How to apply for postgraduate study with CREET
Recruitment of full-time funded and self-funded postgraduate research students in CREET starts early in January or February each year and the first round of interviews usually takes place in late April/May. For funded studentships, a further round of advertisements and interviews may take place if additional studentship opportunities become available. Self-funded students need apply by 1 June. Registration of all accepted full-time students is completed by August, ready for the start of studies on October 1st.
More detailed information about the University’s admissions and acceptance policy for full-time research students can be found in its Research Student Handbook document.
EdD students should apply through the Research School initially on +44(0)1908 654882 or 659616 or email research-degrees-edd@open.ac.uk.
Application procedure
PhD
For details of the application procedure and an application form, go to the resarch degree prospectus. The completed form, together with a brief outline of your research proposal (1000–1500 words), should be sent to the Open University's Research School, Charles Pinfold Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. The outline research proposal is an essential part of the application and a key factor in the selection of candidates for interview. We have put together advice and tips on writing a research proposal.
Applicants will not be invited for interview unless appropriate supervisory expertise is available. Research School policy is that each student should have two internal supervisors. Where there is a possible match between a supervisor's and an applicant's research interests, academic references will be taken up and the applicant called for interview. If an eligible supervisory team is not available or there are no expressions of interest in the proposed research, the applicant will be informed that we are not able to offer a place on the PhD programme.
The interview panel usually consists of the Director for Postgraduate Studies, the Associate Director for IET (for applications in the area of technology-enhanced learning), one or more prospective supervisors and possibly an invited member of staff who may have a particular interest in the application concerned. At interview, the panel will discuss your research proposal and may ask you to expand on aspects of the proposal. Information is also sought concerning your previous training in research methods (i.e. the nature of taught courses in research methods, final-year project and/or masters’ dissertation work), computing skills (including use of data-analysis software), and bibliographic skills. This allows the interview panel to assess your current and future training needs.
The research proposal and interview performance are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Fit with CREET research
- Entry level subject knowledge (i.e. knowledge of theoretical and recent research literature pertaining to the proposed research area)
- Rationale for the proposal, (i.e. the relationship between the proposed design of the research, the research questions and/or hypotheses and the proposed method of analysis)
- Knowledge and understanding of proposed research methods, (i.e. why certain methods have been proposed in comparison with alternatives)
- Feasibility of the research design (i.e. the scale and context of the research; proposed sampling methods; data collection methods and possible sources of bias)
- Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between analysis, interpretation and theory
- Knowledge and understanding of the ethical considerations that need to be taken into account in the conduct of the research
- Knowledge and understanding of the process of research and knowledge generation (i.e. the need for research to be generalisable and replicable).
An interview offer will be accompanied by a request to provide, or send in advance, an example of recent written work. To comply with University regulations, interviewees are expected to provide proof of the qualification(s) needed to meet our admission requirements.
At the end of the interview, the panel chair will explain the admissions procedures and give a brief overview of supervision practice and research training provision. It is important that, if offered a studentship, you are fully informed of what is involved in undertaking full-time PhD study in CREET and that this information feeds into any decision you make about acceptance.
Travel costs are reimbursed to UK applicants who are invited to an interview.
EdD
If you are an EdD applicant the procedures are slightly different. After completion of the application form your qualifications will be checked. EdD applicant’s proposals are required to be 3,000 words in length and include a demonstration of an understanding of the literature and context for the proposal and detailed explanation and justification of the proposed research methods. The initial application and research proposal to join the EdD programme needs to be in by the end of November. The programme begins in May each year.
General enquiries
Before contacting CREET, please make sure that you have read this entire website (in particular the Frequently Asked Questions section). If you are intending to undertake full-time postgraduate study please also read the Research Student Handbook.
If, after consulting these sources, you have an unresolved query regarding CREET’s postgraduate research then please contact:
Anne Foward
Research Student Coordinator
Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology (CREET)
The Open University
Stuart Hall Building (Ground Floor)
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
Phone: +44 (0)1908 655364
Email: CREET-Student-Enquiries