phd by publication uk

PhD by publication

PhD awards for published researchers

Explore how you can turn your existing peer reviewed research publications into a PhD qualification

What is a PhD by publication?

A PhD by publication is a postgraduate research degree that's based on research you've already undertaken and had published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with us.

Depending on the subject area, peer reviewed academic papers, complete books, chapters in anthologies, or equivalent materials accepted for publication, exhibited or performed may be eligibl e. You'll have to submit these materials for examination between 6–12 months after registering with us.

These materials will be accompanied by a commentary of 5,000–10,000 words, which outlines your work's coherence, significance and contribution to knowledge, and you'll be examined through an oral defence of your research, known as a viva voce. Applicants must have held a first or higher degree from a UK higher education institute – or a recognised equivalent non-UK degree of the same standard – for at least 5 years.

Once you've been awarded a PhD by publication, you'll be in a great position to move onto further research or to use your new postgraduate qualification to progress your career.

The cost of getting a PhD by publication in most of our subject areas is £4,500 for external candidates – check your research subject area page for more details.

How to apply

To be considered for a PhD by publication, you'll need to have held an undergraduate or postgraduate degree – awarded either by a UK higher education institute or a recognised non-UK equivalent – for at least 5 years.

To apply you'll need:

A CV and the names of two referees
A title of the proposed PhD
A listing of the published work on which the application is based
A statement of not more than 1000 words setting out your view of the nature and significance of the work submitted

Apply from the relevant subject area page .

If your application is successful, you'll need to submit the already-published materials – those that you wish to be considered as part of your PhD by publication award – between 6–12 months after registering with us.

PhD by published work

The PhD by published work route is intended primarily for mid-career research-active academics who, for one reason or another, haven’t had the opportunity to undertake a research programme leading to a PhD.

Submissions for this award will consist of a coherent body of work which is of the same quality, rigour and volume as required of a standard PhD in your field and which constitutes an original contribution to knowledge.

We welcome applications from Westminster staff and from outside the University. Applications are considered on their merits within the relevant colleges and applicants are advised to approach the relevant members of academic staff for an informal discussion before applying.

If your application is successful, you will be assigned one or more supervisors who will advise on which of your publications should form your final submission to be examined and how your commentary should be written. The commentary (15,000 words) describes the aims of the research you’ve undertaken to produce your publications, incorporates an analytical discussion of the main results and puts the total work submitted in context.

What kind of publications are considered to be appropriate for a submission via this route?

books and book chapters
refereed journal papers
Other media/other public output (eg architectural or engineering designs)
The submission of a single book, work or artefact is also possible
The body of work may not include any material produced more than ten years before the date of submission

How do I apply?

You should first make contact with the relevant academic or relevant College for an informal discussion of your publications and how they might be considered for a PhD by Published Work. If you decide to apply, you will make an application in the normal way.

What should my application consist of?

In addition to the standard application process, your application should also include a portfolio of publications, accompanied by a proposal not exceeding 2,000 words in length, which contextualises the selected publications, demonstrates their coherence and outlines the intended contribution to knowledge.

View the guidance on how to write your PhD by published work research proposal .

What happens after I’ve applied?

Your application will be considered by a College panel, which will assess the quality and the coherence of your publications and your proposal, and if the panel wishes to take your application further, it will invite you to interview, following which you will receive a decision.

How long will it take from initial enrolment to final submission of the work for examination?

This is a part-time programme which takes a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months.

What should I do next?

Check that you meet the entry requirements and review your options for funding your programme
Find out if we cover your proposed area of research and if there is a supervisory team available

If you decide to proceed, you can find links to apply and all the information you need on our Research area pages .

Fees and funding.

How much will it cost to study a research degree?

Entry requirements

Find out if you can apply for a Research Degree at the University of Westminster.

Research degree by distance learning

Find out about Research Degree distance learning options at the University of Westminster.

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PhD by Papers

Rather than writing a single book-like thesis examining a single topic, a PhD by Papers gives you the choice of writing a thesis comprising of several separate (though thematically unified) papers, in the style of philosophy journal articles.

Birmingham is one of the first philosophy departments in the UK to offer a PhD by Papers option and, although this style of PhD thesis is very popular at top US departments and offers many advantages for students, it is rare in the UK. The advantages include:

Ideas don’t always come in book-shaped packages. Our PhD by Papers format recognises that, allowing you greater scope to follow your interests
If you would like to become an academic philosopher, you will need to publish in philosophical journals, preferably before finishing your PhD. Our PhD by Papers means your work towards publishable papers is always work towards the PhD thesis, improving your academic job prospects along the way

The Department of Philosophy was ranked 1st in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on Grade Point Average (Times Higher Education).

Existing Published or Creative Work PhD -->

Apply online.

Students must apply via one of the following online application forms:-

Closing date for applications is 1st August 2024.

Course starts: 01 October 2024 Apply now

Take the fastest route to a PhD. Convert your previous research outputs into a qualification which will increase your employability and open up new opportunities. Progress your academic career and add credibility in applications for research funding.

A PhD by Published or Creative Work is designed for individuals with an existing portfolio of published work addressing a central research question. This degree will be awarded to a candidate who has critically investigated an approved topic and demonstrated an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field.

A submission for PhD by Published or Creative Work may comprise of academic papers, chapters, and monographs, scholarly editions of texts, creative practice, artefacts, or curatorial production.

A PhD is “probably the most internationally transferable qualification” according to the Higher Education Policy Institute
Typically, candidates are academics with high-quality research outputs who have not previously undertaken a PhD
This is the fastest route to a PhD, usually taking less than 12 months to complete
Based on outputs that you have already produced, such as articles in peer-reviewed journals

Course structure

A submission for PhD by Published or Creative Works may be awarded on the basis of existing published work or creative output that shows evidence of originality and independent critical judgment at the level appropriate for the award. All work should normally have been published in the last ten years and be traceable in publicly available databases such as catalogues and must be accessible to scholars or other interested persons. The work submitted must have been subjected to peer review by the relevant academic community.

There is no defined number of publications but candidates need to ensure that the range of publications demonstrates that their work forms a coherent and significant contribution to knowledge. This should be of an acceptable national, or preferably international, standing. For a substantial proportion of all the publications submitted, the candidate must be the sole or senior author.

If your application is successful, you will be assigned one or more supervisors who will advise on which of your publications should form your final submission to be examined and how your commentary should be written. The commentary (usually between 10,000 and 20,000 words) describes the aims of the research you have undertaken to produce your publications, incorporates a critical discussion of the impact of your work and will be examined through an oral defence.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on [email protected] or 0191 515 3154.

Details of Published or Creative works
Statement of Authorship - This statement is made by collaborating researcher(s) confirming the contribution you have made to the research. This statement is only required if all or parts of the work are the result of collaborative research. Please arrange for the collaborators to complete the pro-forma if this applies to your work
Qualification certificates
Birth certificate or personal details page of the passport
Curriculum Vitae
How and in what respect the work has made a significant and coherent contribution of knowledge.
The impact within its discipline
The methodologies used
An appropriate contextualisation of the research
Clear indication of any parts of the work which may have been carried out in collaboration with other parties/authors

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

£6,000 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled
£7,000 if you are an international student

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article .

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

There is pressure on teaching staff at universities to demonstrate that they have higher qualifications than those whom they are teaching. A PhD is often required for academic posts in research-intensive institutions.

A doctorate is becoming an increasingly common requirement for recruitment and promotion in university teaching roles.

A PhD also adds credibility in applications for research funding.

Doctorates are now held by at least eight out of ten full-time teaching staff in top institutions, based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

The PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work is a fast track for you to gain doctorate-level recognition for work that you have already done. It is therefore well suited to academic staff who would like to develop their careers.

More broadly, the achievement of a doctorate demonstrates your ability to make a major contribution to the development of new ideas, techniques and approaches. There is a strong association between successful postgraduate study and professional employment, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute.

Meet the team — PhD by Existing Published or Creative Work

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For more information please contact the Graduate Research Support team at: [email protected]

Page last updated: 08 February 2024

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The PhD by Publication is an accelerated, part-time PhD award intended for those who have carried out extensive research over a significant period of time and have a number of publications arising from this work which have already been published in high-quality journals.

