Each year CREET receives a number of general enquiries about its postgraduate research programme of study. This page details a number of the common enquiries that are received by CREET along with an answer to each query. However, if, after looking at this page, your query hasn't been addressed, then please contact CREET with your question.
Questions relating to qualifications:
- I don't have the required qualifications but I do have relevant experience. Would CREET consider an application from me to do postgraduate research in light of this?
- I want to do an EdD and have a masters’ degree in linguistics rather than Education, will I qualify?
- I don’t have a qualification in research methods and want to do the EdD. Will I have to study a research methods course before I am accepted on to the programme?
Questions relating to funding:
- Is studentship funding for CREET's PhD programme restricted to European Union nationals?
- I am self-funded/do not require a CREET funded studentship, will my application for full-time PhD study be accepted
- Is there funding for EdD study?
Questions relating to the application process:
- I am thinking of applying for full-time study; how do I write the research proposal, what information are you looking for?
- I am thinking of applying for full-time study; can I get advice on my research proposal before I submit a formal application?
- I am thinking of applying for full-time study; if I submit my CV to you can you tell me whether I would be a suitable candidate for postgraduate research study with CREET?
- Will you be holding any Open Days for prospective new students?
- I am applying for full-time study with CREET but cannot come to Milton Keynes for an interview. Is there an alternative?
Questions relating to accommodation and living in Milton Keynes:
- Will I have to live in Milton Keynes if I am a full-time PhD student?
- What accommodation is available?
- What is it like to live in Milton Keynes?
- I have a disability, what additional support can I expect if I choose to study within CREET?
- How many students are registered on your postgraduate research programmes?
- Is it possible to do CREET's PhD programme as a part-time student?
- I've downloaded a document from this site but can't open it?
Q. I don't have the required qualifications but I do have relevant experience. Would CREET consider an application from me to do postgraduate research in light of this?
A. It can be the case that applicants do not meet the minimum requirements (a first class or upper second degree and/or appropriate postgraduate research experience), but that they have gained professional qualifications or experience that can be built upon for doctoral research. Examples of this can be qualifications and experience gained in the legal or medical professions and similarly in the education or public sector. The principal considerations would be the likelihood of that experience supporting the skills (particularly writing skills) needed for doctoral study and the relevance of expertise and knowledge gained being a significant contribution to the research area.
Q. I want to do an EdD and have a masters’ degree in linguistics rather than Education, will I qualify?
A. No. However, you will not have to complete a whole masters’ degree in Education. You will have to complete one module in Education at master’s degree level and it will have to be appropriate to your proposed area of research. Please see the online eligibility checker http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/how-to-apply/edd-applications/edd-eligibility-tool/index.htm
Q. I don’t have a qualification in research methods and want to do the EdD will I have to study a research methods course before I am accepted on to the programme?
A. Yes. You will have to study modules to the equivalent of 60 points. Please see the online eligibility checker http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/how-to-apply/edd-applications/edd-eligibility-tool/index.htm
Q. Is studentship funding for CREET's PhD programme restricted to European Union nationals?
A. Prospective students from countries outside of the European Union are welcome to apply to study with CREET and, if accepted onto the CREET PhD programme, enjoy the same level of studentship funding as EU nationals.
Q. I am self-funded/do not require a CREET funded studentship, will my application for full-time PhD study be accepted?
A. It is possible that some students might not require studentship funding; they might already be in possession of a fully funded studentship from another institution/country, they might be sponsored by an employer or they might be in the position to fund their own studies. While CREET welcomes self-funded applications for postgraduate research study it is important to note that any such application will be subject to the same entry criteria as an application for a funded studentship. Specifically, applications should be of a suitable academic standard and, as an individual, you should meet the necessary qualification requirements. Furthermore, as with all applications, a suitable supervisory team needs to be identified. If such a team cannot be identified then the application will be rejected, regardless of whether the prospective student is self-funded or not.
Q.Is there funding for EdD study?
A. No. However, some students have successfully gained funding for their studies from their employers or charities that support educational research.
Q. I have a disability, what additional support can I expect if I choose to study full-time with CREET?
A. Depending on your disability, you may be eligible, if you are full time, to claim an additional maintenance payment to help with expenses that you would not otherwise incur. The Open University is an Equal Opportunities employer and its Office for Students with Disabilities is able to provide advice and help at an individual level on the need for special equipment or arrangements for study.
Q. Is it possible to do CREET's PhD programme as a part-time student?
A. We suspended our part-time programme when we changed our full-time programme to the current model and are encouraging part-time students to apply for the EdD programme which is highly structured and has a high completion rate.
Q. I am thinking of applying for full-time study; how do I write the research proposal, what information are you looking for?
A. Your research proposal is an essential part of your application to be considered for postgraduate research study. We are aware that it is probably also the most daunting part of the application. Because of this we have put together Writing Your Research Proposal, with advice and tips on writing a research proposal.
Q. I am thinking of applying for full-time study; can I get advice on my research proposal before I submit a formal application?
