and partners include the research councils, government departments, the EU and the Council of Europe. Our research is informing thinking and the development of policies locally and internationally.

Research Projects
Education is delivering a wide range of research projects including working with the CESI research centre at Queen's, supporting the dissemination of a Shared Education model with the Department for Education in Northern Ireland and internationally. Our researchers are also working towards improving literacy on an international level for primary school students with innovative methods and robust research.

Current PGR Student Profiles
PhD Title: School-based physical activity interventions and wellbeing in children
Years of Study: 2015 - Present

PhD Title: Education and Identity in Divided Societies: A Comparative Study
Years of study: 2014 - Present

PhD Title: Exploring Young People's Social Networks and their Impact on Behaviour
Years of Study: 2017 - Present