This should not be confused with the standard PhD (3-4 years full-time).

If you have any questions about the PhD by Publication degree which are not answered on this page, please email us or call us .

What should the word length of the submitted publications be?

Where written publications are being submitted as evidence in the application for admission to the PhD by Publication, the total word length of publications when combined with the critical analysis (15,000 words) should be broadly comparable to that of a submission for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which is typically between 80,000 and 100,000 words. The quality of the journals within which publications have been published will be assessed as part of the application procedure.

Can only standard academic publications be considered?

As well as standard academic or creative publications, for Schools in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, ‘published work’ may include performance, exhibition, installation, media of various kinds as defined in the University’s Award Regulations, provided that it is made available in an appropriate digital or other recorded format.

How is the PhD by Publication assessed?

As well as submitting the published work, candidates for the PhD by Publication need to prepare a critical analysis of around 15,000 words and to undertake an oral examination (viva) on the critical analysis and the published work. The University provides supervisory support for this.

Can it be done in every subject?

UEA currently offer the PhD by Publication within all Schools and Institutes, except for the following:

The School of Education and Lifelong Learning only accept PhD by Publication applications from current members of UEA staff subject also to further conditions listed on the Course Catalogue page, in the Entry Requirements section.
The School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing is not currently accepting any PhD by Publication applications.

How long does it take?

The period of study is six months part-time (0.5FTE), extendable at the discretion of the School or Institute to a maximum of twelve months part-time study.

Who is the PhD by Publication suitable for?

The PhD by Publication may be appropriate for you if:

You have been carrying out research over a long period of time (at least seven years)

This work is already published in high-quality journals (or equivalent as above), forms a coherent programme of research and represents a significant contribution to understanding

You want to seek academic recognition for this work by a doctoral award.

What are the academic requirements of the programme?

The minimum University academic requirement for a PhD by Publication degree is the same as that required for a PhD: you need the equivalent of a 2:1 in a UK Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study. However, depending on which School you are studying in, some may set a higher or more specific entry requirement. If English is not your first language, you may also be asked to provide evidence of proficiency in English language. This will be listed as a condition on your offer letter.

What should I do if I want to apply?

To apply for a PhD by Publication degree, we advise that you take a look at the research areas UEA offers and then contact at least one potential academic supervisor you would be interested in working with, stating your interest. At this point it would be a good idea to read up on your potential supervisor’s research papers that are related to your interests. You will then be able to fill in an application form which needs to contain your formal research proposal. Take a look at our guidance on how to write a research degree proposal .

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Available degrees:
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PhD by prior publication/portfolio
Practice-based PhD

A PhD by prior publication/portfolio will typically take one year. The award allows people who have not followed the traditional academic route towards a PhD to obtain academic recognition for having undertaken and produced research, and developed their research skills and subject knowledge to doctoral level.

This may include people entering higher education in mid-career, especially in practice-based disciplines. Word length for the PhD thesis varies according to discipline; it will include substantial published work and an introductory section of about 10,000 words. On completion it will be the subject of an oral examination, in which you will show how you have:

critically investigated your area of research; and
made an independent and original contribution to knowledge.

Further guidance is available in our PhD by prior publication/portfolio guidelines (PDF).

Students applying to the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment or the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry should also read the additional subject-specific guidance: SEC PhD publication guidelines for PhD by prior publication /portfolio (PDF)

For queries relating to research degree admissions, contact the relevant faculty .
For non-admissions enquiries regarding research programmes, email Rachel Graham .
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PhD by Publication – Explained
Types of Doctorates

Introduction

Obtaining a PhD by publication is relatively uncommon in higher education. It can, however, be especially useful for established researchers who have published work but don’t yet have a PhD. This article gives information on exactly what a PhD by publication is, how it works and what the advantages and disadvantages are. Read on to learn more.

What is a PhD by Publication?

A PhD by publication is a doctoral degree awarded to a person who has several peer-reviewed publications that have been put together as separate ‘chapters’, contributing to a unified research theme within a specific field.

This format typically consists of a significant introductory chapter, up to 10,000 words, similar to a traditional thesis, followed by around five published research papers and a final chapter to bring things to a conclusion. Although these papers will be separate bodies of work, it’s important that they’re connected along one research theme.

This route to PhD can be attractive to researchers that have published a lot in their academic career but have not followed the traditional PhD path. It helps them gain recognition for their contributions to their research field and recognition that the work they have done has been of a doctoral level without having to write a separate PhD thesis.

A PhD by publication is awarded following a viva (also known as an oral examination) with examiners, similar to the process of a traditional PhD.

What are the Advantages?

A clear advantage of a PhD by publication is that you’re submitting a portfolio of work that has already gone through extensive peer review. This means that by the time you come to defend your work at a viva, it’s much easier. For example, the questions your examiners may ask you could be very similar to the questions you were asked by your reviewers during your paper publication phase and so you will already have prepared suitable responses to these.

Another advantage of this route is that it’s a much quicker way of obtaining a PhD degree; traditional PhD programmes take between three and four years from registration to completion whereas you can get a PhD by publication within one year of registration with the University, assuming that you enrol on this degree having already published all the papers that you will include in your portfolio of work. The shorter duration means that you often will only have to pay for one year of University fees, meaning that this approach is cheaper than a traditional method. It’s often possible that you can work any part-time job alongside preparing your publication portfolio for viva examination submission.

What are the Disadvantages?

Not all research fields or questions are suitable for a PhD by publication. In some cases, it may be necessary to design, set up and run a new PhD project in the field, recording the generation of further data. Additionally, it may be difficult to expand upon your previous publications and explore different research ideas as you put together your portfolio of papers. As this approach is a relatively uncommon way to get a PhD, some institutions may be unfamiliar or not set up to facilitate a PhD by publication. While the final viva examination will be the same as that in a traditional PhD, there is always the risk that some examiners may not see this publication route as being a ‘real’ PhD.

You’re also likely to miss out on some other aspects of PhD life by going down the publication route, including opportunities to teach or supervise undergraduate students and the experience of working within a research lab alongside other PhD students.

How Long Does a PhD by Publication Take?

You should expect a PhD by publication to take six months to one year to obtain from your point of registration with a UK University. This is on the basis that you have already published work for all the material that you would plan to include within your PhD portfolio, or that it is currently going through the review process. This approach is shorter than pursuing a traditional PhD, which typically takes between three and four years as a full-time student.

What is the Application Process?

You apply using the standard process required by the university to enrol, in the same way as the traditional route of a PhD. In addition, however, you will be asked to submit a portfolio of your prior publication track record and a supporting statement outlining the work of these existing publications, detailing how they tell a coherent story with the relevant subject area you’re applying to. You won’t need to submit a formal PhD research proposal as most, if not all, of the research should already have been completed.

Do you have Supervision?

Yes, in the same way that a traditional PhD student will have a primary supervisor to oversee your project. The role of the supervisor will be to help you establish a clear narrative for the theme you’re putting together of your publications, offering critical appraisal where necessary.

He or she will advise you on how to structure the introductory and concluding bodies of work that are required before you submit your portfolio for external examination and viva. Remember that the supervisor is there to advise and not tell you how to structure your dissertation; this is the same for any research student doing a standard PhD.

With this researcher-supervisor relationship, your options may be open in terms of whether you need to be based at the University in person or if you choose to work remotely as a distance learning student, communicating with your supervisor over email or video calls.

How does Assessment Work?

The body of work that you submit will be read and assessed by two examiners that are experts within your subject area of research. This will be followed by the viva examination with the two examiners, in line with the conventional PhD approach. To be awarded this research degree you will need to demonstrate that your work has made an original contribution to furthering the subject knowledge within your field.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How Much Does It Cost?

As a PhD by publication usually takes about a year to complete, most universities typically charge a fee equivalent to one year of PhD study. The exact amount will vary depending on the University, but usually, the tuition fee will be around £4,500 for one year for UK and EU students, and considerably more if you are an international student. It’s challenging to secure funding for these types of PhD degrees and you will find that you’re unlikely to be eligible for financial support from research councils or other routes of funding.

