PhD in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning (2023)

Key information

• Overview

  This PhD doctoral progamme is designed specifically for professionals, for people who wish to study to an advanced level and carry out a piece of research of the highest possible standard in an aspect of their professional practice.

  The PhD in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning is supported by the expertise of the members of the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning in the Department of Educational Research. You can find out more about the programme by downloading the TEl Programme Enquiry Handbook (2023).

• Who is this programme for?

  This PhD doctoral programme is designed specifically for people who wish to study to an advanced level and carry out a piece of research of the highest possible standard in an aspect of their professional practice.

  Students taking this programme are highly motivated, self-managing individuals who work in positions of influence in any sector of education.

  This programme is suitable for senior managers, policy makers and experienced professionals in all areas of education, consultants and self-employed persons, and those in public and private sector organisations wishing to develop their understanding of the research and practice of technology enhanced learning. Learning technology professionals, educational developers and those with a strong interest in developing distance or blended learning in their courses are likely to be interested. The programme is aimed at those who are looking for a course of relevance to their current responsibilities and who wish to gain a doctorate. The focus of the programme is on educational uses and practices of technology enhanced learning in educational settings and sectors.

  By studying in this programme you will benefit from:

  • a two-year structured set of modules which will introduce you to major research and practice themes in educational uses and practices of technology enhanced learning. Your learning will be paced according to the modules and you will have the opportunity of submitting course work and receiving detailed comment on it from tutors and other course participants;
  • being a member of an online learning community from where you will receive the support of participant and tutor members.

  The research component provides the means for carrying out research into your practice at a personal or institutional level.

  Details about some of our Alumni can be found on the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning People webpages.

• What is Technology Enhanced Learning?

  The term 'technology enhanced learning' encompasses all uses of information and communications technologies in learning and teaching. It is also sometimes referred to as 'e-learning', 'online learning' and 'advanced learning technology'.

  Our programme aligns with a particular aspect of technology enhanced learning, which is 'networked learning' in which there is promotion of connections between learners, one-to-one, or one-to-many; connections between learners and teachers; and connections between members of groups and communities and the social networking that takes place on the Internet. This view of technology enhanced learning as 'networked learning' puts an emphasis on the 'human' aspects of technology in learning, and highlights the need to consider the educational and training values that underpin the use of technology. It questions a simple view of technological determinism and understands technology and learning as each shaping the other.

• What is e-Research?

  The term 'e-Research' indicates an emerging field in which advanced technologies are applied to existing research methods and approaches. This Programme will examine some of the trends in this new field and will lead participants in the use of accessible technologies for carrying out research into technology enhanced learning.

  The term e-Research encapsulates research activities that use a spectrum of advanced ICT capabilities and embraces new research methodologies emerging from increasing access to:

  • Broadband and mobile communications networks, research instruments and facilities, sensor networks and data repositories;
  • Software and infrastructure services that enable secure connectivity and interoperability;
  • Application tools, that encompass discipline-specific tools and interaction tools.

  E-Research capabilities serve to advance and augment, rather than replace traditional research methodologies, but there is a growing dependence on e-Research capabilities. Improved access to knowledge and information will enable researchers to perform their research more creatively, efficiently and collaboratively across long distances and disseminate their research outcomes. Using e-Research, researchers can work seamlessly from desk-to-desk within and between organisations.

  (Video) Technology Enhanced-Learning and an introduction to PhD in TEL - part 1
• Residentials

  There will be two four-day residential meetings in Part One of the programme. These meetings are compulsory and are designed to allow us to get to know each other and form a learning community, and for us to introduce you to wider thinking about e-Research and TEL research, the upcoming programme and modules, the virtual learning platform and associated technologies.

  Cohort 15

  The first year residential dates for our 2022 intake are 28th - 31st March 2022
  The second year residential dates for our 2022 intake are 28th - 31st March 2023

  Cohort 16

  The first year residential dates for our 2023 intake are 27th - 30th March 2023
  The second year residential dates for our 2022 intake are still to be confirmed

  Further information about timetables, accommodation, travel and visas is available on our Residentials web page.

Fees and funding

The fee for each cohort is set annually by the University and represents the part-time fee for that academic year. Once a student is on the programme the fee will be increased in line with inflation for each subsequent year of the course.

The course fee for:

• 22/23 is £4,780 per academic year, for four years minimum, for UK students and £8,550 per academic year, for four years minimum, for international students.

Fees are subject to a small increase each academic year.

To help finance your postgraduate study at Lancaster, you can apply for funding from charities and other funders: further details are available on the Fees and Funding webpage.

Applicants from the European Union can read more information about Research Fees (from Lancaster University) following the 2016 Referendum.

When you apply you will need to indicate your likely source of funding for your fees. If you are not self-funding you should investigate possible sources of finance as soon as you can for the full period of your study. Many students have been supported by their employing institutions.