School of Education
Admission PhD
Call for Applications to the Doctor of Philosophy Programs (2026)
Click here for PhD Guidelines
Education Leadership
Department of Educational Leadership wants to recruit Ph.D. candidates having good track records of research experience with publication portfolios or experienced practitioners in the field of educational leadership. The thematic concentration for the Ph.D. project should be aligned with one or more of the following areas: educational entrepreneurship, instructional leadership, policy and governance, digital leadership, ECD leadership, progressive education, school effectiveness, organizational development, and project and program designing in school.
Development Studies
Ph.D. in Development Studies at Kathmandu University School of Education expects candidates to link education and development as a social process. We welcome candidates with rigorous and critical engagement on social and development theories and research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) on education and development in general, and specifically under the themes of education for employment, adult and youth education, education for sustainable development, ethics, and integrity in education and civic education.
English Language Education
The Department of Language Education would welcome candidates having sound orientation(s) in interpretive, critical, and postmodern research paradigms. The applicants are expected to be from both humanities and education streams, willing to contribute to transdisciplinary/interdisciplinary scholarship embracing contemporary questions and contestations underlying/across the fields of Cultural Studies, Applied Linguistics, (English) Language Education, Teacher Professional Development, and Multilingualism. Critical discourse analysis, rhetorical discourses, ethnographies, case studies, action research, and narrative inquiry will be some of the methodological focuses of the Department.
STEAM Education
Guided by the overarching research question- whose interest is being well served by existing educational processes and systems?, an applicant for a Ph.D. in STEAM Education should demonstrate a strong interest (through concept notes and earlier publications) in research domains such as transformative learning, art integration into STEM areas, school transformation, by promoting epistemological pluralism through post-qualitative research spaces (such as but not limited to, autoethnography, participatory action research, ethnography, narrative). Of particular focus, the prospective scholar should have engaged in the field of inquiry via sociocultural perspectives arising from Eastern and Western intellectual and wisdom traditions and driven by the ethos of STEAM educational research as/for transformative professional development.
Early Childhood Development
The PhD applicants of Early Childhood Development (ECD) need to have a deep transformative understanding of educational research, intercultural communication, diversity, equity and inclusive innovation; spirituality and culture-responsiveness in young children, their teachers and families and policy developers. The applicants are expected to explore strengths and areas of improvement, taking responsibility with care and respect for continuous growth. The applicants should demonstrate a strong willingness to develop integral perspectives, explore and contextualize global research phenomena, and contribute to the global knowledge community through their local cosmological research endeavours.
School Counseling and Wellbeing
The PhD program in School Counseling and Wellbeing is designed to foster person-centered transformative practices and critical praxis that address the psychological, emotional, and academic needs in educational settings. Through reflective and action-oriented learning, the program encourages professionals to challenge existing norms and implement innovative, evidence-based counseling strategies. With a focus on mental health, holistic development, and social justice, the program equips professionals to create safe, inclusive, and supportive school environments while leading wellbeing initiatives. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and research to confront the diverse challenges in education. Graduates are prepared to take on leadership roles in research, policy development, and counseling services in educational institutions, driven by a deep commitment to wellbeing concerns.
Entry Requirement for PhD Programs above:
- 17 years of formal education
- A minimum of 60% score in aggregate or CGPA 3 out of 4 in the last degree in related fields.
- Applicants are required to submit their research proposal along with the application.
- An MPhil degree and publications of research articles are preferred.
Adult Learning
The PhD program in Adult Learning will be interdisciplinary in nature as it aims to utilise perspectives and practices arising from the intersection of curriculum and instruction, continuing education, teachers' professional development, professional studies and community education. This program is intended for passionate individuals or professionals, not limited to teachers and teacher educators, who seek the skills and credentials for advancing their practice-driven careers. It offers rigorous theoretical and practical orientation for practitioners aspiring to become leaders in fields associated with adult learning. We envisage that multiple epistemic frameworks enable research students to be creative and innovative in their research productivity, thereby serving as platforms for them to explore wider avenues in adult learning.
Entry Requirement for PhD in Adult Learning: Minimum 17 years of schooling with a Master in one of the Adult Learning (e.g., curriculum and instruction, continuing education, professional development, professional studies, community education, and other relevant areas of study). MPhil or equivalent in the relevant field of study is desirable. In case of less than 17 years of schooling, a bridge course of a semester (minimum 15 credit hours) is to be taken in consultation with the supervisor(s). Minimum CGPA 3.0 out of 4 in the terminal degree for the CGPA system, and minimum first division in the yearly system.
Note: The selection committee of the School of Education reserves the right to select (or otherwise) scholars for Ph.D. programs based on their scholarly merits. Applicants unable to demonstrate adequate knowledge and academic skills in the chosen area will not be selected.