PhD in Education in Europe

This PhD program combines coursework with research-based training, preparing students to conduct research to national and international standards in pedagogy and developing the academic research competencies needed to complete and defend a dissertation and pursue work in tertiary education or research. Credits are divided across four components: 33 percent from coursework, 5 percent from a complex examination, 45 percent from academic research, and 17 percent from teaching within tertiary education. Applications are submitted to one of eight thematic modules: Theoretical-Historical Pedagogy, Adult Learning and Education, Teacher Education and Higher Education Studies, Special Education, Sports and Health Promotion, Culture, Diversity, and Education, Early Childhood Education, and Learning, Instruction and Subject Pedagogies.

Supervisors support students' research and help introduce them to professional and academic life, drawing on their own research, teaching qualifications, and involvement in international research projects. The program combines and integrates multiple disciplines to generate research projects, and students regularly present their results at national and international scientific conferences.

Graduates are prepared for careers as researchers and academic staff, as well as related roles such as program associate, program manager, social service administrator, or research coordinator.

Applicants must hold a master's-level degree (MA or MSc) and are expected to contact a potential supervisor in advance to discuss their research plan and secure a supervisor's statement; if final examinations are still underway and the diploma has not yet been issued by the application deadline, a certification of expected graduation is accepted instead, though the diploma itself must be presented by enrollment at the latest. Applicants to the Sports and Health Promotion module specifically need a prior degree in education, pedagogy, teacher training, psychology, recreation, physical education teaching, sports coaching, sports management, health education, nutrition, or physiotherapy. This program is not available to Hungarian citizens.

English proficiency must reach C1 level in both speaking and writing, assessed during the oral entrance interview. Required documents include an application form, the master's degree certificate, a CV, a motivation letter, a research plan, a supervisor's statement, a copy of a valid passport, and a reference work — an academic paper written in English within the applicant's field of study, such as an MA thesis extract, research paper, seminar paper, research report, journal article, book chapter, case study, or literature review, ideally 5 to 15 pages excluding references and appendices. A letter of recommendation and a list of publications may also be submitted but are not required, and an official English translation of the MA certificate is needed if the original is not in English.

The oral entrance exam, held in person or online, is a roughly 30-minute interview with the head of the doctoral program and other faculty, focused on the feasibility of the applicant's research plan, their awareness of its theoretical and bibliographical background, their foreign language knowledge, and their previous research results and readiness for academic teaching. Final rankings combine this evaluation with an assessment of the applicant's submitted academic record.

This doctoral program prepares students to conduct independent research in educational sciences with a focus on both local and international contexts. It emphasizes the development of theoretical and empirical research skills, supporting innovation and reform in education across all levels. Students engage in modules such as research methodology, education policy, and interdisciplinary seminars, and must complete and defend an original dissertation. The program encourages collaboration with other researchers and institutions, and enhances students’ pedagogical competence, academic communication, and leadership skills in education.

Applicants must have a master's degree in education, teaching, or psychology. Alternatively, those with a master's in humanities, social sciences, arts, engineering, medicine, sports, or natural sciences must also have at least two years of teaching experience in an educational institution. English proficiency at a minimum CEFR B2 level is required for studies in English.

This PhD program focuses on the development and management of e-learning technologies through interdisciplinary research in technology and education. It covers areas such as instructional media, educational data analytics, knowledge management, and cybersecurity in online learning environments. Students are trained to design, evaluate, and implement innovative e-learning solutions and to lead large-scale academic and industrial research projects. The program includes compulsory courses, electives, and extensive research work, aiming to prepare experts who can shape the future of digital education.

This PhD program is open to candidates with a master's degree in natural sciences or social sciences, or an equivalent qualification. An entrance exam is required, and English proficiency at CEFR B2 level is necessary for studies in English. The program focuses on interdisciplinary research in e-learning technologies, educational data analysis, instructional design, and digital knowledge management. Students develop skills to lead research, implement digital learning solutions, and contribute to innovation in educational systems and institutions.

This PhD program combines individual research, a compulsory training component, and participation in scientific activities, totaling three years of full-time study. The training includes core courses in research theory, methodology, and ethics, along with participation in international conferences and academic dissemination. Students also choose elective courses tailored to their research interests, in consultation with their supervisors. Each student is guided by a main supervisor and a co-supervisor and becomes part of a research group. Specialization tracks are offered in literary studies, linguistics, education, and religion, philosophy, and history, allowing candidates to focus on their specific research area.

To be eligible for this PhD program, applicants must have completed a master's degree or an equivalent qualification in a relevant subject. International candidates must demonstrate English language proficiency through tests such as IELTS (minimum overall score of 6.0), TOEFL (minimum score of 80 internet-based, 550 paper-based, or 213 computer-based), Pearson PTE Academic (minimum score of 62), or Cambridge ESOL (B2 First with an "A", C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency). Alternatively, proficiency can be shown by completing the International Baccalaureate with English at a high level (minimum score of 4), or by achieving a grade 4 or better in English from Norwegian Upper Secondary School. Exemptions from the English test requirement are possible for those with qualifying academic experience in English-speaking countries or Nordic countries.

This doctoral program in education is delivered jointly across three institutions, combining pedagogical traditions with contemporary educational research. It covers formal, non-formal, and informal learning, educational management, and educational technologies and innovation, while also addressing organizational learning, partnership networks, and the development of learning communities.

Coursework spans a broad range of modules providing essential knowledge in the field alongside more specialized options that allow students to individualize their studies, covering areas such as curriculum theory, epistemology and research methodology in education, the links between personal development and teaching and learning processes, innovation and project application drafting, the philosophy of educational science, and the philosophy, systems, and didactics of higher education. Reflecting the program's joint delivery with a sports university, additional subject options extend into areas such as the theory and practice of athlete training, health education, and social education, sport and social psychology, informal music education systems, educational leadership and governance, learning environments and partnership networks, the theory and methodology of sport science research, and disability studies.

Alongside these subject-specific modules, students build core research competencies through a dedicated set of skills modules, including academic and technical research writing, design thinking in research, digital tools for research writing and publication, research data management, research ethics, grant management for research projects, science communication for public audiences, and systematic literature review methods.

Doctoral students in this program have the opportunity to pursue a double degree in cooperation with a university abroad, to obtain a European Doctorate certificate alongside their diploma, and to take part in paid research and innovation project activities during their studies.

Applicants must hold a master's degree or an equivalent single-cycle higher education qualification. Admission is based on a weighted evaluation combining several factors: the applicant's publications (25%), prior scientific experience (15%), the weighted average of grades shown on the diploma supplement from their master's or single-cycle studies, including the evaluation of their final thesis where applicable (25%), a motivational interview conducted as part of the admission process (25%), and, optionally, a certificate demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language such as English, French, or German, shown either on the diploma supplement or through a certificate from a licensed language center (10%). Applicants must reach a minimum competitive score of 8 points to be admitted to state-funded study places.

As part of the broader application process, applicants are generally expected to submit materials such as a completed application specifying their preferred research field and topic, copies of their degree certificate and diploma supplement, a CV, two letters of recommendation from researchers in the relevant field (with one from their proposed supervisor), evidence of prior scientific publications or an original research paper where publications are not available, a copy of a valid passport or identity document, and proof of payment of the application fee. All applicants are required to attend an interview with the relevant doctoral admissions committee as part of the selection process.