Future of Work and Professional Development

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD or Professional doctorate PhD or Professional doctorate	PhD: Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Professional doctorate: Part-time: 4–8 years PhD: Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Professional doctorate: Part-time: 4–8 years	October October	November to January November to January

AI is transforming work at an unprecedented pace – reshaping recruitment, redefining skills, and changing how we work. Traditionally examined through a business and organisational lens alone, these shifts demand an interdisciplinary, whole-system approach that connects education – where preparation, upskilling, and ongoing professional development happen – to the evolving world of work.

This is what our group aims to achieve. Coordinated by the Institute of Educational Technology (IET) at The Open University, the Future of Work & Professional Development research group brings together an interdisciplinary team from across the university dedicated to understanding how education, research, work, society, and technology intersect in an era of rapid transformation. We bridge educational technology, labour market and organisational research, and professional development to address a critical question: how do we prepare all learners and professionals for technology-shaped futures?

Our research spans five interconnected strands:

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and an MA or research methods training at MA level (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £12,705 per year Full-time: £12,705 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £6,353 per year Part-time: £6,353 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the Faculty or The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership and others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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