What Kind of Publications Can I use in my Portfolio?

Universities will have specific guidance about factors such as how many publications you can include in your portfolio and there may be some restrictions on when they should have been published. Typically, you will include 5 publications in your submission to your PhD examiners, but this can in some circumstances be as low as 3 or 4 or as high as 10 separate papers. Most often these will be in the form of journal articles accepted by peer reviewed journals but can also include published book chapters, scientific or technical reports that have been published or other forms of publication that have gone through a level of peer review.

A PhD by publication is a good way for you to graduate with a doctorate if you enter this research programme having already published several academic papers on a single research theme. You need to demonstrate that you have made a significant contribution to your field through previous research. At this stage it is likely to be the cheapest and fastest route to gaining a PhD. However, applicants should be mindful when they apply that it may be challenging to secure funding for this.

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PhD by Prior Publication

Apply for a PhD by Prior Publication at the University of Surrey.

The PhD by Prior Publication provides a fast-track route to the PhD for people who have built up a portfolio of publications through their professional practice and who are already experienced in undertaking and delivering research projects.

This PhD option is particularly well suited to professionals who have been developing a research career and whose research skills and academic expertise are already at doctoral level. It gives you the opportunity to obtain academic recognition for your work and to benefit from the vibrant, multi-disciplinary research community at Surrey whilst you prepare your thesis with us.

Availability

The PhD by Prior Publication option is available across all subject areas offered by the University. You can find out more about research themes, potential supervisors of your thesis, and facilities by looking on our research programmes list .

Research support

As a PhD candidate at the University, you will have access to the professional development programme provided by the Doctoral College . You will be able to access training in essential skills through our programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will also help you with preparing the next steps in your career after the completion of your PhD.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the PhD by Prior Publication will be either members of staff of the University of Surrey or employed by organisations with an established teaching and/or research collaboration with the University of Surrey.

Applicants must already have had publications accepted or published in reputable outlets before applying for the programme. There is no minimum requirement for the number of publications required but the quantity should be commensurate with the expectations in the discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent). View the exemptions to this requirement.

How to apply

We recommend having an initial conversation with a potential supervisor to discuss your PhD plans before submitting an application. You can browse our academic departments to find the contact details of academics in your area of interest.

For any questions relating to your application, contact [email protected] .

When you are ready to submit a formal application, you can do so using our online application form.

Application requirements

Applications for the PhD by Prior Publication must include:

A list of the publications on which the application is based
The area(s) in which you have been working
A brief description of the research undertaken
A brief statement about when and where the research was undertaken
For any co-authored works, a statement about your contribution to the publication
A declaration about whether any of the publications on which this application is based have formed part of the submission for any other degree awarded to you. Works submitted for any other award will not be accepted as part of your application.
An academic reference from a referee who knows you in a professional capacity.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants meeting the expected entry requirements, assessment of the application, successful interview, and satisfactory reference

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Life Sciences Study

Phd by published research.

The University of Warwick regulations provide for the award of a PhD in respect of research work already published and completed elsewhere.

Please visit PhD by Published Work Link opens in a new window for the general requirements for award of such degrees, University application procedures and how such applications are considered.

Please note that both the above link and the content below relate to the admissions procedure to be allowed to submit for the degree. Whether or not the degree is subsequently awarded is determined by the examinations process: it is possible that an applicant can be accepted onto the programme and, following their formal submission of work for examination, they not be awarded the degree.

The University procedures require that any application be first considered by the relevant School/Department. Only if it gains their support will it be considered further by the University.

Here is important additional information for those external to the University who are considering making an application to the School of Life Sciences for admission to seek a PhD by this route. It describes the framework via which we will decide whether or not to give our support to an application.

Please read the information below carefully before deciding whether to make an application.

To be potentially supported by the School, an applicant will:

have made a significant research contribution rather than just a contribution broadly equivalent in extent to that of a typical internal PhD student at the point of their oral examination
be presenting work that we could, as a School, have competently supervised had the work been done within the context of a standard PhD undertaken in the School, i.e. it concerns a subject that we are able to assess critically
have made research contributions with which one or more members of the permanent academic staff in the School are familiar prior to receipt of the application, i.e. the applicant has an established research reputation.

These requirements are additional to the general descriptors provided by the University.

The School will also need to identify a member of staff willing to act as academic adviser to the applicant after admission, before support for the application can be given.

To allow the School to consider an application in light of these requirements, an applicant should include in the documentation they provide when they submit their application:

the name(s) of one or more members of permanent academic staff in the School of Life Sciences whose research interests are related to the work that the applicant is proposing to submit for the degree

Potential applicants are advised to contact the individuals that they intend to identify, in advance of making the application, to seek their input on the quality of the overall case for admission that they would be making.

Applicants should also note the University requirement to include further contextual information with their application regarding the publications they intend to be considered. This information should include commentary on the profile of journals in which the papers have been published, the candidate's individual contribution to each of their publications (especially for multi-author papers), the coherence of the papers as a single body of work and the significance to the field of the research contribution that they made.

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Types of research degrees

What is a research degree?

Research degrees are the highest level of qualification awarded by universities in the UK, and are at level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) . Candidates carry out an independent research project under supervision over an extended period of time, before submitting a thesis or dissertation consisting of original material.

Research degrees offer a challenging and exciting opportunity to work at the cutting-edge of research: if you have these qualities we can offer a rich, dynamic and supportive environment in which to pursue research. At the University of Exeter, research students are supported by our Doctoral College .

We offer a range of research degrees, including:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Masters by Research (MbyRes)

Engineering doctorate (EngD)

Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Master of Surgery (MS)
Professional doctorates (such as DClinPGR and EngD)

You can find out about the length of each type of degree on our degree durations page.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and MPhil (Master of Philosophy)

The MPhil, although a qualification in its own right, is often used as a route to the longer PhD. A PhD is only awarded when the results make an original contribution to knowledge in the field, which is normally assessed by a written thesis and oral examination.

Thesis / PhD by publication

Research degrees usually involve the completion of a written thesis, although alternatives may be allowed where suitable. Alternatives can include the presentation of part or all of the thesis as a multimedia document or a piece of art, or a record of professional practice in the form of a series of case-studies, which must be accompanied by a commentary. If you are interested in completing a thesis by alternative submission please contact the appropriate department to discuss this during the application process. If you publish research you have undertaken during your studies, it may also be possible to include such work in its published form in your thesis.

If you already have a portfolio of suitable quality published work which demonstrates a coherent research direction, you may be eligible for the PhD by Publication. This option reduces the study duration, and you will work with a supervisor to produce an integrating chapter explaining how the publications form a coherent whole.

How long does a PhD take?

A PhD takes three-to-four years when studied for full time, and six-to-seven years when studied for part time. And MPhil takes two-to-three years full time, and four-to-five years part time.

Can I study for a PhD part-time, distance learning or split-site?

In many instances, it's possible to study your PhD in a way that suits you. This may be part-time, around work or childcare, or from a distance. If you have access to appropriate academic facilities, becoming a split-site researcher may be an option. All off-campus research students receive supervision and support from our staff and are normally expected to attend the University for limited periods.

Further information about split-site study

Further information about part-time study

Details of which research degrees offer distance learning or split-site study are on individual research topic pages.

How can I pay for my PhD?

There are many ways to fund a research degree, from full studentships that pay your tuition fee and a significant living stipend, to small grants from educational charities and trusts. You can find out much more about funding your research degree on our regularly-updated PhD funding pages.

Masters by Research

The MA or MSc by Research lets you obtain a research degree without the commitment of a longer-term PhD. Not to be confused with the taught MRes degree, it’s ideal for people interested in pursuing a specific shorter-term research project, perhaps while working. You will have the option to apply to transfer to an MPhil or PhD.

Professional Doctorates

Professional doctorates combine a significant taught element with production of a research thesis, and are designed to help members of specific professions develop both their academic and professional knowledge (eg educational psychologists, clinical psychologists, teachers and lecturers).

