Education (Research)

We are committed to developing our postgraduate students into competent and critical educational researchers able to conduct rigorous and socially impactful research using a variety of methodological approaches.

• The Department of Educational Studies at Goldsmiths is recognised nationally and internationally for its innovative, original, and publicly relevant education research. We encourage research proposals in any of the areas in which the Department has expertise, subject to supervisor availability.

• The Department has about 40 home and international research students. Many of our research students are also practising professionals carrying out research related to their work. Students study either full-time or part-time.

• Students become members of the and they're encouraged to contribute along with staff and other visiting scholars to their seminar series and to the Department’s rich research culture. Additional facilities for research students are provided by the Goldsmiths Graduate School.

• The Department also participates in two prestigious Doctoral Training Partnerships.

• We are particularly interested to hear from those who would like to work within areas such as:

Art practice and learning
Children’s literature and education
Curriculum policy and practice
Social justice and education
Race, politics and education
Progressive pedagogies
Multilingualism
Global education
Education governance
Education policy
Early years education
Comparative education
Educational research ethics as situated practice

Programme aims
To help you:

Identify appropriate issues of educational significance for your enquiry
Select appropriate methods and methodologies by which to investigate these
Appreciate the epistemological and technical assumptions that underpin this choice
Design and execute a well-founded enquiry
Analyse and interpret findings with accuracy, rigour, and originality
Identify the practical and professional implications of educational enquiry
Pursue doctoral training and development and achieve socially impactful research
Build connections with postgraduate alumni working in HE as well as in a range of employment sectors

Structure
We ensure that you’re supported by highly qualified supervisors who you work with to a mutually agreed timetable and maintain regular tutorial contact throughout your research. An induction and research training programme is provided and you’re normally expected to follow this. There is an annual appraisal of your progress, and every effort is made to ensure good communication between yourself, your supervisors, and other relevant members of staff.

You’ll join a vibrant research community with many opportunities to lead and engage in work-in-progress seminars, research clusters, the annual postgraduate conference, create your own research communities, and get support for writing for publication.

You’ll have additional support from the Graduate School, where there’s a lively programme of interdisciplinary seminars, as well as core research training to support your studies. The Graduate School also has its own virtual research community, running in parallel to the physical School and providing online seminars and research training programmes.

All MPhil and PhD students and academic staff are invited to research seminars run by the Department’s three Research Centres: the Centre for Language, Culture and Learning (CLCL), the Centre for the Arts and Learning and the Centre for Identities and Social Justice. In addition to academics from inside and outside the University, research students also have an opportunity to contribute to seminars on work in progress.