We offer innovative, specialist postgraduate programmes that are consistently rated as excellent by students, external examiners as well as internal and external reviewers.
Which Higher Education PhD programme should I choose?
Cannot decide between the two higher education programmes offered by Lancaster University’s Department of Educational Research?
Use this table to compare the PhD in Higher Education: Research, Evaluation and Enhancement (HEREE) and the PhD in Educational Research - Higher Education (DPER).
Feature | HEREE | DPER |
---|---|---|
Working in HE? | Yes. This programme is exclusively designed for higher education professionals of whatever sort, for example: academics; managers; administrators; educational developers; student learning specialists. | Yes. This role is very broadly defined – for example teaching, research, professional services; leadership and management, educational/academic development. |
Mode of delivery | 100% online. | 4 residentials per year of one week duration each. Optional attendance in Part 2, with graduates reporting those residentials a valuable means of support. |
Length of programme | Minimum of 4 years part-time. Start date, October each year. | Minimum of 4 years part-time. Start date, January each year. |
Fee | The same in both programmes. | The same in both programmes. |
Syllabus in Part 1 (first two years) | Broadly similar 3 core modules in the first two years (although with different names). Two support modules in both programmes but one is integrated into the core modules in HEREE. | Broadly similar 3 core modules in the first two years. (although with different names). Two support modules in both programmes and both taught separately in DPER. |
Syllabus in Part 2 (final two years) | One support module (not assessed) plus 45,000 word thesis based on research project, supported by individual supervisor. | One support module (assessed) plus 45,000 word thesis based on research project, supported by individual supervisor. |
Final assessment | The same in both programmes: submission thesis and oral examination (viva voce) by internal and external examiners. | The same in both programmes: submission thesis and oral examination (viva voce) by internal and external examiners. |
Award | PhD (mode of delivery not specified on certificate). | PhD (mode of delivery not specified on certificate). |
Assignments | Based on a “publish-as-you-go” philosophy, so the 3 core assignments in Part 1 (the first two years) are modelled on journal articles and we encourage submission for publication when passed. | Based on a “publish-as-you-go” philosophy, so the 3 core assignments in Part 1 (the first two years) are modelled on journal articles and we encourage submission for publication when passed. |
Tutors | All tutors are active, successful researchers themselves and are specialists in their fields. | All tutors are active, successful researchers themselves and are specialists in their fields. |
Supervisors (academic support in Part 2); | Conferencing software is used for synchronous discussion as the research and thesis writing progresses. Supervisors offer detailed advice and feedback. | Conferencing software is used for synchronous discussion as the research and thesis writing progresses. Supervisors offer detailed advice and feedback. |
Cohort support | The programme is designed to foster peer support amongst each year’s cohort, and sub-groups of it using Moodle and other social platforms. Graduates report this to be a really attractive part of the programme, enhancing learning and progress. | The programme is designed to foster peer support amongst each year’s cohort, and sub-groups of it using Moodle and other digital platforms. |
Pedigree | Based on the long-running DPER programme, HEREE was established in 2012. | DPER has been running successfully for 28 years and has very many doctoral graduates. |