Professional Doctorate, Psychology (DClinPGR)

The Professional Doctorate programmes in Psychology are different from conventional PhDs, which essentially offer training in academic research skills. These programmes all include taught academic and clinical research modules as well as applied psychological practice (DClinPsy and DPPClinPrac) and leadership (DClinPsy and DClinRes). All programmes include a major research project dissertation. Find out more

An EngD is equivalent in level to a PhD and is awarded for industrially relevant research. The degree provides a vocationally oriented approach to obtaining a doctorate in engineering. You can find out more about the EngD degrees we offer on our Engineering page.

Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Master of Surgery (MS)

These professional degrees contain no taught element and, like a PhD, are only awarded if an original contribution to knowledge is made. The degrees require a clinical degree or equivalent. Please see our Healthcare and Medicine page for further information.

PhD Funding

Doctoral College

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August 20th, 2018

A phd by publication is a great way to build your academic profile, but be mindful of its challenges.

12 comments | 50 shares

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Peer-reviewed publications are the bread and butter of the academic world. The quantity and quality of papers a researcher publishes can influence job applications, grant applications, performance reviews, and promotions. Unfortunately, the craft of writing academic papers and facilitating their publication is not typically a focus of doctoral education.

To help better prepare candidates for the realities of academia, universities increasingly allow the option to complete a PhD by publication, a model which encourages candidates to publish during their candidature, and to include their publications as, or within, their final submission. Jørgen Carling has previously outlined the benefits of completing the PhD by publication. While we agree there are many advantages to adopting this model, there are also challenges that need to be considered to ensure success.

We understand many of these challenges, having both completed a PhD by publication in the past five years. In our field (education) and location (Australia), the traditional thesis dominates, and while that is slowly changing, we encountered a range of problems for which there was little advice or support available at the time. Here we anticipate some of the many questions candidates may ask, and offer possible answers based on our experiences and research.

How many papers should I publish?

There is no one correct answer! Regardless of the thesis mode, the goal of doctoral study is to make an original and significant contribution to a field. How many papers it will take to meet this goal will depend on many factors. We found that the average number of papers included in Australian theses was 4.5, but this ranged anywhere from one to 12 papers. Publishing in itself is not a guarantee of conferral of your degree, and quality may be more important than quantity.

Should I co-author with my supervisor?

Doctoral candidates often publish with their supervisors. Supervisors have always assisted their students in the development of their traditional thesis, to differing degrees, but in the past this has gone relatively unacknowledged. Most university guidelines will require candidates to declare each author’s contribution to a paper, and thus a higher level of authorial transparency is achieved. Co-authoring papers gives doctoral students an apprenticeship in writing journal articles, as well as experience in collaborative writing and working in research teams – a regular part of an academic’s job.

Early and frank communication is important. The three co-authored papers in Shannon’s thesis were written in the beginning stages of her candidature when more hands-on support in the process of writing and publishing was needed. She was then well-equipped to write the remaining four papers alone. Margaret’s thesis was unusual as all included papers were sole authored, which was only possible as she had already co-authored two peer-reviewed papers prior to candidature.

We strongly recommend establishing clear mutual expectations between candidate and supervisor as early as possible.

How can I publish everything in time?

The process of preparing a manuscript, submitting to a journal, waiting for reviews, attending to requests for revisions, copy editing, and final publication can be extensive in some fields. This can be very frustrating for candidates who are working to a doctoral submission deadline. It is important to check journal guidelines for their average turnaround times. Once a paper is under review, don’t be afraid to follow up politely once this time has passed.

It is also important to check your PhD-by-publication guidelines, because many universities allow the submission of papers at various stages of production, such as those still under review. This allowance is particularly helpful to ensure the inclusion of papers developed in the later stages of your candidature.

What if my paper gets rejected?

For doctoral candidates just developing their new identities as researchers, rejection can be difficult to take. The reality is that even experienced academics deal with rejection at some time, perhaps more often than they might like to admit! The important thing to remember is that rejection is a normal part of the process. The decision is not always about the quality of the paper, but its fit within that particular journal at that particular time. It is important to become familiar with any journal that you intend to submit to, including the theories and methods that are favoured, and the type of academic voice appropriate for that journal.

What if my papers don’t flow as a thesis?

There are particular difficulties in developing a single submission based on multiple publications, each with their own focus, style, and format, and, as we recently explored , there are a number of favoured options for structure. Nikander and Piattoeva offer useful advice on how to use the integrating chapter to connect papers together.

There are also other issues that might arise from the transformational nature of doctoral study, where students learn while doing. For example, Margaret began to question her use of one of the informing concepts she had used in her early papers. In her subsequent work, she challenged her own simplistic use of this concept. Rather than become discouraged by the discovery of earlier flaws in our work, we understand that as researchers, we will continue to grow and cast a critical gaze over our past knowledge base. We both used the integrative chapter of our theses to highlight these limitations, but also to make explicit the evolution in our understanding; as such, it was a very enjoyable chapter to write!

We found that completing our thesis by publication offered rewards and challenges that were in many cases unique to this thesis mode. That we both emerged as advocates for this thesis type would suggest it is well worth undertaking for those candidates who want their findings to translate quickly and disseminate widely.

To see the authors’ research in this area, please go to their project page on ResearchGate: “ Publishing during PhD candidature ”.

Featured image credit: John-Mark Smith , via Unsplash (licensed under a CC0 1.0 license).

Note: This article gives the views of the authors, and not the position of the LSE Impact Blog, nor of the London School of Economics. Please review our comments policy if you have any concerns on posting a comment below.

About the authors

Shannon Mason is Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Nagasaki University, Japan. Her research interests include teacher attrition and retention, and language education pedagogy and policy. Her experiences completing a PhD by publication in 2017 led to her recent interest in emerging approaches to doctoral education.

Margaret K. Merga currently works as a Senior Lecturer at Curtin University in Western Australia. Margaret primarily conducts literacy research that spans the early years to adulthood. She also explores issues on educational psychology, adult education, higher education and health workforce education. She is currently working on projects related to the role of teacher librarians in fostering literacy in primary and secondary schools.

About the author

12 Comments

Readers may also be interested in our most recent paper, “Early career experiences of navigating journal article publication: Lessons learned using an autoethnographic approach”.

It is available here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/leap.1192

IN VIEW OF COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION, IS ARTICLE COHERENCE THAT NECESSARY FOR PhD BY PUBLICATION?

I agree on practically all you had to say and I appreciate that you have not made emphasis on the need to develop a coherent narrative between the journal papers.

In my previous unanswered reply posts on three PhD blogs I wrote that with low coherence it might not be possible to develop an overarching hypothesis or a general research question covering a number of diverse studies. This however, does not mean that if you are presenting a list of widely varied articles (yet, with a common denominator eg. public health) you cannot show your assessors that you are capable of answering any research question through acceptance or rejection of the null hypothesis. On the contrary, you would probably have covered several hypotheses testing that you would not even know from where to start! After all, it still reflects great competency to be able to publish several loose papers.

I see no academic feat in having a strong element of connectedness between the papers especially if this comes to the detriment of:

(a) the quality or rate of journal submission acceptance in terms of originality. Candidates who successfully manage to achieve a PhD by publications in science normally present no more than three or four papers revolving on the same theme or repetitive methodology with one paper building on the other (there’s a limit on how much you can keep adding onto the previous study to produce a coherent narrative.

(b) the level of the student’s (author’s) widespread generation of new knowledge since the papers would be closely related to each other (strong coherent body).

and (c) the number of papers which can be kept being added (and repeated) onto previous studies.

I feel that the requirement for coherence is not the right way of defending the standards of a PhD by published works, whether retrospective (ie. by prior publications) or prospective (when you start publishing your studies with the university you have registered your application). One has to understand that the point of departure with a PhD by publications (sometimes called, article-based PhD) is totally different from when you decide to undertake a conventional or traditional PhD by monograph with only ideas or proposal in your hands.

So, whereas when you go for a monograph of a single specialised subject it is justified to have a coherent narrative, for a thesis by publication (involving a synthesis, commentary or integrative chapter), which is basically a form of compilation written independently by the student, it is a different story. To start with, you only need to prepare a 10-15,000 commentary constituting a summary of the appended papers, whereas with a one-topic monograph you can go up to 100,000 words and sometimes even more.

