Athabasca University offers Doctor of Education – Distance Education, a professional doctorate in Education & Teaching programme in Athabasca, Canada. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered fully online. It carries 18.0 credits (credits). Tuition is CAD 57,024 per total for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Professional Doctorate
Field:Education & Teaching
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Online
Credits: 18.0 (credits)
Local tuition: CAD 57,024 / total
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Doctor of Education – Distance Education at Athabasca University is an 18-credit doctoral program delivered mainly online, with a required five-day on-site orientation. Coursework consists of six core online courses delivered as paced study with defined start and end dates, followed by a candidacy exam and a dissertation with defence. Admission occurs once a year, with a January 31 deadline and a May start, and students are organized into cohorts of roughly 12. Completion typically takes about four years, with a maximum of five years allowed. The program targets mid-career professionals working in distance education, adult education, continuing education, and policy development and implementation, as well as academics and instructors seeking research specialization in distance education, instructional design specialists, and senior-level managers and program planners. Its research focus spans examination of practice, theory-building, and basic research within the field. The cohort structure and largely online delivery, combined with a single short on-site requirement, are intended to accommodate working professionals who cannot relocate for full-time doctoral study but want to pursue original research in distance and open education.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:85.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a master's degree, preferably completed with a thesis, in a relevant field, along with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 (85%). Applicants must also demonstrate significant experience in open and distance learning. There is only one EdD intake each year, with the application deadline in January and classes starting in May. All new students must attend a mandatory one-week orientation held in Edmonton or Athabasca as part of the admission process.
Application Details
Start Date:May
Application Deadline:January 31 (one EdD intake per year)
