phd 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 .

Related pages

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How much will it cost to study a research degree?

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Find out if you can apply for a Research Degree 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).

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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)

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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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Goldsmiths, University of London

PhD by Publication

PhD by Publication  PhD by Publication Goldsmiths, University of London ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1534093864Goldsmiths,-University-of-London.jpg

Masters Degree , Publishing

PhD by Publication PhD by Publication Goldsmiths, University of London

Course description.

Goldsmiths' PhD by Publication is designed for academics with an existing portfolio of published work addressing a central research question

The PhD by Publication is not offered as an alternative to the traditional PhD programme of study, but as an option for academics who may have entered higher education mid-career and have a body of work not more than 10 years old that can be submitted as part of a doctoral-level thesis.

A submission for PhD by Publication may comprise papers, chapters, monographs, scholarly editions of a text, technical reports, creative practice, artefacts, or curatorial production. Whatever the form of your prior work, it is important that it is compatible with research expertise at Goldsmiths. For details of which subject areas the PhD can be in, please see our list of academic departments and research centres.

Candidates are expected to be based within the UK (and within reasonable travel time to Goldsmiths’ campus) during their programme, to ensure that they are able to maintain regular contact with their department and supervisor. This is to ensure engagement with supervision, training, and the wider research environment of the College and student’s Department.

Candidates who require a Tier 4 visa are not eligible, as the programme is offered only on a part-time basis.

It is expected that those undertaking a PhD by Publication will not already be holders of a doctorate. However, if a candidate has a distinct body of research that they can clearly demonstrate has not formed part of their previous doctorate, their application may be considered. 

Course Content

The PhD by Publication is available on a part-time basis only.

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 degrees, including a viva voce examination.

Supervision

You’ll receive academic support and advice from your supervisors, who will be from relevant academic departments. Their role will be to provide you with support and advice on:

• selecting work from your portfolio to include with your thesis submission
• the development of your thesis
• preparation for the viva voce

Your supervisors will work closely with you to ensure that your training needs are met throughout the programme.

You’ll also be expected to give at least one presentation to your peer group, including non-specialists, during your period of registration.

Entry Requirements

You should have a first class undergraduate degree and/or a higher level degree in a relevant subject, and/or appropriate experience. You will also need a body of work not more than 10 years old in a relevant field, which will form the basis for your thesis.

Please be aware, that you can only study full-time with a Tier 4 visa, so unfortunately you will be unable to study this part-time programme if you need a student visa. 

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

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School of Engineering

Phd by publication.

PhD by Publication Engineering

To satisfy the requirements of the degree of PhD, a thesis must constitute a substantial original contribution to knowledge and is, in principle, worthy of peer-reviewed publication

Application Process

Consideration process, registration, what is it.

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering by Published Work.

A PhD awarded for the submission of a portfolio of published research to the standard of a regular PhD.

Who can apply?

Candidates may apply for the PhD by published work under Regulation 38 Link opens in a new window . 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
• graduates of at least seven year’s standing normally holding a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Requirements:

To satisfy the requirements of the degree of PhD in Published Work, the submitted material must constitute a substantial original contribution to knowledge. The material shall be clearly and concisely written and well-argued. The covering document shall explain the inter-relationship between the material presented and the significance of the published works, as a contribution to original knowledge within the relevant fields. It shall contain, as an appendix, a full bibliography of all the work published by the candidate.

A candidate must submit for examination two copies of material from a nominated field of study together with a covering document of 5,000 - 10,000 words. The covering document must explain the inter-relationship between the material presented and the significance of the published works as a contribution to original knowledge within the relevant fields. In addition, the covering document must include, as an appendix, a full bibliography of all the peer-reviewed work published by the candidate. A candidate may include with their submitted material work that has not been published only with the prior approval of the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies.

NOTE: Speculative applications are not recommended.

Candidates must make a formal application for study, details here: www.warwick.ac.uk/pgrengineering . The course is the MPhil/PhD in Engineering and candidates should state clearly on the form that they wish to be considered for the PhD by Published Works.

The degree is a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering; therefore, candidates will need a suitable academic supervisor. The candidate's portfolio of work needs to be engineering-related and be a topic related to research undertaken in the School of Engineering.