Needless to say, the PhD by publication student should clarify the actual contribution to knowledge, especially if the papers are written by several authors. What’s important is that the commentary should not provide new results, but should critique the papers and preferably offer new conclusions since the extent of the journal articles normally does not allow this kind of longer discussion.

In brief, I feel that coherence should not remain central and more weight should be directed on single-authorship, number of papers published, originality and widespread contribution to knowledge. In my opinion, these should be the distinct features of this relatively new type of PhD.

One may wish to contact me personally on [email protected]

Charles Micallef Author of: ‘Critical analysis: a vital element in healthcare research’.

Excellent Write up. I have throughly gone through the article and according to my personal observations, I think it is amazing.Being associated with writing profession, I must mention that https://academicwritingpro.com/research-paper-writing-services/ are quite helpful nowadays. Furthermore, quality is also an important aspect.

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Great write up! Here is one more tip regarding ‘How can I publish everything in time?’ If a PhD student has an R&R with minor revisions, it’s worth noting that in the thesis, especially if it is for a prestigious journal. So even if the student can’t publish in time, they can get credit for almost publishing in time.

Dear Mollie,

Thank you for your comment. Great point, totally agree.

I think it is good to remember that even though the TBP might be ‘packaged’ as a product, it really is more about the process of learning to be a researcher, and that really is never ending. Communicating the different phases at which a researcher is engaging is a great idea. Indeed, I included details of publication rejections that I experienced, and my different reactions to them (by way of emails to my supervisor) at different stages of the journey, an inclusion that my assessors commently highly on.

A PhD by publication is nonsense if the faculty prescribe the journals where your work must be published. who said every journal would like to publish every research? for the university with restricted academic freedom, they mistake some ridiculous rules for having higher bar of pursuing doctoral degrees when the Times Higher Education (THE) ranks far away from their pre-conceived opinions. I submit that PhD by publication is good where freedom to publish in alternative high quality journals exist. absence of that its a total mess!

Dear Peter,

Absolutely agree, and this is something that has been raised in an upcoming study. We absolutely advocate for doctoral researcher agency in selecting the outlets for their publications that are best suited to their study, field, and career stage.

Create an online publication or write a newspaper good writing skills is very important.

Dear All; Thank you very much for the quality article and feedback . It is very interesting topic. I think during Covid-19 the quarantine imposed on people including students, completing PhD using this approach can be very suitable. I have the following questions: – Has the PhD candidate to register in a University? and if so, can you please share the names of the Universities that can accept such type of PhD studies? Many thanks again and best regards Omar

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Dear Authors,

This is a great article. Is Phd by Publication equal merit to traditional route of Phd? What degree title a candidate will get in the route of Phd by Publication?

I think there is still discrimnation in academic field between one who hold phd by Publication and other Phd in Traditional route.

Regards, Yadam

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PhD by Prior Publication

The PhD by Prior Publication award is designed to recognise current Royal Holloway staff members who have produced a significant body of research which is equivalent in standard to a PhD.

Please read appendix 4 of the Research Degree Regulations for further details.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected]

Admissions criteria for the PhD by Prior Publication

In order to be considered for admission on the PhD by Prior Publication programme, you must:

be an established member of the Royal Holloway academic staff`or teaching fellow at Royal Holloway, who has been in post for at least 2 years.
provide prima facie evidence that:
there is a coherent body of work
there is evidence of a significant contribution made to the field
the extent of the work is equivalent to that expected of a standard Doctor of Philosophy

Admissions process

In order to apply for admission on the PhD by Publication programme, you will need to complete the PhD by Prior Publication online application form and pay an initial assessment fee of £250.:

As part of the application, you will be required to upload a 1,000 - 1,500 word supporting statement and any relevant evidence (normally a list of the publications you intend to submit)
Please note that the personal details requested are required details for every student record that is created.
On receipt of the application form, a student record will be created for you and the Doctoral School will contact you with details of how to pay the £250 initial assessment fee.
Once the initial assessment fee has been paid, your supporting statement and the list of publications you wish to submit will be forwarded to the relevant Director PGR Education. The assessment for admission to the programme will be carried out by the member of staff who will be your supervisor and is subject to the approval of the Director of PGR Education.
The Doctoral School will inform you whether your application has been successful.

Process after admission has been granted

If admission is granted, you will be registered on the PhD by Prior Publication.

The fee to be registered on the PhD by Prior Publication is 50% of the standard HomeEU fee i.e. £2,164 for 2019/20. This is in addition to the £250 initial assessment fee.

You will be appointed a supervisor who should:

provide guidance on the coherence and quality of your published work to be submitted for the examination
advise on the preparation of the supporting critical appraisal
provide guidance on the preparation for the oral examination
normally arrange up to 6 supervisory meetings a year

It is expected that you will submit your PhD within 12 months of registration.

Requirements of the PhD by Prior Publication

The candidate must submit the following:

a portfolio of peer-verified outputs which are in the public domain and / or published research which must constitute a substantial and coherent body of work which is comparable to the extent of work required of a standard PhD programme.
a critical appraisal of 15,00 - 30,000 words which must: Demonstrate how the outputs form a coherent body of work, demonstrate methodological and conceptual rigour, articulate the contribution to the field, clarify the individual contribution made the candidate in cases where the work has been co-authored.

Further details can be found in section of appendix 4 of the Research Degree Regulations .

Guidance for examinars

Examiners of the PhD by Prior Publication are expected to:

evaluate the intellectual merit of the candidate's cited published work
establish if a satisfactory case is made for coherence between the publications
assess the contribution to knowledge represented by the publications and made apparent in any critical appraisal
evaluate the rigour with which the candidate has contextualised and analysed his/her publications in any critical appraisal
evaluate the appropriateness of the methods employed in the research and the suitability of their application
assess the candidate's contribution to the various phases of the research embodied in multi-authored works
establish the candidate's 'ownership' of the published work and appreciation of the state of (historical and current) knowledge within the candidate's research area
assess the candidate's research skills in terms of his / her potential as a continuing, independent researcher.

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Higher Doctorates

Higher doctorates are earned awards of the University whose fundamental purpose is to recognise excellence in academic scholarship.

The regulations and administration of higher doctorates have been comprehensively reformed following a review in 2016. The new procedures have been in operation since 2018 and a post-implementation review was conducted in 2021-22. The outcome of that review has prompted the University to suspend applications for Higher Doctorates from the 2023-24 round onwards whilst further work is undertaken to determine what the future of higher doctorates should be.

Applications received in the 2022-23 round which have not yet been resolved will continue to be processed.

The higher doctorates offered by the University are: Doctor of Divinity (DD), Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc), and Doctor of Music (DMus).

A fee of £3,100 will be payable for submission of an application, of which £310 is non-refundable should you not progress to full scrutiny after initial screening.

Eligibility

Any person who is a current member of Congregation (or was a member at the point of retirement from the University) or holds a degree of the University may apply for leave to supplicate for one of the higher doctorates.

Graduates of the University of Cambridge or the University of Dublin who have been incorporated in this University are precluded from supplicating for one of the higher doctorates, unless they are also a current member of Congregation (or were a member at the point of retirement from the University) or hold a degree of the University.

Application

Applications can be submitted on an open basis; additionally departments, faculties and colleges may wish to invite an application from a specific candidate. An invitation to apply does not in itself constitute proof that the work of the candidate is of sufficient significance to merit the award of the degree concerned. This remains a judgement of the responsible body on the recommendation of its judges. For an indication of the academic standard required for one of the higher doctorates, please refer to the examination regulations for Higher Doctorates and to the local guidance prepared by the relevant responsible body.

Applications to supplicate shall be made to one of the following responsible bodies only.

Applications from the Department for Continuing Education will be considered by the relevant cognate area in one of the four divisions. Candidates applying under the auspices of the Department for Continuing Education should contact the Submissions and Research Degrees Team for confirmation as to which division will consider their application.

Application cycle

Applications will be considered on a cyclical basis.

