The MA/MPhil/PhD are research programmes aimed at those who wish to gain a postgraduate qualification by conducting primary research in education which is written up into a thesis. Each programme of study is run in the same way, by supervised independent research, but the depth and originality of research differs between the MA, MPhil and PhD. This is reflected in the length of study and thesis: for example, a part-time MA by Research typically takes two years to produce a 25,000 word thesis. A part-time PhD typically takes 5-6 years to produce an 80,000 word thesis. Full-time study usually takes about half the time of part-time study.The shorter MA may suit educators who wish to conduct research into an aspect of their practice and become recognised as research leaders within their schools and colleges, while the longer PhD is aimed at those who are, or aspire to be, senior academic or administrative leaders of primary, secondary, or tertiary educational institutions, or university lecturers and researchers.