At St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Canada, PhD in Educational Studies is offered as a doctorate in Education & Teaching programme. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 26,520 per year (CAD 13,260 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Doctorate
Field:Education & Teaching
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Hybrid
Local tuition: CAD 13,260 / year
International tuition: CAD 26,520 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Ph.D. in Educational Studies is a full-time, 42-credit-hour doctoral program offered jointly by St. Francis Xavier University, Acadia University, and Mount Saint Vincent University, launched in 2011. Delivered in person, it combines an intensive on-site summer institute with interactive web-enabled courses, a comprehensive scholarly portfolio, and a doctoral dissertation. Students typically study full-time in the first year, completing coursework and preparing their scholarly portfolio, before moving into dissertation research in subsequent years; the program allows up to five years to complete, though most students finish in about four. The three institutions admit up to 14 students per year in total, with StFX's Curriculum and Leadership and Adult Education departments admitting up to four applicants annually. Admission depends on the availability of a supervisor whose expertise matches one of six theme areas: curriculum studies, literacy, inclusive education, lifelong learning, educational foundations and leadership, and psychological aspects of education. Administration and course delivery are governed collaboratively across the three institutions. The program suits experienced educators and researchers seeking advanced research training and preparation for leadership roles in academic or professional organizations, with graduates going on to work as curriculum developers, professors, researchers, or education policy advocates.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:80.00 / %
Admission Requirements: This Ph.D. in Educational Studies is delivered jointly by StFX, Acadia University and Mount Saint Vincent University as the Nova Scotia PhD Program in Educational Studies, and admission runs through that joint program rather than StFX alone. Candidates must hold a completed Master's degree from a recognized university in education or a related field that has prepared them for doctoral-level scholarship in one of the program's six theme areas (curriculum studies, literacy, inclusive education, lifelong learning, educational foundations and leadership, or psychological aspects of education), normally including a completed graduate thesis; applicants without a thesis must instead submit a qualifying research paper demonstrating research competence. A minimum average of A- or 80% in the highest degree completed is required. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the program's English-language proficiency requirement of IELTS 7.5-9.0 overall with no individual band below 7.0. The application package must also include three letters of reference (normally two academic and one professional) and a letter of intent naming a proposed area of study; admission is competitive and limited to 14 students per year across all three institutions, with StFX's two departments admitting up to four applicants annually where a supervisor is available in the applicant's area.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply directly to StFX: for September 2027 entry, applications open 15 September 2026 and the general deadline is 1 September 2027, though competitive programmes such as the 4-year BScN (3 March 2027) and Bachelor of Education (1 December 2026) close much earlier; January 2027 entry closes 9 December 2026 and May 2027 entry closes 12 April 2027. International applicants must apply by 30 May 2027 for September 2027 entry (late applications reviewed case-by-case depending on visa timing) and by 30 September 2026 for January 2027 entry, confirming by 30 October 2026. Admission is not open-ended rolling; each intake has a firm published deadline, though the general Fall deadline stays open until 1 September while seats in non-competitive programmes remain. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