Admission for a PhD requires at least an upper second-class honours standard or the equivalent and/or a Masters degree at Merit level or its equivalent. The application form will require the following items:

• Previous degree certificate and transcripts.
• Two academic references. You should nominate referees who can provide an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for your chosen programme of study.
• English language qualification: If your first language is not English, you will be expected to obtain one of the tests accepted here Link opens in a new window
• Candidates should then submit their full CV (this can be uploaded with their application) and copies of their publications to be considered.
• Submit between 3 - 8 publications, which will form the intellectual basis of the examination for the award, for consideration (this may vary depending on the discipline and focus of the candidate's research).
• Submissions should include further contextual information regarding the publications, including, but not limited to, the profile of journals in which articles have been published, the candidate's individual contribution to each of their publications, the number of citations, and their significance to the field.
• It is helpful to include a personal statement outlining your reasons for wanting to apply for this degree.
• All documents can be uploaded to the online application form (stage 2 www.warwick.ac.uk/pgrengineering ).
• The Head of the relevant department will initially consider the application submission. (S)he will appoint an Academic Advisor to provide guidance to the candidate on the presentation of the published work.
• The Academic Advisor should produce a statement which outlines the Candidate's suitability for admission to a PhD programme, an assessment of the quality of publications presented, and any further relevant details regarding the Candidate, including their employment (current or past), the area of expertise and profile within their discipline/field of research.
• If the Head of Department is satisfied with the submission, (s)he will ask that the Chair of the Faculty Education Committee consider the submission.
• If the Chair of the relevant Faculty Board is of the view that the Works are of the appropriate standard, (s)he will make a recommendation to the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies that the candidate is admitted to the PhD.
• An offer can only be made once the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies has given his/her approval following consideration of the aforementioned recommendation.
• Candidates should be aware that a successful application does not guarantee the award of the degree – candidates are required to successfully complete the examination process as set out in the Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research .
• The normal period of registration will be for 12 months.
• Where the candidate is not a member of the staff of the University, submission for examination for the degree of PhD may be made after a minimum period of six months' registration.
• Where the candidate is a member of the staff of the University, submission for examination for the degree of PhD may be made after a minimum period of three months' registration.
• During the period of registration, students will additionally need to submit the Works to be assessed and a Covering Document of between 5,000 and 10,000 words setting out the relationship between the Works presented, the significance of the Works as a contribution to original knowledge within the relevant field, and, as an appendix, a full bibliography of all of the works ever published by the candidate.
• Research Postgraduate students Band 2 - https://warwick.ac.uk/services/finance/studentfinance/fees/pgr/ Link opens in a new window  
• The fee for members of staff and for graduates of the University is charged at 20% of the home full-time postgraduate research fee.
• In addition, an examination fee is levied which is set annually by the University’s Council.

Further information

All enquiries regarding applying for a PhD by published work, should be directed to the Postgraduate Admissions Link opens in a new window team. For detailed information on the requirements for and examination of the PhD by published work, see Regulation 38 Link opens in a new window . For information on the fees for your registration for the PhD by published work, please consult Student Finance Link opens in a new window .

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Postgraduate Office School of Engineering Library Road University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL

 My decision to study for PhD at Warwick was informed by the school’s reputation for world leading research.

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Essential Information

Degree title:

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD)

Course code: P-H1Q2

Application deadline None - applications accepted all year round.

Location of study

School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

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How to apply

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

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.

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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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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.

• 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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Guide to PhD by Published Work

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Guide to PhD/MD by Published Work and Senior Doctorate

1. admission to degree.

Applicants for a PhD by Published Work should meet the general entry conditions for a doctoral level research degree as defined in the Guide to Research Student Admissions .

An applicant will be required to submit a detailed list of published works which they intend to be included in the final submission together with a statement of their contribution to any multi-authored papers/collaborative work to the relevant Executive Dean or nominee.

The applicant must also provide a brief critical summary of the publications to be submitted which contextualises the works, demonstrates the coherence of the works and identifies the contribution to the advancement of knowledge which the works represent. The brief critical summary should also indicate the methodology adopted in the research. The brief critical summary should be no more than one page in length.

The relevant Executive Dean or nominee will reach a decision on whether the applicant should be permitted to register for the degree of PhD by Published Work.

2. Duration of Candidature

A candidate shall be required to complete a minimum period of candidature of six months from the date of enrolment during which the candidate will prepare the submission and critical review under the guidance of an adviser.

All candidates are required to submit for the degree no later than 12 months after the date of enrolment.

