Accessibility statement

Literacy and social justice

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

Qualifications
PhD or Professional doctorate

Duration
PhD:
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years
Professional doctorate:
Part-time: 4–8 years

Start dates
October

Application period
November to January

The Literacy and Social Justice research area at The Open University is in the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport. It focuses on various themes such as digital literacies, pedagogy, educational practice, broadening literacy, children’s experiences, and agency. Our research draws upon various qualitative and quantitative methods and diverse theoretical orientations.

Entry requirements

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.

Potential research projects

Reading for pleasure
The educational use technologies in education
Understanding local and international literacy programmes and resources
Children’s conceptions of play and learning
Learner agency in urban primary schools in disadvantaged areas
Literacy experiences, young children’s intentions, identities and affective relations with text

Current/recent research projects

Home and school literacy practices of children
The role of mentoring developing adolescents
Teaching assistant-teacher interaction in primary school
The role of fun in learning across multiple cultures
Exploring the use of picture books and primary school children’s spirituality
Self-belief and student behaviours on the achievement of target grades in sixth-form
Early career teachers' experiences of classroom observation
Transition from primary to secondary school
Marginalisation and girls' valued capabilities through the lens of education
Adolescent’s perceptions of dyslexia, school and learning
Educational experiences of refugee children