Cristina Devecchi
Associate Professor in Education
level:PG;top_up:false;international:true;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:true;part_time:true;start_month:October, March;location:Waterside
Further, Higher and Adult Education PhD/PhD by Published works
Key Facts
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Duration
PhD: Full time 2 years - 4 years, Part time 3 years - 6 years
PhD by Published Works: 1 - 2 years -
Level
PostgraduatePG PhD
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See Fees and Funding
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See Fees and Funding
Updated 10/12/2025
Updated 10/12/2025
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Overview
The Further, Higher and Adult Education PhD / PhD by Published Works programme supports you in undertaking and completing a PhD in a way which employs research on key educational issues and challenges in higher, further, adult and community in the UK and globally. Which is an excellent route to expand your knowledge and research skills. While the participants on the Further, Higher and Adult Education PhD / PhD by Published Works programme will be skilled professionals on entry to the programme, experience over the three or four-year period will prepare you to further advance in your professional and academic careers in the areas of research and offer an excellent opportunity to move into higher management and research positions within Education and engagement across a range of disciplines. The researcher will receive the highest degree that any UK university may grant upon successfully defending the final thesis. Discover more information about the Centre for Education and Research.
Applications must be submitted by 1 August for the next October intake and by 11 December for the next March intake.
Highlights
- You study within a cohort of fellow researchers who act as critical friends and an informal support network during the programme and, if you wish, a continued network throughout your career
- When you come to campus you can participate in person in our programme of research events
- Make an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area/s
- Design research projects, and collect and analyse appropriate data
- Membership to the Centre for Education and Research and to its Special Interest Groups
Entry Requirements
For admission to this PhD applicants should have:
- successfully completed a Masters programme in adult, community or higher education or an equivalent programme at level 8, or
- qualifications of a comparable standard from a university or recognised degree awarding body in another country, or
- students with related experience but lower-level degrees or degrees in a different field will also be given consideration on an individual basis.
The selection procedure will include an interview with every qualified applicant.
All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
- successful interview outcome.
- availability of suitable Research Supervision Support.
If you are applying for Research study, you will need to write a research proposal. Find out how to write a research proposal.
More detailed information about the research degrees is available on our Graduate school page.
If you’d like to join us as a research student, then please review the webpages below:
- browse our potential supervisors and propose your own research project.
- Find out how to apply for a MPhil/ PhD/ PhD by Published Works at the University of Northampton.
- IELTS (Academic): 7.0 overall, including at least 6.5 in each component including writing. We will also consider equivalent English language qualifications.
We are unable to consider applications with IELTS lower than 5.5 in all components from a test taken within the last two years.
What You'll Learn
The Further, Higher and Adult Education PhD programme is to provide an opportunity for higher education professionals to become autonomous researchers and to a gain deeper and more critical insight into their own and others’ professional practices and concerns. The programme supports research students to develop research capacities to the highest level. It fosters research on professional practice in support of transformative learning, critical thinking, and education.
The course is structured and supervised in a way that allows research students to position their research in education research and academic fields, and to develop their doctoral research project incrementally. As a member of the Centre for Education and Research you will also benefit from extensive experience in supporting doctoral research through individual and group supervision, where peer learning and support is also a central element. By working together, exchanging ideas, and supporting each other, students form learning communities which are collaborative and creative. A PhD in Education with a specialisation in Further, Higher and Adult Education will enable you to find research and development roles within Education and aligned fields, or progress into an academic career.
What is the difference between a full PhD and a PhD by Published works?
A PhD involves conducting original research and writing a thesis, while a PhD by Published Works is awarded based on a collection of previously published papers demonstrating significant contributions to the field. Additional information about choosing your type of research degree can be found on our How to apply for Research degree study page.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
- UK – Full Time: £5,700
- UK – Part Time: £2,845
- International – Full Time: £16,350
- International – Part Time: £7,640
Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works
Including: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by means of published works.
- UK – Part Time: £3,600
- International – Part Time: £7,840
Please visit the funding page for more details on how to fund your study.
Please visit the funding page for more details on how to fund your study.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
Doctor Of Philosophy Degrees
- UK – Full Time: £5,500
- UK – Part Time: £2,775
- International – Full Time: £15,950
- International – Part Time: £7,450
Doctor of Philosophy Degrees by means of Published Works.
Including: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by means of published works.
- UK – Part Time: £3,500
- International – Part Time: £7,650
Please visit the funding page for more details on how to fund your study.
Please visit the funding page for more details on how to fund your study.
Staff
