Leadership in Education

HKU SPACE is excited to announce that we will launch a Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD)  in collaboration with a leading UK university which will allow students to explore the meaning of professionalism and how it manifests in their working context, whether it involves children, young people, or adults in their social and cultural worlds. Please bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates.

November 2024

Programme Features

The upcoming Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) offers students in Hong Kong and surrounding areas the opportunity to study locally with a combination of face-to-face and distance delivery by the partnered university's staff. This unique program includes a flying faculty aspect in the first two years, providing a blend of structured and independent learning. The program is designed for anyone involved in an educative role within a professional discipline, focusing on understanding and developing learning in a professional context.

The EdD program comprises 180 credits awarded through credit-rated modules and 360 credits for doctoral research assessed by a thesis. The structured approach in the early stages includes modules on professional practice, policy implications, research methods, and professional communities. In the later stages, students work independently with a supervisory team to develop their own research projects, making an original contribution to knowledge. The program is ideal for those juggling study with a busy professional life, offering support and a cohort of peers from various professional practices.

Distinctive features of the program include its focus on the nature of professional practice, making it more than just a modular PhD. It is open to professionals from various disciplines with an educational focus, including business, industry, and third-sector organizations. The program's strength lies in its diversity, allowing for comparisons between policy and practice across different areas. The assessment includes assignments that induct students into a research community, encouraging conference presentations and journal submissions.

Potential applicant's qualities

• Potential to study at the doctoral level, typically indicated by a master's degree, but strong professional experience may also be considered.
• Ability to work collaboratively in exploring and developing experience and ideas.
• Working in a professional context where responsible for supporting learning, or having appropriate and extensive experience.
• Strong commitment to educational enquiry and critical reflection on practice as a means of professional learning.
• Accreditation for prior certificated learning (APCL) up to 120 credits, normally for work completed at the master's or doctoral level within the last five years.
• Accreditation for prior experiential learning (APEL) may be considered in exceptional cases.
• Identification of a proposed field of research within the broad field of education at the application stage.
• GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at Grade C or above.
• Meeting the University English Language requirements for postgraduate research programs.

Application procedure

The application includes the submission of academic qualifications (certified colour copy of your Undergraduate and Master's degree certificates and transcripts of subjects studied), a short curriculum vitae, references from two referees (preferably one academic reference and one professional reference from current/past employer), one piece of research writing from a previous Master's degree study, latest English language assessment results (no more than three years), a research statement of 1,000 words and a personal statement of 800 words.

Applicants who obtained their university degrees from an EMI institution in Hong Kong may attend an English proficiency assessment (Cambridge Linguaskill General) organised by HKU SPACE for assessment of their current English proficiency if they cannot provide their recent public English language assessment results as required by the EdD awarding university. A Linguaskill test fee may apply.

Qualified candidates should have achieved a Cambridge Linguaskill General average score of 176 or above with no band score of each skill (listening, reading, speaking, writing) lower than 161 (equivalent to IELTS 6.5 or above and IELTS 5.5).

Applicants who have passed the initial assessment will be invited for an interview by the admission team of the EdD awarding institute.

This is an exempted course under the Non-Local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognize any qualification to which this course may lead.

根據《非本地高等及專業教育（規管）條例》，本課程屬獲豁免課程。 個別僱主可酌情決定是否承認本課程可令學員獲取的任何資格。