3. Definition of Published Work

In order to be eligible for consideration as a “published work”, a piece of work must have been published in such a way as to be generally available for consultation by scholars or other interested persons and must be traceable in ordinary catalogues. All work must have been internationally peer reviewed and must have been published no more than seven years prior to the date of submission.

Examples of eligible published work include, but are not limited to: 

• Academic paper;
• Journal article;
• Technical report;
• Book chapter;
• Scholarly text book;
• A single book.

Electronic works may be considered as eligible, but the candidate should provide evidence that the work will continue to be publicly available for the foreseeable future in the present form.

The published work submitted for the degree must constitute a corpus of publication tending towards a coherent thesis, rather than a series of disconnected publications.

The published work submitted for the degree must be substantially different from any work which may have previously been submitted for any degree at this or any other institution.

The published works should be of a standard equivalent to that of a “traditional” PhD in the relevant academic area and should demonstrate the candidate’s original contribution to knowledge.

4. Quantity of Work

The number of works will depend on both the academic area and the type of published works included in the submission, but the submission should normally comprise between three and ten works. However, the issue of number is subservient to the question of the quality and impact of the output. 

The overall volume of work submitted should be approximately equivalent to a “traditional” PhD (see Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a thesis for research Students for more details on word count).

5. Format of Submission

The work to be submitted shall comprise:

a) An abstract providing a summary of the published work containing all of the main concepts and conclusions of the published work that shall be no more than 300 words in length;

b) A summary sheet listing all of the published work submitted together with a statement of the extent of the candidate’s contribution to multi-authored work, substantiated by all the co-authors;

c) A copy of each publication numbered in accordance with point b) above;

d) A critical review stating the aims and nature of the research, the inter-relationship between the published work and the main contribution and/or addition to learning of the published work;

e) Evidence of the status of all the published work submitted.

The submission should be presented as a single bound volume where possible. Where complete books are presented as part of the submission, these must be provided separately in the original binding. Chapters of books and articles/papers should be presented as reprints and be bound into the main submission. See the Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students for more details on binding conventions.

6. The Critical Review

The critical review should be between 5,000 and 10,000 words in length. The critical review should set the published works in the context of existing literature and should evaluate the contribution that the research in the submitted published works makes in the advancement of the research area. The critical review should indicate the coherence of the works, linking the works to the research methodology adopted by the candidate.

The critical review of the published works is fundamental to the establishment of the coherence and quality of the submission and hence to the case for the award of the degree. 

In particular the critical review should: 

• Show how the works make a significant and coherent contribution to knowledge;
• Provide an assessment of the impact of the works contained in the submission;
• Explain the relevance and criteria for selection of any methodologies used;
• Outline the themes that give the works their defining coherence;
• Clearly state the candidate’s role in all co-­authored works;
• Show how specific publications have been tailored for publication (editing out of experimental data, for example);
• Review any referenced publications which are not presented as part of the submission. 

Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that factors such as availability of raw data from which cited works draw conclusions are fully taken into account in the critical review.

7. Role of Adviser

Every candidate will have an adviser appointed by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee. The adviser must be a member of staff at Swansea University. The adviser will support, advise and guide the candidate through the drafting of the critical review and the process of submission and examination of the published work.

The role of the adviser is to:

• Support and advise on the development of the critical review;
• Guide the candidate in relation to the coherence of the body of work to be submitted;
• Offer guidance on the preparation of the oral examination;
• Suggest suitable examiners to the Executive Dean.

8. Assessment

Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work shall be assessed through an oral examination (Viva Voce).

9. Oral Examination

A PhD by Published Work should reflect the same academic standards as those that operate for a PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised research. Examiners should assess the scope and significance of the body of published work and should consider its strengths and weaknesses.

In examining a submission, the examiners should:

• Evaluate the intellectual merit of the candidate’s submitted published work;
• Establish if a satisfactory case is made for coherence between the publications in the critical review;
• Assess the contribution to knowledge represented by the publications and made apparent in the critical review;
• Evaluate the rigour with which the candidate has contextualised and analysed their publications in the critical review;
• Evaluate the appropriateness of the methods employed in the research and the correctness of their application;
• Assess the candidate’s contribution to the research embodied in multi-authored works and establish the candidate’s ‘ownership’ of the published work;
• Establish the candidate’s appreciation of the state of historical and current knowledge within the candidate’s research area.