The application window will open on 1 August each year and applications should be submitted using the online application form no later than midnight 31 August. We ask candidates to note that unfortunately applications for a DSc in Medical Sciences will not be opened in the 2021-2022 year, having been postponed for a year under the recommendation of the Education Committee. Applications for a DSc in Medical Sciences are expected to be open as part of the August 2022 application window. Any changes to this information will be published on this web page when available. Candidates should be aware that the processing of applications will normally be subject to the following timetable:

Local guidance

Please read the relevant local guidance for the Higher Doctorate degree you are interested in before proceeding with your application.

Humanities - DD guida nce
Humanities - DLitt guidance
Humanities - DMus guidance
Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences - DSc guidance
Medical Sciences Division - DSc guidance
Social Sciences Division - DCL guidance
Social Sciences Division - DLitt and DSc
University guidance - printable version

Initial application

An initial application submitted for screening will consist of:

a completed online application form
proof of payment of the application fee
a pdf document of no more than 10 sides of A4 (minimum 11pt, single spaced) to include a statement of how the candidate meets the criteria for the award
a pdf copy of the candidates CV
a pdf copy of the list of key / representative publications as stipulated by the relevant local guidance;
a list of any individuals the candidate would like to see excluded from the pool of judges on grounds of conflict of interest, with grounds to be explained. Please note, however, that the relevant responsible body reserves the right to appoint any judge that they see as being the most appropriate person to judge a candidate’s work.

For all higher doctorates, work submitted for other degrees is excluded from consideration. Additionally, at least one year must have elapsed between the publication of any published paper or book and its submission as evidence in support of an application. For work produced in collaboration, a candidate must state in respect of each item the extent of their own contribution.

Screening process

Initial applications will be subject to a screening process to establish if there is a prima facie case for the candidate to be considered for the degree. The nature of the screening process is detailed in the local guidance prepared by the relevant responsible body.

Should the responsible body conclude that there is not a prima facie case for consideration, the candidate will be notified by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team. A fee of £310 will be retained by the University and the remainder of the application fee will be returned to the candidate (£3,100).

There is no right of appeal in relation to a screening decision, although unsuccessful candidates may re-apply at the next available opportunity.

Candidates invited to proceed to full scrutiny will be notified by email by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team.

Full application

Please note: Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, all submissions of published works in support of applications for the University’s Higher Doctorate degrees must be in digital format. Staff are working remotely for the foreseeable future and are unable to receive or distribute any items in hard copy for the 2020/21 application round.

Details of the nature of the submission required for a full application, in terms of the extent and form of publications as appropriate to the conventions of the field, will be determined by the responsible bodies and form part of the local guidance which is available to candidates. If/when judges are appointed, the candidate will be informed and shall then provide two copies of the publications listed in their initial application (either in hard copy or electronically), and a full list of all their publications to the Submissions and Research Degrees Team. Hard copies should be sent to the Submissions and Research Degrees Team, c/o The Examination Schools, 75-81 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BG . (Please read the note at the top of this section regarding the submission of published works for the 2020/21 application cycle) . The previously submitted application form, covering statement, CV, and the key/representative publications list (with their explanation statements), provided at the screening stage will also be used at this point.

Appointment of judges

Once a prima facie case for the candidate to be considered for the degree has been established, the Submissions and Research Degrees Team will liaise with the Chair of the responsible body in whose remit the research submission lies to recommend judges to act on behalf of the responsible body. Nominated judges will be approached during Michaelmas term whilst the candidate prepares their full application. Two judges will be appointed to consider the evidence submitted.

For applications from current members of Congregation, both judges shall be external to the University. For other applications one internal and one external judge may be appointed, or two external judges if an internal judge is not available. The identity of the judges will not be divulged to the candidate at any time.

Conflict of Interest

Prior to appointment judges approached will be required to declare any conflicts of interest that they hold with the candidate. Judges will not be appointed to judge submissions for candidates with whom they have a conflict of interest. For the purposes of judging a submission for a Higher Doctorate, a conflict of interest is defined as follows:

a close professional, contractual or personal relationship with the candidate or who has a financial interest in the research of the candidate
anyone who is already, or knows they will be, in a position to significantly influence the future of the candidate: e.g. on an appointment panel for a post for which the candidate has applied
anyone significantly involved in recent or current collaborative research activities with the candidate
an external judge cannot be a member of a governing body or committee of the University or currently employed by, or taking up a position during the course of judging a submission at the University
the appointment of both external judges from the same department of the same institution.

Additionally, if within the last three years:

the judge supervised or had line management responsibility for the candidate
the external judge was a member of staff or student of the University.

Furthermore, if a judge is aware of any other circumstance that presents a potential conflict of interest with a candidate, they should raise this with the responsible body who will decide if an alternative judge should be appointed.

Should it not be possible to engage judges before the beginning of Hilary Term in the relevant academic year, the responsible body may decline to consider the full application. In such circumstances the full application fee will be refunded to the candidate. Any delay in appointing judges will be notified to candidates together with a revised timetable for judging the submission by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team.

The appointed judges will each produce an independent report assessing whether the candidate’s submission has met the award criteria. The reports and recommendation will be received and considered by the relevant responsible body.

In the event that the two judges’ reports are in conflict, a third judge will be appointed to review the submission without knowledge of the previous judgements. This third judge shall be external to the University and will not be appointed to judge submissions for candidates with whom they have a conflict of interest as defined above.

Candidates will be advised that there has been a delay in receiving the judges’ reports on their submission and a revised timetable for the outcome of the submission will be provided to the candidate by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team. It will normally be expected that the third judge will review the submission over the Long Vacation with the relevant responsible body receiving the report in Michaelmas Term.

If the judges decide that the candidate’s submission merits the awarding of a Higher Doctorate, and this is endorsed at a meeting of the relevant responsible body, the candidate will be granted leave to supplicate for one of the higher doctorates. Success will be notified to the candidate by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team. The relevant responsible body will receive a copy of the result letter.

The decision of the responsible body will also be published in the University Gazette and the University Calendar. One copy of each of the papers and books submitted as evidence will remain in the possession of the University for deposit in the Bodleian Library, unless the Library already possesses a copy.

If the judges decide that the candidate’s submission does not merit the awarding of a Higher Doctorate, and this is endorsed at a meeting of the relevant responsible body, the candidate will not be granted leave to supplicate for one of the higher doctorates. The outcome will be communicated to the candidate by the Submissions and Research Degrees Team. Unsuccessful candidates may re-apply at the next available opportunity.

Whether the outcome of the application is positive or negative, all candidates will receive anonymised copies of the judges’ reports for feedback purposes.

Data privacy statement

In the course of completing this application form, you will have provided information about yourself (‘personal data’). We (the University of Oxford) are the ‘data controller’ for this information, which means we decide how to use it and are responsible for looking after it in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

How we use your data

We will use your data to assess your application for eligibility and suitability for leave to supplicate for a higher doctorate.

We are processing your data for this purpose only because you have given us your consent to do so, by ticking the appropriate box on the application form. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at [email protected] or +44 1865 276391. In this event, we will stop the processing as soon as we can. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before your withdrawal of consent

We will only use your data for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another related reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If we need to use your data for an unrelated purpose, we will seek your consent to use it for that new purpose.

Who has access to your data?

Access to your data within the University will be provided to those who need to view it as part of their work in carrying out the purposes described above. We will also need to share your data with external judges, appointed by the University, if your application passes the pre-screening stage of the process. Where we share your data with a third party, we will seek to share the minimum amount necessary.

Retaining your data

We will only retain your data for as long as we need it to meet our purposes, including any relating to legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

Your data will be held securely in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures. Further information is available on the University’s Policy on Data Protection page .

Where we store and use your data

We store and use your data on University premises, in both a manual and electronic form.

Both forms may be transferred to, and stored at, a destination outside the European Economic Area ("EEA"), if you pass the pre-screening stage of the application process and a judge from outside the EEA is appointed to assess your full application.

