Study & Work with us

The EdD is a research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields who would like to extend their professional understanding and develop skills in research, evaluation and high-level reflection on practice. The programme aims to foster professional development through research as well as meeting the requirements of rigour and originality expected of a doctorate. It includes assessed taught courses, research-focused workshops and supervised original research.

The Leadership and Evaluation Area of Professional Focus:

• Gives individuals the opportunity to explore and apply theories and practices of evaluation allowing them to engage with internal and external quality assurance processes
• Is designed for individuals who wish to develop their careers as leaders in various organisational settings
• Offers participants the opportunity to critically review and systematically apply key theories of leadership and evaluation
• Provides participants with the analytic and practical skills and tools to lead and manage in complex settings

Further information is available here https://www.dcu.ie/institute_of_education/Doctor-of-Education.shtml

Or by contacting Prof Joe O’Hara – joe.ohara@dcu.ie

Our PhD programme offers the opportunity to work with some of the leading scholars in the field of evaluation in a stimulating , structured and challenging environment. Students are encouraged to work with supervisors to explore evaluation related themes in great depth and to develop new ways of examining issues in this field that are relevant to both their own interests and the needs of the education system.

Our PhD students are drawn from a range of disciplines and contexts and all bring a passion for developing new insights into evaluation in all of its many and varied forms. Students are actively encouraged to share their work at conferences and other academic fora and are supported to do so by the Centre.

Further details on our PhD programme are available here

If interested please visit our staff profiles or contact  Prof Joe O’Hara (joe.ohara@dcu .ie) or Prof Gerry McNamara (gerry.mcnamara@dcu.ie)

In addition to Doctoral students staff at EQI also work with students at Masters level. While most of this work is conducted through structured programmes such as the Professional Masters in Education and the MSc In Education and Training there are opportunities for individuals wishing to undertake Masters degrees by research.

EQI is also happy to host international researchers - both staff and students - working in the field of evaluation or related fields. The Centre has benefitted from the presence of colleagues from Turkey, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands in recent years. If you are interested in working with us please visit our staff profiles to identify a colleague who you might wish to work with or contact

Prof Joe O'Hara  - joe.ohara@dcu.ie

Prof Gerry McNamara - gerry.mcnamara@dcu.ie 

If you are interested in studying with us please contact:

Prof Joe O'Hara - joe.ohara@dcu.ie

Prof Gerry McNamara - gerry.mcnamara@dcu.ie

Dr. Martin Brown - martin.brown@dcu.ie

Full details on applying for Postgraduate Studies at DCU can be found here