In some cases the examiners may consider that the works do not contain sufficient detail to allow some of the above judgments to be made. This may particularly be the case for journal articles where a journal’s policy may not allow inclusion of detailed data. This lack of detailed data should be addressed in the critical review accompanying the submission of published work and in the oral examination. Candidates may also include relevant raw data as appendices to the submission.

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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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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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5 routes to getting a Doctorate

While most of those studying for a PhD take the PhD by thesis pathway, there are five viable routes to achieving a Doctorate, with both full-time and part-time options available

PhD by thesis

This is the most common means of getting a Doctorate. Over the three or four years of research at university, your PhD supervisor will support you as you aim to produce a thesis based on your research proposal .

A thesis is typically 60,000-90,000 words in length - although this can vary between institutions. For instance, the University of Glasgow's College of Social Sciences expects a thesis to be 70,000 to 100,000 words including references, bibliography and appendices, while the University of Cambridge has set an upper limit of 80,000 words.

Once completed, you'll need to defend your PhD thesis in front of a panel of examiners during your viva voce .

Doctorate by publication

This route involves submitting previously published work - such as books, book chapters and journal articles, which together form a coherent body of work and show evidence of an original contribution to a particular field of study.

The PhD by publication route is often taken by mid-career academics that haven't had the opportunity to undertake a standard Doctorate degree.

Generally, a minimum of five to eight published pieces are required, but this varies between institutions and depends on their length. The published work will be assessed to the same rigorous standards as a traditional PhD by thesis.

You must also provide a written supporting statement, which typically ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 words.

For instance, the University of Westminster asks for a commentary of 5,000 words (science and technology subjects) or 10,000 words (arts, social sciences and humanities). On the other hand, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh requires 12,000 to 15,000 words on the rationale and theoretical context for the portfolio of published work.

The work will then be presented to an academic committee. A supervisor will assist you with selecting which publications to submit, as well as guidance on the supporting statement.

Some universities accept only their own graduates for a PhD by publication, while others restrict this route to their academic staff. In general, you should have graduated from your first degree at least seven years ago to be eligible.

For example, The University of Manchester has published its own Guidance for the PhD By Published Work , with eligibility only extending to current members of staff.

Professional Doctorate

This type of Doctorate includes a significant taught component and a smaller research project, and is geared primarily towards current professionals in vocational sectors such as:

• engineering and manufacturing
• teaching and education .

Professional Doctorates are often taken on a part-time basis and can last between two and eight years. Like their standard PhD counterparts, they usually begin in October or January.

While you won't typically be looking to get an academic job , your research is expected to contribute to theory as well as professional practice. Projects often revolve around a real-life issue that affects your employer.

Several professional Doctorates, such as the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy), are accredited by a professional body - for instance, the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and The British Psychological Society (BPS) - and may also lead to a professional qualification .

Common titles for graduates of professional Doctorate degrees include:

• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
• Doctor of Education (EdD)
• Doctor of Engineering (EngD)
• Doctor of Medicine (MD).

Unlike many professional Doctorates, the EngD is typically offered as a full-time course and is aimed at young engineering graduates with little or no professional experience.

Integrated PhD

This four-year qualification, also known as the New Route PhD, involves studying a one-year research Masters degree (MRes) before progressing onto a three-year PhD.

Offered by a select number of universities across the UK, integrated PhDs are supported by the government and the British Council through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) .

Visit Research Council funding for further information on research and funding for different types of PhD.

The integrated PhD involves a combination of taught materials, practical experience and advanced research. This allows you to learn subject-specific methodologies, while building the transferable skills that will enable you to become a leader in your chosen profession.

Institutions can also develop personalised integrated PhD programmes to meet each student's needs. For example, universities may offer you the opportunity to gain a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - perfect if you're considering a career as a higher education lecturer .

Online/distance learning PhD

As PhDs are based primarily on independent research rather than time spent in lectures and seminars, distance learning has always been a viable route for many Doctoral students.

PhDs by distance learning offered by course providers such as The Open University are therefore a good option to consider if you've got family or work commitments or are an international student - as this gives you the chance to undertake Doctoral research without having to live close to your chosen institution. It's also a suitable mode of study if your subject requires you to be based in a specific location away from the university.

For the most part, you'll be in touch with your supervisor by phone, email or Skype/Zoom. You'll need to bear in mind that even if you opt for this form of research, you'll generally still need to attend university for one or two weeks of each academic year for meetings and to receive research skills training. Your final exam may be undertaken either face-to-face or virtually.

