Overview
The EdD provides rigorous preparation for advanced responsibilities and leadership in the distance-learning field, including:
- planning
- teaching
- directing
- designing
- implementing
- evaluating
- researching
- managing
Research is an important focus, as you will be expected to make an original and significant contribution to their profession as part of your doctoral program. Research opportunities include:
- examination of practice
- theory-building
- basic research
More conceptual or theoretical interests may also be accommodated.
Why take the Doctor of Education in Distance Education?
AU is a global leader in distance education teaching, scholarship, and program innovation. You will be learning from leaders in the field.
As a professional doctoral degree, the EdD program provides a relevant and accessible learning context designed for the working professional. This program may be of interest to:
- mid-career professionals involved in
- distance education
- adult education
- continuing education
- policy development and implementation
- academics, teachers, and instructors who wish to specialize in aspects of distance education research and scholarship
- instructional design specialists
- senior-level managers and program planners
The Doctor of Education in Distance Education is an 18-credit online doctoral program. You must normally complete the entire program through Athabasca University. (Inquire if you have questions.)
Application deadlines and start dates
| Application deadline | Start date |
| Jan. 31 | May |
There is only 1 EdD intake each year. The application deadline is in Jan., and classes start in May. An orientation in Edmonton or Athabasca for 1 week is a program requirement. All courses are online grouped study, with defined start and end dates. As noted above, the program includes a 5-day on-site orientation.
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 4 years of study. You can take up to 5 years to complete all requirements.
Tuition and fees
A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.
The following fees are effective for courses starting Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.
The EdD fees consist of a yearly program fee and individual course fees. The annual program fee is paid in three installments (see the example below). Individual course fees are due by the course registration deadline.
If your tuition is being sponsored by a company or other organization, we will require a Letter of Guarantee.
fees | Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies: | $197 |
| Yearly program fee (non-refundable) payable in 3 equal installments of $1,810 annually: | $5,430 |
Course tuition fee (per course)
EdD Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $306 and a Course Materials fee of $32 per course. The Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $14 per credit is included in the above course tuition fees. | $5,517 |
| Letter of Permission Fee | $100 |
| Course extension fee | $334 |
| Transfer Credit Evaluation Fee (one time) | $348 |
| Course withdrawal processing fee | $453 |
| Continuation fee (per 4 month period beyond the first 4 years of the program)* | $1,810 |
Example:
breakdown of fees | Type of fee | Amount |
| Program Application Fee | $197 |
|
Year 1: Includes admission period, 4 months prior to the first academic year (May – August)
|
| Program fee: 1st installment, due April 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 2nd installment, due January 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 3rd installment, due May 1 | $1,810 |
| EDDE 801: May – December | $5,517 |
| EDDE 802: January start | $5,517 |
| Total for year 1 | $16,464 |
|
| Year 2 |
| Program fee: 4th installment, due September 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 5th installment, due January 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 6th installment, due May 1 | $1,810 |
| EDDE 803: September start | $5,517 |
| EDDE 804: January start | $5,517 |
| Total for year 2 | $16,464 |
|
| Year 3 |
| Program fee: 7th installment, due September 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 8th installment, due January 1 | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 9th installment, due May 1 | $1,810 |
| EDDE 805: September start | $5,517 |
| Candidacy exam (January – August)† | |
| EDDE 806 (January, May, or September start)† | $5,517 |
| Total for year 3 | $16,464 |
|
| Year 4 |
| Program fee: 10th installment, due September | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 11th installment, due January | $1,810 |
| Program fee: 12th installment, due May | $1,810 |
| Dissertation Defence | |
| Total for year 4 | $5,430 |
|
| Total for program | $55,019 |
* Students may take up to 5 years to complete their degree. After year 4 (12 installments of $1,810 already paid) there will be a continuation fee of $1,810 payable each 4-month term.
† Should Candidacy and/or EDDE 806 not be completed in year 3, they may be completed in year 4. Students work towards completing their dissertation in year 4. Please note that students must pay a minimum of 12 program installments even if they complete the program in less than 4 years.
Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025.
Courses
At Athabasca University, our Doctor of Education in Distance Education (EdD) program is thoughtfully structured to facilitate collaborative learning and professional growth. The program is cohort-based, admitting around 12 students each year who will generally progress through the program together, offering you a chance to network and learn within a diverse community of skilled professionals. Your journey kicks off with a mandatory 5-day orientation, combining instruction, program planning, and community-building activities. The coursework is paced and sequential, featuring 6 core online courses along with important milestones like the proposal defence and dissertation, ensuring you meet the highest standards of proficiency in scholarship, research, and teaching.
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Doctor of Education in Distance Education.
Our program regulations can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in.
Program regulations
Courses to explore
Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program.
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Career options
With a Doctor of Education in Distance Education from Athabasca University, you'll be well-equipped for high-level roles in distance and adult education, including academic research, policy development, and program planning. Whether you're eyeing positions as a senior educational administrator, instructional design specialist, or a consultant in educational technologies, this credential will give you the expertise to lead and innovate in your field.
Depending on your experience and goals, some careers may include:
- chief learning officer
- professor
- academic researcher
- director of distance education
- academic dean of online programs
- education policy advisor
- senior instructional designer
- research director in educational technology
- educational consultant
- program director for adult education
- university provost
- educational technology strategist