A. If you have checked out our web site and you have thought through all the other issues involved in postgraduate research study, i.e. residency and minimum academic requirements and you are intending to submit a formal application, our strong advice to you is 'go ahead and do it'. We look at the research proposal as part of the overall picture of an applicant. It is easier for us to give you advice on your research proposal when we have received the application and your first outline of your proposed research. If the advice you need is on whether or not your research topic is suitable, browse this site, look at the Centre's work and at the projects our students are researching. CREET covers a wide range of topics, so we can't show them all, but doing this should help you.
Q. How many students are registered on your postgraduate research programmes?
A. Within CREET we currently have 39 full-time PhDstudents registered on our postgraduate research programmes (the number varies as students can successfully complete the PhD programme at varying times of the year) and 11 part-time PhD students. On the EdD programme there are currently 167 students.
Q. I am applying for full-time study with CREET but cannot come to Milton Keynes for an interview. Is there an alternative?
A. If you live overseas and we offer you an interview, but you cannot take up the invitation, we can arrange to interview you by conference telephone, or by video link, whichever is more appropriate or convenient for you. We only offer interview expenses for travel within the UK or equivalent.
Q. I am thinking of applying for full-time study; if I submit my CV to you can you tell me whether I would be a suitable candidate for postgraduate research study with CREET?
A. The brief answer is no: we will not consider a CV as an application. This is because our application form asks you to supply information about the areas of your background that we think are relevant. It is also very important to study all the information on our web pages about residency requirements and about the minimum academic requirements needed for postgraduate research study, and to read the answers to any relevant questions in this FAQ section. The form also gives you ample opportunity to tell us about any experience that you think would be relevant. When we have your completed application form we are in a much better position to give you feedback on whether we feel you would be a suitable candidate for postgraduate research study with CREET. Your CV on its own is insufficient.
Q. I've downloaded a document from this site but cannot open it?
A. A number of documents available for download from this site have been created using Adobe Acrobat software. To be able to read these documents you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer. This software can be downloaded free-of-charge from the Adobe homepage (http://www.adobe.com) by clicking on the 'get Acrobat Reader' icon. Alternatively, you can contact us for a printed version of the document.
Q. Will you be holding any Open Days for prospective new students?
A. Attending an Open Day is an opportunity to meet with our students and supervisors. You can discuss your research interests, see our research facilities and hear about some of our current research projects. Open Days are organised each year. Those thinking of applying to study our EdD programme as a distance-learning student are also welcome to attend the Open Day which is usually held in October, and there will be specific information on the EdD and it would provide an opportunity to meet prospective supervisors.
Details of forthcoming Open Days will be posted on this site's homepage.
Q. Will I have to live in Milton Keynes if I am a full time PhD student?
A. CREET's full-time research degrees are taught at the Open University's Walton Hall Campus (Milton Keynes, UK). Therefore, if you are accepted onto one of these programmes, you will need to live within a reasonable travelling distance of Milton Keynes – normally this should not exceed 40 miles or 40 minutes travelling time and attend the campus on a regular basis. Our full-time students play a welcome part in our research activities and their presence makes a valuable contribution to our research community.
Q. What accommodation is available?
A. Full-time postgraduate research students receive a guide to living in Milton Keynes produced by the Open University Research School. This guide provides valuable information including how to go about finding accommodation, types of accommodation, residential areas of Milton Keynes, research student induction and the residential accommodation adviser.
The guide advises that as soon as you have accepted your studentship, you should start thinking about looking for accommodation. Most students tend to live in 3-4 bedroom houses either living with friends or moving into vacancies which arise in established student households throughout Milton Keynes. One bedroom apartments are available but tend to be almost the same price as 2/3 bedroom accommodation. Most property agencies require 6 or 12 month leases to be signed. Many people find it best to take out a 6 month lease in the first instance because this gives them a chance to meet people. At the end of the 6 months you may want to move or get a house together with friends you have made from the OU.
The cost of accommodation within Milton Keynes varies according to the size and location of the property.
Q. What is it like to live in Milton Keynes?
A. Once accepted as a full-time postgraduate research student you will receive a guide to living in Milton Keynes produced by the Open University Research School. This guide provides information on what it is like to live in Milton Keynes including social and leisure facilities, sports and activities, music, theatre, cinema, night life and a pub guide.
Useful Web resources:
The Open University's Postgraduate Student Society (PGSS) organises monthly events for students including discos, bar quizzes and pub crawls. More details about the PGSS can be found on the Web at http://www.open.ac.uk/pgss/
The OU Club exists to provide social and recreational facilities. Postgraduate students are welcome to join affiliated clubs which include, among others, a film society, chess club, various sports clubs, astronomy club, choir, CD library etc. More information about the OU Club and its affiliated clubs can be found on the Web at http://www.open.ac.uk/ouclub/
Information on Milton Keynes itself, including information on shopping, bars, cinemas, theatre, gallery, parks, lakes, canal and river walks, cycle paths, villages and leisure facilities, can be found on the Web at http://www.mkweb.co.uk