Such transfers will only take place if one of the following applies:

the country receiving the data is considered by the EU to provide an adequate level of data protection;
the organisation receiving the data is covered by an arrangement recognised by the EU as providing an adequate standard of data protection e.g. transfers to companies that are certified under the EU US Privacy Shield;
the transfer is governed by approved contractual clauses;
the transfer has your consent;
the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract with you or to take steps requested by you prior to entering into that contract; or
the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract with another person, which is in your interests.

Your rights

Information on your rights in relation to your personal data are explained GDPR section of the Council Secretariat page.

Online application form

The application window is now closed. Applications can be submitted from 1 to 31 August each year.

The application fee must be paid in advance, via the University online store . You will need your payment reference number to complete the application form.

Please note that the application form cannot be saved and must be completed and submitted in the same session.

Reapplication

Candidates not invited to full scrutiny following the screening process, and those whose full submission did not merit the awarding of a Higher Doctorate, are eligible to re-apply at the next available opportunity.

Candidates wishing to make a reapplication should take into consideration any feedback that they received at either the screening or judging phases to inform their reapplication. The same screening panel and judges may be used to assess a reapplication, particularly in narrow academic fields. Copies of previous judges’ reports will not be made available to either the screening panel or judges.

Higher Doctorates Appeal Procedure

1. Scope

1.1 This procedure covers appeals against a decision of the ‘responsible body’ not to grant leave to supplicate for a Higher Doctorate. This right of appeal is set out in paragraph 11 of the General Regulations for Higher Doctorates.

1.2 There is no right of appeal in relation to a screening decision (i.e. where a responsible body concludes that there is not a prima facie case for the candidate to be considered for the degree). This is set out in paragraph 3 of the General Regulations for Higher Doctorates. The right of appeal set out in paragraph 11 of the regulations applies only where a candidate has made a full application, having been invited to do so following the screening process.

2. Deadline

2.1 Appeals against the decision of the responsible body should be submitted no later than 28 calendar days after the notification of outcome has been sent by the Higher Doctorates team in the Examination Schools. Appeals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

3. Grounds for appeal

3.1 Appeals will only be considered on the ground that there was a procedural irregularity in the decision making process for the application.

3.2 Appeals against the academic judgement of the responsible body (including the assessors) cannot be considered.

4. Submitting an appeal to the Education Committee

4.1 Appeals should be submitted to the [email protected] mailbox.

4.2 An Appeal application should include a statement setting out the grounds for procedural irregularity in the decision making process, with any supporting evidence, which was likely to have had a material impact on the decision of the responsible body.

5. Consideration of the appeal

5.1 The Chair of Education Committee will be notified of any Appeal application received. The application will be reviewed by a member of Education Policy Support who may request the applicant to clarify any points or provide further information in support of the Appeal. Once any points have been clarified or further information provided, the Appeal documentation will be submitted to the appeal panel.

5.2 An appeal panel will consist of two members of Education Committee (appointed by the Chair of Education Committee). These members will not have been involved in the consideration of the application for the Higher Doctorate and will not be members of the same faculty or department as the candidate. In the event that this is not possible, the Chair of Education Committee may appoint a panel drawn from staff of the University with appropriate experience who are not members of Education Committee and who have not been involved in consideration of the application for the Higher Doctorate.

5.3 A member of Education Policy Support will provide the appeal documentation to the panel for its consideration. The panel will be responsible for making a decision on behalf of Education Committee. The panel will discuss the appeal and determine whether it should be upheld or dismissed. In reaching its decision, the panel will have regard to whether the impact of any irregularity found would have resulted in a substantially different outcome to the application for a Higher Doctorate.

5.4 The panel’s decision will be communicated to Education Policy Support who will provide a formal response to the appellant. The formal response will normally be communicated to the appellant within eight weeks of the receipt of the original Appeal. If this is not possible, the appellant will be notified and informed of a revised timeframe.

5.5 There will be no further avenue for appeal following the decision of the panel on behalf of Education Committee.

6. Consequences of appeal outcomes

6.1 Education Committee cannot make a decision to award a Higher Doctorate as this is a matter of academic judgement and falls within the remit of the responsible body. If an appeal is upheld, Education Committee may ask that the application be reconsidered in full or in part by the responsible body. Education Committee may require that a different assessor or assessors be appointed, if it determines that this is appropriate in the context of the outcome of the appeal.

6.2 Education Committee may make recommendations for improvements to the process for the consideration of Higher Doctorates as a consequence of the appeals it considers.

[1] The relevant Divisional Board or other responsible body as specified in the information published by the University.

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Phd by publication.

Many universities have recently introduced the ‘PhD by Publication’ method of obtaining a PhD, instead of the more conventional thesis. The availability of this option will vary from place to place, some won’t offer it at all, whilst others may only offer it to staff who have yet to achieve a PhD.

So just how is a PhD by publication awarded? Well, it varies from country to country – for instance, Scandinavian students will more commonly obtain a PhD this way, so let’s look specifically at getting a PhD by publication in the UK.

PhD by Publication in the UK

This method of gaining a PhD is relatively new, (even though getting published is important) and hence, the requirements may vary from place to place. Generally, though, instead of submitting a thesis written specifically during three/four years study with the university, you are instead required to submit a number of published papers.

In general, this method of gaining a PhD is not offered as an alternative to the standard way – it is not aimed at those starting on an academic career. It is usually offered to academics already in their career who have not yet completed a PhD. This is usually confirmed by the fact that many universities require you either to be staff, or to have graduated at least seven years ago to be eligible.

So just what sort of publications can be considered?

#2 Book Chapters Chapters written for anthologies or collections of essays are suited to being used in your portfolio. However, they are often not sufficient to stand alone, so you would need other works too.

#3 Research Papers Research papers that have been published in journals or other peer-reviewed sources.

#4 Technical Reports More for the science side of things – published peer reviewed technical reports are eligible.

#5 Other Published Media Other published media can be included – things such as scholarly editions of books, or architectural plans – but this will be on a case-by-case basis.

Often, with shorter works, it is necessary to submit multiple pieces – often five to seven – to complete an entire portfolio. However, in some cases, less may be acceptable. Each of the works featured in the portfolio must be linked in some manner, and they must be consistent in theme. Unrelated works will not be allowed to count towards a PhD by publication.

In addition to the portfolio of published work, the candidate is expected to have a supporting statement. This statement must critically discuss the works featured in the portfolio – discussing how they fit together, discussing their methodologies and explaining why they chose these methods, and how they feel it worked. In addition, they must point out their original contribution to scholarship – this is one of the most vital parts of getting a PhD, regardless of method.

You may be asking yourself what role the university would play other than examining the portfolio. In this case, a supervisor will assist with the portfolio, assessing whether the works submitted are cohesive, consistent and most importantly, of a high enough standard to be entered. They will also help with the supporting statement – making sure all vital information is included.

After this stage, there will be an oral examination. This will be similar to a viva , and should be prepared for as such. You will have to be prepared to defend any points made in the supporting statement. Depending on how long ago works were published (there is a time limit on when they are eligible) you may want to re-read them and ensure you are familiar both with your own work and the source material it draws on. In one sense, this may be more difficult than getting a PhD in the conventional manner as the work is not as recent, but it may also be easier in that it has already been peer reviewed and you will be aware of many possible questions and arguments.

Getting a PhD in this manner is not without difficulty, no matter how good the publications - while the submission of the portfolio and the oral examination may seem alright, the problem arises with finding a suitable place to apply. Due to the restrictions – some universities only opening to staff or alumni – you will be limited in options, and from those options, it may be more difficult than normal to find a supervisor. That said, for those who have been in academia for a while without a PhD, it may be well worth your time – take a look at our blog on the pros and cons of a PhD .

