Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
This PhD provides an opportunity to select a topic of your choice linked to our expertise within the broad field of adult education and lifelong learning.
This PhD provides an opportunity to undertake research within the broad field of adult education and lifelong learning. Adult education and lifelong learning encompass a wide range of learning situations from informal through to formal education and the workplace.
Research themes for this PhD can include:
- Lifelong learning in any context including workplace, community, and formal education, plus informal learning in the family or elsewhere
- Lifelong learning at any age including childhood, young adulthood, mid-life, and/or later years
- Lifelong learning as it relates to career development work, coaching, counselling, early childhood practice, psychotherapy, social work, and/or social policy
- Theories of learning
- Professional and vocational education
- Popular and radical education
- Issues of culture, class, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual identity, and/or disability
- Access to learning, retention, and drop-out
- Transitions, learner identity, and career development
- Transformative learning
- Motivations to learning
The above is not an exclusive list of research areas and you are free to propose additional topics or themes: Research proposal guidance.
We provide this named PhD route covering a range of professional and academic areas linked to lifelong learning. This results in a PhD with the named route 'Adult Education and Lifelong Learning' on the University transcript. If you prefer to follow a PhD without a named route, there are also strong links between this PhD and our Open Professional Studies Route PhD (P-X3S1). So this option can be pursued.
Hear from our students
"The essence of my Ph.D. at Warwick was centred on how coaching clients experienced using creativity in their coaching sessions and the effects of this. As a professional international coach this was important, this can give people a way of accessing meaning through non-verbal communication, particularly when using a second language and for all, a way of voicing the unspeakable; that which is difficult to say. Our company provides training, coaching, training of coaches and facilitation globally. To date, we have worked in 74 countries over the last 25 years, for the UN, NGOs and in post conflict zones. To discover that creativity entwines the conscious and unconscious gives opportunities for people we work with to become more authentic as they move forward. My research adds gravitas to the important work that we do."
CLL PhD graduate, Dr Nat Clegg
Most of our students self-fund their PhD research but it is also possible to apply for scholarships.
CLL currently provides a fees only PhD scholarship for up to two students.
For up-to-date University information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home/EU and Overseas students, please visit Warwick's PGR Fees and Funding webpage. Due to the competitive and restricted nature of scholarship opportunities, you are advised to develop a self-funded ‘back up’ plan.
Hover above the names listed below for a quick overview then click to view the full profile.
Dr Anil AwestiLink opens in a new window
Professor Will CurtisLink opens in a new window
Dr Alan DolanLink opens in a new window
Dr Steve GascoigneLink opens in a new window
Dr Phil GossLink opens in a new window
Dr John GoughLink opens in a new window
Professor Ruth HewstonLink opens in a new window
Dr Nalita JamesLink opens in a new window
Dr Charlotte JonesLink opens in a new window
Dr Tania LydenLink opens in a new window
Dr Phil McCashLink opens in a new window
2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or a good Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Supported by a good research proposal (2500 words)
English language requirements Band B
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above
International Students
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information please visit the international entry requirements page.
- Link opens in a new windowApplications for full-time January 2024 starts are open: apply nowLink opens in a new window
- Applications for part-time January 2024 starts are open: apply nowLink opens in a new window
- Applications for full-time April 2024 starts are open: apply nowLink opens in a new window
- Applications for part-time April 2024 starts are open: apply now
- Applications for full-time October 2024 starts are open: apply nowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
- Applications for part-time October 2024 starts are open: apply nowLink opens in a new window
For full details on applying and preparing a research proposal visit our webpages.
Applications open
Key Facts
Starts: Autumn, Spring, and Summer term each academic year
Level: PhD
Mode: Full-time/Part-time
Course code: X352
Venue: Warwick University