phd by publication uk universities

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.

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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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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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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.

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

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

• 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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How to write your PhD by published work research proposal

The University welcomes applications for PhD by Published Work. This route is for candidates who have already completed and published their research – in the form of a series of academic publications (journal articles, books etc) – at PhD standard.

As part of your PhD registration period, candidates will be required to write a commentary (5,000 words for science and technology subjects, 10,000 words for arts, social sciences and humanities).

A key part of your application is your research proposal and you should follow the guidance below. You are encouraged to contact us to discuss the availability of supervision in your area of research before you make a formal application, by  visiting our areas of research .

What is your research proposal used for and why is it important?

• It is used to establish whether there is expertise to support your proposed area of research
• It forms part of the assessment of your application

How long should my research proposal be?

It should be 2,000 words (4 pages) long.

What should be included in my research proposal?

Your proposal should include the following:

• Your title should give a clear indication of your proposed research theme and related research questions addressed through your publications.

Portfolio of publications

You should include:

• Identify your discipline
• Outline which publications are to be considered for your PhD (full publication details must be provided) along with the percentage of contribution to any collaborative publications
• Copies (electronic or hard) or links to your publications to be included in your PhD
• Demonstrate how your publications are of appropriate quality to contribute to a PhD, noting that you will present the publications as a whole, accompanied by a commentary (to be completed during the registration period), in an overarching thesis

Research questions

You should provide details on:

• the underlying research (rationale, aims, objectives)
• demonstrate the original contribution to knowledge
• how you will integrate and synthesize your portfolio of publications through the required commentary

Plan of work and time schedule

You should include a time schedule for the completion of the commentary, and for any accompanying researcher development/training and other doctoral research engagement, noting that you have a maximum of two years to complete your PhD.

Bibliography

• A list of references to key articles and texts relating to your research topic, and discussed within your publications

How to apply

For further information on applying to a PhD at the University of Westminster, read our step-by-step guide:

How to apply for a research degree

Related 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 publication ‘not an option’ at most UK universities

Review finds only one in three institutions publishes guidance on alternative doctorate format.

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Just one in three UK universities publishes guidance on how students can do a PhD by publication, according to a new study that calls for the alternative doctoral format to be offered more widely.

In a review of research degree policies at 135 UK universities, only 44 had clearly stated institution-wide policies on how students could complete a PhD by  submitting peer-reviewed papers, book chapters or conference proceedings  in place of the traditional doctoral thesis .

Seventy-five universities had no publicly available information on alternative format doctorates, while two did not have institutional guidelines as they differed by department. Seven had guidelines that could be viewed only by university members.

The study, published in  Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education , argues that the variable practice across the sector reflects a “fragmented policy landscape” in relation to a format that is widely available in Europe and Australia.

While most Russell Group universities – 58 per cent – awarded PhDs by publication, there was a “tendency for post-92 institutions not to offer an alternative format option”, explains the study by Caitlin Robinson, a research fellow in the University of Bristol ’s School of Geographical Sciences.

That stratification may make it harder for those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds to gain a doctorate as students at research-intensive universities are more likely to come from affluent groups, contends the study.

“I had expected to find most universities were offering the alternative format in some way and find it embedded in institutions’ practices, but there are clearly universities that don’t offer it, or where this route is not at all visible,” said Dr Robinson.

While she accepted that the format, which is informally known as the “staff PhD” as it is often taken by university lecturers who have not completed a doctorate earlier in their careers, “might not be appropriate for some disciplines”, Dr Robinson said it would be “good for universities to have more structured processes” on how to obtain a PhD by publication.

Criteria for PhD by publication differed markedly between universities, explains the report. For those who offered it, most did not stipulate a minimum or maximum number of submitted or published papers, but some asked for between one and three papers to have been published before they were considered by a viva committee.

Some insisted on publishing outlets having a journal impact factor while others did not, while institutions offered different information regarding the role of doctoral examiners and supervisors.

“It’s good for people to have this option if they want to do it,” said Dr Robinson, stating that those with proven expertise in their discipline should be allowed more flexible ways of gaining a credential that can often be crucial for academic promotions and in hiring decisions.

“PhDs by publication are often gained by those with a substantial body of work who want a doctorate – they need to be supported so they can develop a coherent project with the traditional structure, terminology and context that you would find with a traditional PhD.”

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