PhD Funding In The UK

Doing A PhD: Why It’s Important To Publish

The Alphabet Of PhD Study

Common PhD Myths

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Introduction: Demystifying the PhD by Publication

First Online: 28 September 2022

Cite this chapter

Sin Wang Chong ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4519-0544 3 &
Neil H. Johnson ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8604-1193 4

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This chapter documents the rationale for compiling a collection on the PhD by Publication. The aim of the book is to “demystify” this alternative route of doctoral education because there is a dearth of publications (journal articles or books) on this PhD route which is gaining popularity around the world. This book attempts to “demystify” PhD by Publication by identifying pertinent issues and (mis)conceptions pertaining to policies and practices through research, research syntheses, and surveys of university policies on the PhD by Publication internationally (Part I – Landscapes of PhD by Publication). Another layer of “demystification” pertains to experience (Part II: Narratives of PhD by Publication). The inclusion of reflective and autobiographical accounts by PhD by Publication supervisors, students, and graduates internationally provides a vivid insider’s perspective toward this PhD route. This chapter closes with an outline of each chapter of the book.

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Chong, S. W. (2020). PhD by published work and “doctorateness”: My experience at a UK university. Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 4 (1), 1–12. http://journals.staffs.ac.uk/index.php/ipihe/article/view/204/319

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Chong, S. W. (2021). Demystifying commentary guidelines of PhD by published work in the UK: Insights from genre analysis. In Innovations in education and teaching international (pp. 1–10). Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2020.1871396

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Hyland, K. (2015). Genre, discipline and identity. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 19 , 32–43.

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Jackson, D. (2013). Completing a PhD by publication: A review of Australian policy and implications for practice. Higher Education Research and Development, 32 (3), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2012.692666

O’Keeffe, P. (2019). PhD by publication: Innovative approach to social science research, or operationalisation of the doctoral student … or both? Higher Education Research and Development, 39 (2), 288–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2019.1666258

Smith, S. (2017). Supervising on a PhD by published work route: An exploration of the supervisory role. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung. Journal for Higher Education Development, 12 (2), 19–43.

Smith, S. (2019). The challenge of supervising students who are doing a PhD by published work . Trust Me! Blog. Retrieved from https://eprints.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/id/eprint/5648/1/TheChallengeOfSupervisingStudentsWhoAreDoingAPhdByPublishedWorkAM-SMITH.pdf

Wilson, K. (2002). Quality assurance issues for a PhD by published work: A case study. Quality Assurance in Education, 10 (2), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1108/09684880210423555

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Chong, S.W., Johnson, N.H. (2022). Introduction: Demystifying the PhD by Publication. In: Chong, S.W., Johnson, N. (eds) Landscapes and Narratives of PhD by Publication. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04895-1_1

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COMMENTS

PhD by publication
Learn how to turn your existing peer reviewed publications into a PhD qualification at Portsmouth. Find out the eligibility criteria, fees, application process and benefits of this postgraduate research degree.
PhD by Published Work
Learn how to apply for a PhD by published work, a degree awarded for the submission of a portfolio of published research to the standard of a regular PhD. Find out the eligibility, application process, submission requirements, fees and examination details.
PhD by published work
The PhD by published work route is intended primarily for mid-career research-active academics who, for one reason or another, haven't had the opportunity to undertake a research programme leading to a PhD. ... If your application is successful, you will be assigned one or more supervisors who will advise on which of your publications should ...
PhD by Publication
PhD by Publication. Coventry University's unique PhD by Publication programme is designed for active researchers who have already produced a number of publications but have not been awarded a PhD. This route differs from a 'traditional' PhD as it allows you to use existing publications to form a research portfolio.
PhD by Papers
Learn about the PhD by Papers option in philosophy, which allows you to write several papers instead of a single thesis. Find out the advantages, requirements and ranking of the department.
Existing Published or Creative Work PhD
Convert your existing portfolio of published work or creative output into a PhD in less than 12 months. Learn about the course structure, entry requirements, fees and career benefits of this fast track programme.
PhD by Publication
Learn what a PhD by publication is, how to get one, and the pros and cons of this route. Compare with a PhD by thesis and find out the entry requirements, fees, and funding options.
PhD By Publication
The minimum University academic requirement for a PhD by Publication degree is the same as that required for a PhD: you need the equivalent of a 2:1 in a UK Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in a relevant field of study. However, depending on which School you are studying in, some may set a higher or more specific entry requirement ...
PhD by prior publication/portfolio
Learn how to obtain a PhD by prior publication/portfolio at Kingston University, which allows people who have not followed the traditional academic route to gain academic recognition for their research. Find out the word length, oral examination, and subject-specific guidelines for this award.
PhD by Publication
Candidates may apply for the PhD by published work under Regulation 38 . Candidates must be either: members of academic staff or administrative or library staff of equivalent status of the University and normally have been employed by the University for at least three years immediately prior to the submission of published work; or.
PDF PhD by Publication
the Universitys approach to the PhD/MD by Publication. The document covers the regulatory requirements, guidance on writing publications, guidance on writing a thesis that incorporates publications and guidance on examining a thesis in publication format. 1. Key points from the regulations on PhD/MD by Publication
PhD by Publication in London
The PhD by Publication is available on a part-time basis only. Thesis. You will develop a thesis of 15,000-30,000 words, which will be a contextualised, coherent narrative, and critical appraisal of the portfolio of work you choose to submit alongside it. This submission will be assessed by the standard examination processes for doctoral ...
PhD by Publication
As a PhD by publication usually takes about a year to complete, most universities typically charge a fee equivalent to one year of PhD study. The exact amount will vary depending on the University, but usually, the tuition fee will be around £4,500 for one year for UK and EU students, and considerably more if you are an international student.
PhD by Prior Publication
The PhD by Prior Publication provides a fast-track route to the PhD for people who have built up a portfolio of publications through their professional practice and who are already experienced in undertaking and delivering research projects. This PhD option is particularly well suited to professionals who have been developing a research career ...
PhD by Published Research
Please visit PhD by Published Work Link opens in a new window for the general requirements for award of such degrees, University application procedures and how such applications are considered.. Please note that both the above link and the content below relate to the admissions procedure to be allowed to submit for the degree. Whether or not the degree is subsequently awarded is determined by ...
Types of degree
A PhD is only awarded when the results make an original contribution to knowledge in the field, which is normally assessed by a written thesis and oral examination. Thesis / PhD by publication Research degrees usually involve the completion of a written thesis, although alternatives may be allowed where suitable.
A PhD by publication is a great way to build your academic profile, but
A PhD by publication is nonsense if the faculty prescribe the journals where your work must be published. who said every journal would like to publish every research? for the university with restricted academic freedom, they mistake some ridiculous rules for having higher bar of pursuing doctoral degrees when the Times Higher Education (THE) ranks far away from their pre-conceived opinions.
PDF POLICY ON PHD BY PUBLISHED WORKS
An Abstract and declaration of authorship; A number of publications that together demonstrate evidence of an amount of research which is at a standard of academic quality deemed to be appropriate for the award of a Doctorate; we do not specify a "number" of publications as this varies by discipline and on the nature of the outputs.
PhD by Prior Publication
If admission is granted, you will be registered on the PhD by Prior Publication. The fee to be registered on the PhD by Prior Publication is 50% of the standard HomeEU fee i.e. £2,164 for 2019/20. This is in addition to the £250 initial assessment fee. You will be appointed a supervisor who should: provide guidance on the coherence and ...
Higher Doctorates
The higher doctorates offered by the University are: Doctor of Divinity (DD), Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc), and Doctor of Music (DMus). A fee of £3,100 will be payable for submission of an application, of which £310 is non-refundable should you not progress to full scrutiny after initial screening.
PhD by Publication
PhD by Publication in the UK. This method of gaining a PhD is relatively new, (even though is important) and hence, the requirements may vary from place to place. Generally, though, instead of submitting a thesis written specifically during three/four years study with the university, you are instead required to submit a number of published ...
Introduction: Demystifying the PhD by Publication
This book attempts to "demystify" PhD by Publication by identifying pertinent issues and (mis)conceptions pertaining to policies and practices through research, research syntheses, and surveys of university policies on the PhD by Publication internationally (Part I - Landscapes of PhD by Publication). Another layer of "demystification ...
Full article: The PhD by publication in the humanities and social
The PhD by publication is variously called a thesis by publication (Nygaard and Solli Citation 2021), a thesis with publications (Mason Citation 2018), ... (UK PhD by published work student interview 2022). Chong (Citation 2020."PhD) discusses his experience of having undertaken a PhD by published work in the UK.