Nottingham-Beijing PhD in Education

In partnership with Beijing Normal University Centre for Teacher Education Research and the Institute of Online Education (BeiwaiOnline) of Beijing Foreign Studies University

Full-time only

Start date January 2012

The School of Education of the University of Nottingham, the Centre for Teacher Education Research (CTER) of Beijing Normal University and the Institute of Online Education (BeiwaiOnline) of Beijing Foreign Studies University are renowned for their excellence in research and teaching in education. The School of Education is rated as 6th out of 82 Education departments in the UK in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). CTER is the only Ministry of Education funded national social sciences research centre for teacher education in China. BeiwaiOnline has established its national fame as ‘Expert in Online Language Education’ and is one of the largest online educational institutes in China.

This innovative Nottingham-Beijing Split-Site PhD programme invites professional groups and academics from across China to pursue up to two thirds of their programme of research for a University of Nottingham PhD award at the Centre of Teacher Education Research of Beijing Normal University or BeiwaiOnline of Beijing Foreign Studies University.

This new and rigorous cohort programme is designed to attract those who wish to conduct thematic and complementary research in teacher professional learning and development, leadership, school improvement and teaching and learning in schools, online education and higher education in China and will be supported by academics with deep levels of experience, expertise and publications in these areas.

Key Features

The programme is designed to synthesise a substantial body of knowledge with regard to the work, lives and learning of teachers, school leaders and higher education professionals in contemporary China.

Full-time route, cohort attendance;
A minimum of one year of full registration in Nottingham (maximum 2 years) and the remaining period in Beijing;
Reduced academic fees and minimal UK living costs: second, third and any subsequent years of full registration @ 75% of University of Nottingham International student fee for PhD (100% for the first year);
Supervision by experienced specialist academics with outstanding national and international reputations;
Access to academic supervision and facilities at the University of Nottingham, CTER and BeiwaiOnline;
Supervision conducted by a combination of face-to-face tutorials, email, Skype, video conferences and visits;
Brings together professionals from across China;
Intellectually challenging and practice relevant.
To enable students to engage in a critique.

Research Themes

Research proposals in the following seven areas will be given priority:

Teacher pre-service learning
Teacher learning and development in early, mid and late careers
Teacher identities, individual and organisational commitment, trust and resilience
Teacher competencies and teacher emotions
School effectiveness and improvement
School leadership and leadership development
Teaching and learning in Higher Education
Online multimodal learning and teaching
Technology-enhanced learning

Dr Qing Gu
Course leader: Nottingham-Beijing PhD in Education

Dr Qing Gu is a member of the Executive Committee of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), a member of the Compare Editorial Board, and Reviews Editor of the International Journal of Educational Development.

She has extensive experience of and expertise in designing and conducting mixed methods research in education. Her research interests and experiences have been in the areas of teacher professional development, school leadership and improvement and intercultural learning, with an emphasis upon the application and utilization of research for the improvement of practice.

Full staff profile and publications

Professor Chris Day
Acting Programme Leader (December 2010 - July 2011)

Christopher Day is Professor of Education. Prior to this he worked as a teacher, lecturer and local education authority adviser. He is editor of ‘Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice’ and co-editor of the Educational Action Research Journal. His books have been published in several languages and include The New Lives of Teachers (2010), Routledge; Teachers Matter (2007), Open University Press; Successful Principal Leadership in Times of Change: An International Perspective (2007), Springer; A Passion for Teaching (2004), Falmer; International Handbook on the Continuing Professional Development of Teachers (2004), Open University Press; and Developing Teachers: The Challenges of Lifelong Learning (1999), Falmer Press.

Full staff profile and publications

Entry Requirements

To register for the Nottingham-Beijing Split-Site PhD you need a first or upper second class Honours and a higher degree (e.g. Masters). If you do not have a Masters, then you may apply via the MPhil route:

English Language Ability

If your first language is not English you will be required to provide proof of your English language ability. You must provide evidence of competence in English as follows (minimum required standard stated):

IELTS: Overall 7.0, with no less than 6.0 in each element

TOEFL (internet-based): Overall 100, with no less than 21 in listening, 22 in reading, 23 in speaking and 21 in writing