With online PhDs, you can usually register as a full or part-time student. The level of fees you pay varies between institutions - some charge the same as for a standard PhD while others offer a reduced rate.

Check that any funding you plan to apply for is available to distance learning students, as this isn't always the case.

Search for online/distance learning PhDs .

Find out more

• Discover what is a PhD?
• Sort out funding for postgraduate study .
• Consider what to do after completing your PhD .

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• Business and industry
• Business regulation
• Post Office Horizon compensation data for 2024
• Department for Business & Trade
• Post Office

Post Office Horizon compensation data as of 31 May 2024

Updated 7 June 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-office-horizon-compensation-data-for-2024/post-office-horizon-compensation-data-as-of-31-may-2024--2

As of 31 May 2024, approximately £222 million has been paid to over 2,800 claimants across 3 schemes:

• Horizon Shortfall Scheme ( HSS ): £122 million
• Group Litigation Order ( GLO ) Scheme: £54 million total value of all payments including interim payments
• Overturned Convictions ( OC ): 109 convictions have been overturned; £46 million total value of all payments including further interim payments

Claim data by scheme

Information correct as of 31 May 2024. Changes from last month (24 April 2024) in square brackets.

[-] indicates no change since last month.

*For disclosure reasons, the exact number of claims paid is now withheld.

Notes for table

In the above table:

• spend is rounded to nearest £1 million
• data regarding the HSS and OC are sourced from Post Office Ltd, which retains full responsibility for the data published on its website
• initial interim payments are available to eligible postmasters upon getting their conviction overturned on the grounds that it was reliant on Horizon evidence
• a ‘full’ settlement comprises both pecuniary (financial) and non-pecuniary (personal) losses, but the Post Office has been progressing non-pecuniary settlements first to get money to postmasters as quickly as possible, which means a number of partial settlements have been reached in addition to the full and final settlements published here
• the department is now publishing data on full and final settlements. Claims received are no longer being broken down into pecuniary and non-pecuniary settlements as in previous months
• 63 postmasters (out of the 555 who were members of the Group Litigation Order) had convictions and are therefore eligible to apply for compensation once their conviction has been overturned. The remaining 492 postmasters are currently eligible for the Group Litigation Order Scheme, of whom 484 qualify for interim payments. For disclosure reasons, the exact number of claims paid is now withheld. This month, the number of payments has not increased
• work continues on the distributing shares of the £19.5 million interim payments announced in June 2022, particularly on remaining payments in complex categories such as those recently deceased and people who have not taken up the offer of an interim payment
• Post Office received 2,417 eligible claims to the HSS before the application closure date of 27 November 2020. Post Office continued to receive late applications after the closure date and in October 2022, the government announced that additional funding would be provided so that these late claimants could be compensated. Post Office has received 948 eligible late claims to date
• interim payments on the  HSS  are available before and after claimants receive an offer of compensation. The £122 million paid out on the HSS includes £29.2 million in interim payments to original claimants and £3.7 million in interim payments to late applications

GLO Scheme delivery target

The Department for Business and Trade ( DBT ) is committed to a target of making a first offer to 90% of claimants who have submitted a full claim within 40 working days. A full claim is defined as a claim which DBT considers, with advice from its legal advisors, does not need any further evidence in order to assess every element of the claim. Should the Department consider further evidence is needed in order to make a full assessment, the 40-working-day target will not start until such time that the required evidence is received from the claimant or any other source.

As of 31 May 2024, 91% of claimants received their first offer within 40 working days of submitting a full claim.

GLO  Scheme £75,000 fixed payment impact 

Due to changes made in January 2024, all eligible  GLO  claimants are now offered the option to settle their claims on a full and final basis for a total fixed sum of £75,000 inclusive of interest, instead of making a claim for their individual losses.

This means that the claim would not be assessed by the department against the process set out in the  guidance and principles .

Any payments received from the department to date or from the  GLO  settlement will be deducted from the £75,000 before payment is made.

As of 31 May 2024, 172 offers have been accepted. Of these, 147 have accepted offers of the £75,000 fixed payment. Of those who have accepted the £75,000 fixed payment, four-fifths are new claims and a fifth had previously accepted offers.

Post Office data

Find further data on:

• compensation for those with overturned convictions
• the Horizon Shortfall Scheme
• Post Office Horizon compensation data collection

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