ºÚÁÏÉç

Ph.D. Educational Studies: Gender and Women's Studies

Woman working on laptop

ºÚÁÏÉç

Red Location IconProgram Location

Red Student IconStart Term
Fall Semesters

Red Book IconProgram Type
Thesis

Red Calendar IconSchedule
Full-Time/Part-Time

Red Clipboard IconCredits
20+ Credits

Red Clock IconAverage Duration
Up to 6 Years

Ìý

Red Student IconAdministered by
Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE)

Ìý

This interdisciplinary program combines educational research with feminist and intersectional perspectives. Students explore how gender, sexuality, race, class, and other identities shape learning, leadership, and policy, gaining the tools to advance equity and social justice in education.

Have questions?

grad.dise [at] mcgill.ca (Contact a Student Affairs Coordinator)

Ìý

Full Program Details from the Course Catalogue

Educational Studies (Ph.D.): Gender and Women's Studies

Offered by: Integrated Studies in EdÌý(Faculty of Education)ÌýÌýÌý
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (14 credits)

Course Title Credits
EDEC 700Proseminar in Education 1.2

Proseminar in Education 1.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Students will be exposed to a wide range of educational theory and research as faculty members present the theoretical underpinnings, methodologies, and applications of their various programs of research.

EDEC 701Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination.0

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination.

Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025

Comprehensive examination.

EDEC 702Proseminar in Education 2.2

Proseminar in Education 2.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

First-year doctoral students will be exposed to more advanced level of educational theory and research to experience the multidisciplinary nature of educational inquiry.

EDEC 703Ph.D. Colloquium.4

Ph.D. Colloquium.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Second-year doctoral students will have formal and informal opportunities to present their work for critical discussion and dialogue. Students will also discuss fundamental issues and questions in the field of education.

WMST 601Feminist Theories and Methods.3

Feminist Theories and Methods.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Examination of feminist theories and research methods from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

WMST 602Feminist Research Symposium.3

Feminist Research Symposium.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Discussion and development of participants' research in gender and women's studies.

Note: EDECÌý701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. is normally taken at the end of the second year for Ph.D. 2 program entrants and at the end of the third year for Ph.D. 1 entrants.

Complementary Courses (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

Course Title Credits
EDEC 630Ethnographic Approaches to Research .3

Ethnographic Approaches to Research .

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ethnography as a qualitative research approach that allows researchers to conduct in-depth studies of complex social and cultural practices. Hands-on experience in ethnographic field work and practice ethnographic research methods are offered. Focus on history and application of a range of ethnographic approaches including traditional, critical, visual, activist, institutional, and collaborative ethnography.

EDEC 706Textual Approaches to Research.3

Textual Approaches to Research.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Survey a range of research strategies including philosophical, theoretical, historical, narrative, and autobiographical methods of textual analysis.

EDEC 707Interpretive Inquiry.3

Interpretive Inquiry.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Focus on issues of voice, reflectivity, and representation when using interpretive frameworks in qualitative research.

EDEM 692Qualitative Research Methods.3

Qualitative Research Methods.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Theoretical and practical exploration of the foundations of qualitative methods, with emphasis on underlying principles.

One course, at the 500 level or higher on gender/women's issues, to be chosen from the approved list (available from the ºÚÁÏÉç Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies) in consultation with the Doctoral Advisory Committee depending on the student's background and research interests. In some cases, additional courses may be required or recommended by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

p>

Ìý

Graduate Supervision
Click the button below to reveal a list of potential supervisors.
(Note that individual supervisors may list further details, such as when they are taking new students and application instructions in the Graduate Supervision section at the bottom of their individual profile pages.)

Ìý

Eligibility (Admission Criteria)

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

  1. Possess a Master's degree.
  2. A minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies. International applicants can look up grade equivalencies on ºÚÁÏÉç’s Future Graduate Students website.
  3. Have relevant practical or research experience informing your proposed area of research. You will be asked to demonstrate this eligibility criterion in your supporting documents.
  4. Proficiency in English. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, or from a recognized institution in Canada or the US (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English.
  • IELTS with a minimum overall band of 7.0; (with a minimum writing score of 7.0); or
  • TOEFL:iBT (Internet-based test) – total score of 92 with a minimum score of 22 each for the Writing and Speaking sections and a minimum of 20 each for the Reading and Listening sections and PBT (paper-based test) – 580
(The Department reserves the right to evaluate the applicant's language proficiency before initial registration and at the time of application.)

Applicants without an Education degree or who do not meet the minimum requirements should include a clear rationale and supporting documents, as applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Ìý

Application Process & Required Documents

All applications are done through . The application steps and instructional video are on the University's Future Graduate Students website. The following documents must be part of your application: (Note that all uploaded documents to the portal must be in PDF format.)

1. A complete application form (accompanied by your application fee payment). You will be asked to name up to three (3) potential supervisors as part of your application. (See the Graduate Supervision section above for more details.) Be sure to fill in your citizenship and residence status correctly, as this affects potential tuition and fee charges, as well as funding considerations.

2. A copy of your unofficial transcripts from all previous university-level studies (undergraduate and graduate). Official transcripts are required to be submitted by those who gain admission to the program. (Instructions on sending official transcripts will be sent upon acceptance.)

3. A current working CV/resume. Follow the advice for standard academic CVs (and not the standards for business professionals). You should be able to find examples and templates by searching reputable online sources.

4. Letters of Reference: Within the online application, applicants must provide valid institutional e-mail addresses for two (2) references. At least one reference must be from a university-level instructor; the other may be from an administrator in an educationally relevant context. ºÚÁÏÉç will contact the referees directly to submit their letters of reference.

5. Research Statement: (1,000 words in APA format). Your Research Statement should address the following prompts:

  • What problem or issue do you propose to research during your PhD? Why is that problem or issue important to address?
  • How do your research interests build on your previous studies, professional experience, and/or lived experiences? (Please reference any existing publications that has inspired your research interests.)
  • How do you think your research ambitions can be supported by your potential supervisor?

6. Research Summary: (200 words) A succinct summary of your research statement. This document will be reviewed by prospective supervisors.

7. English Language Proficiency Test Score (if applicable): Please arrange for test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) to be sent to ºÚÁÏÉç directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the ºÚÁÏÉç institution code: 0935.

Ìý

Application Deadlines
Complete applications must be received by the date indicated below.
  • Fall Admission: December 1

As the deadline is firm, please make sure you start your application process early, leaving yourself with enough time to secure the essential components needed for your submission, in particular the transcripts, references, and test scores which can take several weeks to obtain.

Ìý

What to Expect After Submitting your Application

Applications are first processed by the department, with recommended applications sent to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) for further review. Once your application has been fully processed, you'll receive an email notification confirming your status. Successful candidates will be asked to confirm their acceptance via their .

Back to top